The Serpent on the Crown

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 17

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 6 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling master of suspense, Elizabeth Peters, brings an exotic world of adventure, intrigue, and danger to vivid life, in a tale as powerful as ancient Egypt.

The Emersons have returned to the Valley of the Kings in 1922 and Amelia Peabody and her family look forward to delving once more into the age-old mysteries buried in Egypt's ever-shifting sands. But a widow's strange story, and even stranger request, is about to plunge them into a storm of secrets, treachery, and murder.

The woman, a well-known author, has come bearing an ill-gotten treasure, a golden likeness of a forgotten king, which she claims is cursed. She insists it has taken the life of her husband and unless it is returned to the tomb from which it was stolen, more people will die.

Amelia and her clan resolve to uncover the secrets of the statue's origins, setting off on a trail that twists and turns in directions they never anticipated, and, perhaps, toward an old nemesis with unscrupulous new designs. But each step toward the truth seems to reveal another peril, suggesting to the intrepid Amelia that the curse is more than mere superstition. And its next victim might well be a beloved family member...or Amelia Peabody herself.

A novel filled with riveting suspense, pulse-pounding action, and the vibrant life of a fascinating place and time, The Serpent on the Crown is the jewel in the crown of a grand master, the remarkable Elizabeth Peters.

Don't miss the rest of the Amelia Peabody series.

©2005 Elizabeth Peters (P)2005 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Peters injects plenty of humorous banter, lots of bluster from Emerson, and enough coy swipes at Victorian propriety to keep the story lively....A pleasant addition to the long-running series." (Booklist)

Abridged!

So disappointed that Audible offered this abridged version as next in the series when every book prior has been the full book - and they HAVE the full version of this book! I bought it without realizing, then wondered why it was only half the listening length as the others. Hard to follow with the story jumping from scene to scene and I was lost. I was disappointed in the author at first...problem solved! I just realized it's abridged. I wasted a credit and very disappointed!

Abridged

I am unhappy that I spent money on half the story. Why must my review be over 15 words?

ABRIDGED!!!!

I wish I could get my $ back because I detest abridged books and it was NOT clearly marked as such
I'll purchase the unabridged anyway because I must hear everything Amelia and fam have to say - I adore them.

Unsatisfactory

I wish I’d read the reviews. Had no idea it was only pieces of the story.

Abridged

I love this entire series, but this is an abridged recording of this book and is not labeled as such. I was very confused while listening to this, clearly missing some key events. The narrative also seemed jarring, jumping from scene to scene with no clear idea of how you got there. I was disappointed to have wasted a credit on this recording, especiallywhen the unabridged is worth the same amount. The unabridged recording is available, but you have to search for it specifically.