Book 91: The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters
Book 91: The Ape Who Guards the Balance (Amelia Peabody #10).
Author: Elizabeth Peters. 1998.
Genre: Adventure. Historical Mystery. Egyptology.
Other Details: ebook. 578 pages. Unabridged Audio (15 hrs, 12 mins). Narrated by Barbara Rosenblat.
Prospects for the 1907 archaeological season in Egypt are looking somewhat dull to Amelia. As a result of Emerson's less-than-diplomatic behaviour, they have been demoted to examining only the most boring tombs in the Valley of the Kings - mere leftovers, really. And then, in a seedy section of Cairo, the younger members of the Peabody Emerson clan purchase a mint condition papyrus of the famed Book of the Dead, the collection of magical spells and prayers designed to ward off the perils of the underworld and lead the deceased into everlasting life.
But for as long as there have been graves, there have also been grave robbers - and so begins a new adventure into antiquity. The season rapidly switches from dull to deadly as Amelia strives to untangle a web woven of criminals and cults, stolen treasures and fallen women - all the while under the unblinking eye of a ruthless, remorseless killer. - - synopsis from UK publisher's website
Another in this wonderful series of mysteries set in Egypt. This mystery saw the return of some old adversaries and also drew on a real life event in Egyptology during this season. As with the last book the younger members of the family come to the fore with insertions into Amelia's narrative from Nefret's letters and Ramses' writings about various events.
As with others in the series this was my audiobook-in-the-car for about six weeks and I then read the corresponding pages on my Kindle at the end of the week. As always Rosenblat did a brilliant job of narrating. The audiobook ended with an interview with Peters and Rosenblat, which provided some interesting background information.