The Mummy Case

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Susan O’Malley

Length: 10 hrs

Publisher's Summary

The irascible husband of Victorian Egyptologist Amelia Peabody demonstrates again why he has been nicknamed "Father of Curses." Denied permission to dig at the pyramids of Dahshoor, Emerson is awarded instead the "pyramids" of Mazghunah: countless mounds of rubble in the midst of nowhere. Nothing in this barren spot seems worthy of interest - until an antiquities dealer is murdered in his Cairo shop.

When a sinister Egyptian spotted at the crime scene turns up in Mazghunah, Amelia can't resist following his trail. There's a mysterious scrap of papyrus and a missing mummy case to investigate, while she keeps at least one eye on their precocious son Ramses and his Egyptian cat. But the digging turns truly dangerous when Amelia and Emerson look for answers in an ancient tomb - one that could become their grave.

©1985 Elizabeth Peters (P)1999 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Between Amelia Peabody and Indiana Jones, it's Amelia - in wit and daring - a landslide." ( New York Times Book Review)
"[Elizabeth Peters] scores again with a riotously witty, tense, and cunningly constructed tale." ( Publishers Weekly)
"Amelia Peabody Emerson, archaeologist extraodinaire, and arguably the most potent female force to hit Egypt since Cleopatra, is digging again!" ( Philadelphia Inquirer)

Okay so the accent is missing....

Why Susan O'Malley chose to not do an English accent I don't know, but she captures the personality of Amelia, Emerson and Ramses perfectly. It's that practicality to the extreme of Amelia's that makes the stories entertaining and very funny. I may be the exception in preferring O'Malley's reading but I think she does a much better job of capturing the essence of the characters. As for the story itself, not my favorite, but nevertheless very enjoyable.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Better versions

This is a really fun series and I was so excited to see that Audible was beginning to carry it. However, this version has a vastly inferior narrator that will detract from the pleasure of the book for anyone who has already listened to the best. The author must have sold the rights to Blackstone early in her career before she could afford to be choosy about who would narrate. It will be worth your while to seek out this other narrator.

10 of 13 people found this review helpful

wonderful time

Great reader, great book. Barbara Rosenblat makes it come alive with her different voices.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Need that same narrator

I've listened to Book 1 and 2 of the Amelia Peabody series with Susan O'Malley narrating. I have also sampled the narration of Barbara Rosenblat. Rosenblat's cadence turns Amelia into a cold, unsensuous old maid. Her narration lacks the passion of Susan O'Malley's fetching and lively "conversation."

3 of 5 people found this review helpful

Susan O'Malley is not Barbara Rosenblatt-too bad!

The story itself is good and Ramses is pretty funny. The quality of the performance is so-so. There have been some edits and the sound quality is completely different and very obviously a splice. Also, if reading a book with British characters, it is best to have the correct accents. Look for the books read by Barbara Rosenblatt for the best performance of Amelia Peabody.

Strange inserts in narration

I loved the story, but the narration had several places that sounded "pasted in", as if the dialogue had to change after the fact to fit some politically correct editing. The voice of the pasted in parts was lower and more mature, so it seemed it was recorded years later. I couldn't tell any difference in the story line, but the change in narration was a little irritating.

Another case solved in grand fashion

If you like series of the wife and husband team, then you will enjoy this book as well. Amelia and Emerson go from one archeologist site to another and always finds a murder mystery to uncover. Their son Ramsey is right in the mix, too. While book reads overlong in some parts, it keeps you guessing and reading to see what happens next.

Enjoyed it but

I really enjoyed the first book much better. There was something wrong with the audio as the voice would change every now and then. It was an okay listen and did have a surprise ending.

Fun and engaging.

The book was well written and engaging. I was interested and looked forward to hearing more. I was confused by some parts that sounded different but my only guess is that it was parts that were added back in after it was unabridged.

I disagree, I prefer Susan O'Malley as narrator

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

yes

Any additional comments?

I see other people strongly prefer Barbers Rosenblatt. I think it just depends on which narrator you begin with. I could hardly listen to Barbers Rosenblatt. Maybe because I'm an american, but to me the inflections are distracting, she sounds older and heavier and reads more slowly. Susan O'malley is just more clear and snappy, which I feel she fits the character better.

If you're just starting the series, listen to the samples of both. But I recommend Susan O'Malley.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful