Status
Available
Call number
Collection
Publication
Atheneum (1988), Hardcover
Description
Fiction. Mystery. Historical Fiction. HTML: Can fear kill? When the body of a night watchman is found sprawled in the shadow of a rare nineteenth-Dynasty mummy case, a look of terror frozen on his face, panic ensues. No one doubts that the guard's untimely demise is the work of an ancient Egyptian curse. No one, that is, except that tart-tongued Victorian Egyptologist, Amelia Peabody, whose remarkable talent for criminal investigation has frustrated villains from London to Cairo. Fresh from their daring exploits in exotic Egypt, Amelia, her sexy archaeologist husband Emerson, and their catastrophically precocious son Ramses, have returned to their native England just in time to get wrapped up in the intrigue. It's a mystery worthy of Amelia's superior sleuthing, but can she elude the vile clutches of the real perpetrator long enough to uncover his identity?.… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member atimco
Ah, Elizabeth Peters, you've done it again!
In this installment, Amelia Peabody Emerson and her husband Radcliff Emerson are back from the latest archaeological season in Egypt with their son, Ramses. They are staying in London so that Emerson can finish his book with ready access to the records at
I'd give this four stars, but the mystery was a little too convoluted and at one crucial moment Amelia is guided by a strange dream she had. Rather too convenient, that. Also, it was pretty plain to the reader that Emerson was not involved in any extramarital affairs, so Amelia's worry and jealousy come across as silly. Not that jealousy generally makes much sense to the outsider, and the point is that it makes you irrational, but it did leave me a little impatient with Amelia for being so dense. But I guess that's part of what makes her such a human character; for all her strength and determination, she has some very vulnerable points.
Peters handles her characters so effortlessly, and they never are contorted into doing something uncharacteristic or hard to believe. And they are such lively people to read about! Whether it's Emerson growling through his favorite disguise (a big bushy beard), Ramses launching into one of his interminable speeches, or Amelia herself forging through a crowd with the point of her formidable parasol, they are outrageously themselves and yet somehow believable. Ramses' cousins Percy and Violet are humorous additions to the family circle this time around.
I'm starting to see why this series is such a great one in the world of detective fiction. The characters are fun, the historical setting of Victorian England feels real, the Egyptology is fascinating, the narrative voice is opinionated and distinctive, and the mysteries themselves aren't bad. It's a winning combination that has won a legion of fans.
And I can't say enough about Barbara Rosenblat's narration. I listened to this on audiobook and she understands Amelia's voice perfectly and often adds a little "hmm" or slight cough to accentuate the dialogue. Her voice for Emerson is great, too, and sometimes made me laugh aloud. It's a rich listening experience and though I own most of this series in print, I plan to work my way through it via the audiobooks at the library. It takes longer, but it's funnier this way, and I believe Rosenblat has recorded all the series so far.
So that's The Deeds of the Disturber. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Fun stuff!
In this installment, Amelia Peabody Emerson and her husband Radcliff Emerson are back from the latest archaeological season in Egypt with their son, Ramses. They are staying in London so that Emerson can finish his book with ready access to the records at
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the museum, and of course they get embroiled in the latest mystery. Two men have been found dead in front of the museum's latest addition to the Egypt Room, a female mummy. Is this really a message from an outraged supernatural source (as the Daily Yell would have us believe), or is there something even more sinister going on? Amelia is, of course, determined to find out. I'd give this four stars, but the mystery was a little too convoluted and at one crucial moment Amelia is guided by a strange dream she had. Rather too convenient, that. Also, it was pretty plain to the reader that Emerson was not involved in any extramarital affairs, so Amelia's worry and jealousy come across as silly. Not that jealousy generally makes much sense to the outsider, and the point is that it makes you irrational, but it did leave me a little impatient with Amelia for being so dense. But I guess that's part of what makes her such a human character; for all her strength and determination, she has some very vulnerable points.
Peters handles her characters so effortlessly, and they never are contorted into doing something uncharacteristic or hard to believe. And they are such lively people to read about! Whether it's Emerson growling through his favorite disguise (a big bushy beard), Ramses launching into one of his interminable speeches, or Amelia herself forging through a crowd with the point of her formidable parasol, they are outrageously themselves and yet somehow believable. Ramses' cousins Percy and Violet are humorous additions to the family circle this time around.
I'm starting to see why this series is such a great one in the world of detective fiction. The characters are fun, the historical setting of Victorian England feels real, the Egyptology is fascinating, the narrative voice is opinionated and distinctive, and the mysteries themselves aren't bad. It's a winning combination that has won a legion of fans.
And I can't say enough about Barbara Rosenblat's narration. I listened to this on audiobook and she understands Amelia's voice perfectly and often adds a little "hmm" or slight cough to accentuate the dialogue. Her voice for Emerson is great, too, and sometimes made me laugh aloud. It's a rich listening experience and though I own most of this series in print, I plan to work my way through it via the audiobooks at the library. It takes longer, but it's funnier this way, and I believe Rosenblat has recorded all the series so far.
So that's The Deeds of the Disturber. I'm looking forward to the rest of the series. Fun stuff!
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LibraryThing member brendajanefrank
This is my first Amelia Peabody and Elizabeth Peters mystery. The novel is set in Victorian times. Peabody, as her husband, Emerson, calls her, is in London with the entire family. This includes Ramses, their precocious young son, and her young niece, Violet, and nephew, Percy. The latter two are
The typical who-done-it mystery ensues in the British museum, with a mummy playing a prominent role. By the way, did you know that ground mummy has been used as a medicinal treatment for various diseases?
The family is VERY wealthy, residing in a mansion in London replete with servants of every sort, including footmen. Their language is quite florid. Peabody and Ramses use about 40 words for what Spenser (of the Robert Parker series) would say in three!
At first, I thought that this story is so “talky” that I couldn’t get through it. Then, I began to get into the mood of the socioeconomic milieu and enjoy it. To me, the mystery was an aside to portrait of the wealthy, elegant, intelligent, educated Victorian family. At breakfast Peabody tells a servant, “Take this toast away. . . it has become quite leathery.” She shops for custom-made frocks and tea gowns. The children wear sailor suits with hats and Violet wears ruffles and ribbons.
Particularly amusing are the most discreet innuendos to Peabody and Emerson’s busy and most satisfying sex life. Face it, it’s difficult to be spontaneous in a house filled with servants who assist in dressing, undressing, filling the bath, delivering mail, announcing guests and tea time, dinner time, etc.
Violet, a rather slow child, is noted for her tendency to gobble every teacake, biscuit and muffin within reach. Peabody notices that she is inflating like a frog and attempts, generally futilely, to restrict her consumption of sweets.
Unlike the rest of the clan, dear Violet is a creature of few words. When Percy and Ramses suffer their frequent mishaps, usually involving tussles between them, Violet utters phrases such as, “Dead! Dead!” or “Nasty! Nasty!”
In short, the mystery seemed to be an excuse for displaying the opulence of the British Victorian era and the eccentricities of the Emerson-Peabody entourage, an amusing setting well-worth visiting.
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the offspring of her very disagreeable brother, James, who foisted them off for a long period of at least six weeks. The typical who-done-it mystery ensues in the British museum, with a mummy playing a prominent role. By the way, did you know that ground mummy has been used as a medicinal treatment for various diseases?
The family is VERY wealthy, residing in a mansion in London replete with servants of every sort, including footmen. Their language is quite florid. Peabody and Ramses use about 40 words for what Spenser (of the Robert Parker series) would say in three!
At first, I thought that this story is so “talky” that I couldn’t get through it. Then, I began to get into the mood of the socioeconomic milieu and enjoy it. To me, the mystery was an aside to portrait of the wealthy, elegant, intelligent, educated Victorian family. At breakfast Peabody tells a servant, “Take this toast away. . . it has become quite leathery.” She shops for custom-made frocks and tea gowns. The children wear sailor suits with hats and Violet wears ruffles and ribbons.
Particularly amusing are the most discreet innuendos to Peabody and Emerson’s busy and most satisfying sex life. Face it, it’s difficult to be spontaneous in a house filled with servants who assist in dressing, undressing, filling the bath, delivering mail, announcing guests and tea time, dinner time, etc.
Violet, a rather slow child, is noted for her tendency to gobble every teacake, biscuit and muffin within reach. Peabody notices that she is inflating like a frog and attempts, generally futilely, to restrict her consumption of sweets.
Unlike the rest of the clan, dear Violet is a creature of few words. When Percy and Ramses suffer their frequent mishaps, usually involving tussles between them, Violet utters phrases such as, “Dead! Dead!” or “Nasty! Nasty!”
In short, the mystery seemed to be an excuse for displaying the opulence of the British Victorian era and the eccentricities of the Emerson-Peabody entourage, an amusing setting well-worth visiting.
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LibraryThing member paradoxosalpha
"Compared to London, Egypt is a veritable health resort," remarks Amelia Peabody Emerson in this fifth of the novels which she narrates. This one is the first, though, which is set principally in England, with a mere bit of preamble beforehand in Egypt, for a geographic reversal of the prior books.
Radcliffe Emerson is supposed to be working on his scholarly treatise in London, but it goes without saying that solving puzzling crimes precludes such pedestrian concerns for most of the story. The book is positively bursting with contempt for British Museum curator and egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge, an accurately-named historical character despite the occasional reference to "Madame Blatantowski" and other semi-pseudonymous Victorian figures.
The Deeds of the Disturber has nearly everything one could wish for from a novel in this line: perplexing murders, ominous curses, sinister ceremonies, romantic jealousies, syphilitic aristocrats, and an opium den. A series of incidents involving the young Ramses and his visiting cousins doesn't reveal itself as a parallel plot until very late in the story. As a continuation of the previous books, it further develops a number of existing characters--not only the Emersons and their household, but also the journalist Kevin O'Connell--and the new ones it adds are all interesting. The mystery element is amply puzzling, and some pieces of it even defeat Amelia herself until all is revealed to the reader's satisfaction.
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This change also condenses the time-line, so that readers don't have to wait until the next year's archaeological season in Egypt to pick up the thread of the story.Radcliffe Emerson is supposed to be working on his scholarly treatise in London, but it goes without saying that solving puzzling crimes precludes such pedestrian concerns for most of the story. The book is positively bursting with contempt for British Museum curator and egyptologist E. A. Wallis Budge, an accurately-named historical character despite the occasional reference to "Madame Blatantowski" and other semi-pseudonymous Victorian figures.
The Deeds of the Disturber has nearly everything one could wish for from a novel in this line: perplexing murders, ominous curses, sinister ceremonies, romantic jealousies, syphilitic aristocrats, and an opium den. A series of incidents involving the young Ramses and his visiting cousins doesn't reveal itself as a parallel plot until very late in the story. As a continuation of the previous books, it further develops a number of existing characters--not only the Emersons and their household, but also the journalist Kevin O'Connell--and the new ones it adds are all interesting. The mystery element is amply puzzling, and some pieces of it even defeat Amelia herself until all is revealed to the reader's satisfaction.
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LibraryThing member sdramsey
If all the Amelia Peabody books were available in audiobook format from my library, that might be all I'd read for a while! :) What does that tell you? Still loving these books many years after the first time I read them.
LibraryThing member riverwillow
The Emersons have returned from Egypt following the escapades in 'Lion in the Valley' and they take up residence in Evelyn and Walter's London home while Emerson completes a manuscript. Inevitably the Emerson's get drawn into a mystery as rumours of a curse associated with a mummy housed in the
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British Museum circulate. There are some nice snapshots of aspects of contemporary London in all its squalor, the opium dens, beggars and I particularly liked the spiritualist 'Madame Blatantowski', who tries to commune with the spirit of the mummy. It was nice to see a more human side to Ramses as he tries to cope with his horrid cousins. Very entertaining. Show Less
LibraryThing member Crewman_Number_6
I don't think this book was as strong as the others in the series. Maybe it is because it wasn't set in Egypt.
LibraryThing member Bookmarque
I didn’t think that this was the best one of the series. It had a plot but it wasn’t very interesting. The romantic tension between the girl reporter and our old friend Kevin O’Connell was a little forced. There wasn’t a clear suspect to suspect in this one. The villain was pulled out of
Luckily there was humor and the writing was as good as always.
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nowhere & we readers didn’t even really have anyone in mind to think about. Yah, a weak attempt at framing the aristocracy was around but I didn’t even have interest in it. Luckily there was humor and the writing was as good as always.
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
This was a nice change of pace from the earlier novels - a new setting, and some additional characters liven up the series. One of the funniest things about this series is that Amelia portrays herself and spouse as more perceptive than ordinary and more capable than ordinary - and yet Ms. Peters
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subtly pokes fun at that attitude with hints that things are otherwise than they seem. I'm liking Ramses more with each novel. Show Less
LibraryThing member kayceel
Amelia and Emerson compete to solve a mysterious death at the British Museum. We meet Miss. Minton, an aristocratic young woman who writes for a newspaper and bears a striking resemblance to Amelia.
It's nice to have a story based in London - we get to see the Emersons' home life, and we also get
Fun and funny - recommended.
It's nice to have a story based in London - we get to see the Emersons' home life, and we also get
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our fist experience with Amelia's bratty nephew and niece, who spend most of the book tormenting Ramses off screen.Fun and funny - recommended.
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LibraryThing member tdfangirl
This book is definitely a change of pace for Peabody and Emerson. Instead of being set in Egypt, like the first four books in the series, this one takes place in London, though the mystery still centers around Egyptology.Ramses became infinitely more interesting to me in this book. Before he was a
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fun sort of curiosity, but now i'm taking him much more seriously as a character. His cousins? Are horrid.I particularly liked the insertion of jealously on the part of both Peabody and Emerson. It's about time we had a little conflict in their otherwise fantastic relationship, heh.The mystery itself was great; I actually gasped when the villain was revealed. Show Less
LibraryThing member nbsp
Amelia Peabody Chron #5. Loved the tone. Crisp, funny dialogue. Set in Egypt. Son Ramses is forbidden but snoops anyway. Power struggles among husband, wife and son seem realistic and add a backdrop of humor to the plot.
LibraryThing member Urquhart
Peters is a fantastic writer in the genre of Wilkie Collins and a joy to listen to on audiobook with narration by Rosenblatt.
However, through out the book the way over the top abusive manner of Amelia Peabody towards her son Ramses is something that I do not get. Am I the only one bothered by this
Urquhart
However, through out the book the way over the top abusive manner of Amelia Peabody towards her son Ramses is something that I do not get. Am I the only one bothered by this
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uninterrupted cruelty? And does Amelia have to disdain everyone? It becomes very over done after a while.Urquhart
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LibraryThing member mariabiblioteca
How is it that I'm only just now discovering the joy that is Elizabeth Peters? I've seen her books in the library before, of course, but I never really looked at them until I picked up this paperback in a rummage sale months ago, thinking it sounded interesting. I finally got around to reading it,
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and I enjoyed it so much! It's very witty historical fiction, and it was delicious to discover the delightful Amelia Peabody for the first time. Show Less
LibraryThing member Condorena
This series so far continues to such fun to read that I wonder why I wait so long between books.
LibraryThing member Pmaurer
Mystery set in the early years of Amelia, but much like other of the books in the series. Good popcorn fiction to listen to at the gym.
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
Deeds of the Disturber is a romp! It takes place in England during the off season. Of course there are death threats and mummies and the precocious Ramses driving the story. Amelia is just as courageous as ever; I love that she isn't a swooning heroine who needs to be rescued.
LibraryThing member pussreboots
The Deeds of the Disturber by Elizabeth Peters is the fifth book in the Amelia Peabody series. It's one of two books that doesn't take place in Egypt (the other being the last in the series, which takes place in Palestine).
It's the off season and while the Emersons are home in England. Amelia is
Although this should be their quiet time, the Emersons are pulled into a murder mystery involving a body left in an ornate Egyptian coffin. There is also an opium den and a man dressing as an Egyptian priest to cast doubt on the nature of the murder.
As it happened, I was listening to this audio (read by Barbara Rosenblat) as I was also reading The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy Springer. Both share similarities in the threat of forced marriage and far away problems surfacing in violence in London. I suspect that both are nods in their own way to Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet.
It's the off season and while the Emersons are home in England. Amelia is
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tricked into caring for her niece and nephew. Ramses, their precocious son, is in for months of hell.Although this should be their quiet time, the Emersons are pulled into a murder mystery involving a body left in an ornate Egyptian coffin. There is also an opium den and a man dressing as an Egyptian priest to cast doubt on the nature of the murder.
As it happened, I was listening to this audio (read by Barbara Rosenblat) as I was also reading The Case of the Peculiar Pink Fan by Nancy Springer. Both share similarities in the threat of forced marriage and far away problems surfacing in violence in London. I suspect that both are nods in their own way to Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet.
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LibraryThing member Kathy89
Amelia, Emerson and their 8 yr old son Ramses, are all involved in solving the case of the murdered man in front of the Egyptian mummy at British Museum. Ramses is a genius on the Shelton Cooper level but in the late 1800s. Amelia and Emerson are the Victorian Nick and Nora Charles with a lot of
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silly banter. With a little assist from the police (thanks to Ramses) they solve the case of mysterious cults, remedies, masks and costumes. Show Less
LibraryThing member themulhern
Same as the rest, although set in England. These are so much the same that I will certainly get tired of them eventually.
LibraryThing member leslie.98
2019 reread via Recorded Books audiobook narrated by Barbara Rosenblat. I am downgrading my rating from 3* to 2.5*. I was particularly irritated by Peabody's attitude towards Ramses in this entry in the series. Other aspects that disappointed me were her jealousy and the English (instead of
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Egyptian) setting... Show Less
LibraryThing member a-shelf-apart
Based on how many sentences I highlighted to add as quotes, this is my favourite Peabody mystery yet.
Yes, the mysteries are repetitive, but it's saved (for me) by Amelia's narrative voice and my love for this family (and their love for each other). Ramses gets better every book; I just wish Amelia
Yes, the mysteries are repetitive, but it's saved (for me) by Amelia's narrative voice and my love for this family (and their love for each other). Ramses gets better every book; I just wish Amelia
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would start listening to him, because he has a better grasp of what's going on than 90% of the adults around him. I suspect the day he starts being treated as a equal isn't far away, though. Show Less
LibraryThing member DrLed
Synopsis: Summer in London isn't pleasant simply because of the air pollution mixed with the fog. Peabody's brother asks that the Emersons host his children for the summer; Ramses isn't pleased, but continues to work on his experiments as well as keeping abreast of the goings-ons of his parents.
Review: This was very verbose, and not just from Ramses. The final chapter was given over to explaining the outcome; I wasn't enamored of this bit of writing.
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Murders occur in and near the British Museum, pulling Emerson and Amelia into the mystery. Drugs and debauchery figure into the murders, along with involvement of some of the Royals. A woman from Emerson's past emerges.Review: This was very verbose, and not just from Ramses. The final chapter was given over to explaining the outcome; I wasn't enamored of this bit of writing.
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LibraryThing member etxgardener
The Emersons are absent from Egypt in the fifth novel in Elizabeth Peters’ delightful mystery series. The book opens with the appearance of Amelia’s awful brother showing up on her doorstep asking for her to take care of his two children – Violet and Percy – for the summer. Against her
As usual, these books read like the female version of a young boys adventure and are great fun.
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better judgement, Amelia agrees. Percy, who is a toady obviously up to no good, and Ramses hate each other on sight. Violet is a spoiled, simpering brat who eats too much and flies into hysterics at a moment’s notice. But meanwhile, there is apparently a “curse” on a mummy at the British Museum and a guard turns up dead. Amelia and Emerson are on a hunt for the killer that ;leads them to an opium den where Radcliffe encounters someone from his past.As usual, these books read like the female version of a young boys adventure and are great fun.
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LibraryThing member Lauren2013
The Deeds of the Disturber
3.5 Stars
Amelia and her family return to England, where they learn of the mysterious death of a night watchman at the British Museum. When another man dies under suspicious circumstances, rumors abound concerning a mummy curse, and the Emersons find themselves wrangled
Elizabeth Peters is a master of social satire with her tongue-in-cheek descriptions of British society and their sense of superiority. Nevertheless, this installment in the series has its problems.
To begin with, the mystery has potential as Amelia employs her detecting skills on British soil. However, the pacing is rather slow until the last few action-packed chapters (which earn the book an extra half-star), and the eventual explanation is convoluted and not altogether logical.
Moreover, Amelia can be exceedingly annoying at times, which is most apparent in her decided lack of communication with Emerson leading to completely unnecessary angst in their relationship. That said, there is some excellent character growth for them both as details of his past prior to his meeting Amelia come to light.
Ramses, as always, provides excellent comic relief and his antics are hilarious. In this regard, Amelia finally comes up to snuff and demonstrates an excellent understanding of her son's nature whenher obnoxious nephew's manipulative bullying comes to light .
While this installment is an improvement on the absurdity of the last, it still does not quite meet the expectations set by the first three books.
3.5 Stars
Amelia and her family return to England, where they learn of the mysterious death of a night watchman at the British Museum. When another man dies under suspicious circumstances, rumors abound concerning a mummy curse, and the Emersons find themselves wrangled
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into investigating. Elizabeth Peters is a master of social satire with her tongue-in-cheek descriptions of British society and their sense of superiority. Nevertheless, this installment in the series has its problems.
To begin with, the mystery has potential as Amelia employs her detecting skills on British soil. However, the pacing is rather slow until the last few action-packed chapters (which earn the book an extra half-star), and the eventual explanation is convoluted and not altogether logical.
Moreover, Amelia can be exceedingly annoying at times, which is most apparent in her decided lack of communication with Emerson leading to completely unnecessary angst in their relationship. That said, there is some excellent character growth for them both as details of his past prior to his meeting Amelia come to light.
Ramses, as always, provides excellent comic relief and his antics are hilarious. In this regard, Amelia finally comes up to snuff and demonstrates an excellent understanding of her son's nature when
While this installment is an improvement on the absurdity of the last, it still does not quite meet the expectations set by the first three books.
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LibraryThing member EmpressReece
Im a sucker for exotic locales, so I didnt think i would care for this story being set in England but I was pleasantly surprised. It was a great story and alot of fun! Cant wait to start the next one....
Subjects
Language
Original publication date
1989-05-01
Physical description
400 p.; 6.6 inches
ISBN
0380731959 / 9780380731954