The Last Camel Died at Noon

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 6

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Susan O'Malley

Length: 13 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's Summary

The last camel is dead, and Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, her dashing husband, Emerson, and precocious son, Ramses, are in dire straits on the sun-scorched desert sands. Months before, back in cool, green England, Viscount Blacktower had approached them to find his son and his son's new bride, who have been missing in war-torn Sudan for over a decade. An enigmatic message scrawled on papyrus and a cryptic map had been delivered to Blacktower, awakening his hope that the couple was still alive.

Neither Amelia nor Emerson believes the message is authentic, but the treasure map proves an irresistible temptation. Now, deep in Nubia's vast wasteland, they discover too late how much treachery is afoot (and on camelback)...and survival depends on Amelia's solving a mystery as old as ancient Egypt and as timeless as greed and revenge.

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

©1991 Elizabeth Peters (P)2000 Blackstone Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"If Indiana Jones were female, a wife and mother who lived in Victorian times, he would be Amelia Peabody Emerson...Combining a fierce affection for her family with indefatigable independence, stalwart Amelia proves once again an immensely likable heroine." (Publishers Weekly)
"Another interest-holding and humorously told Amelia Peabody Victorian suspense tale." (School Library Journal)
"The plot twists and turns....it's delicious." (Washington Times)

Good Story, Painful Narration

I'm an Amelia Peabody junky but I must say that listening to this one read by Susan O'Malley is just plain painful. It's like listenting to a really bad cover of your favorite song - you just want to scream "Stop! You're doing it all wrong!" I think from now on I'll skip any books that aren't available with Barbara Rosenblat as the narrator and read the book the old-fashioned way, just so I don't have to endure listening to another of Susan O'Malley's readings. I'm sure she's well suited to other stories, but to hear Ameila Peabody without a well-bred British accent is just wrong. I'm not sure how the producer could even imaging doing the story without the accents - it just doesn't make any sense. I won't make this mistake again and I hope you don't either! Barbara Rosenblat IS Amelia Peabody!

The Last Camel Died at Noon

Susan O'Malley is no Barbara Rosenblat! I am so disappointed with this narrator - she almost ruins the story. The simple difference between the way O'Malley pronounces "Mama" as if Ramsey is from the Texas, and Rosenblat pronounces it with an uppercrust English accent completely changes the flow of the story... Truely there is no comparison.

Peters does it again, but disappointed with reader

I love all the Amelia Peabody books. Amelia, Emerson and Ramses make an incredible team. But I was very disappointed in this reader. She does a straight read with no voice changes for the characters. I have gotten so used to the other reader that I had a lot problems listening to this book's reader.

A different reader, alas.

After enjoying four previous novels read by Ms. Rosenblatt, this reading was not only unpleasant, it was intolerable. I tried to adjust to the new reader's non-english accent, raspy tone and flat inflection, but when she tried to voice Emerson I just gave up. Sadly disappointed and distressed, I wondered who had chosen someone without an appropriate English accent enlivened by Victorian overtones- a feature which made the other novels so authentic and energetic- to read this adventure. Sadly, I will never know how it comes out unless I read it in print.

One of my favorites

I'll freely admit that finding the Amelia Peabody series available through Audible.com was my primary reason for joining. This is one of my favorite series and have enjoyed them all immensely. However, I have made a conscious effort to stick with one reader, not this one. I would not suggest that there is anything wrong with her voice or style. She just did not provide life to the various characters in the same way that Barbara Rosenblatt does. Perhaps this is just what I have become used to, but I will stick with the other reader as much as possible.

Narrator

Depending on who you chose to listen to for your first Amelia Peabody book is who you would prefer. Some say that Susan O’Malley is better than Barbara Rosenblatt or vise versa. If you are used to listening to Susan rather than Barbara; Barbara may sound too animated. If you are used to Barbara; Susan may sound boring and very monotone.

If you have never heard any of the Amelia Peabody Series, I strongly suggest listening to Barbara Roseblatt’s rendition. At first, it may be a little hard to get the British accent and tone; but soon you can visually see the characters. While Susan O’Mally rendition is very monotonous and to the point; not allowing the characters to develop; which may disinterest you in the book altogether.

Choose wisely…

I gave the book at on star due to Narraration... Barbara rock's...

Once you've gone Rosenblatt, you'll never go back

My initial reaction to the O'Malley narration was overly harsh. She is really quite a decent reader, and truly does not speak in a monotone, but after the dramatic performances of narrator Barbara Rosenblatt, it is very much a "reading" as opposed to an amusingly British accented performance. If you'd not heard several consecutive books by Rosenblatt, the O'Malley reading would be just fine, but once you've gone Rosenblatt . . .

I Just Love Amelia

Another fabulous book about the Emersons. A bit different from the others, with most of the action taking place someplace other than Egypt. Also, I was happy to read a book in this series that did not revolve around "the master criminal."

In Audio, the Reader makes or breaks

I have all of the "Amelia Peabody" series of mysteries in hard and/or soft copy and many in audio. I'm going to have to read "The Last Camel Died at Noon" rather than listen while I quilt or travel, because the absence of Barbara Rosenblat as reader has made it "un-listenable". I found myself starting and going back because I just couldn't keep interested in the flat reading. Bummer!

a shame

I am unfortunately spoiled by the narration of Barbara Rosenblat. Since buying the first book of the Peabody Series, I have eagerly listen in too each sequence of books until the purchase of this audio book. Grrr, although the book is still very exciting, the narrator is most certainly NOT. It got to the point where I just went out and purchased a hard copy of the book, then to try to listen to the MONOTONE narration of Susan O'Malley. (funny enough at first I thought there was something wrong with my mp3 player adjusting the speed of the player making the track faster then slower). Thank goodness the next book of the series continue with Barbara Rosenblat. I rated this audio book two star only because of the narrator. As for the book itself it is outstanding 5 stars.