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GOLDEN ONE, THE
by Elizabeth Peters
Harper Collins, April 2002
448 pages
$25.95
ISBN: 0380978857


Buy in the UK | Buy in Canada

January, 1917. A war is raging in Europe, but the indomitable Amelia Peabody and her family are once again bound for Egypt. On their arrival in Luxor, Amelia and her husband Emerson hear of a new found royal tomb ransacked by thieves. Accompanied by their son, Ramses, and his wife, Nefret, the two archeologists investigate the tomb located in the Cemetery of the Monkeys. There they discover the body of a local man accused of past episodes of thievery. The situation becomes complicated when an old enemy shows up near Emerson's dig. Jamil is a known grave robber whose sister, Jumana, now works for Amelia. Torn by loyalty to her family, Jumana helps Jamil hide from both Amelia and Emerson and the authorities.

Meanwhile, a British officer arrives in Luxor looking for Ramses. He tells the young man that his uncle, Emerson's brother Sethos, has turned traitor and is helping the Turkish army. Ramses is persuaded to travel to Palestine and ascertain the truth of the accusation. Amelia, Emerson, and Nefret disguise themselves as Arab nobility and accompany Ramses into enemy territory. Double-crossed by a companion, he is quickly arrested by the Turkish authorities. Ramses' future looks uncertain until an unlikely person comes to his rescue.

Ramses' escape from Palestine and the family's subsequent return to Luxor in no way diminish their adventures. Emerson soon goes nose to nose with a greedy American collector whose search for riches brings him too near Emerson's camp. Amelia suspects that Jamil is helping the American, and in a foolhardy move, she and Emerson pursue the young grave robber into dangerous territory.

Elizabeth Peters once again gives us an adventure to remember. The Golden One reintroduces Sethos, Emerson's bad boy brother featured in earlier Amelia Peabody novels. This handsome rogue is the complete opposite of Emerson, a fact that makes the interplay between the two brothers amusing for first time readers and a delight for those aware of Sethos' attraction to Amelia in previous books. Per usual, Amelia's sharp-tongued wit, all-seeing eye, and unique perspective on women's roles make her a character unlike any other in historical mystery fiction. Peters' knowledge of Egyptian archeology adds greatly to the authenticity of her stories. Her scholarship shows once again in The Golden One, a tale that ends surprisingly with the announcement of Amelia's pending grandmother-hood. Will the strong-willed Amelia mellow when faced with a grandchild to coddle? Readers may surmise what they will, but only Elizabeth Peters knows for sure. I look forward to the answer in the next Amelia Peabody mystery.

Reviewed by Mary V. Welk, April 2002

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Contact: Yvonne Klein (ymk@reviewingtheevidence.com)


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