Egyptologist Amelia Peabody Emerson; her husband/scholar, Radcliffe Emerson, and son, Ramses, have quite a loyal following--among readers of their escapades and in Egypt, as they ferret out impostors and criminals, as well as proceed with their archaeological excavations. Author Peters’s Ph.D. in Egyptology provides a detail-rich setting of turn-of-the-century archaeology in the Valley of the Kings--in this episode the Emersons dig next door to Howard Carter’s yet undiscovered tomb of Tutankhamen. The eccentricities of the Emerson family are lavishly and deliciously presented by narrator Barbara Rosenblat. After nine unabridged recordings Rosenblat has an astute sense of each character, weaving caricature with suspense and wit. She delights listeners with the portraits while never allowing them to impede the suspense so carefully woven through the story. Amelia and her inscrutable, unpredictable and almost-grown son, Ramses, become partners in solving this mystery involving an American financier, a Southern belle, a spiritualist and a very un-Egyptian mummy at their new dig. There are ample opportunities for Rosenblat’s talents. Her performance is a pharaoh’s treasure.
Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1997
Duration: 14 hrs, 45 mins
DD ISBN: 9781449879983
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Novelist Benet Archdale and housemaid Carol Stratford are two young, single parents who have no reason to know each other. They become tangled in a nightmarish spiral of kidnap, fraud, family violence and death. Ruth Rendell creates psychological suspense in thrillers that are compulsively readable or, in this case, listenable. British actress Imelda Staunton's reading is perfectly paced, and the characters are well defined. You'll have a hard time turning it off.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 9 hrs
Publisher: BBC Audiobooks America/ Chivers
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
Emerson and Peabody are at it again! Uncovering antiquities takes a back-seat as the romantic archaeologists track down the master criminal who is stealing Egypt's ancient treasures. With the help of their precocious son, Ramses, the intrepid pair unravel this mystery in crowded bazaars, desert camps and the heart of the Black Pyramid. Barbara Rosenblat's reading fully measures up to the tale. She is a master of timing and nuance. Rosenblat's power for character interpretation has grown with each book in this amusing series. This is the best one yet.
Pub Date: N/A
Duration: 12 hrs
Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.
Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2026
© Copyright 2026 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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