This book marked the end of my interest in the Amelia Peabody mysteries, Ramses angst in this and later books became incredibly annoying, and I felt that Nefret acted absurdly out of character in this book. Also, Amelia's character changed after the first book in the series Crocodile on the Sandbank, and she was never quite as much fun.

Pretentious, depressing, and chock full of Kate DiCamillo's trademark faux symbolism. Everything looks like it must be significant of something very important, it must have deeper meaning, but when you examine it closely it turns out there is nothing there and no real meaning to any of the apparently meaningful things and events in the book.