Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first book of Elizabeth Peters’ Egyptian cosy mystery series and the first novel I have read from it. Years ago, I had read Christian Jacq’s Ramses series with great pleasure. Now I remember how pleasant it was to read a series about Egypt. Blended with sweet romance and amusing mysteries in Egypt, Amelia Peabody series will be an excellent choice, especially for those who want to spice up their reading habits.
Crocodile on the Sandbank is about the adventures of Amelia Peabody. She has just inherited a large amount of money and sees herself as a highly intelligent, thirty-two-year-old spinster. In the first book of the series,Crocodile on the Sandbank, Amelia, after losing her beloved father, decides to follow his steps and decides that she wants to see the world. She continues her trip with her dear Evelyn, whom she met in Rome with an interesting coincidence. She immediately takes her under her protection, and they go to Egypt together. In Egypt, somehow they meet with two archaeologist brothers, and the real adventure begins after that inCrocodile on the Sandbank.
An excellent character inCrocodile on the Sandbank
While readingCrocodile on the Sandbank, I thought about how exquisite Amelia Peabody was. She is a powerful and pleasant woman character to read. I mean, who wouldn’t love an elegant British woman who nudges people with her umbrella to make her way through? And of course, Elizabeth Peters, who is as cute as the character she created, was very loyal to Egyptian history while writing the book and even the whole series.
In other words, if you remember the things you read in the book, you can learn a few things about Egypt. I would recommendCrocodile on the Sandbank if you are looking for a lovely book that will make you smile. And also you can learn a few things about Egypt on the way. It can also be useful for those who want to lose themselves in a new series. Enjoy!
Crocodile on the Sandbank
Crocodile on the Sandbank: Amelia Peabody is Elizabeth Peters’ most brilliant and best-loved creation, a thoroughly Victorian feminist who takes the stuffy world of archaeology by storm with her shocking men’s pants and no-nonsense attitude!
In this first adventure, Crocodile on the Sandbank, our headstrong heroine decides to use her so substantial inheritance to see the world. On her travels, she rescues a gentlewoman in distress – Evelyn Barton-Forbes – and so the two become friends. The two companions continue to Egypt where they face mysteries, mummies and the redoubtable Radcliffe Emerson, an outspoken archaeologist, who doesn’t need women to help him solve mysteries — at least that’s what he thinks!
Elizabeth Peters
Barbara Louise Mertz (September 29, 1927 – August 8, 2013) was an American author who wrote under her own name as well as under the pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels. In 1952, she received a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. While she was best known for her mystery and suspense novels, in the 1960s she authored two books on ancient Egypt, both of which have remained in print ever since.
Barbara Gross was born on September 29, 1927, in Canton, Illinois. She graduated from the University of Chicago with a bachelor’s degree in 1947, a master’s degree in 1950, and a PhD in Egyptology in 1952, having studied with John A. Wilson. She authored two books on ancient Egypt (both of which have been continuously in print since first publication), but primarily wrote mystery and suspense novels. She became a published writer in 1964. She was married to Richard Mertz for 19 years (1950-1969) which ended in divorce. They had two children, Peter and Elizabeth Mertz.
Under the name Barbara Michaels, she wrote primarily gothic and supernatural thrillers. Her publisher chose that pseudonym since Mertz had already published one non-fiction book on ancient Egypt, and the publisher did not want Mertz’s novels to be confused with her academic work. Under the pseudonym Elizabeth Peters, Mertz published mysteries, including her Amelia Peabody historical mystery series, using a nom de plume drawn from the names of her two children.
She was a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of KMT, (“A Modern Journal of Ancient Egypt”), Egypt Exploration Society, and the James Henry Breasted Circle of the University of Chicago Oriental Institute. Mertz was also a feminist, a topic that frequently arose in her fiction, and in her professional life. Mertz founded “Malice Domestic”, a Washington-based organization for women mystery writers, “because she thought men were getting all the prizes.” She also started a scholarship for women writers at Hood College. Mertz died at her home in Maryland on August 8, 2013.
Mertz received a number of award wins and nominations from the mystery community. Her first recognition came when Trojan Gold was nominated for the 1988 Anthony Award in the “Best Novel” category; the following year, Naked Once More won the 1989 Agatha Award in the same category. Following this Mertz earned a series of Agatha Award “Best Novel” nominations, including The Last Camel Died at Noon in 1991; The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog in 1992; Night Train to Memphis in 1994; Seeing a Large Cat in 1997; The Ape Who Guards the Balance in 1998; and He Shall Thunder in the Sky in 2000 which also received an Anthony Award “Best Novel” nomination in 2001.
Mertz received a final Agatha Award nomination for “Best Novel” in 2002 for The Golden One and won the “Best Non-fiction Work” the following year for Amelia Peabody’s Egypt: A Compendium, which also received an Edgar Award nomination in 2004 in the “Best Critical / Biographical Work” category.Crocodile on the Sandbank is the first book in the series.
Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
