The Curse of the Pharaohs (1981)

 


Amelia Peabody #2

Amelia and her beloved Emerson seem to have settled into dull routine. The birth of their son Ramses has forced them into English domesticity, and the weight of ordinary life far away from their Egyptian calling is taking its toll. It is then that Lady Baskerville, a friend of Emerson's from long ago, appeals to them to take on the dig site whose curse was apparently responsible for her husband's death. As the bodies mount up, it's up to Amelia and Emerson to engage in a little friendly rivalry to discover whether it's a flesh-and-blood murderer or an ancient curse devastating the little company...


And thus Amelia returns to our lives and our hearts. Curse is an enchanting little romp that brings romance into the day-to-day of marriage, as well as adventure, intrigue, and of course archaeology! One of the greatest strengths of the Amelia Peabody series (and indeed, in all of MPM's work really) is the delightful side characters. Here the inimitable son of Emerson and Amelia is introduced--the infant but frighteningly precious Walter "Ramses" Peabody Emerson. Also, the cat Bastet, who becomes his great foil and companion through his childhood. Cyrus Vandergelt, the American millionaire with an over-the-top Texan accent and susceptible heart also makes an appearance. 

One of the greatest strengths of these books is also it's thoroughness and accuracy when it comes to discussing late Victorian archaeology and Egyptian history. The tongue-in-cheek reference to King Tut at the end will leave even the not-so-history-buffs chuckling.

Curse is a fun bridge for MPM, away from the Victorian gothics or pseudo-gothics she wrote so well into the more heavily mystery-centered late Victorian/Edwardian/WWI/twenties books of this series that make it stand out from her other usual settings.

Rating: *****

Notes:

*This book takes place 1892-93

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