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webz's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This was a 4.5 star book for me. It was such a good read and I just wanted to keep reading it as I went on in the story. The characters are round and interesting. The setting of the book was described very well and given it is an exotic setting that is pretty important to me. I also learned a little bit about the lives of Egyptian natives in the 1880s. Already having an interest in Egypt that was nurtured in the past, it was pretty delightful following a main character who also has a love of history and specifically a love of Egyptian history.
Favorite quotes.
Page 172
Amelia: ‘That is true. It is most unfortunate that I was not born a man. Emerson would accept me then as a colleague; my money would support his work; what a splendid time we would have, working and quarreling together. Oh, it is a pity that I am a woman. Emerson would agree.’
‘I am not so sure,’ said Evelyn. There was a faint smile on her lips.
page 294 Emerson after he and Amelia mutually accepted each other’s mutually understood marriage proposals: ‘Archaeology is a fascinating pursuit, but, after all, one cannot work day and night…Peabody, my darling Peabody-what a perfectly splendid time we are going to have!’
The very end on page 296 where Amelia goes on: I must add one more thing. Often I find myself remembering that blustery day in Rome, when I went to the rescue of a young English girl who had fainted in the Forum. Little did I realize how strangely our destinies would be intertwined; that that act of simple charity would reward me beyond my wildest dreams, winning for me a friend and a sister, a life of busy, fascinating work, and…
Evelyn was right. With the right person, under the right circumstances - it is perfectly splendid!
Favorite scenes
Page 257
The following transpires after Evelyn and Walter show their mutual love for one another.
Lucas: ‘Perhaps you are right. Perhaps this is how it was meant to be. “There is a fatality that shapes our ends,” as Shakespeare has put it…’
‘If not precisely in those words,’ Emerson agreed. ‘May I congratulate you, my lord, on behaving like a true British nobleman. Will you heap coals of fire on our heads by joining us in toast to the engaged couple? Walter - come, Walter, wake up, Walter -‘
Further down page 257:
‘I am not so noble as that,’ he said, with a faint smile. ‘Excuse me. I think I want to be alone for a while.’
‘Off into the sunset,’ said Emerson, as Lucas’s retreating from was silhouetted against the west. ‘How theatrical these young persons are! Thank God for our sober, middle-aged common sense, eh, Peabody?’ I watched Evelyn and Walter walk away. His arm was about her waist; her head still rested on his shoulder, and if he felt pain, where it pressed against the bullet wound, he showed no signs of it. ‘Yes indeed,’ I replied sourly. ‘Thank God for it.’
The scene towards the end with Evelyn and Walter was pretty touching I definitely brushed away a few tears at Walter’s reaction to Evelyn’s past and his loving acceptance of her and she of him.
page 280 Emerson: It seems possible that we shall not live through the night,’ he remarked. ‘I would hate to die without having…Damnation! I <i>will</i> do it, even at the risk of surviving to face the consequences!’ Whereupon he bent his head and kissed me full on the mouth.
I love that I didn’t know who all of the villains were. I did guess who one was about 3/4ths in but that didn’t bother me considering the story was almost over at that point. I have read mysteries before where as soon as a character is introduced you think they are probably the bad guy so to not know until near the end was great and I liked that it was still a surprise for me as well with the other villain.
I love how everything ends with a 2 year jump where we find out Evelyn and Walter are expecting their next child and they have had one already as well as the information that Amelia is pregnant as well.
In summary, this is the first mystery book I have really enjoyed reading since I read the Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid. I like that Amelia is a character in her 30s, that makes her more relatable to me (despite me not being in my 30s currently.) It was so fun to see her go back and forth with Emerson and seeing all of the characters interactions throughout was always interesting/and or entertaining.
There were multiple different times throughout the book where I laughed at the dialogue that was going on between characters and there were also a couple times where I got a bit emotional. All in all this was such a great read and I am thoroughly looking forward to picking up the next book in the series!
Favorite quotes.
Page 172
Amelia: ‘That is true. It is most unfortunate that I was not born a man. Emerson would accept me then as a colleague; my money would support his work; what a splendid time we would have, working and quarreling together. Oh, it is a pity that I am a woman. Emerson would agree.’
‘I am not so sure,’ said Evelyn. There was a faint smile on her lips.
The very end on page 296 where Amelia goes on:
Evelyn was right. With the right person, under the right circumstances - it is perfectly splendid!
Favorite scenes
Page 257
The following transpires after
Lucas: ‘Perhaps you are right. Perhaps this is how it was meant to be. “There is a fatality that shapes our ends,” as Shakespeare has put it…’
‘If not precisely in those words,’ Emerson agreed. ‘May I congratulate you, my lord, on behaving like a true British nobleman. Will you heap coals of fire on our heads by joining us in toast to the engaged couple? Walter - come, Walter, wake up, Walter -‘
Further down page 257:
‘I am not so noble as that,’ he said, with a faint smile. ‘Excuse me. I think I want to be alone for a while.’
‘Off into the sunset,’ said Emerson, as Lucas’s retreating from was silhouetted against the west. ‘How theatrical these young persons are! Thank God for our sober, middle-aged common sense, eh, Peabody?’ I watched Evelyn and Walter walk away. His arm was about her waist; her head still rested on his shoulder, and if he felt pain, where it pressed against the bullet wound, he showed no signs of it. ‘Yes indeed,’ I replied sourly. ‘Thank God for it.’
The scene towards the end
I love that I didn’t know who all of the villains were. I did guess who one was about 3/4ths in but that didn’t bother me considering the story was almost over at that point. I have read mysteries before where as soon as a character is introduced you think they are probably the bad guy so to not know until near the end was great and I liked that it was still a surprise for me as well with the other villain.
I love how everything ends
In summary, this is the first mystery book I have really enjoyed reading since I read the Nancy Drew mysteries as a kid. I like that Amelia is a character in her 30s, that makes her more relatable to me (despite me not being in my 30s currently.) It was so fun to see her go back and forth with Emerson and seeing all of the characters interactions throughout was always interesting/and or entertaining.
There were multiple different times throughout the book where I laughed at the dialogue that was going on between characters and there were also a couple times where I got a bit emotional. All in all this was such a great read and I am thoroughly looking forward to picking up the next book in the series!
bribliography's review against another edition
5.0
ive only had amelia and emerson for five minutes but if anything ever happened to them i'd kill everyone in this room and then myself
ksraines217's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
checkers09's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
baileyisbookish's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
The main cast of characters are racist and supremacist and it was so clearly a huge part of their personalities. I loved the story but was disappointed with the number of problematic things said and displays of their crappy attitudes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Xenophobia, Misogyny, Racism, Colonisation, and Racial slurs
meadowlurk's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Lighthearted and so fun, but also a lot of problematic colonial vibes following British archaeologists in Egypt
lividphoenix's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
lennymckenny's review against another edition
1.0
Rich white lady goes to Egypt because like the white men who came before her, she felt entitled to the wonders and pilfering of Africa. To draw in all the white women reading this, she’s a snarky independent woman in a time when women are property. While in Egypt, the colonizer makes it clear that in addition to having no time for trifling men, she is far superior to the local, dark-skinned, dumb ass Egyptians. Shoulda seen the racism coming but the author came highly recommended to me. Also weak plot. Booo
cs_annamari's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25