Lord of the Silent

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 13

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 6 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

Undeterred by world war and enemy submarines, Amelia Peabody, grandmaster Elizabeth Peters' indomitable archaeologist-sleuth, once again sets sail for Egypt, where ghosts of an ancient past and specters of a present-day evil hover silently over an inscrutable land.

With son Ramses, his wife, Nefret, and a few unwelcome additions in tow, the elder Peabody-Emersons embark on a dangerous sea voyage to Alexandria, ultimately ending up in Cairo for their annual excavations. But in this autumn of 1915 the exotic, alluring city is not what it used to be. Cairo has been transformed into an armed camp teeming with enemy agents, and shockingly bold tomb robbers are brazenly desecrating the ancient sites.

Amelia's foremost priority is to prevent the War Office from pressing Ramses into service again, on the same sort of job that almost cost him his life the previous year. But in these terrible days of global conflict and relentless skullduggery, no place in Egypt is safe. Even remote Luxor provides no guarantee of safety, especially after Amelia discovers a fresh corpse resting in an ancient tomb.

The grim discovery presages further trouble for the Emersons, as the sinister conundrum pulls them all into a bubbling morass of corruption, intrigue, and international espionage deeper and more fiendish than any they have hitherto encountered. Death follows death, with abduction and an assault on Amelia herself intensifying the chaos of a world at war.

Yet there is an even darker danger in store for the Emersons. Can it be that one of Amelia's oldest and most dangerous adversaries will intervene to alter the family's destiny? Tantalizing clues suggest that this may be so and point toward an archaeological discovery of unparalleled importance, and the resurrection of a voice that has been silent for millennia.

Don't miss the rest of the Amelia Peabody series. You can also check out more of our Most Addictive Series.

©2001 Elizabeth Peters (P)2001 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"Readers will find all the delicious trappings of a vintage Peters extravaganza: lost tombs, kidnappings, deadly attacks, mummies, and sinister villains." (Publishers Weekly)

Elisabeth Peters is wasted on an abridged version

What does Barbara Rosenblat bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Barbara Rosenblat does very well as the narrator, and does a credible job of the male voices

You didn’t love this book... but did it have any redeeming qualities?

I like this book very much, but I will never again buy an Elisabeth Peters book in an abridged format. I enjoy her stories, but I also like her writing and the voice she brings to her books. Too much of this is lost in the abridgment.

abridged versions are terrible

After reading/listening to all the Amelia Peabody books I was VERY disappointed to see that several of them are only available in an abridged version. Half the story was gone including all the subtle action which makes this series so fantastic. Why, after producing 12 books would they choose to ruin 3 of them by only recording abridged versions? HUGE LETDOWN.

Wish I had the Unabridged version!

I have enjoyed the Peabody series, but the abridged version just skips TOO much! I will skip any abridged books in the series

Do not like the abridged version

I didn't pay attention and listen to the book. At the end I was sure I had missed something and then I noticed it was an abridge version. Hated it.

Abridged version leaves out too much

I've read all the Amelia Peabody books and have been listening to them while on the treadmill. I resisted getting any of the abridged ones until I ran out of unabridged. I must say, abridged books are terrible. As the other reviewers have said too much is left out.

Lord of the Silent

I wish I had read the reviews before purchasing. An unabridged version is pointless.

Abridged?!

The abridged version is NOT worth the money. What was the publisher thinking, abridging an Amelia Peabody book?! The next three books in the series are also only available in abridged versions. I will buy the UNABRIDGED versions as soon as they come out, but I'm never buying another abridged book.

Get the book

I started the recorded abridged version and didn't like feeling that important parts of the story were missing. If you are really an Amelia Peabody fan, go to the other part of Amazon and download the book.

Great narration but sadly abridged

What disappointed you about Lord of the Silent?

I loved this book and despite the reviews I decided to go ahead and get it in abridged form. It's my first abridged book and I have to say I agree with other reviewers that it was disappointing. It's such a great book and the parts that were left out made for gaping holes. When the book ended, I was left feeling incomplete and lost (first I checked my ipod to see if indeed I had listened to it all since it went so fast!). I need to dig out the paperback so I can enjoy the experience the book offered. Barbara Rosenblat's narration was superb as always but I think I'll skip the next two books since they're only offered in abridged format. Such a disappointment.

Would never have bought abridged if I had realized

What would have made Lord of the Silent better?

Having the whole story and not one cut short by someone else's editing. Elizabeth Peters' books are usually full of interesting details, well-developed characters and holding-your-breath scenes of excitement. Much of that is lacking in this unabridged version.

Did the plot keep you on the edge of your seat? How?

It lacked the spark and sizzle of Peters' full length tales.

What does Barbara Rosenblat bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Rosenblat is an excellent in this and every other audiobook I have heard her narrate. The variety and realism she brings to characters' voices are exceptional.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from Lord of the Silent?

NONE!

Any additional comments?

I am disappointed to realize that I bought an abridged version and that the unabridged version is not available through Audible. I would gladly use a second credit to get the full version. I will be much more diligent about future purchases.