The Deeds of the Disturber

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 5

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 13 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

After an adventurous season spent excavating at Dahshoor, and narrowly averting the clutches of the Master Criminal, Victorian Egyptologist Amelia Peabody Emerson and her spouse prepare for a quiet summer in England. The social and domestic routine, though interrupted by the precocious escapades of their only child, Ramses, hardly seems much of a challenge for the indomitable Emersons.

But, rest assured, dear reader...domesticity does not prevail. When a night watchman mysteriously dies in front of the mummy Lady Henutmehit in the Egyptian room of the British Museum, Amelia is on the scene with her trusty parasol, ready to do battle with the malignant mummy.

Despite the appearance of an ancient sem priest and cryptic notes in hieroglyphics, Amelia surmises that a less-ancient villain is at work, a villain with evil plans for select members of the British archeological community, including her beloved Emerson. Is the villain plotting Emerson's demise, or something even more sinister?

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

©1988 Elizabeth Peters (P)1993 Recorded Books, Inc.

Excellent narrator!

I would not recommend starting the Amelia Peabody books with this, #5 in the series. But if you you've been to the British Museum - or imagine yourself there - with all the politics and machinations of archeologists back on their home turf? Add in murders, and it's a fun who done it.

Note: if you dislike children in your mysteries, Ramses will drive you nuts. A more precocious child cannot be imagined. In the long arc of the series, there are all sorts of nuggets that point to his future adult careers (or disguises). And, incidentally, a potential fatal flaw with the woman of his dreams. But that's all for the future.

I love the original narrator for this series, and have purchased them all from Audible. There is also a cast production available if that's your preference

My favorite in the series so far!

This is the 5th book in the Amelia Peabody series that I have read and it was my favorite.

The two cousins of Ramses were added to the story, and that made the story more entertaining with the cousins different personalities. I love Ramses; so I enjoyed seeing his interactions with these children.

I loved the love story between Amelia and Emerson. They are such a great couple.

You still get the murder and the mystery in the plot, but the whole family plot is excellent too.

I thoroughly enjoyed the audible!

Barbara Rosenblat, the narrator, was also superb.

Excellent Story and Narrator

Another entertaining story from the archeological detectives. Barbara Rosenblat's narration is spot on and adds energy to all the characters.

Wonderful as always!

Barbara Rosenblatt's reading of Elizabeth Peters' fun, well-developed characters is superb! Smart, funny, and interesting, yet wonderfully touching at the same time.

CURSES PEABODY..!!.. Jealousy Doesn’t Become You..!!

While this is absolutely my favorite series to date via Audible,.. and Barbara Rosenblat is my all time favorite audio performer.. I was nonetheless disappointed that the old jealousy chestnut was used.. tiresome..
Hurry up Peabody.. get back to Egypt, where you belong..!!.

Another Entertaining Listen

I enjoyed the “different” (London) setting and domestic, romantic, and familial (niece and nephew) conflicts. I love that after more than 10 years of marriage they are still so much in love. Lots going on in this story, never a dull moment. I did actually guess the culprit this time, but really, the mystery is only part of my pleasure in these books. A great portion is due to the fabulous narration of Barbara Rosenblatt, who imbues each character with distinct personality (voices, accents, and style of speaking).

First-Rate Mystery and Characters

I have read and/or listened to almost all of the Amelia Peabody books, but somehow I missed this one. Turns out it's one of the best.

"The Deeds of the Disturber" is unique in that it takes place entirely in England, rather than in turn-of-of-the-(20th)-century Egypt where the rest of these stories happen. Over the summer (the "off" season for Egyptian archaeological excavations) Emerson is determined to finish his "History of Ancient Egypt" for Oxford University Press, and Amelia and their son Ramses (who I judge to be about 10 at this point in the Peabody epic) accompany him to London. Of course they are caught up in a mystery, this one triggered by shenanigans surrounding a mummy plundered from Egypt by a British aristcrat and recently donated to the British Museum.

In addition to solving the mystery and furthering the romance of a feisty female journalist (an extreme rarity in the 1890s) and dealing with a totally obnoxious niece and nephew foisted on her for the summer by her despicable (and up until now estranged) brother, Amelia must cope with heretofore unknown feelings of jealousy for a beautiful Egyptian woman from Emerson's past, now encountered managing a London opium den.

Ramses has always been my favorite character in this series, and I particularly enjoy him as the super precocious, hyper loquacious little chap he is here. He's not so much fun as an adult (the characters age realistically over the 30-35 years covered by the books), but I love him just the same.

These are all great books, although their distinctive style means I usually take a break between them. I wouldn't start on this one (which is #5) without having read at least "The Crocodile on the Sandbank" (#1) and "The Lion in the Valley" (#4). And make SURE you get the Barbara Rosenblat narrations, any others pale by comparison.

Absolutely entertaining!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is the 5th book in the Amelia Peabody Series that I have listened to, and have never felt compelled to write a review. I do so now, because I am always so entertained on each and every book. I love the character, Amelia, as she writes in her journal and told in the first person by the VERY talented Barbara Rosenblat. Her voices for each of the characters is just great!

The writing is so funny. The sexual innuendo between Amelia and her husband is charming and amusing, as is the competitive nature between the spouses as they attempt to outwit the bad guys.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Of course Amelia. A progressive woman in the Victorian era who does it her way. Always strong, always opinionated and always ready to admit her errors (but never to her husband, just to you "dear reader").

But of course I love her blustering husband, as well, and their son Ramses is now coming into his own in assisting the crime solving duo.

Have you listened to any of Barbara Rosenblat’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Excellent! Don't know her background, but she must be a stage actress. She makes the story come alive.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

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Any additional comments?

Would recommend listening to them all starting with book 1. Each book is written as a serial and adds to the overall story line and relationship between Amelia and her husband.

Simply the best!

Knowing that the author and Barbara Rosenblat had a long and fruitful relationship—such that the former sought to include dialects to challenge the latter’s tremendous skill, it is strange that another narrator is reading this series again. Not for me. This is the voice that gives life to the characters and all of warmth, humor, and nuance the writing contains.

Another great story!

I love the adventures of Amelia and Emerson. They are eloquently told by the writer and narrator.