The Jackal's Head

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Grace Conlin

Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins

Publisher's summary

Althea Tomlinson comes back to Egypt as just another tourist, showing the country to a spoiled 17-year-old girl. That's what she tells herself, anyway. Really, though, what drives her is a desire to discover the truth behind her father's disgrace and subsequent death.

That Althea knows something - something buried in her memory - is unquestionable. But what? Finding out will clear her father's name, certainly. It could also lead to Althea's death, because the secret is centuries old - as old as the treasure of Nefertiti.

©1968 Elizabeth Peters (P)1995 Blackstone Audio Inc.

Critic reviews

"Elizabeth Peters is truly great." (San Francisco Chronicle)

Timeless

This book is from the late 60s and it's as Good today as it was decades ago. Highly recommend it.

Predictable

So sorry to say the story was predictable and narration so so. I usually love Elizabeth Peters work.

The history

I love the Amelia Peabody series and was hoping this standalone Elizabeth Peters adventure romance set in Egypt would be similar…Not so much. The history was interesting, the story felt like cliffnotes, the romance was pathetic, and the ending was abrupt. I’m glad this wasn’t my first Elizabeth Peters novel. I never would have read the amazing Amelia Peabody and Radcliff Emerson series.

Old Attitude Toward Women

I might have really enjoyed this story when originally written, not so much now, and I know I would have been aggravated by some of it even then. I never liked John Wayne paddling women or physically putting them in their place. And unfortunately, there is too much of that here. One of the guys actually threatens to put the heroine over his knee. And the hero of the tale orders her around and forces her to do what he thinks best. It is a shame that the author, who was an Egyptologist in her own right included scenes like that. Otherwise it was a good read.

Good story line

But not Amelia Peabody Emerson and definitely not Barbara Rosenblat as narrator. No or reads like Barbara.

Prepping for Amelia

This book is set in Eygpt, like the Amelia Emerson series, but was written several years earlier. The archeologist John reminds me of Radcliffe Emerson, but the heroine, Tommy, is nothing like Amelia! Especially the end of the book - I could never see Amelia letting a man take care of a situation while she goes to a safe place. This is almost like a preparation for writing the Amelia series, but following the usual gender roles of the time (the 1960s). An interesting read, not as funny as many of her books, but enjoyable.

Good book…HORRIBLE ending

I hate it that the book ended that way. I had an inkling it might be written that way, and it down-right pisses me off. Silly of me, but that’s my opinion and I’m definitely sticking by it 😉😖🤬😡

Mostly Fun

American tourist Althea returns to Egypt for the first time in ten years, reawakening memories that could unlock clues to valuable secrets. This was a fun adventure, for the most part, but the casual violence by one of the main characters toward Althea was appalling. Otherwise, it was entertaining, though light and thin.

Ms. Conlin's narration is average, with some good voices, but others not as distinct.

Always Fun

This is a stand-alone book written by Elizabeth Peters and not part of her Amelia Peabody series. But I have to say it was a good, fun read. Not quite as good as her Amelia Peabody series, but still fun and good read. The plot was based in Egypt and there was a heroine and the bad guy, but definitely worth the read. Definitely recommend.

A Great Trial Run for the Melissa Peabody Series.

A bit of a "rougher" Radcliff Emerson character is introduced, as well as some concepts and themes that would emerge in the Amelia Peabody Series.