The Last Camel Died at Noon [Paperback]

Elizabeth. Peters (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: WARNER BOOKS. (1991)
• ASIN: B000I86LMK
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,471,139 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

ELIZABETH PETERS, whose New York Times best-selling novels are often set against historical backdrops, earned a Ph.D. in Egyptology at the University of Chicago. She also writes best-selling books under the pseudonym Barbara Michaels. She lives in Frederick, Maryland.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enter Nefret..., June 17, 2000

By 

drdebs (CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, Book 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

In this engaging mystery Amelia Peabody Emerson, her husband Radcliffe, and their son "Ramses" journey once more to Egypt in search of artifacts and adventure, armed with a mysterious map and a commission from an English aristocrat to search for his long lost son and his wife. As in all Peabody mysteries, these goals intertwine with complexity and speed.

Elizabeth Peters here gives a nod to the romantic adventure stories of the late nineteenth century (such as She, by Rider Haggard) when the Peabody-Emerson caravan begins to suffer from the mysterious deaths of their camels. When all looks dark and desperate, the group are rescued and whisked off to a fabulous Shangrila where the ancient rites of Egypt are still practiced. By the end the Emerson's have solved the mystery of the missing nobleman and his wife, have amassed quite a collection of artifacts for study, and Ramses is suffering from a bad case of puppy love for Nefret, who returns with them to England.

This is the first story to feature Nefret, and fans of the later books will like to read how she enters the story. If you enjoyed Romancing the Stone (a similar tale with elements of late 19th century adventure) and have never tried the Amelia Peabody mysteries, this would be a great place to start!

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wild jaunt through the desert with Amelia Peabody., August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, Book 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

I collect the Amelia Peabody books faithfully. Often I don't read them at once, but wait for a few to accumulate and settle down for an enjoyable interlude with Peabody, her redoubtable husband Emerson, and their son, Ramses. I've had this book for quite some time (four more have been published since its release), and was only sorry that I'd waited to read it. Surely this is the best Peabody yet. The book is a send up of the Haggard novels, King Solomon's Mine and SHE, complete with erudite and noble natives, riots, wars, ancient mysteries, improbable situations and the incomparable Amelia and her belt with things that she's sure that she'll need, attached, including a revolver, sewing kit, knife, compass, and mini-surgery kit. Peabody's companions are her husband, Emerson, who has a meteoric temper but considers himself a mild fellow (the natives call him the Father of Curses) and their son, called Ramses (who inherited this name because his young profile resembled that great Pharoah, complete with 'rather largish features'). In this installment, they're off to search for a missing Englishman and his bride, who have been missing for 14 years. Their camels mysteriously die and it looks as though they will, too, but then, things really get interesting. Nothing compares with the humor in this series and although you may find yourself thinking that the language is a little too like a Bronte novel to suit you, you'll more regularly find that you've awakened your sleeping spouse, again, by laughing too hard. All of the main characters are admirable, certainly people you'd like to meet - that luncheon engagement would surely be riotous. Run out now, buy this book, and settle in for several hours of pure fun.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth your time!, September 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Last Camel Died at Noon (Amelia Peabody, Book 6) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is an excellent book, both hilarious and thought-provoking. In the beginning, I found her character's references to the Arabic myths (?) and ancient manuscripts absolutely fascinating. I was tempted to rush out and see if I could find a copy of The Book of Hidden Pearls or about Zerzura, "The Place of the Little Birds."

However, you will probably find the family's dialogue and some of the situations they get into slightly caricatured. I find that this makes the story all the more enjoyable, and, sometimes it's so blatant, it makes you laugh out loud.

All in all, I would highly recommend this Rider Haggard-esque adventure to anyone. Enjoy!