Book Review: Crocodile on the Sandbank
Okay. I’ve already talked about picture books and children’s books, so here is a book for adults. Actually, mystery loving teens will also enjoy this one. We read it for my Teen Book Club once, and the reviews were favorable. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters is the first book in the Amelia Peabody mystery series. Miss Peabody is a 32 year-old English spinster of independent means and forceful personality, who has decided to go forth and see some of the world. She makes it as far as Egypt, where she falls in love with everything Egyptian. Except, of course, for the mysterious mummy who seems intent on causing mayhem, and is a bit too interested in Miss Peabody’s companion, Evelyn. The series is currently eighteen books long. So, fear not, you don’t have to worry about just getting interested in the series and then having to wait impatiently for the next book to come out. You have a bit of reading ahead of you before you get to that point.
Crocodile on the Sandbank takes place during the Victorian Age and is quite plainly a love letter to Egyptology. In view of this, it should not come as any great surprise to learn that “Elizabeth Peters” is a pseudomym for Barbara Mertz, Egyptologist and author of Red Land, Black Land and Temples, Tombs and Hieroglyphs (she is also Barbara Michaels, by the way).
This mystery is full of information about Egyptian archeology and Victorian social mores. This makes me particularly happy, as I love fiction that is informative as well as entertaining. The book doesn’t stop there, however. Oh, no. It also contains romance and comedy. Miss Peabody’s unique viewpoint alone is worth the price of admission. I feel that I should also point out that this is one of my default books to listen to on tape. If nothing in the book-on-tape section is looking good to me, I just listen to Crocodile on the Sandbank again. Barbara Rosenblat does an excellent job with all of the different voices. So, whichever way you choose to follow Amelia Peabody on her first trip to Egypt, you are sure to enjoy yourself while you are there.
For more information about Elizabeth Peters, check out her website: http://www.mpmbooks.com.
books, mystery, Teen Book Club, Crocodile on the Sandbank, Amelia Peabody, Elizabeth Peters, Barbara Mertz
October 17th, 2006 at 10:03 am
I may have to check that out. I’m always looking for books for my oldest daughter to read that might have a little educational value to them. I’ve recently started reading historical fiction and have found it to be very informative.
Thanks!
October 22nd, 2006 at 1:02 pm
I’m particularly fond of historical mysteries, so expect to see a few more reviews of those in the future. Do you have a favorite work of historical fiction?
July 27th, 2007 at 1:15 am
[...] At this point, I’m not really sure when I read this book for the first time. I do know that I’ve probably read it twenty or so times by now, though. I even bought the MP3 version from Audible. If you like audio books, this is one that I would actually recommend for purchase. It’s not the sort of story one reads only once, and never comes back to. Though originally targeted at the adult mystery market, this book is appropriate for the teen mystery fan. If you would like to read a more thorough review of this book, go here [...]