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UK Authors - Mystery |
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Falcon at the Portal |
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 Falcon at the Portal byElizabeth Peters Avon Books, 2000 ISBN 0380798573 Reviewed by our UK Editor Rachel A. Hyde This is the latest Amelia Peabody mystery to become available in paperback and it takes us forward to 1911. The Peabodys are going to Egypt, not only for their annual dig, but for another occasion too; the marriage of Amelia’s niece Lia to David. But David soon finds himself in trouble for selling fake Egyptian artefacts and a body is found at the bottom of their newly-dug excavation shaft. As if things cannot get any worse - has Ramses really fathered a child with a local prostitute? Elizabeth Peters’ earlier books were full of action, humor and adventure delivered at a fast pace . Sometimes this was at the expense of character development. Now her later novels have slowed the pace down as she concentrates far more on the characters and their relationships. They still have adventures of course. But there is time taken as well to delineate their daily lives. The story is told from more than one viewpoint a la Wilkie Collins, a device that works well. There are some fine descriptions of Egypt in the early 20th century, and as usual, plenty of wit, more serious and even tragic moments, and hints at darker times to come in the next book He Shall Thunder in the Sky. At times I yearned for the earlier tales that were replete with master criminals, sinister secrets and a sense of heightened enthusiasm. Combining the two aspects will be a feat indeed, and this is certainly the author's intention as characters grow up, change and move on. |
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