Title: Crocodile on the Sandbank (Amelia Peabody #1)

Author: Elizabeth Peters

Publisher: 1975

Genre: Mystery

Pages: 262

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Ebook; Monthly Theme - March

Amelia Peabody, that indomitable product of the Victorian age, embarks on her debut Egyptian adventure armed with unshakable self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course, a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run by the Emerson brothers-the irascible but dashing Radcliffe and the amiable Walter. Soon their little party is increased by one-one mummy that is, and a singularly lively example of the species.

Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn. Now Amelia finds herself up against an unknown enemy-and perilous forces that threaten to make her first Egyptian trip also her last . . .

This series has been on my TBR list for decades. Probably since I was a teen… I finally got around to reading this one and was pleasantly surprised. I expected a bit of outdated language and conventions and they were there. It’s hard to tell if some of these are due to attempting to place the story in the time set or because of the time period it was written. Either way, I tried to look past some of those problematic areas and found a delightful wry story of adventure and intrigue. I love Amelia and her commentaries on people and situations. I At times she really reminded me of a Jane Austen heroine. The big mystery wasn’t really that big, but I realize that this is the first book in a very long series. I look forward to exploring Amelia’s world more.

Amelia Peabody