Tomb of the Golden Bird

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 18

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 13 hrs and 43 mins

Publisher's summary

Convinced that the tomb of the little-known King Tutankhamen lies somewhere in the Valley of the Kings, eminent Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson and his intrepid wife, Amelia Peabody, seem to have hit a wall. Having been banned forever from the East Valley, Emerson, against Amelia's advice, has tried desperately to persuade Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter to relinquish their digging rights. But Emerson's trickery has backfired, and his insistent interest in the site has made his rivals all the more determined to keep the Emerson clan away.

Powerless to intervene but determined to stay close to the unattainable tomb, the family returns to Luxor and prepares to continue their dig in the less promising West Valley, and to watch from the sidelines as Carter and Carnarvon "discover" the greatest Egyptian treasure of all time: King Tut's tomb. But before their own excavation can get underway, Emerson and his son, Ramses, find themselves lured into a trap by a strange group of villains ominously demanding, "Where is he?"

Driven by distress, and, of course, Amelia's insatiable curiosity, the Emersons embark on a quest to uncover who "he" is and why "he" must be found, only to discover that the answer is uncomfortably close to home. Now Amelia must find a way to protect her family, and perhaps even her would-be nemesis, from the sinister forces that will stop at nothing to succeed in the nefarious plot that threatens the peace of the entire region.

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

©2006 Elizabeth Peters (P)2006 HarperCollinsPublishers

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Solo Narration - Female, 2007

"Once again Peters delivers an irresistible mix of archeology, action, humor, and a mystery that only the redoubtable Amelia can solve." (Publishers Weekly)
"It's a continuing pleasure for mystery fans to be drawn into the Emersons' unusual extended circle." (Booklist)

the beginning or the end....

I started the Amelia Peabody series with this audio book that I found on sale a couple of years ago. It started me on a journey through Egypt with some fascinating and fun characters. I got my friends hooked on the series and everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the journey. The narrator makes the story come alive, giving each character its own personality as dictated by the author's wonderful writing style. Yes, there are some slow parts, but stick with it and you won't be disappointed! If possible, listen to in order, starting with Crocodile on the Sandbank. Truly a fine experience.

Not a triumphant finish, but decent enough

Apart from being the King Tut episode, there's not much else that sticks out about this one. It definitely hits on all the major tropes of the series (young lovers, a delightful impersonation by Sethos, comical humiliation of Emerson's enemies). I guess I'm just bummed that the Emersons don't get to triumph in the end, though it would have been quite a departure from history.

Amelia at her Best

Once again Amelia saves the day and her family. A great series with some actual historical figures thrown in.

One of The Best of The Series

This part of the series has a lot of references to the British/French occupation of the Region and the various political machinations within the region and, of course, the involvement of the Emersons. Also, the discovery of the Century. Barbara Rosenblatt's narrative is wonderful!

Love, love this series

I have both read and listened to all of Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels books many, many times. I love them all and Barbara Rosenblat is an amazing reader.

Never a disappointment-

What did you love best about Tomb of the Golden Bird?

Both Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Rosenblat are a joy to listen to. Great characters matched with excellent voicing make a delightful experience.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I just love Amelia! She is "real."

Which character – as performed by Barbara Rosenblat – was your favorite?

I love her voicing of Emerson's "Hmmph..." remarks.

A Fitting End to a Wonderful Series

If I had to pick a book series to take to my grave or to the moon Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody Series would be one of my top choices. I have loved this series- the family, the mysteries and intrigue and the history of Egypt and archeology. Mrs Peters consistently weaved and developed her stories and this one shines as all others have before. For me, reading this was fun because I saw the King Tut exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY in 1979. Enjoying the discovery of the tomb through the eyes of the Emersons could not be a better story. The end of this book and series is entirely satisfying. It is sad to think that Elizabeth Peters (Barbara Mertz) is no longer with us but what a wonderful legacy she left us. What makes this series so outstanding is both the depth of the character development, the humor and the weaving of a great story. If you love this series as much as I do, I commend her Amelia Peabody's Egypt- A Compendium, which offers the history and detail around the world of the Emerson'\s' Egypt. I wish there were more but am grateful for such a fun run.

Finally, I have loved Barbara Rosenblat as the narrator. She is Amelia Peabody (as others have said in reviews). and everyone else in the story (love her Emerson outbursts). Her ability to capture the unique personalities of all the characters in the series is truly marvelous. I now assiduously look for new Barbara Rosenblat recordings on Audible. She is truly an master of her medium. While I can't have any more Emerson tales, I can enjoy her amazing voice and ability to bring life to other authors' characters.

To both Barbara Mertz and Barbara Rosenblat-thank you!

Great take on the King Tut discovery

Would you consider the audio edition of Tomb of the Golden Bird to be better than the print version?

Definitely?! I love Barbara's telling, she brings it to life!

What was one of the most memorable moments of Tomb of the Golden Bird?

It's a great story start to finish, no particular moment stands out more than any other, just sad to see this series come to a close.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I always laugh out loud with these books, such pick-me-ups!

This episode does not disappoint

Love the story & the narration is perfect! The alternate view of history sparks your interests and the characters make the story.

Amelia Peabody’s best!

This chapter of the Amelia Peabody series was skillfully constructed. The research into writing a fictional account on real life events were unrivaled of any of her previous experiences. A must read!!!