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Goosebumps #5
Curse of the Mummy's Tomb
Something Dead Has Been Here...
Gabe just got lost - in a pyramid. One minute, his crazy cousin Sari was right ahead of him in the pyramid tunnel. The next minute, she'd disappeared.
But Gabe isn't alone. Someone else is in the pyramid, too.
Someone. Or some thing.
Gabe doesn't believe in the curse of the mummy's tomb. But that doesn't mean that the curse isn't real.
Does it?
Gabe just got lost - in a pyramid. One minute, his crazy cousin Sari was right ahead of him in the pyramid tunnel. The next minute, she'd disappeared.
But Gabe isn't alone. Someone else is in the pyramid, too.
Someone. Or some thing.
Gabe doesn't believe in the curse of the mummy's tomb. But that doesn't mean that the curse isn't real.
Does it?
160 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 1993
345 people are currently reading
8264 people want to read
About the author
R.L. Stine
1,680 books18.7k followersRobert Lawrence Stine known as R. L. Stine and Jovial Bob Stine, is an American novelist and writer, well known for targeting younger audiences. Stine, who is often called the Stephen King of children's literature, is the author of dozens of popular horror fiction novellas, including the books in the Goosebumps, Rotten School, Mostly Ghostly, The Nightmare Room and Fear Street series.
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
R. L. Stine began his writing career when he was nine years old, and today he has achieved the position of the bestselling children's author in history. In the early 1990s, Stine was catapulted to fame when he wrote the unprecedented, bestselling Goosebumps® series, which sold more than 250 million copies and became a worldwide multimedia phenomenon. His other major series, Fear Street, has over 80 million copies sold.
Stine has received numerous awards of recognition, including several Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and Disney Adventures Kids' Choice Awards, and he has been selected by kids as one of their favorite authors in the NEA's Read Across America program. He lives in New York, NY.
http://us.macmillan.com/itsthefirstda...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 915 reviews
September 17, 2025
Gabe has the attitude of any 12 year old boy. A little arrogant, thinks he knows everything and yet still a silly little kid. As an adult keeping in mind that this is a kid's book, I didn't feel much creepyness. I did like the banter between the cousins.
November 20, 2016
Gabe can't wait to explore the Great Pyramid with his Uncle Ben, but once he gets inside to search for mummies and treasure, Gabe discovers he may never get out.
Uncle Ben woke us up early the next morning and drove to the pyramids outside al-Jizah. The air was already hot and sticky. The sun seemed to hang low over the desert like an orange balloon.
"There it is!" Sari declared, pointing out the window. And I saw the Great Pyramid rising up from the yellow sand like some kind of mirage.
This is the first book in the series that seems to slip beyond the borders of the formula used to write the preceding Goosebumps books. The horror isn't quite as horrifying. The threat to Gabe, while dangerous, isn't what the reader anticipates given the title of the book and its alluring cover art. There are several instances where this book reads more an action-adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones rather than a horror novel, thanks to the ever-present sense of exploration and discovery:
Once again, the sour smell invaded my nose. I held my breath to keep myself from gagging. It was the smell of four-thousand-year-old bodies, I realized. A smell that had been bottled up in this ancient hidden chamber - until now.
Where most Goosebumps books leave the reader with a chilling sense that monsters may yet be hiding under the bed, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb reaches a conclusion that's a little too buttoned up. It is, nonetheless, an enjoyable read packed with mummified bodies, unexplored tunnels, and ancient secrets.
Uncle Ben woke us up early the next morning and drove to the pyramids outside al-Jizah. The air was already hot and sticky. The sun seemed to hang low over the desert like an orange balloon.
"There it is!" Sari declared, pointing out the window. And I saw the Great Pyramid rising up from the yellow sand like some kind of mirage.
This is the first book in the series that seems to slip beyond the borders of the formula used to write the preceding Goosebumps books. The horror isn't quite as horrifying. The threat to Gabe, while dangerous, isn't what the reader anticipates given the title of the book and its alluring cover art. There are several instances where this book reads more an action-adventure in the vein of Indiana Jones rather than a horror novel, thanks to the ever-present sense of exploration and discovery:
Once again, the sour smell invaded my nose. I held my breath to keep myself from gagging. It was the smell of four-thousand-year-old bodies, I realized. A smell that had been bottled up in this ancient hidden chamber - until now.
Where most Goosebumps books leave the reader with a chilling sense that monsters may yet be hiding under the bed, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb reaches a conclusion that's a little too buttoned up. It is, nonetheless, an enjoyable read packed with mummified bodies, unexplored tunnels, and ancient secrets.
October 16, 2020
Well, you know, I've never been a fan of mummies so I knew I wouldn't really like this one... I only read it because I'm going through the whole series... But yeah it is Goosebumps so it was okay I guess. Plus the protagonists of this one are just insufferable so that didn't help either!
August 14, 2025
While on holiday in Egypt, Gabe's parents get called away, leaving him in the care of his Uncle, who happens to be an archaeologist working in the area.
This also means he'll be spending a lot more time with his cousin, Sari, who admittedly, drives Gabe nuts. She can such a know-it-all and is always teasing and pranking him.
On an excursion to his Uncle's worksite, Gabe begins exploring the tunnels of the ancient pyramid. It makes him feel strange being in there, like he's not alone. It's so eerie, and then he gets lost!
Will Gabe ever find his way out, or will he be just another victim of the Curse of the Mummy's Tomb!?
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb was Book #5 in the original Goosebumps series, and as you would imagine, it does feel like one of the classics.
It's full of jokes and pranks. As any fan of the series can attest, Stine loves a jokester. It's one of the true staples of his stories. He's always peppering them in every way he can.
Overall, this is a fun story. There's quite a bit of action I wasn't expecting and I enjoyed the Egyptian setting. It's exactly what I was in the mood for going in. There's something to be said for Stine's formula. Sure, it's predictable, but you always know what you're getting!
I would recommend this to fans of the Goosebumps franchise. If you're new to them though, I wouldn't start here. You have better options for a first go at it.
This also means he'll be spending a lot more time with his cousin, Sari, who admittedly, drives Gabe nuts. She can such a know-it-all and is always teasing and pranking him.
On an excursion to his Uncle's worksite, Gabe begins exploring the tunnels of the ancient pyramid. It makes him feel strange being in there, like he's not alone. It's so eerie, and then he gets lost!
Will Gabe ever find his way out, or will he be just another victim of the Curse of the Mummy's Tomb!?
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb was Book #5 in the original Goosebumps series, and as you would imagine, it does feel like one of the classics.
It's full of jokes and pranks. As any fan of the series can attest, Stine loves a jokester. It's one of the true staples of his stories. He's always peppering them in every way he can.
Overall, this is a fun story. There's quite a bit of action I wasn't expecting and I enjoyed the Egyptian setting. It's exactly what I was in the mood for going in. There's something to be said for Stine's formula. Sure, it's predictable, but you always know what you're getting!
I would recommend this to fans of the Goosebumps franchise. If you're new to them though, I wouldn't start here. You have better options for a first go at it.
October 2, 2018
#5 "What will wake the dead?"
Gabe is stuck with his annoying cousin and his uncle in Egypt. His uncle is an archaeologist working on a new chamber inside the Great Pyramid. When Gabe and his cousin go exploring things they learn a terrible secret. But when Gabe gets lost inside the pyramid chambers, things take a dangerous turn. Is the curse of the Mummy real? Is Gabe being pursued by something supernatural?
Was okay but it was a little too cloak-and-dagger for me.
Gabe is stuck with his annoying cousin and his uncle in Egypt. His uncle is an archaeologist working on a new chamber inside the Great Pyramid. When Gabe and his cousin go exploring things they learn a terrible secret. But when Gabe gets lost inside the pyramid chambers, things take a dangerous turn. Is the curse of the Mummy real? Is Gabe being pursued by something supernatural?
Was okay but it was a little too cloak-and-dagger for me.
September 29, 2022
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is an adventure story revolving around young protagonist Gabe as he travels to Egypt and ends up in the pyramids with his cousin Sari and his archeologist uncle Ben (don't even get me started on this character's name).
On the plus side, the last 30-40 pages of this one were mostly good and were tense; they also contain the most shocking violence I've seen in the books I've reread in the original series so far. It's nothing Stephen King level, but I was still surprised to see it in a children's book. But even these pages were increasingly bogged down with repetitive writing and dialogue as I read along, to the point where my enjoyment of these last pages were reduced.
Gabe is an insufferable protagonist. Literally from the first page of the book he's bitching and whining about how he's thirsty and wants a drink of water, and the first seven pages of this book (the entire first chapter) are just him doing that...whining and complaining about how he's thirsty and his throat is dry...to both of his parents. It astounds me I didn't DNF right then and there. I'm not sure why I didn't. He also keeps saying "outstanding!" to everything throughout the book, which became really annoying.
Gabe also keeps calling everyone an "Egyptian" when he's supposedly one himself, which makes no sense. It's like being in America, being an American yourself, and calling everyone you see an "American". It just makes no sense and is lazy writing. It's like, no sh*t they're Americans? You're in America? You don't have to say it.
The book is filled with cookie cutter characters, all essentially the same and all described as having "straight black hair". Some parts of the story are just ridiculous. The kids must have been left alone in the hotel for hours by their guardians at least two or three times, and once, literally right after the two kids were f*cking kidnapped specifically because they were left alone in the hotel and wandered out, the uncle then says he's going to leave them alone in the hotel again for the entire rest of the day! LMAO! It's just insane and makes absolutely no sense. Like, the parents and uncles in this story are completely brain dead. They don't learn anything from their past mistakes.
The story is laughably repetitive (and bad). Gabe has a shoe whose lace keeps coming undone. Early in the book, he and his cousin Sari are walking through the pyramid tunnels, and he stops to tie his shoe. Sari keeps walking and he loses her. Okay, fine. But then probably no more than 30 pages later the same thing happens! They're walking through the tunnels again, but this time with Uncle Ben, and the kid stops to tie his shoe again and loses them again! How stupid are these children? Incredibly stupid. Goosebumps characters, children and parents alike, never learn. They just keep making the same idiotic mistakes over and over again, no matter how severe the consequences were after doing it the first time. It's painful to read.
Overall, this one was pretty bad. I'd suggest skipping it, unless you're reading all entries in the original series. Next!
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 4.5
Atmosphere / Setting: 5.5
Writing Style: 4.8
Plot: 3.5
Intrigue: 5.0
Logic / Relationships: 2.5
Enjoyment: 5.5
= 31.3 total
÷ 7 categories = 4.47 out of 10
= 2 stars
On the plus side, the last 30-40 pages of this one were mostly good and were tense; they also contain the most shocking violence I've seen in the books I've reread in the original series so far. It's nothing Stephen King level, but I was still surprised to see it in a children's book. But even these pages were increasingly bogged down with repetitive writing and dialogue as I read along, to the point where my enjoyment of these last pages were reduced.
Gabe is an insufferable protagonist. Literally from the first page of the book he's bitching and whining about how he's thirsty and wants a drink of water, and the first seven pages of this book (the entire first chapter) are just him doing that...whining and complaining about how he's thirsty and his throat is dry...to both of his parents. It astounds me I didn't DNF right then and there. I'm not sure why I didn't. He also keeps saying "outstanding!" to everything throughout the book, which became really annoying.
Gabe also keeps calling everyone an "Egyptian" when he's supposedly one himself, which makes no sense. It's like being in America, being an American yourself, and calling everyone you see an "American". It just makes no sense and is lazy writing. It's like, no sh*t they're Americans? You're in America? You don't have to say it.
The book is filled with cookie cutter characters, all essentially the same and all described as having "straight black hair". Some parts of the story are just ridiculous. The kids must have been left alone in the hotel for hours by their guardians at least two or three times, and once, literally right after the two kids were f*cking kidnapped specifically because they were left alone in the hotel and wandered out, the uncle then says he's going to leave them alone in the hotel again for the entire rest of the day! LMAO! It's just insane and makes absolutely no sense. Like, the parents and uncles in this story are completely brain dead. They don't learn anything from their past mistakes.
The story is laughably repetitive (and bad). Gabe has a shoe whose lace keeps coming undone. Early in the book, he and his cousin Sari are walking through the pyramid tunnels, and he stops to tie his shoe. Sari keeps walking and he loses her. Okay, fine. But then probably no more than 30 pages later the same thing happens! They're walking through the tunnels again, but this time with Uncle Ben, and the kid stops to tie his shoe again and loses them again! How stupid are these children? Incredibly stupid. Goosebumps characters, children and parents alike, never learn. They just keep making the same idiotic mistakes over and over again, no matter how severe the consequences were after doing it the first time. It's painful to read.
Overall, this one was pretty bad. I'd suggest skipping it, unless you're reading all entries in the original series. Next!
CAWPILE rating:
Characters: 4.5
Atmosphere / Setting: 5.5
Writing Style: 4.8
Plot: 3.5
Intrigue: 5.0
Logic / Relationships: 2.5
Enjoyment: 5.5
= 31.3 total
÷ 7 categories = 4.47 out of 10
= 2 stars
February 26, 2019
I saw that the audiobook of this was on Hoopla, so I decided to revisit it. I love a good mummy story, after all. Turns out... I don't think I ever read this one as a kid. I remember the TV episode based on the sequel Return of the Mummy, but this book was totally new to me. Regardless, I really enjoyed it!
The early Goosebumps are definitely the best in terms of characters and writing. I mean, they're still nothing more than trashy fun, but it was clear that Stine wasn't phoning in on these earlier stories like he did off and on throughout the later half of the series. The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb was a spooky blast that wasn't afraid to push boundaries and get a little dark.
There were also parts where the main character Gabe was lost in the tunnels of the pyramid--completely alone--that gave me a tiny bit of anxiety, something I never expect from a Goosebumps book. I guess I have a thing about getting lost in dark, never-ending tunnels. Who knew?
The book isn't perfect, however. I was annoyed that Gabe's shoes kept coming untied, which left me yelling at him to just double-knot them already. Also, there are some of those cheap chapter endings that Stine is known for. (It wasn't actually a monster, it was just my dumb cousin trying to scare me.) Oooo, I didn't see that coming. Even as a kid, that stuff annoyed me. But still, this was a fun trip down memory lane, a trip I should take more often.
The early Goosebumps are definitely the best in terms of characters and writing. I mean, they're still nothing more than trashy fun, but it was clear that Stine wasn't phoning in on these earlier stories like he did off and on throughout the later half of the series. The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb was a spooky blast that wasn't afraid to push boundaries and get a little dark.
There were also parts where the main character Gabe was lost in the tunnels of the pyramid--completely alone--that gave me a tiny bit of anxiety, something I never expect from a Goosebumps book. I guess I have a thing about getting lost in dark, never-ending tunnels. Who knew?
The book isn't perfect, however. I was annoyed that Gabe's shoes kept coming untied, which left me yelling at him to just double-knot them already. Also, there are some of those cheap chapter endings that Stine is known for. (It wasn't actually a monster, it was just my dumb cousin trying to scare me.) Oooo, I didn't see that coming. Even as a kid, that stuff annoyed me. But still, this was a fun trip down memory lane, a trip I should take more often.
September 21, 2023
Gabe is on holidays in Egypt with his parents when they have to leave for business at short notice. Luckily for them his uncle Ben is there working on a pyramid as his role as a scientist. Gabe gets to stay in Egypt and hang out with his uncle and cousin Sari who really gets on his nerves.
Gabe, Sari and Uncle Ben all go exploring the pyramids and learn of an ancient curse from a man named Ahmed who tells them not to enter. What follows in the story is lots of practical jokes played on Gabe to scare him, some pretty disgusting information for a kids book on brains being sucked out through the nose and eye sockets when mummys are made and some tense situations when they all get lost inside the pyramid.
For a Goosebumps book it's more violent than most with our characters getting knives pulled on them, getting kidnapped and one getting knocked unconscious. There is a scene involving a multitude of scorpions as well which was gross. The ending is very tense as the curse comes true and Priestess Khala seeks her revenge.
Loved the setting in this, the silly comedy from Uncle Ben and how it was actually very tense at the end. Definitely one of the better Goosebumps books from my memory of reading it as a kid. I really enjoyed going back and reliving my childhood during this re-read.
Gabe, Sari and Uncle Ben all go exploring the pyramids and learn of an ancient curse from a man named Ahmed who tells them not to enter. What follows in the story is lots of practical jokes played on Gabe to scare him, some pretty disgusting information for a kids book on brains being sucked out through the nose and eye sockets when mummys are made and some tense situations when they all get lost inside the pyramid.
For a Goosebumps book it's more violent than most with our characters getting knives pulled on them, getting kidnapped and one getting knocked unconscious. There is a scene involving a multitude of scorpions as well which was gross. The ending is very tense as the curse comes true and Priestess Khala seeks her revenge.
Loved the setting in this, the silly comedy from Uncle Ben and how it was actually very tense at the end. Definitely one of the better Goosebumps books from my memory of reading it as a kid. I really enjoyed going back and reliving my childhood during this re-read.
March 1, 2019
NOT SCARY AT ALL! GIVE ME SOMETHING SCARIER!
December 31, 2021
I spent a month re-reading all 62 original Goosebumps books to see if they still hold up today, you can check out my 3.5 hour vlog here: https://youtu.be/2C73xc1FS5o
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
You can also check out my entire ranking of the original Goosebumps books from worst to best here: https://youtu.be/lBfaxCOwAnA
November 21, 2025
3 ⭐
I've never been into mummy media at all (The Mummy 1999 starring Brendan Fraser and Rachael Weisz doesn't count, that movie is awesome) So for me I just found this one pretty boring, but was more interested in the kidnapping sub plot. Overall I think it's fine, not bad enough to skip and if you like mummies then yeah try it out.
I've never been into mummy media at all (The Mummy 1999 starring Brendan Fraser and Rachael Weisz doesn't count, that movie is awesome) So for me I just found this one pretty boring, but was more interested in the kidnapping sub plot. Overall I think it's fine, not bad enough to skip and if you like mummies then yeah try it out.
January 14, 2025
Me gustó la parte de Egipto, los arqueólogos en pirámides desenterrando momias y otras cosas, es algo que suenpre me ha atraído. Los personajes y las situaciones que vivieron no me convencieron, pudo haber dado para más pero no sé, ni pelearon cuando la cosa se puso difícil.
September 29, 2018
Όχι το καλύτερο σημείο για να βρεθεί κάποιος... έλα όμως που ο Γκέιμπ με την ξαφέρφη του τη Σάρι όλο βρίσκονται σε μέρη που δεν θα έπρεπε, ώστε να καταλήξουν ακριβώς εκεί.... Α, και τα κορδόνια των παπουτσιών μπορεί να αποβούν μοιραία κάποιες φορές, και πιο επικίνδυνο το να σταματήσετε να τα δέσετε παρά να ρισκάρετε να περπατήσετε μαζί τους!!!
November 4, 2021
2.5 stars.
Gabe may have bitten off more than he can chew when he gets lost inside one of the great pyramids in Egypt and ends up at the mercy of a mummy's curse.
I think lowering my expectations has paid off, because for the most part this wasn't that bad. Yes the kids are annoying (Sari in particular) and yes the adults are ridiculous (leaving a 12 year old on their own in a strange country while you meet a refrigerator client? What?) but overall the plot is quite compelling, and shockingly a little bit scary. Being in a strange country where you don't speak the language and don't know anyone genuinely is scary, so I can understand that aspect of the story. I just wish this was more centered around an actual mummy's curse. The ending is also incredibly rushed with an obvious deus ex machina.
Not bad though. Not bad.
Gabe may have bitten off more than he can chew when he gets lost inside one of the great pyramids in Egypt and ends up at the mercy of a mummy's curse.
I think lowering my expectations has paid off, because for the most part this wasn't that bad. Yes the kids are annoying (Sari in particular) and yes the adults are ridiculous (leaving a 12 year old on their own in a strange country while you meet a refrigerator client? What?) but overall the plot is quite compelling, and shockingly a little bit scary. Being in a strange country where you don't speak the language and don't know anyone genuinely is scary, so I can understand that aspect of the story. I just wish this was more centered around an actual mummy's curse. The ending is also incredibly rushed with an obvious deus ex machina.
Not bad though. Not bad.
February 11, 2022
Read this back in 2003 and I remember loving ALL Goosebump books!
I would visit the nearest stores dragging adults with me to get my hands on one of these and I'd be happy for atleast 10 days and then I'd need a new one.
Goosebumps by R.L Stine made my childhood a bliss!
I would visit the nearest stores dragging adults with me to get my hands on one of these and I'd be happy for atleast 10 days and then I'd need a new one.
Goosebumps by R.L Stine made my childhood a bliss!
April 29, 2015
Gabe is a whiny little brat. His cousin Sari is a know-it-all who enjoys watching Gabe suffer. Both of these unlikable characters are in Egypt - Gabe is on vacation and Sari lives there with her dad, Ben the archeologist.
At first, Gabe is really excited to spend time with his cool Uncle Ben. He loves the idea of exploring a new tomb and takes great delight in telling Sari exactly how mummies are made - in gruesome detail.
But then things get a little strange. The Egyptian man - Ahmed - who works for Ben, is convinced that there is a curse on the tomb. And then some of Ben's workers start to get sick. And some vanish permanently.
Is there really a curse on the mummy's tomb? Or is another sinister thing entirely taking place?
Stine really pulled no stops with making his two main characters unlikeable. A bold choice, but I was annoyed with them. Both are petty, selfish, whiny, and stuck-up. I mean, I didn't want anything bad to happen to either of them, but I didn't enjoy spending time with them either.
I liked Stine's twist on the traditional mummy tale.
Some of the horror in this book comes from real-life fears such as child-kidnapping. There is an anxiety-producing scene where Gabe and Sari are led away by someone they trust who uses the claim, "Your father sent me," to lure them into a vehicle. The children eventually realize they're being driven away from the hotel and make their escape, but this plotline hits a little too close to home for me. Very scary.
The book is also filled with tons of gross smells. And bugs. Hundreds of scorpions and other creepy crawlies that crawl into pant legs and do other gross things. This book has a high "gross-out" factor.
My edition of this book has a wonderful "Behind the Scenes" section in the back. This includes a Q&A with Stine, a list of Top 10 Weirdest Things Found in a Mummy's Tomb, A History of Hieroglyphics, and a section on Preserving the Dead. Fascinating for children. They even provide a hieroglyphic alphabet so you can learn to write your name in hieroglyphics! Very inaccurately, but a cool concept and one kids will love.
First sentence: I saw the Great Pyramid and got thirsty. - I liked this opening, but Gabe quickly (I mean on the first half-page) establishes himself to be a brat of epic proportions. And he never improves. Neither does Sari. Still, it's not like I read Stine for character development. *rolls eyes
Last sentence:
La maldición de la momia - ¿Qué despertará a los muertos?
At first, Gabe is really excited to spend time with his cool Uncle Ben. He loves the idea of exploring a new tomb and takes great delight in telling Sari exactly how mummies are made - in gruesome detail.
But then things get a little strange. The Egyptian man - Ahmed - who works for Ben, is convinced that there is a curse on the tomb. And then some of Ben's workers start to get sick. And some vanish permanently.
Is there really a curse on the mummy's tomb? Or is another sinister thing entirely taking place?
Stine really pulled no stops with making his two main characters unlikeable. A bold choice, but I was annoyed with them. Both are petty, selfish, whiny, and stuck-up. I mean, I didn't want anything bad to happen to either of them, but I didn't enjoy spending time with them either.
I liked Stine's twist on the traditional mummy tale.
Some of the horror in this book comes from real-life fears such as child-kidnapping. There is an anxiety-producing scene where Gabe and Sari are led away by someone they trust who uses the claim, "Your father sent me," to lure them into a vehicle. The children eventually realize they're being driven away from the hotel and make their escape, but this plotline hits a little too close to home for me. Very scary.
The book is also filled with tons of gross smells. And bugs. Hundreds of scorpions and other creepy crawlies that crawl into pant legs and do other gross things. This book has a high "gross-out" factor.
My edition of this book has a wonderful "Behind the Scenes" section in the back. This includes a Q&A with Stine, a list of Top 10 Weirdest Things Found in a Mummy's Tomb, A History of Hieroglyphics, and a section on Preserving the Dead. Fascinating for children. They even provide a hieroglyphic alphabet so you can learn to write your name in hieroglyphics! Very inaccurately, but a cool concept and one kids will love.
First sentence: I saw the Great Pyramid and got thirsty. - I liked this opening, but Gabe quickly (I mean on the first half-page) establishes himself to be a brat of epic proportions. And he never improves. Neither does Sari. Still, it's not like I read Stine for character development. *rolls eyes
Last sentence:
La maldición de la momia - ¿Qué despertará a los muertos?
October 8, 2025
“The Curse of the Mummy’s Tomb” is the first Goosebumps book I have ever read. Ever. I’ll let that statement sink in for a few minutes.
I know what you are thinking: How could you have not read even one of the most popular kids’ horror book series in publishing history? One that is, since the first published book in the series back in 1992, still going and still immensely popular?
I dunno. Seriously. I don’t know how I’ve managed to miss this series. One of those weird little things in life. It’s like that one guy I know who has never seen a Star Wars movie. It’s bewildering, I know.
But, I’ve done it. I’ve read my first, and it wasn’t bad. In fact, it was kind of fun. I suppose if I was in middle school, it would be awesome.
I have no idea where this book fits in the series. I think it’s, like, the fifth or the seventh. Not that it matters. They all kind of stand alone, without having to necessarily read them in order.
In “TCotMT”, Gabe is on a vacation with his parents in Egypt. Gabe’s an Egyptian-American, so he has family that live in the country. One of those relatives is his Uncle Ben, an archaeologist who works at the famous Pyramids. He’s excited when he gets to spend a day working on a dig with his uncle, exploring the many tunnels within and under the Great Pyramids. Not so exciting is having to spend the day with his annoying older cousin, Sari. The two inadvertently stumble upon a mystery when one of the workers tries to kidnap them. They escape from this man, Ahmed, but end up lost in a tunnel that lands them in a room full of hundreds of mummies. And they’re all coming to life!
The 1999 movie "The Mummy" has nothing to do with this book. I just thought this movie poster was awesome...
Seriously, if I was in the target demographic—-ages 9-14—-this book would actually be pretty spooky. As someone considerably older, it was still kind of spooky, although certainly tamer than what I look for in a horror novel.
Still, I liked it enough to want to read more Goosebumps. My daughter, who is 8, refuses to read them, as they “look too scary”. That’s fine. I’ll try to convince her in a few more years…
I know what you are thinking: How could you have not read even one of the most popular kids’ horror book series in publishing history? One that is, since the first published book in the series back in 1992, still going and still immensely popular?
I dunno. Seriously. I don’t know how I’ve managed to miss this series. One of those weird little things in life. It’s like that one guy I know who has never seen a Star Wars movie. It’s bewildering, I know.
But, I’ve done it. I’ve read my first, and it wasn’t bad. In fact, it was kind of fun. I suppose if I was in middle school, it would be awesome.
I have no idea where this book fits in the series. I think it’s, like, the fifth or the seventh. Not that it matters. They all kind of stand alone, without having to necessarily read them in order.
In “TCotMT”, Gabe is on a vacation with his parents in Egypt. Gabe’s an Egyptian-American, so he has family that live in the country. One of those relatives is his Uncle Ben, an archaeologist who works at the famous Pyramids. He’s excited when he gets to spend a day working on a dig with his uncle, exploring the many tunnels within and under the Great Pyramids. Not so exciting is having to spend the day with his annoying older cousin, Sari. The two inadvertently stumble upon a mystery when one of the workers tries to kidnap them. They escape from this man, Ahmed, but end up lost in a tunnel that lands them in a room full of hundreds of mummies. And they’re all coming to life!
The 1999 movie "The Mummy" has nothing to do with this book. I just thought this movie poster was awesome...Seriously, if I was in the target demographic—-ages 9-14—-this book would actually be pretty spooky. As someone considerably older, it was still kind of spooky, although certainly tamer than what I look for in a horror novel.
Still, I liked it enough to want to read more Goosebumps. My daughter, who is 8, refuses to read them, as they “look too scary”. That’s fine. I’ll try to convince her in a few more years…
November 26, 2025
3 - 3.5 stars
Move over Indiana Jones!
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is the fifth book in the Goosebumps series. It is a little fun, a tad creepy, with a little mystery and action. Loved it.
I am re-reading this series for nostalgic reasons.
The Goosebumps series was a staple in our house. My kids absolutely loved them, and to say I read these books with them once is an understatement. We read them many times as each of my three kids became old enough to read them. They still have them and are getting to read them with their kids.
The book is well written, and the narrative is engaging.
Move over Indiana Jones!
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is the fifth book in the Goosebumps series. It is a little fun, a tad creepy, with a little mystery and action. Loved it.
I am re-reading this series for nostalgic reasons.
The Goosebumps series was a staple in our house. My kids absolutely loved them, and to say I read these books with them once is an understatement. We read them many times as each of my three kids became old enough to read them. They still have them and are getting to read them with their kids.
The book is well written, and the narrative is engaging.
January 29, 2019
3.5 Cool mummy adventure with a dangerous curse. TW: Fire. Where was the twist ending though? A bit more flat than usual but still a fun time.
August 28, 2024
The number of times the word "outstanding" is repeated 🫥
This book was really interesting to me because it sent me down a wormhole learning more about the pyramids. It's so fascinating to imagine what else could be hidden away in the pyramids or what other secret chambers await finding and WHAT could be in them?!
This poor main character was left in TERRIBLE hands. This could have all been resolved if his parents had a clue and realized his uncle and cousin were horribly irresponsible.
This one bugged me because the cousin keeps wanting to go out and break the rules, and the main character always goes along with it. Like why dosnt he know better by now?
This is WILD. First, the kids get legitimately kidnapped, and then they have to fight their way through a grown man with a knife?! I was not expecting so much action in this one!
This book was really interesting to me because it sent me down a wormhole learning more about the pyramids. It's so fascinating to imagine what else could be hidden away in the pyramids or what other secret chambers await finding and WHAT could be in them?!
This poor main character was left in TERRIBLE hands. This could have all been resolved if his parents had a clue and realized his uncle and cousin were horribly irresponsible.
This one bugged me because the cousin keeps wanting to go out and break the rules, and the main character always goes along with it. Like why dosnt he know better by now?
This is WILD. First, the kids get legitimately kidnapped, and then they have to fight their way through a grown man with a knife?! I was not expecting so much action in this one!
October 29, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I actually learnt things about pyramids and mummies that I didn't know. The book had a lot of suspense in it, which made me happy.
November 11, 2020
Pues... es un libro infantil bastante flojo en el que no pasa nada casi hasta el final. Tiene un puntillo macabro pero poco más. El principio es muyyyyy aburrido.
**Alerta Spoiler.
1.-La historia. Gabe, un niño de 12 años viaja a Egipto con sus padres para visitar las pirámides, además tiene un tío arqueólogo que trabaja dentro de una de ellas. Y claaaaro, cómo están de vacaciones, al tío no se le ocurre nada más que llevarlo dentro, junto con su prima repipi e insoportable. Y luego hay por ahí un loco mucho más peligroso que las momias XD
2.-Los personajes. Gabe, un crío insoportable solo a veces, y Sari (la prima), insoportable a todas horas.
El tío, que muy adulto adulto... no es. Y el fanático. Y las momias, muchas momias... pero solo al final.
3.-La pluma, la trama y demás. Capítulos muy cortos (el libro en general es corto, se puede leer perfectamente en un día) y una historia aburrida, con algún pequeño toque macabro. Por lo menos se nota que el escritor tiene tablas y está bien escrito, sin tratar al "pequeño-joven" lector como a un idiota.
4.-El final. Lo mejor, sin más.
En fin 2 estrellas sobre 5, porque pese a ser un libro infantil-juvenil, es bastante pobre y flojo. Quizá para los jóvenes de la época estuviera bien (que no lo sé), pero para los de ahora... cómo que se queda corto.
**Alerta Spoiler.
1.-La historia. Gabe, un niño de 12 años viaja a Egipto con sus padres para visitar las pirámides, además tiene un tío arqueólogo que trabaja dentro de una de ellas. Y claaaaro, cómo están de vacaciones, al tío no se le ocurre nada más que llevarlo dentro, junto con su prima repipi e insoportable. Y luego hay por ahí un loco mucho más peligroso que las momias XD
2.-Los personajes. Gabe, un crío insoportable solo a veces, y Sari (la prima), insoportable a todas horas.
El tío, que muy adulto adulto... no es. Y el fanático. Y las momias, muchas momias... pero solo al final.
3.-La pluma, la trama y demás. Capítulos muy cortos (el libro en general es corto, se puede leer perfectamente en un día) y una historia aburrida, con algún pequeño toque macabro. Por lo menos se nota que el escritor tiene tablas y está bien escrito, sin tratar al "pequeño-joven" lector como a un idiota.
4.-El final. Lo mejor, sin más.
En fin 2 estrellas sobre 5, porque pese a ser un libro infantil-juvenil, es bastante pobre y flojo. Quizá para los jóvenes de la época estuviera bien (que no lo sé), pero para los de ahora... cómo que se queda corto.
July 2, 2024
One of the great aspects about this Goosebumps book is that it's set in Egypt.
It's just a shame that the main protagonist Gabe is so annoyingly unappreciated of visiting a cultural hotspot.
Stine quickly establishes the hot conditions as Gabe constantly complaining about being thirsty highlights the heat.
Goosebumps books always work with a formula of removing the parents and the fact that they're called away whilst on their business trip is a neat movie.
It also allows a different dynamic as Gable is left with his cousin Sari and Uncle Ben.
Much of the plot is a run-around, though there is that sense of Gabe navigating a strange place - whilst an interaction with a taxi driver is also amusing.
The early books in the series does carry a much more darker threat and there are times that you feel that the kids could really be harmed.
I like how this feels different compared to the other releases and really establishes the anthology nature of the series.
More of an action adventure type of story, though does have some genuine intense moments.
It's just a shame that the main protagonist Gabe is so annoyingly unappreciated of visiting a cultural hotspot.
Stine quickly establishes the hot conditions as Gabe constantly complaining about being thirsty highlights the heat.
Goosebumps books always work with a formula of removing the parents and the fact that they're called away whilst on their business trip is a neat movie.
It also allows a different dynamic as Gable is left with his cousin Sari and Uncle Ben.
Much of the plot is a run-around, though there is that sense of Gabe navigating a strange place - whilst an interaction with a taxi driver is also amusing.
The early books in the series does carry a much more darker threat and there are times that you feel that the kids could really be harmed.
I like how this feels different compared to the other releases and really establishes the anthology nature of the series.
More of an action adventure type of story, though does have some genuine intense moments.
January 31, 2024
It had potential of being great, but in the end fell flat for me. I fear the very first Goosebumps - Welcome to Dead House - is where things peaked for me personally. The writing has really gone downhill from that one. Also, Gabe is incredibly annoying from page one and I was rolling my eyes the whole time. I legit, half way through this book, just stopped reading and only skimmed pages to get the gist of what was going on in the story. Very easy to do, given how much actions and dialog gets repeated.
October 19, 2024
Credit to R.L. Stine for mixing it up in Goosebumps book five, The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb. It resists established patterns for the series, leaning on evocative settings to propel the story. Twelve-year-old Gabe Sabry is on an adventure over Christmas vacation from school. He and his parents are at the Great Pyramid in Egypt, where a discovery by Gabe's uncle, Ben Hassad, could revolutionize Egyptology. A network of hidden tunnels in the pyramid has been found that could lead to the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu himself. When Gabe's parents have to travel to Alexandria for a few days, Gabe is excited to accompany Ben to the Great Pyramid every day. Is he about to witness history?
Gabe is less thrilled that his cousin Sari, two months older than he, is visiting her dad from the United States. Sari's superior attitude drives Gabe up a wall, and she inherited Uncle Ben's teasing sense of humor. On their first trip into the pyramid Ben warns Gabe and Sari to stick close; it's easy to get lost in the labyrinth of tunnels. Gabe is chilled at the prospect of seeing a real mummy, but Sari says they've found only one mummy case, an empty one. Ben informs Gabe that this new dig isn't without opposition; some on his archaeology team, including a sullen young man named Ahmed, are adamant that poking around in Ancient Egyptian tombs is sacrilege. Ben argues there's much to be gained by exploring the culture of the ancients, and he won't back down.
With his "mummy hand" in his pocket—a toy Gabe picked up at an American garage sale and considers a good luck charm—Gabe manages not to get permanently lost inside the pyramid with Sari. He has less luck in urban Cairo; Gabe and his cousin get pulled into a weird game by Ahmed. Does he resent them because Ben is investigating the Great Pyramid? Gabe and Sari elude what appears to be a kidnapping attempt by Ahmed, but he barely knows the kids; would he hurt them? When Gabe and Sari return to the pyramid and end up lost in its tunnels, they discover a chamber no archaeologist has seen for perhaps thousands of years, a sanctuary that could rewrite the book on Egyptology. Something dark and suspicious is happening in this room; are they in mortal danger from a secret as old as Khufu?
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is among the less successful early Goosebumps books for one main reason: it doesn't fit the horror genre. It's primarily an adventure, driven by action scenes in Cairo and inside the Great Pyramid. The climax veers close to being corny. The final chapter is kind of nice, though. I won't put The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb near the level of Say Cheese and Die!, but it's a serviceable story.
Gabe is less thrilled that his cousin Sari, two months older than he, is visiting her dad from the United States. Sari's superior attitude drives Gabe up a wall, and she inherited Uncle Ben's teasing sense of humor. On their first trip into the pyramid Ben warns Gabe and Sari to stick close; it's easy to get lost in the labyrinth of tunnels. Gabe is chilled at the prospect of seeing a real mummy, but Sari says they've found only one mummy case, an empty one. Ben informs Gabe that this new dig isn't without opposition; some on his archaeology team, including a sullen young man named Ahmed, are adamant that poking around in Ancient Egyptian tombs is sacrilege. Ben argues there's much to be gained by exploring the culture of the ancients, and he won't back down.
With his "mummy hand" in his pocket—a toy Gabe picked up at an American garage sale and considers a good luck charm—Gabe manages not to get permanently lost inside the pyramid with Sari. He has less luck in urban Cairo; Gabe and his cousin get pulled into a weird game by Ahmed. Does he resent them because Ben is investigating the Great Pyramid? Gabe and Sari elude what appears to be a kidnapping attempt by Ahmed, but he barely knows the kids; would he hurt them? When Gabe and Sari return to the pyramid and end up lost in its tunnels, they discover a chamber no archaeologist has seen for perhaps thousands of years, a sanctuary that could rewrite the book on Egyptology. Something dark and suspicious is happening in this room; are they in mortal danger from a secret as old as Khufu?
The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb is among the less successful early Goosebumps books for one main reason: it doesn't fit the horror genre. It's primarily an adventure, driven by action scenes in Cairo and inside the Great Pyramid. The climax veers close to being corny. The final chapter is kind of nice, though. I won't put The Curse of the Mummy's Tomb near the level of Say Cheese and Die!, but it's a serviceable story.
November 11, 2012
The Curse of the Mummy was the fifth book in the Goosebumps book series.
This was an alright story because the concept is very common. I've seen stories similar like this from various sources.
Well, this is how story goes: Gabe Hassard is spending Christmas vacation in Egypt with his parents. Gabe's parents own a company, so they are in Egypt for business. However, Gave's Uncle Ben is working at the pyramids and so they take the opportunity to see him. They visited Uncle Ben in Giza and then the story goes on and a mummy appeared to take them all out. that's it -_-
This was an alright story because the concept is very common. I've seen stories similar like this from various sources.
Well, this is how story goes: Gabe Hassard is spending Christmas vacation in Egypt with his parents. Gabe's parents own a company, so they are in Egypt for business. However, Gave's Uncle Ben is working at the pyramids and so they take the opportunity to see him. They visited Uncle Ben in Giza and then the story goes on and a mummy appeared to take them all out. that's it -_-
March 4, 2020
Gabe este un puști de 12 ani, care se plânge pentru orice nimic. Răsfățat, cam hipersensibil și morocănos, își face cunoscute nemulțumirile din cele mai mărunte motive. Am putea crede că se va bucura să rămână singur în camera de hotel din Egipt, acolo unde veniseră în vacanță, însă el se sperie de parcă ar avea un presentiment despre ce îl așteaptă.
Când unchiul lui vine să aibă grijă de el până la întoarcerea părinților, Gabe se bucură chiar dacă va trebui să o suporte pe Sari, verișoara lui arțăgoasă și foarte competitivă. Merită să facă efortul acesta pentru că astfel va putea să vadă piramida lui Kheops în interior, unde au acces doar foarte puțini oameni. El nu se teme de blestemul ce se presupune că se va abate asupra celor care deranjează odihna morților din piramidă și nici de ce ar putea ascunde cotloanele întunecate. Însă, odată ajuns acolo, și cel mai slab curent de aer îl înspăimântă, de parcă ar fi înconjurat de ceva malefic și nevăzut, iar Sari doar îi agravează teama făcându-i tot felul de farse răutăcioase.
Până la urmă, hotărăsc împreună să se furișeze și să exploreze piramida, fără să aibă vreo bănuiala despre ce îi așteaptă. Să fie acea forță nevăzută care îi urmărește una supranaturală, vreun spirit vechi de peste 4 mii de ani, sau una umană, care are un plan macabru? Cum ar putea doi copii să se descurce singuri într-o piramidă cu mii de tuneluri care formează un labirint, mai ales când pe urmele lor este cineva care le vrea răul?
Mumii care revin la viață, blesteme care par tot mai reale, prieteni care îi trădează pe cei apropiați din motive surprinzătoare, un criminal care își ascunde victimele printre mumiile antice și doi copii care trebuie să scape de toate acestea. Blestemul mumiei îți arată cum un obiectiv turistic fascinant se poate transforma într-o capcană a morții și îți va oferi o aventură înspăimântătoare.
Tu ai mai vrea să vizitezi Egiptul, dacă ai ști că va trebui să înfrunți toate acestea? Ai mai vrea să pășești pe un pământ vechi de milenii, dacă ai ști că pe el calcă și spirite care nu te vor acolo?
Când unchiul lui vine să aibă grijă de el până la întoarcerea părinților, Gabe se bucură chiar dacă va trebui să o suporte pe Sari, verișoara lui arțăgoasă și foarte competitivă. Merită să facă efortul acesta pentru că astfel va putea să vadă piramida lui Kheops în interior, unde au acces doar foarte puțini oameni. El nu se teme de blestemul ce se presupune că se va abate asupra celor care deranjează odihna morților din piramidă și nici de ce ar putea ascunde cotloanele întunecate. Însă, odată ajuns acolo, și cel mai slab curent de aer îl înspăimântă, de parcă ar fi înconjurat de ceva malefic și nevăzut, iar Sari doar îi agravează teama făcându-i tot felul de farse răutăcioase.
Până la urmă, hotărăsc împreună să se furișeze și să exploreze piramida, fără să aibă vreo bănuiala despre ce îi așteaptă. Să fie acea forță nevăzută care îi urmărește una supranaturală, vreun spirit vechi de peste 4 mii de ani, sau una umană, care are un plan macabru? Cum ar putea doi copii să se descurce singuri într-o piramidă cu mii de tuneluri care formează un labirint, mai ales când pe urmele lor este cineva care le vrea răul?
Mumii care revin la viață, blesteme care par tot mai reale, prieteni care îi trădează pe cei apropiați din motive surprinzătoare, un criminal care își ascunde victimele printre mumiile antice și doi copii care trebuie să scape de toate acestea. Blestemul mumiei îți arată cum un obiectiv turistic fascinant se poate transforma într-o capcană a morții și îți va oferi o aventură înspăimântătoare.
Tu ai mai vrea să vizitezi Egiptul, dacă ai ști că va trebui să înfrunți toate acestea? Ai mai vrea să pășești pe un pământ vechi de milenii, dacă ai ști că pe el calcă și spirite care nu te vor acolo?
August 17, 2019
A kid, his cousin, and his uncle explore a hidden mummy's tomb. Or COURSE there's a curse. It's right there in the title.
Good, but not scary. The things you expect to happen, happen. On the other hand, this is the first book where I feel trust in the author as an author. Something got better, even if he didn't quite have all the pieces together yet.
Recommended for a fun, quick read, if not so scary :)
Good, but not scary. The things you expect to happen, happen. On the other hand, this is the first book where I feel trust in the author as an author. Something got better, even if he didn't quite have all the pieces together yet.
Recommended for a fun, quick read, if not so scary :)
September 6, 2023
Really great second half. First half it just okay. Villain is kinda lame though. Literally just “Guy with a Torch” 💀
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 11, 2018
3.5 out of 5. full review to come!
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