A River in the Sky (An Amelia Peabody Mystery) [Unabridged] [MP3 CD]

Elizabeth Peters (Author), Barbara Rosenblat (Narrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: 2010

New York Times best-selling author Elizabeth Peters - a Mystery Writers of America Grand Master - delivers her 19th Amelia Peabody mystery. Brimming with atmosphere and intrigue, this breathtaking adventure whisks listeners away to the ancient ruins and smoldering tensions of 1910 Palestine.

Sleuthing archaeologist Amelia Peabody and her Egyptologist husband are basking in the summer tranquility of their English home when a stranger disturbs their idyllic repose. Would-be treasure hunter Major George Morely wants their help on a daring mission to find the lost Ark of the Covenant. Determined to prevent catastrophic excavations and violent protests from Christians, Jews, and Muslims, Amelia and her husband head for the seething cauldron of the Holy Land - the lawless frontier of the crumbling Ottoman Empire.

A compelling tale enhanced by Barbara Rosenblat's prodigious vocal talents, A River in the Sky puts Amelia's skill and ingenuity to the test and displays the magnificent storytelling that garners Peters such critical and popular acclaim.

Product Details

• MP3 CD
• Publisher: Recorded Books, LLC (2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1449811493
• ISBN-13: 978-1449811495
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,138 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

81 of 83 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Woot! A new Amelia Peabody Emerson tale is worthy of celebration, April 7, 2010

By 

Saralee Etter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A River in the Sky: A Novel (Amelia Peabody Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I read this entire book with a huge grin on my face. Amelia is back in perfect form, and so is Emerson.

This book takes place in 1910, and in the story chronology it falls between Guardian of the Horizon and Falcon at the Portal. I think Ramses is about 18 here, and you can see him in the process of becoming the man he is in later installments.

This 19th entry into the series is wonderful fun--and is concentrated on the activities of just the central members of the clan, which makes the story feel like a return to some of the earlier tales where there wasn't such an enormous cast of characters to keep track of. While I like knowing what all the various characters are up to, it's nice to focus on the main characters this time.

The Emersons manage to dominate any landscape they enter, and their excursion into the Holy Land brings in some new and interesting elements.

Fans of the Emersons will rejoice!

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amelia is back!, April 11, 2010

By 

Amy Phipps (Columbus, OH) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A River in the Sky: A Novel (Amelia Peabody Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I've been a fan of Elizabeth Peters for over 20 years, so the prospect of a new Amelia book is always thrilling to me. I was admittedly a bit disappointed in the last book in the series, which, though wonderfully written, was really more of a tribute to King Tut's tomb than an Amelia story. This book, on the other hand, was back to Peters' classic formula. Another dead body? Another shirt ruined? Heavenly!

The story takes place in pre-WWI 1910, as Amelia, Emerson, and company head to Palestine to stop a politically and religiously sensitive excavation of holy ground. It was wonderful to see Amelia and Emerson charging around berating political and religious leaders alike for their failures in the region, and even better to see Ramses as a tentative, developing 23 year-old. With a good plot, credible villains, and a cast of characters small enough that I was able to enjoy them all to the fullest, I loved every minute of it... especially Sethos' appearance (which all of the Emersons missed - but I didn't!) A treasure for any long-time fan of the series and highly recommended!

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Welcome back, Peabody!, April 25, 2010

By 

NC Reader (Greensboro, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: A River in the Sky: A Novel (Amelia Peabody Mysteries) (Hardcover)

I agree with some reviews that this installment was shorter and lacking in detail in places, but it reminded me of what got me hooked on this series in the first place 20 years ago - Peabody and Emerson! Peabody's "little lists"; her parasol; her self-confidence; her steely, take-no-prisoners mentality (all wrapped up in the perfect decorum of a Victorian British lady, of course); and the wonderful driving force behind the series, the passionate yet loving relationship she shares with Emerson, her hunky, hilarious, brilliant and outspoken husband, "the greatest Egyptologist of this or any other age". They are a delicious pair, with their "refreshing discussions", charging in where angels fear to tread, fighting the good fight against spies, criminals, inept bureaucrats, archeologists and hypocrites everywhere.

So, while I agree that this might not be up to the excellent standards Ms. Peters set for herself in previous books, her middling best is still better than a lot of what is out there for mystery buffs - especially those of us who enjoy a large dollop of humor in the mix - so I liked it and gave it four stars accordingly. I only hope there are more Peabody and Emerson adventures to come, whether they are set after 1922 or during the "in-between years"!