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Mystery Stories
A Christmas slaying, an Egyptian puzzle, and a night in the home of a stranger--three chillers from the New York Times-bestselling "grandmaster" of mystery (Publishers Weekly).
A thriller writer is embroiled in a real-life whodunit when a friend drops dead in front of her, with her own hatpin impaled in his back. The violation of a sealed West Bank tomb, its rock walls intact, provides a Thebes investigator with a mystifying conundrum. And two sisters take shelter from a storm in a shuttered old house at the end of a country road . . . only to discover they're not alone.
Settle in with this trio of short stories--available for the first time in a single volume--from one of the most popular mystery writers of all time. With her customary sharp wit, historical expertise, and effortless knack for freezing the blood, Elizabeth Peters "never fails to entertain" (The Plain Dealer).
A thriller writer is embroiled in a real-life whodunit when a friend drops dead in front of her, with her own hatpin impaled in his back. The violation of a sealed West Bank tomb, its rock walls intact, provides a Thebes investigator with a mystifying conundrum. And two sisters take shelter from a storm in a shuttered old house at the end of a country road . . . only to discover they're not alone.
Settle in with this trio of short stories--available for the first time in a single volume--from one of the most popular mystery writers of all time. With her customary sharp wit, historical expertise, and effortless knack for freezing the blood, Elizabeth Peters "never fails to entertain" (The Plain Dealer).
107 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2018
276 people are currently reading
375 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Peters
179 books3,301 followersElizabeth Peters is a pen name of Barbara Mertz. She also wrote as Barbara Michaels as well as her own name. Born and brought up in Illinois, she earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. Mertz was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lived in a historic farmhouse in Frederick, western Maryland until her death.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
February 23, 2022
Not one of Peters' best
This book consists of three short pieces by well known mystery author Elizabeth Peters.
The first, Liz Peters, PI is, in my opinion, a lame attempt at humor. The second, The Locked Tomb Mystery, is an okay tale set in ancient Egypt. The third, The Runaway, is a pretty effective horror/ghost story.
This book consists of three short pieces by well known mystery author Elizabeth Peters.
The first, Liz Peters, PI is, in my opinion, a lame attempt at humor. The second, The Locked Tomb Mystery, is an okay tale set in ancient Egypt. The third, The Runaway, is a pretty effective horror/ghost story.
August 8, 2019
You can't go wrong, with a Elizabeth Peter's story. This is a collecting, of three short stories Peter's wrote back in the 80's for sister of crime books. Two of the three, were new stories for me. I had read the final story called, The Runaway a few years ago. I really enjoyed, the second story the most. It reminded me of a Sherlock Holmes story. Instead of taking place in Victorian England, it takes place in Ancient Egypt.
March 12, 2019
The three stories in this short collection cover thousands of years from a tomb robbery in ancient Egypt to a humorous PI caper and a suspense story with two teenage runaways. Ms Peters’ talents of humorous characterizations and suspenseful plotting may work better in a longer format, but her fans will be happy to have these stories.
January 6, 2019
Holy versatility Batman! This was fantastic. Elizabeth Peters can WRITE--realistic fiction, historical fiction, ghost story--she nailed them all. I think I'm going to try one of her full-length novels soon.
April 2, 2024
Top notch stories.
October 27, 2018
I have a deep love for Elizabeth Peters’ Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss mysteries, counting them among my very favorites and formative of a lot of my tastes and expectations in the genre. I’ve mostly avoided her writing as Barbara Michaels, however, finding those books mostly humorless and overly dramatic. When this posthumous collection of short stories appeared, I was definitely interested, but wary. Would these be overlooked gems? Tight, tense versions of what I loved about her longer writing? Or a way of making a quick buck by splashing her name over a vaguely Egyptian-themed cover? Well, I’m sorry to say that these three stories are mostly forgettable and indulgent, certainly not works that would be considered essential without Elizabeth Peters’ name on them. The first is a wild, id-tastic story of a mystery writer/PI who discovers a body in her house, stabbed through the back with her wickedly dangerous vintage hat pin. A few short pages later, it’s all over, after a lot of pseudo-noir narration about local corruption, smoking of cigarettes, and eating of chocolate bars (that part, I appreciated.) My description is probably all you ever need to know about it. Next up is a very on-brand mystery set in ancient Egypt with a detective named Amenhotep (based on a real historical figure) and glimpse into Egyptian funerary practices. Different and almost entirely too brief to leave any impression, I enjoyed this one the most. Last, is a very seasonal (I’m reading and writing this in October) story of two runaway sisters, a creepy abandoned house, and the boy they meet while waiting out a thunderstorm. Anyone with an ounce of genre-savvy knows where that one was headed. In summary, these stories are for completists only. (Re)read the Amelia Peabody or Vicky Bliss books instead. (Oooh, I think I will…)
October 22, 2019
My 5 star rating is for the writing only, not the publication. This is a collection of 3 excellent mystery short stories by Elizabeth Peters aka Barbara Michaels aka Barbara Mertz.
The first was a reread for me, but one of my favorite short stories--a spoof on private eye stories. Fun and a hoot from beginning to end.
The second is a historical locked room mystery set in ancient Egypt. Since Barbara Mertz was an archaeologist specializing in Egypt, you can rest assured that the details are accurate. She brought the era to life beautifully. A first rate mystery, too.
The third story, more in the style of her Barbara Michaels books, is a ghost story, masterfully told.
But here's the thing. I can't recommend that anyone should buy this book. It's only 86 pages, and at this writing, the paperback is over $8 and the Kindle edition is $7.99 (originally it cost more)! Shame on Mysterious Press for taking advantage of a dead author's popularity and trying to cheat her fans.
Wait until the price comes down or do like I did and borrow the book from your library.
The first was a reread for me, but one of my favorite short stories--a spoof on private eye stories. Fun and a hoot from beginning to end.
The second is a historical locked room mystery set in ancient Egypt. Since Barbara Mertz was an archaeologist specializing in Egypt, you can rest assured that the details are accurate. She brought the era to life beautifully. A first rate mystery, too.
The third story, more in the style of her Barbara Michaels books, is a ghost story, masterfully told.
But here's the thing. I can't recommend that anyone should buy this book. It's only 86 pages, and at this writing, the paperback is over $8 and the Kindle edition is $7.99 (originally it cost more)! Shame on Mysterious Press for taking advantage of a dead author's popularity and trying to cheat her fans.
Wait until the price comes down or do like I did and borrow the book from your library.
November 4, 2018
This is a collection of three short stories written by Elizabeth Peters. As a teenager, I enjoyed the books she wrote under the pen name Barbara Michaels, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I read one of her Amelia Peabody books (which really didn't grab me).
"Liz Peters, PI" is about a woman crime fiction writer/private investigator who has a friend drop dead in front of her in her own home. I loved the voice of Liz and laughed when she invoked the name of "St. Kinsey." This is a Christmas-themed story and did warm my heart.
"The Locked Tomb" is one of her ancient Egyptian-themed mysteries involving the robbery of a sealed tomb. I found this to be the least enjoyable of the three, primarily because it was so easy to deduce who robbed the tomb and how.
The third story is "The Runaway," about two teenage girls who ran away from home and have sought shelter in a derelict farmhouse out in the country. Not only did I like the voice of the younger sister, but I also found the story to be creepy and perfect for Halloween reading.
Did these stories tempt me to continue to read Elizabeth Peters? Only time will tell!
"Liz Peters, PI" is about a woman crime fiction writer/private investigator who has a friend drop dead in front of her in her own home. I loved the voice of Liz and laughed when she invoked the name of "St. Kinsey." This is a Christmas-themed story and did warm my heart.
"The Locked Tomb" is one of her ancient Egyptian-themed mysteries involving the robbery of a sealed tomb. I found this to be the least enjoyable of the three, primarily because it was so easy to deduce who robbed the tomb and how.
The third story is "The Runaway," about two teenage girls who ran away from home and have sought shelter in a derelict farmhouse out in the country. Not only did I like the voice of the younger sister, but I also found the story to be creepy and perfect for Halloween reading.
Did these stories tempt me to continue to read Elizabeth Peters? Only time will tell!
October 6, 2019
I am an Elizabeth Peters fan, so I was happy to discover this little book online. Be aware it is only 71 pages and contains three short stories.
The on-line sample sucked me into the first story, "Liz Peter, P.I.." A story about a mystery writer set in Maryland (like the author) who is a private investigator on the side. The story started well, sputtered terribly in the middle, and then wrapped up neatly.
The second story, "The Locked Tomb Mystery," is set in ancient Egypt and is a fancy into that period.
The third story, "The Runaway," was surprisingly my favorite. I found myself thinking about this story most after reading it. It is a mysterious story, involving two runaways, an abandoned house, and a boy trying to find his way home.
The on-line sample sucked me into the first story, "Liz Peter, P.I.." A story about a mystery writer set in Maryland (like the author) who is a private investigator on the side. The story started well, sputtered terribly in the middle, and then wrapped up neatly.
The second story, "The Locked Tomb Mystery," is set in ancient Egypt and is a fancy into that period.
The third story, "The Runaway," was surprisingly my favorite. I found myself thinking about this story most after reading it. It is a mysterious story, involving two runaways, an abandoned house, and a boy trying to find his way home.
December 15, 2019
The nostalgia. I would rank the Amelia Peabody series as my all time favorite mystery series. I can’t tell you how much I loved reading them. When her last book in the series came out, I didn’t realize it was the last book. It came out in 2010 and the author passed away in 2013. When I found out that the author had passed, I was heartbroken. It really effected me. I have missed her books so very much. These short stories reminded of her and the her wonderful work. Please, if you have never read any of her books, pick up Crocodile on the Sandbank and give it a shot. You might find a wonderful new-to-you series.
November 3, 2024
Meh.
Don't get me wrong, I love Elizabeth Peters, in all her incarnations. But this wasn't worth the time it took to read. At least the original publication in 2018. The 2024 version has added a short story featuring Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson, as well as introductions to each short story from an author or other expert of the genre. If you pick this up, my suggestion is to ignore "Liz Peters, PI." It's possible I may have to reread the entire Amelia Peabody series again to wipe the memory from my mind's eye.
The Locked Tomb Mystery didn't stink, and The Runaway was a solid ghost story worthy of Barbara Michaels.
Don't get me wrong, I love Elizabeth Peters, in all her incarnations. But this wasn't worth the time it took to read. At least the original publication in 2018. The 2024 version has added a short story featuring Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe Emerson, as well as introductions to each short story from an author or other expert of the genre. If you pick this up, my suggestion is to ignore "Liz Peters, PI." It's possible I may have to reread the entire Amelia Peabody series again to wipe the memory from my mind's eye.
The Locked Tomb Mystery didn't stink, and The Runaway was a solid ghost story worthy of Barbara Michaels.
February 9, 2019
I love the author’s Amelia Peabody series and the Vicki Bliss books too. I even read her Barbara Michael’s books. I think I was expecting because of the cover some Amelia Peabody short story type reading. I was disappointed that two of the stories weren’t even related to the Egyptology themes from the Amelia Peabody series. And to be honest I didn’t even like the stories. I know every author has to explore a variety of genres and figure out their voice. Amelia Peabody I think was her best voice!
December 25, 2018
I love Elizabeth Peter’s Amelia Peabody series, but this small collection just reminded me of other things I have read. Not my favorite, and a good reminder of why I don’t really care for short stories unless they are truly masterful. She usually is truly masterful, but I just didn’t see it in these particular stories.
January 30, 2019
Actual rating is 2.5 stars (I might not have finished except it was short and I was on vacation)
I didn't think that the stories were particularly inventive and they were only mildly interesting. She seemed to be trying too hard to be clever with her language. I prefer her mystery novels--short stories don't seem to be her strength.
I didn't think that the stories were particularly inventive and they were only mildly interesting. She seemed to be trying too hard to be clever with her language. I prefer her mystery novels--short stories don't seem to be her strength.
March 27, 2021
Interesting Stories
This is a collection of short stories by Elizabeth Peters, a favorite author of mine. The 4 star review is because I'm not a fan of short stories in general although these are much better than most. If you feel different about short stories I suspect you'll really like this collection.
This is a collection of short stories by Elizabeth Peters, a favorite author of mine. The 4 star review is because I'm not a fan of short stories in general although these are much better than most. If you feel different about short stories I suspect you'll really like this collection.
April 20, 2021
The first story had me laughing with the first sentence and howling like a loon by the time I got to the last! It reminded me of the P.I. books by Raymond Chandler and Mickey Spillane. The second story is set in ancient Egypt. It was a good, short, mystery story, but not as much fun as the first. I do recommend this set of stories, especially if you like pulp fiction detective idiom.
September 6, 2023
What a treat
Amelia Peabody may have been my first "series" addiction but at the very least she was the first Egyptology explorer/adventurer I ever cared about. How wonderful to have another glimpse of this amazing character. The other stories were each excellent in their own way but I particularly liked the locked tomb mystery.
Amelia Peabody may have been my first "series" addiction but at the very least she was the first Egyptology explorer/adventurer I ever cared about. How wonderful to have another glimpse of this amazing character. The other stories were each excellent in their own way but I particularly liked the locked tomb mystery.
February 7, 2019
Ideal short stories, I should say mystery stories to pick up and transport you into trying to solve what's going on. For a quick read that can easily be picked up, read one, and two more to go. When you get to the end, of course you want just one more mystery.
June 23, 2024
I was not familiar with this author until I came upon this little trio of short short stories. I must say…I want more.
A PI/ mystery writer who is sassy and smart.
An Egyptian Sherlock Holmes.
A creepy story about two girls in a haunted(?) house.
A good line up.
A PI/ mystery writer who is sassy and smart.
An Egyptian Sherlock Holmes.
A creepy story about two girls in a haunted(?) house.
A good line up.
November 30, 2018
I've frequently enjoyed her full length novels and now I find myself enjoying her short stories. This book is comprised of three short stories that I can definitely see myself returning to again.
November 30, 2018
Ratings of individual stories:
Liz Peters, PI - 2 stars
The Locked Tomb Mystery - 4 stars
The Runaway - 4 stars
Liz Peters, PI - 2 stars
The Locked Tomb Mystery - 4 stars
The Runaway - 4 stars
January 8, 2019
I loved Barbara Mertz in all her incarnations, so I was excited to see this slender volume of short stories. The second, a murder mystery set in ancient Egypt, was my favorite.
March 9, 2019
Three classic Peters yarns, to exercise your "guessing" muscles.
March 11, 2019
If you love Elizabeth and just need a little taste, this is fine.
May 29, 2019
A highly entertaining and very brief pamphlet! I lit a cigarette.
October 1, 2019
Short
This is not worth buying, especially for the price. Not up to her usual standards at all. These were probably never intended to be published.
This is not worth buying, especially for the price. Not up to her usual standards at all. These were probably never intended to be published.
January 27, 2020
Elizabeth Peters is a versatile writer. This is a collection of three short stories. One current, one set in ancient Egypt and one a haunting ghost story.
February 20, 2020
Never disappoints me
Still love the characters, they seem to grow along with me... I loved the story, the entwined history and fiction.. and places!
Still love the characters, they seem to grow along with me... I loved the story, the entwined history and fiction.. and places!
February 22, 2020
A cute collection of three short stories (2 mysteries and one really tame ghost story). Quick and enjoyable read.
September 30, 2020
Mostly boring; really short.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews