The Curse of the Pharaohs

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 2

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 11 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

The sun rides high over the British Empire and the light still sparkles brightly in Amelia Peabody's eye as she returns for her second adventure in archaeology and romantic mystery as recounted in her lively journal, The Curse of the Pharaohs.

It was Sir Henry's intention to ensure that no tomb had been overlooked in the previous expedition. Scarcely had the men been at work for three days when their spades uncovered the first of a series of steps cut into the rock.

The Times gave the story a full column, on page three. The next dispatch to come to Luxor, however, rated front-page headlines. Sir Henry Baskerville was dead. He was found next morning stiff and stark in his bed. On his face was a look of ghastly horror. On his high brow, inscribed in what appeared to be dried blood, was a crudely drawn uraeus serpent, the symbol of the divine pharaoh.

Instead of digging up the treasures of a lost age, it appeared that Amelia and her friend Radcliffe were excavating a deadly curse.

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

©1981 Elizabeth Peters (P)1990 Recorded Books LLC

Critic reviews

"Peters really knows how to spin romance and adventure into a mystery." (Philadelphia Inquirer)

I love the Amelia Peabody Series

What made the experience of listening to The Curse of the Pharaohs the most enjoyable?

The book is well read. And I absolutely adore the characters in thhis series.

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

I always smile a lot reading these books.

mystery and humor with a sprinkle of wisdom

If you could sum up The Curse of the Pharaohs in three words, what would they be?

Superstition, deception, far-sightedness.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Curse of the Pharaohs?

The midnight meeting between Amelia and Arthur Baskerville

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

New traits in Amelia's and Radcliff's personalities.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes, when Amelia fears for Emerson's life and runs to the ancient tomb to help her husband.

Any additional comments?

Light and amusing as they may be, Amelia's adventures give us a good insight of Egypt's history. The mysteries are well built, and the constant irony is a subterraneous piece of advice - moderation in all aspects of life.
Barbara Rosenblat's performance adds facets to the already rich personalities of the various characters.

Parasol Protectorate w/o the vampires and wolves

I have said it before and I'll say it again- this series reminds me so much of the Alexia Tarabotti series, especially since the last in that series was set in Egypt. This is the second in the series. I liked the first but I loved this one! The story was interesting and the characters were so well written. My only complaint is that I missed Walter and Eleanor. Rosenblat does an amazing job. She truly is Amelia Peabody.

I love Elizabeth Peters

Would you consider the audio edition of The Curse of the Pharaohs to be better than the print version?

The audio version is always different because you hear the characters the way someone else interprets them. The reader for this series is GREAT! I love to read the Amelia Peabody books but listening to them has been a pleasure.

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

There are always twists and turns in Ms. Peters' stories and surprises, too. She knows how to keep you involved with the story.

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

Barbara Rosenblat is very good as Amelia, but she does a pretty good Ramses, also.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes!

Any additional comments?

I have read other books by Elizabeth Peters and I like her style. I read "A Crocodile on the Sandbank" first and went on to read the Vicky Bliss series but I've never gotten all the Amelia Peabody books. I working to fix that shortcoming, now, with Audible Books.

FANTASTIC narrator

I rarely write reviews but I must after listening to this marvelous performance. This is a light and fun story, but what really makes it work is the awesome narrator. She does incredible voices for all the characters, mastering multiple accents. But more than that, she truly captures the voice and humor of the main character and the author. Her performance added tenfold to my enjoyment of this book!

Highly Entertaining

Love the story, the humor, and Barbara Rosenblat's narration. Her voice is perfect for Amelia.

Fun Victorian age adventure!

Let me start by saying this volume is the 2nd in a series. I enjoyed the first well enough to purchase the 2nd. There are more to come, which I intend to add to my personal library. The reader takes just the right tone and adds mightily to the enjoyment of this listen. Having said that, my chief, perhaps petty complaint is in the reading. The microphone seems to be set so close to the narrator's face or mouth, we the listeners are submitted to the reader's every moisture laden swallow, every slosh of spit, every moisture laden tongue sweep, as she carries on. Very much like listening to someone chew. This quirk was not only distracting, but nearly a no-go with me. Some people are sensitive to such sounds, myself included. I love my husband dearly, but can't stand even his chew/mouth sounds. Surely I can't be expected to listen to some stranger's machinations. My solution was to turn the sound way down so that I can barely hear the reader, which in turn fairly mutes the gurgle-slush. However, the room must be quiet for this method to work, or you won't hear the story at all. Or, perhaps the audio recording experts could easily take care of this problem. Meanwhile, yes, I enjoyed the story and think you will, too!

Excellent and Fun.

The characters were distinct and memorable. The plot suspenseful and the narration absorbing . Because of the combination, my imagination was in the plot. Loved the whole thing.

Just discovered Amelia Peabody!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Curse of the Pharaohs to be better than the print version?

Yes Rosenblat is an amazing narrator! She brings the characters to life!

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

Yes all the twists and turns, and the interactions between husband &wife!

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

Amelia she brings her to life. I could picture her in my head.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I loved the whole book!!

A Nice Surprise!

The story wasn't so pat as to be able to know the ending, yet it all ties together well - just enough complication to keep it interesting. The abilities of the narrator are exceptional. The number of complicated voices and accents were so well done that I had to remind myself it was just the one person!