The Deeds of the Disturber (Amelia Peabody, Book 5) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "In a great many respects I count myself among the most fortunate of women..." (more)
Key Phrases: malignant mummy, sem priest, false priest, Miss Minton, Lord Liverpool, Aunt Amelia (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Peters (Barbara Michaels) regales thriller fans with the fifth tale about spunky Amelia Peabody, her ardent spouse Emerson and their small son Walter, "Ramses," a genius who sorely tries his parents. In the new story, the family is home in England from their archeological dig in Egypt and deep in another mystery. Determined Victorian feminist Peabody refuses to be intimidated by a phenomenon reported at the British Museum, where a sem priest is supposedly working a curse in revenge for the desecration of an ancient mummy. The priest's supernatural figure is momentarily glimpsed at the exhibit, before a murderer strikes. Disobeying Emerson, of course, Peabody lays her life on the line and unmasks the decidedly human villain. There are several intriguing new characters in this mystery, including nasty types who persecute Ramses, creating unexpectedly tender moments between mother and child. But the spotlight shines brightest on Peabody and Emerson, a couple evenly matched as hot-blooded lovers and professional partners. This is one of grandmaster Peters/Michaels best.
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

Fifth in the exceptional series that begins with Crocodile on the Sandbank , this adventure catches irascible archaeologist Amelia Peabody in London between digs. A mysterious death in front of a "cursed" mummy case in the British Museum piques Amelia's curiosity, and a subsequent connected murder engages her perspicacious intervention completely. Dangerously precocious son Ramses (at times disguised) and formidably handsome husband Emerson (at times stubbornly obtuse) contribute to the usual mayhem. First-rate, densely packed action, fun, and atmosphere. REK
Copyright 1988 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Avon (January 5, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380731959
• ISBN-13: 978-0380731954
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #83,450 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #17 in	Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Authors, A-Z > ( P ) > Peters, Elizabeth
  #96 in	Books > Mystery & Thrillers > Mystery > Historical

• This is item 5 in The Amelia Peabody Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Satisfying Amelia Peabody Mystery set in England, June 8, 2000

By	drdebs (CA United States) - See all my reviews

In a nice change of pace, Elizabeth Peters makes England the setting for her fifth novel in the Amelia Peabody Emerson series. Set at the turn of the century, Peters has a great eye for period detail, a good knowledge of Egyptology and Egypt, and a marvelous sense of humour.

In this mystery the action is centered around a mummy and a murder victim--both in the British Museum. Radcliffe Emerson is furiously working on his manuscript (under deadline), Ramses is struggling to maintain his composure with two young cousins who are staying for a visit, and Amelia is (as always) writing an academic paper, struggling to control her son, and alternately fending off and succumbing to her husbands amorous advances. However, the whole family soon gets involved in trying to find out more about the mysterious mummy and the Egyptian priest who appears and disappears with alarming frequency.

I found this mystery a nice change of pace with its different setting and different cast of characters. I particularly liked the introduction of a wonderful butler named Gargery, who relishes every opportunity to get involved in the Emerson family's many escapades. If you're going to England in the near future and the British Museum is on your list of sights to see, be sure to take this book along. I think that you will enjoy seeing how little the interior of that august institution has changed!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A suspensful change of setting, July 20, 2001

By A Customer

This book was indeed a nice change of setting. I'm working my way through the series in order, and after Lion in the Valley (which I enjoyed) I was nevertheless a little tired of sand, Egypt, superstitious villagers, and all that. But Deeds of the Disturber's setting (London) and new characters (including Peabody's--um--"delightful" niece and nephew) really perked up this entry. Also, I found this a significantly darker book than its predecessors--it's never really gloom and doom (this is an Amelia Peabody mystery, after all!) but there's a sense of tragedy around several of the characters that seems more real and more sad than in the previous books. Too, Ramses continues to be the most disastrously endearing child in fiction. I also was pleased to see that, after the events at the end of Lion of the Valley, the tables are turned a bit in this novel.

Speaking of Lion of the Valley--in that novel I found Peabody to be insufferably, arrogantly smug. The author, I think, got rather carried away in that one (Peabody is smug, Emerson is angry, Ramses is long-winded, end of story). In Deeds of the Disturber, the characterization is much better: Peabody, especially, is back to her highly intelligent but essentially admirable self.

My only real complaint about this book is that "de cat Bastet" is present so briefly!

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Three Cheers for the Polymath Peabody!, January 18, 2001

By	"momteacher" (USA) - See all my reviews

Elizabeth Peters is a raconteur of the finest order. She has a gift for crafting outrageous, hyperbolic characters who speak in sesquipedalian sentences and still remain believable. If that sounds impossible, you haven't read the Amelia Peabody mysteries yet!

"The Deeds of the Disturber" is my favourite Peabody novel so far. It is a crazy, sinuous pursuit that shows all of the classic Peabody spirit and wit. The startling character of Ramses is developed more, and the plot is rife with twists and hints and portents.

Only don't make the mistake of reading any of the last three Peabody novels (Ape who Guards the Balance, Falcon at the Portal, He Shall Thunder in the Sky) before you read this one. I did, and I think you will enjoy the last three more if you read this one first.