The Hippopotamus Pool (Amelia Peabody, Book 8) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ (Author) "Through the open windows of the ballroom the soft night breeze of Egypt cooled the flushed faces of the dancers..." (more)
Key Phrases: illegal antiquities trade, hippopotamus pool, local thieves, Sir Edward, Miss Marmaduke, Father of Curses (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A menacing cloud hangs over the eighth adventure of 19th-century archeologists Amelia Peabody and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson (seen before in The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog). Unfortunately, the cloud rains suspense only in the book's final quarter, long after the warning of a dire threat has paled. In Cairo, Amelia and Emerson are visited by a mysterious man who shows them a scarab ring and claims that it is the symbol of the High Priest of Queen Tetisheri, whom he has sworn to protect. He offers to lead them to her tomb, thereby passing his "sacred duty" onto Emerson. But after the man acts as if he's poisoned and then vanishes, the couple dismiss his words. They are soon reminded of his visit when a notorious antiquities dealer, whom they liken to a hippopotamus because of his girth, warns them to watch whom they trust. With their preteen son, Ramses, and their ward, Nefret, the family travels to western Thebes in search of Tetisheri's tomb. There, after a series of minor mishaps, Ramses is abducted, requiring Amelia and Emerson to begin what seems a nearly impossible task to get him back. The melodramatic 19th-century writing style studded with Amelia's sly wit makes this series unique to the subgenre of historical mysteries. Major ad/promo.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

A masked stranger pinpoints the location of an Egyptian queen's lost tomb for Amelia and husband Emerson and then disappears. The pair set off in search of queen Tetisheri's tomb, encountering all the usual amusing situations, disguises, villains, and murderers. A necessary purchase.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446603988
• ISBN-13: 978-0446603980
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #46,538 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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

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

• This is item 8 in The Amelia Peabody Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why I love Amelia Peabody Mysteries:, June 3, 2006

By	Lynne P. Caldwell (Dadeville, AL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Reading an Amelia Peabody Mystery is like having a favorite meal. You don't have to have it every day but when you do, it is always satisfying and delicious. You can go weeks or months between this meal and yet just thinking about it will make you salivate. THE HIPPOPOTAMUS POOL by the venerable Elizabeth Peters is number 8 in her Amelia Peabody series of eighteen or so little novels. Peter's books are so easy to read and very easy to get into. You can pick them up and become interested on the first page. They are really ideal 'beach' or 'vacation' books because they are so straightforward and uncomplicated to read, even with a multitude of interruptions. Plus, I can read a book in the series and not read another one for weeks or months and know that I can get right back into these little stories with no problem. In addition, THE HIPPOPOTAMUS POOL has a glossary in the beginning that identifies all the characters.

Thankfully, the entire family is together for the 'season' of excavating in Egypt and that makes me happy. Last year the children--Ramses, the 12 year-old boy genius and his adopted sister (a miniature Amelia, who at fifteen is quite the beauty) Nefret, were left at Aunt Evelyn & Uncle Walter's estate in England. David, an Egyptian orphan has been added to this entourage as well. Evelyn and Walter also lend their services in the excavation of this new tomb, supposedly of Queen Tetisheri. Since we are so familiar with this family, having met the four adults thirteen years previously during their courtship (in Egypt, of course), there is something very comfortable about rejoining the group.

Naturally we have the usual murders, kidnappings, grave robbers and undercover criminals. We still have the tender yet cantankerous Emerson and his no nonsense verrrry British wife Amelia who is still anticipating every move. But the children are the ones who add a delightful diversion to this adorable little mystery. And, as always, we know that everything will come out all right in the end. Every time I read a book in this series, it is like rejoining an old friend (or having a favorite meal;-)

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The mystery is why this is labeled as mystery, June 10, 2007

By	Sharilyn (Somewhere in Time and Space) - See all my reviews

The Amelia Peabody books are a lot of fun, but they are more adventure novels, with a liberal sprinkling of humor, than traditional mystery novels.

As a story about a Victorian era woman archeologist with thoroughly modern ideas, "The Hippopotamus Pool" is wonderful. It begins with a stranger who offers to reveal the location of a hitherto unknown tomb and then mysteriously disappears. Amelia and her family locate the tomb and began excavating it, but are soon forced to fend off would-be thieves. Amelia begins to wonder if there is a traitor in their midst. Is it the governess? The newly employed photographer? Or the orphan they have taken in?

Unfortunately, there is a totally unnecessary and rather weak "mystery" tacked on. If you haven't read the previous entries in the series, you'll be totally bewildered by the unsatisfying denouncement; even if you have, you'll probably find it difficult to really care.

Overall, I did like this book. The characters are great and the writing is witty. But, enjoyable as it was, I have to admit it was nothing special.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book...maybe, May 1, 2000

By A Customer

Looking at the other reviews for this book, you may want to question what I am about write (previously wrote if you're are reading this now, which you are). To me, this is the best of the Peabody's adventures. It is even one of my favorite books of all time (which is saying a lot, putting it next to "Power of One" by Bryce Courtenay). Why this is so, I really cannot say, or write. It's just that I thought this book had more to it then the other adventures. Lots more excitement and action seemed to be present and I enjoyed the new and old characters very much. As soon as I picked it up,I could not put it down. I especially enjoyed the "witty"(or witless, depending who's review you're reading) dialogue and mischief of the children. When I finished, I told myself that I would never read another book by Peters. Any other Peabody book would just be a disappointment after "Hippopotamus Pool." Such thinking lasted for 48.6 hours; at that point I saw the next Peabody mystery. Yes, it is true, I admit I am a little biased: anything written by Elizabeth Peters and deals with Ameila Peabody will be considered great in my opinion (humble one, of course). I am writing this review not to disagree with the other reviews, but to say that if another person happens to read this book and finds it the most fascinating book ever, the best piece of literature ever written, then that person has a major problem. No, what I mean is that that person will not be alone. Somewhere out in that cold dark world there is a beacon of inspiration, someone else who agrees that this book is a true gem. Thank you Elizabeth Peters, and thank you to anybody who agrees with this terrifically pointful review.