Crocodile on the Sandbank

My friend and fellow author, Cheryl Stilwell, loves the cozy mystery series by Elizabeth Peters featuring Amelia Peabody. At the Mystery Writers’ Christmas party at Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore, Cheryl urged me to read the first in the series. With the gift certificate I’d just won, I bought Crocodile on the Sandbank. I’m glad Cheryl made the suggestion.

Though I found the style of writing to be of an older variety (published in 1975), I read the amusing story quickly and, after the last page, found myself thinking of the characters and wanting to get back into the adventure. Here’s the review I posted on Goodreads:

What does a Victorian spinster do with all her skirts as she pursues a villain? That’s an issue for Amelia Peaboy who escapes a dull life in England and travels as an independent woman to the wilds of Egypt. With a young female companion in tow (in keeping with a Victorian sense of propriety), she attaches herself to an archeological research team along the Nile. She unearths a mummy and the ugly underbelly of the world of Egyptologists. This was a fun, fast read, though the villain became apparent early on. Though the companion, Evelyn, tried my patience with her swooning, I enjoyed Amelia’s independent nature and sense of adventure. I will likely read the next in the series.

Elizabeth Peters is a NY Times Best Selling author who earned a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago.

PS: The cover photo above is of the first edition of the book. You’ll find a different cover on Amazon.com for the latest version.