I had such a great time reading all the Aaron Elkins series of Gideon Oliver mysteries in order last month, I decided to tackle Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody series next. This twenty-volume mystery series follows Amelia, a self-proclaimed Victorian spinster through thirty-nine years of her life. An ardent feminist, at the ripe old age of thirty-two, she uses an inheritance to travel to Egypt and explore her passion, Egyptology. She is a fabulous, feisty, strong-willed woman who has multiple faults but is extremely intelligent and quick-witted. There, she meets Radcliffe Emerson, an archaeologist who features quite prominently these books as her adoring husband. Amelia, by her own admission, is not beautiful. She has wiry black hair, sallow skin, and is short and slightly plump, but Emerson sees her as truly beautiful in mind and body. They have a delightful attitude regarding sex; though everything occurs behind closed doors, it’s clear the couple has an active and frequent sexual relationship and are the loves of each others’ lives. Their son, Ramses, is an odd child who grows into an interesting adult blending his parents best and worst features.
Each book functions as a stand-alone; each mystery is self-contained, solved within the pages of the book. I found it fun to read them in chronological order and watch the characters develop over time. If you choose to read them chronologically, be aware that the publication order is not the same as the chronological order. You can find both lists here: https://www.bookseriesinorder.com/amelia-peabody/ After The Ape Who Guards the Balance, the order shifts: The Ape Who Guards the Balance, A River in the Sky, The Falcon at the Portal, The Painted Queen, then the order returns to normal. A River in the Sky was the last book completed wholly by Elizabeth Peters. The Painted Queen was completed by Joan Hess after Elizabeth Peters’ death and doesn’t quit live up the rest of the series.
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The Amelia Peabody Mystery Series is available in several editions including (Mysterious Press, February 10, 2010) from:
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