There was a hole on the Blue Crown, in the centre of the brow. Here the uraeus serpent, the symbol of kingship, had reared its lordly head. ... ‘Poor little king,’ I said whimsically. ‘Without the guardian serpent on his brow he was helpless to prevent the humiliation of being passed from hand to greedy hand, and exposed to the gaze of the curious.' [loc. 472]
Egypt, 1922: Amelia Peabody and her family assemble to plan more excavations in the Valley of the Kings, but their attention is diverted by the appearance of Magda Petherick, writer of sensational novels and widow of a notorious collector of antiquities. She claims that the small golden statue she's brought with her is cursed: she deems it responsible for the death of her husband (and her dog). It certainly attracts attention, as evinced by the arrival of her stepchildren -- who believe they have a right to the statue -- and a number of other interested parties. Perhaps it's just a publicity stunt? But when Magda's body is found in the hotel gardens, rumours of the curse proliferate.
I've enjoyed most of the rest of the Amelia Peabody series, and had saved this and the next (last) in the series (Tomb of the Golden Bird) for a time when I wanted a light, cheering, well-researched read. It didn't disappoint. As is often the way with long series, the pleasures here have more to do with the ensemble cast than with the plot, though the latter is well-paced, the perils real and threatening, and the resolution satisfactory. Howard Carter appears in this novel, and of course 1922 is the year of his discovery of the lost tomb of Tutankhamon. Amelia's dreams of Abdullah indicate two undiscovered tombs in the Valley of the Kings ...
Exactly what I needed when I read it: gripping plot, likeable characters, humour and affectionate mockery. Plenty of fascinating historical detail, too -- not just about Ancient Egypt but about the Egypt of a century ago.
No comments:
Post a Comment