The Golden One

Amelia Peabody #14

by Elizabeth Peters

A new year, 1917, is dawning, and the Great War that ravages the world shows no sign of abating. In these perilous times, archaeologist Amelia Peabody and her extended family must confront shocking dangers. But it is son Ramses who faces the most dire threat, answering a call that will carry him to the fabled seaport of Gaza on a mission as personal as it is perilous -- where death will be the certain consequence of exposure. While far away, Ramses's beautiful wife, Nefret, guards a secret of her own ...

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Egypt, Audiobook, Historical Mystery

512 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Elizabeth 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.

Reviews

[Phrynne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this whole series so much but this book was particularly good. I must be very close to the end of the series now but I have not checked because I do not want to know.

In The Golden One Ramses and Nefret are grown up and married and playing an independent role in the book. Of course they are still with Amelia and Emerson and the four of them work together to sort out missing tombs, tomb robbers, rude visiting Americans, spies, temperamental cats, war and of course Sethos.

As usual Amelia guesses her way through events and claims to always know everything. Emerson shouts a lot. Ramses puts himself in constant danger and Nefret does the best she can. I love the way that Ramses now shows affection for his parents. I guess Nefret has had a softening effect on him.

This is such a nice series. It is historical fiction with a beautiful setting, great characters, suspense, humour and a good story. What more to ask for.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite part of this series, besides the mystery and Egyptian archeology information is how the characters have changed over the time of the series. It is like having a real life family and watching them grow up and change over time. Children have been born, grown up and gotten married, and new children are being born. The main characters have aged and some have died.

They are all a part of my reading life because of the wonderful imagination of the author and the amazing ability of the narrator of the audiobooks.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1917 and the Peabody Emersons are back in Egypt indefinitely, until the end of the war. They will stay, come what may, rather than risk being sunk by a German U-boat. In Cairo the gossips talk of a newly looted tomb but the Master is not the usual suspect. Sethos puts in a brief appearance only to disappear, surprisingly bringing on more worry for Emerson. The Vandergeldts are also in Egypt. Cyrus is hoping to find that tomb or another rich one while Emerson is content to excavate temples... or so he says. The Emersons discover they have a forbiddable (or not so) adversary when an old nemesis returns. The War Office or some such department is after Ramses again but he steadfastly refuses until "Mr. Smith" puts Ramses in a difficult spot. It seems the Emersons' kinsman has possibly turned traitor and only Ramses can identify the holy man who may or may not be Sethos. Worried for their son's safety but also for Sethos, Emerson, Amelia and Nefret are not about to be left behind!

I think this is the weakest book of the series (of those written by Elizabeth Peters) so far. It feels like two books in one and is very disjointed. The jacket summary emphasizes the plot of Book 2 but Book 1 is longer. Book 1 contains too much summary of previous events and concludes rather anticlimactically and too easily. It leaves a plot left unfinished to be picked up again in Book 3. Book 2 is a self-contained adventure that has nothing to do with archeology or Egyptology. I kept wishing the Emersons would return to their purpose for being in Egypt in the first place. Book 2 is a hair-raising, breathtaking adventure but it's also really funny. Elizabeth Peters knew how to lighten a difficult subject by infusing it with humor caused by the chaos that follows the Emersons. The conclusion to Book 3 also falls flat. I was expecting something a lot more exciting and dangerous. I also find the romance between Ramses and Nefret grates on me after awhile. They're a very sweet couple but their romance gets a little repetitive and boring.

Where this book shines is in character development. The Emersons never disappoint. Amelia is still Amelia- pragmatic, judgemental and hopelessly romantic. It's a good thing she raised Nefret or Amelia would be a nightmare of a mother-in-law. It's nice to see Amelia's feelings for her son develop as he matures, Emerson's as well. They're so Victorian and British they haven't been free with their overt expressions of love. I just love Emerson "Father of Curses" and his antics. I got a trifle bored and annoyed with his temper though. Ramses has also really matured. He's less pedantic and is better able to share his thoughts and feelings, at least with Nefret. It's funny how he's becoming a parent to his parents as he ages and they stay ever youthful. Nefret is amazing and I love her. I admire her dedication to helping the prostitutes and I love how fiercely loving she is. Sennia manages not to annoy me in this novel. She's actually rather sweet. There's a new Emerson on board for some of the adventure, a stray cat Sennia names "The Great Cat of Re." Horus is funnier so far. "Cousin Ismail" cracks me up. He never ceases to amaze me with his antics and how he gets in and out of trouble so easily. I think he's still a rogue but a lovable one now and I don't believe he is really reformed!

Cyrus Vandergeldt is still his gosh darn, excitable self. He's more shrewd than he looks. Bertie seems to be healing from his trauma nicely but I'm not sure he's fully dedicated to Egyptology or at least not for the right reasons. Even so, I like him. Jumanna, who I greatly enjoyed in the previous book, annoys the heck out of me by behaving like a bratty teenager. Some of her angst is justified but not all of it and I feel Amelia gets rather harsh with the girl. Selim plays a much larger role in this novel. He adds a lot of comic relief. Selim is proving to be as loyal as his father was before him. His obsession with the motorcar is really really funny.

Part 1 introduces an American family, the Albions. Mr. Albion is a collector without ethics. He feels like a shady character and I don't trust him. His son, Sebastian, is a creep but sadly typical of men of the time. The Emersons just don't realize how unusual they are. Everytime they come up against behavior they don't stand for, they become angry and while I don't blame them, most people of their time and class would not bat at eyelash. Mrs. Albion acts like a grand lady and the type of woman Emerson can't stand. She spoils her son terribly. She could be hiding a more devious mind.

In Part 2 we have a whole new adventure with new characters and new disguises. It's hard for the Emersons to keep all the new intelligence departments apart. Lieutenant Chetwode is the kind of young man Ramses was raised NOT to be. Chetwode comes across as really silly but has hidden depths. Ramses doesn't like him much so the reader doesn't either. Ismail Pasha, the holy man who may or may not be Sethos, is portrayed for amusement. His appearance is funny until it turns dangerous. Is he really Sethos? He seems convincing. Sahin Pasha reappears as one of the most cunning and surprising enemies Ramses has encountered to date. His intentions are confusing but his evil knows no bounds. Esin, his silly daughter, is a more romantic version of Nefret. Like Nefret, she's fierce and believes in women's suffrage. She is not your typical Turkish Muslim girl. Esin complicates the plot unnecessarily and I don't really like her. Her romantic nature is too over-the-top silly. Edward Washington returns and this time he becomes a sympathetic character, someone to care about. The war has changed him, as it did so many other young men.

While this is not the best entry in the series, I have to finish the series to the conclusion and then start again! I can't bear to leave the Emersons behind.

*******************Re-read November/December 2021***************************
This book is so disjointed! It's two stories in one novel and the two stories don't gel. Book 2 is a completely different plot and adventure. That was actually the only part I remembered from my previous read. I enjoyed it more this time around. I appreciated the humor more and I love Sethos! He's too funny. I have a lot of unanswered questions about his past and how he came to be who he is. I can only infer that he's working for whoever it is hired him because he doesn't have a choice. It's that or jail? I enjoy a good lovable rogue character and Sethos fits the bill.

Books 1 and 3 contain the Egyptological mystery. It just doesn't really do anything for me. The villains are too obvious and too lackluster for me. There was only one moment of anxiety with Amelia and Emerson.

What shines in this novel is the personal relationships. Ramses and Nefret are so much in love and she would do ANYTHING- ANYTHING to keep him safe. Their bond is special and unbreakable. He's willing to die by his principles. The relationships between parents and children have really grown as well. Amelia and Emerson finally realize how much they love and respect their son and make sure he knows it. He doesn't seem to remember his early years when Emerson was proud of his infant prodigy and when Amelia went beserk and attacked the Master Criminal's henchmen who tried to kill little Ramses. They've spoiled Sennia and I found her funny but annoying. The cats are a riot too. I'm more like Horus than the Great Cat of Re. Gargery is part of the family as well and he's so loyal and eager to be a part of the adventure. He's devoted to Sennia more than anyone else. It's very sweet. Selim has grown so much and is sounding more like his father every year. However, he's young so he's more modern than Abdullah and eager to adapt to new ways and new technology. His obsession with the motorcar is a riot.

By today's standards, the cross-dressing procurer probably shouldn't have been included unless there's historical evidence he or someone like him existed but I find him charming and he does seem to respect the Emersons. He does them a huge favor that should clue them in to what happens next!

Mom didn't enjoy this one either. She felt it was filler, killing time until 1922.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the most memorable of the Peabody books in my opinion, but an enjoyable romp nevertheless. The cast of characters is now so large and the plot so complicated that it can be hard to keep it all in my head, but I tend to just let go of my critical faculties and enjoy the ride. This episode has the Emersons on the track of an important archeological find, a killer on the loose, and another go-round at wartime political intrigue and adventure.

I suppose the characters are somewhat static; Amelia and Emerson never really change in any way, in fact they barely age, but isn't that the point when you create characters that are larger than life to the brink of being ridiculously so? Cyrus is still the gosh-darn-it conveniently hugely wealthy American amateur of the early books, Nefret is constantly beautiful and fierce, the Egyptian characters are slightly childlike, full of character, and highly loyal. Only Ramses really grows and changes; I sometimes find myself missing the pedantic little boy and wish he could have retained some of his more annoying traits instead of becoming such an out-and-out romantic hero.

And then there are the newer additions--Bertie, Jumana, and Sennia--who exist, it seems to me, mostly to keep the plot moving along at its breakneck speed, but they are deftly drawn and vivid. How did Peters do it? This is sheer entertainment reading that rarely flags, and although I'm starting to look forward to reaching the end point (I am re-reading the books in chronological order of the characters' lives so I'm in the home stretch) I begin each book with pleasure at dipping once more into the Emersons' world.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's March as I finish this particular reread of the Amelia series and I think I'm going to take a pause here. He Shall Thunder in the Sky is arguably the best of the series and everything after that is somewhat downhill. But here you really start to notice an uneveness in her writing. The book is divided into three different actions, with a long and meandering denoument.

That said, it's still damned good. The scene where Emerson declares that his son takes orders from no one but him, and he takes orders from no one but his son remains a beautiful illustration of what I like to call "deep guy shit."

And I was so happy the Cyrus finally got a tomb. I've adored Cyrus from the start and he deserved a big fat find.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

On audiobook, these books are a delight, even though Amelia and Emerson are getting older and Ramses and Nefret are grown and married, there's still a lot of humor and fun in the books. But alas, not as much as in the first few. Still Barbara Rosenblat is fabulous doing the reading, none better! She "is" Amelia Peabody Emerson!

To be honest, there really wasn't a whole lot to the plot that was very memorable. WWI is still going on and the Emersons are all in Egypt for the season at their latest dig. Emerson is of course put out because he's not where he'd like to be. Still, there's the usual dead bodies and mystery to solve. Some humor abounds, for instance as Amelia and Nefret have to dress up as Egyptian women in full regalia (covered up from head to toe) while Emerson poses as some rich sheikh type of person in a grand car, all to be near Ramses on one of his spy missions for the British. They have to keep up the charade so the servants in the house they're renting won't know who they really are. Luckily they were there.

As usual, all comes together at the end, mystery solved with some good news for Ramses and Nefret. I do like them as a couple and wish them well! Until the next one...

[Linniegayl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again I listened to this in audio (latest re-listen of the series) and the narration was fantastic. The book is also a solid A for me, so five stars here.

I had forgotten just how much is packed into The Golden One. In truth, it's almost like three books, all tied together. In the first the focus centers on the Emerson's difficulties with Jamal and an apparent mysterious tomb (carried over from the previous book). The second book focuses on the excursion of some of the family into Gaza, with Ramses once again involved in spying. The third, and final, portion of the book gets the family back to Luxor and excavation.

I enjoyed each part of the book, but the last third is rather glorious, not only for the adventures encountered by Amelia, Emerson, Ramses, Nefret, and the rest of the crew, but for the promise of changes coming in the next book. On to Children of the Storm!

RE-READ 09/21/20: Another re-listen finished. This is definitely one of my favorite books in the series. As I wrote above, it really is almost like three books, there is so much going on, with three full sections.

Re-Read 07/21/22: Another completely satisfying relisten. I adore this book, and continue to agree with everything I've written before.

[Empress Reece (Hooked on Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deir el Medina & The God's Wives...

Let me just say that Elizabeth Peters aka Barbara Michaels/Mertz is one of my all time favorite authors! I absolutely love all of her books but this series is my most favorite because of its ancient Egypt and archaeology theme. Plus I fell in love with Amelia Peabody and her family from book one. It literally has some of everything that I enjoy- exotic locales, mystery, espionage, war, suspense, adventure and travel, archaeology, Egyptology etc.etc. It just resonates with me on so many levels. I'm going to be so sad when I reach the end of the series! I actually stopped reading it a year or so ago because I was getting close to the end and I wasn't ready for that at all, but for one of our Summer Book Bingo squares we had to read a book by an author that has passed away so I figured this was my cue to suck it up and just savor the few remaining books. I'm very glad I did. I've missed their family dynamics and their scheming... 
 
In this particular book they have just arrived at their home in Luxor, Egypt for an extended stay because the war is on and traveling back to England by ship is too dangerous because of the military submarines. They are working at the site of Deir el Medina; speculation about the possible location a royal tomb is running rampant and British Intelligence is seeking out Ramses for another mission. As always there is never a dull moment and the story is highly entertaining. If you haven't read any of Peters' books yet you should give them a try one day. Just a word of caution though, I would stay away from the audio of this particular series. I don't care for the narrator at all. In my opinion, she doesn't do the series or characters the justice they deserve.

[Dorothy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the early books in Elizabeth Peters' series, but I enjoyed this one much less. Much of the reason lies in “Manuscript H”.

The series is “written” by Amelia Peabody, the resourceful wife of an archaeologist working in Egypt in the early part of the 20th century. She's a feisty, intelligent woman who's handy with a parasol in a tight spot, and she has a nice line in dry humour.

The problem (for the author) is that her accounts are written in the first person – which works well in the early books, when Amelia and her husband Emerson are the main protagonists. But as her son Ramses grows up and gets married, and he and his wife start having adventures of their own, Amelia doesn't witness them and therefore can't write about them.

The author bridges those gaps by creating a mysterious Manuscript H, written by persons unknown (but probably Ramses). That worked when the gaps were minor – but in this book, Manuscript H is needed for huge chunks of the story. That's a problem, because without Amelia's wit, and written in the third person, Manuscript H just isn't engaging. I wish Elizabeth Peters had used Ramses' diary, rather than creating a mysterious text – written in Ramses' voice, perhaps these passages would have been more involving.

Or maybe it's just that I'm not that interested in reading about the derring-do of a young spy. What I love about this series is the atmosphere of the digs in Egypt at the time of Carter and Tutankhamun, and of course, the indomitable Amelia. As she takes more and more of a back seat, the series appeals to me less and less.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Emersons are my favorite characters. I have to remind myself they fictional one they are so real. This book is really two books brought together in the third part. The Emersons have returned to Egypt for the duration of the war and have settled in Luxor. Jamal is back and has found another tomb which furnishings have sold. Before they can do much Amelia decides to find him. A number of events occur before the problem of Jamal is solved. All wonder what it " it is in the Hand of God". Meanwhile, the military wants Ramos for a job. Smith intervenes and we find the Emersons near the war zone. Nefret has secret.There are riots, guests, horses, escapes, abandoned houses, and no Sethos but Lord Washington. Returning to Luxor Emerson threatens to part a curse on the tombs and Cyrus finds his dream come true as "the Hand Of God" is revealed.

[Teri-K · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm unsure about this particular book. I'm reading/listening to the series in order, and this isn't one of the best. I think Peters falters when her books are crowded with characters, since her strengths as a writer are in her main characters. The more Amelia and Emerson we get, the better, IMO. So these books that have many secondary characters are confusing and less entertaining. Plus, the Albion's were annoying and never really made sense to me.

The plot was very slow to get started. I often felt I'd been listening for hours to the same conversation/explanation. And there was a lot of explaining here. I almost gave this book 2 stars, but toward the end it improved a great deal, with some action and scenes where we got to see the Emerson's teasing and arguing and being their usual fun selves. So for now it gets 3 stars. That may change when I revisit it.

Well, I've revisited this as I'm listening through the series to prepare for The Painted Queen. I liked the fact that we saw more of Amelia and Emerson in the first quarter of the book, but then things slowed down. I think this one suffers from a lack of focus. Is it an amusing mystery or a serious spy novel? It's not really either. Plus, I'm seriously tired of Ramses thinking how beautiful his wife is and how unnecessarily jealous he is.... Boring. And the Albions still seem unnecessary. I'm downgrading from 3 to 2 stars - the lowest this series gets from me.

[Anastasia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden One by Elizabeth Peters is the 14th book in the Amelia Peabody Mystery series. The Emersons continue their archaeological excavations with whispers of a hidden tomb allegedly discovered by the traitorous Jamil. This book leads on from the previous with Jamil continuing his treachery. Ramses again is put in a difficult position with the War Office. A very enjoyable and entertaining book and it is wonderful to watch the family grow and catch up with all their friends and acquaintances. It is nice to see the Emersons mellowing towards their grandchildren and the contrasts with them bringing up their now grown children. Amelia's parasol continues to be useful in new ways. I like that we also get to follow both Ramses and Nefret's point of views through their manuscripts and letters. The visions and dreams involving Abdullah help to point the way and are eerie. The Audio is especially superb. A very entertaining historical adventure with great characters and plenty of dangers.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Minor spoiler below, given what one character's fate seems to be in a previous book.
I still enjoy the characters--Emerson, Amelia, Ramses, Selim, and Sethos in particular--but the plot didn't grab me enough to keep me from putting this aside several times to read other things.
This quote is just one more illustration of why I've grown so fond of Emerson, though:

"Just one more thing," Bertie said, in his quiet voice. "Sebastian, take off your glasses and put up your hands."
"Hopelessly, incorrigibly well-bred," said Emerson, shaking his head, as Bertie knocked Sebastian flat. (--pg. 488)

[Jamie Collins · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Another entertaining Amelia Peabody novel, although the plot is a slightly awkward mix of murder mystery and spy adventure.

It's 1916 and the Emersons are back in Egypt to stay for a while, since ocean travel is growing more dangerous due to German submarine attacks. The usual murder mystery interrupts their archaeological digging, plus the British authorities continue to pursue a reluctant Ramses, trying to engage him yet again in the Great Game.

I continue to be amused by Amelia, and while the happily married Ramses and Nefret aren't as interesting as they were a few books back, I still enjoy spending time with the growing Emerson family.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

WWI continues, but having arrived in Egypt without being sunk, our intrepid and growing cast of characters is reading to seek out a new tomb, rich in the artifacts that are making their way to the antiquities dealers. Peters juggles not just the large cast here, with Jumana, Sennia, Bertie, el Gharbi, no-longer-MC-Sethos, Gargery, Cyrus, Catherine, and more having entered the story in the last few books and here, no one is shunted off to school or war or anything else (so many characters it seems Rosenblat has trouble separating some voices - Amelia and Nefret sometimes mushing together) except Margaret who is doing war reporting, but also an intricate plot with the missing tomb, Jumana's dastardly twin, Ramses off to spy again, this time against Sethos who is also a spy, a rescue, and so many denouements that this might have been at least three books. Peters is at the top of her game in this one, and listening to Barbara Rosenblat read is positively joy-inducing.

[Shiloah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been with my husband for over thirty years now so I completely identify with Amelia and Emerson’s relationship. I love watching it age in a normal and natural way. Such a great story to add to the wonderful series.

[Melliane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mon avis en Français

My English review

J’ai un moment de mou niveau lecture. Après avoir tenté de me lancer dans plusieurs romans de différents genres sans succès, je me suis finalement portée vers une série avec laquelle je passe toujours un super moment. Je les ai bientôt tous lus, mais c’est tout de même toujours sympa de retrouver tous les personnages !

Comme la sortie des romans ne suit pas l’ordre chronologique de l’histoire, on peut toujours tomber à n’importe quel moment de la vie des Emerson. Aussi, au final, je ne fais plus attention pour savoir dans quel tome je me lance.

La guerre fait rage et notre petite famille se dirige vers l’Egypte pour de nouvelles fouilles. Pourtant, le climat n’est pas facile, et alors que des tombes sont pillées face au peu de ressources pour les protéger, il se pourrait que Sethos soit de retour et qu’il ait changé de camp.

C’était à nouveau un très bon roman et comment résister à Ramses, Nefret, Emerson, Peabody ou même Sethos. Elizabeth Peters réussit toujours à m’emporter dans chacune de ses histoires !

[Shala Howell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, using this book as a stand-in for the entire series of Amelia Peabody mysteries. Elizabeth Peters was my companion of choice in 2005-2006 for airplane trips. If you want to read a lot of brain candy while pretending you're doing something literary, read the Amelia Peabody mysteries in the order in which Peters wrote them. Peters develops a lot as a writer over the course of writing these novels, and it's fascinating to watch her gain mastery over the craft. The first books can be grim reading at points, but the later novels are much smoother reads.

[Emma Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best in the series, it felt disjointed. Still, I'll take an Amelia Peabody over practically anything else. There's a scene between Amelia and Abdullah in this that made me cry unexpectedly. Also some great humour (the Great Cat of Re is a terrific name), love that their opponent in this is connected to them in some way. The shadow of the Great War makes for some very interesting backdrop too, the atmosphere has definitely taken a turn.
This is definitely a series I can see myself rereading forever.

[Jenifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Peabody family remains one of my favorite literary groups of people. I love their personalities and their friends and their enemies! Their adventures are good, and the history is supplementary. I'm more interested in the family development than in the actual adventures, and I noticed that Emerson and Amelia are much less amorous in this installment. I hope they get their groove back on, because it's one of my favorite parts of their relationship.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another most excellent outing with Mrs. Emerson and her crew. Appearances with my favorite characters - Sethos, Cyrus and others were rife throughout the novel. There was an adventure and some intrigue. There were laugh out loud and head shake and sad minutes. It was a rollicking good time, all said.

[Susan in NC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another grand romp with the Emerson clan! I am really enjoying rereading these historical mysteries - tomb robbers, spies, WWI in the Middle East and Egypt as a back-drop, it's never a dull moment and still a blast even after my first read 15 years ago!

[Leanne (Booksandbabble) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could I rate my Amelia any less, I think not :D

[Djana Mazzaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ho dovuto leggere una versione tradotta da un’amatoriale dato che in Italia hanno smesso di pubblicare questa serie e i numerosi errori e refusi grammaticali hanno reso la lettura incespicante e poco godibile, ma non posso che rendere grazie a chi si è dato tanto da fare per rendere fruibile questo romanzo in italiano. Devo dire che il livello di questi romanzi è passato da elementare a universitario man mano che ci si allontana dalle semplici avventure alla Agatha Christie per sbarcare nel mondo dello spionaggio durante la prima guerra mondiale. C’entrano sempre meno gli scavi archeologici e sempre più le missioni segrete che coinvolgono Ramses, il figlio di Amelia ed Emerson, e ora anche Sethos, ladro di antichità, ammiratore di Peabody e, come si è scoperto, fratellastro di Emerson. Il romanzo è suddiviso in tre parti molto nette. Nella prima e nella terza la trama ruota intorno a una nuova tomba scoperta nel deserto e alla misteriosa morte di alcuni dei suoi scopritori. Nella seconda, Ramses viene arruolato per salvare la vita di suo zio con un lavoro sotto copertura. Le due trame sono parallele e non ci sono legami tra loro, come se l’autrice avesse riunito due romanzi in uno. Una scelta che non ho potuto apprezzare. Inoltre, ho trovato a volte difficili alcuni riferimenti oscuri fatti dai protagonisti ad avventure passate che avrebbero necessitato di spiegazioni e chiarimenti, dato che sono trascorsi anni tra i vari romanzi. Inoltre il tempo sembra passare per i più giovani ma non per i più anziani: Peabody ed Emerson dovrebbero avere all’incirca sessantacinque anni eppure sono entrambi in forma, scattanti e lucidi come quando ne avevano trenta e si erano appena incontrati. Per quanto riguarda Nefret e Ramses, finalmente arriva una notizia a lungo sperata… e non a sorpresa, perché l’avevo capito benissimo cogliendo le varie allusioni. A mantenere alto il livello di questi romanzi, dunque, non sono le trame (astruse, complesse e poco godibili), bensì le relazioni sociali che uniscono i vari personaggi: rivedere Selim, Daoud, Gargey, Fatima, Cyrus, Katherine e soprattutto la famiglia Emerson, comprensiva di gatti permalosi e della piccola Sennia, è sempre un piacere, per una lettrice affezionata come me.

[Trace · Rating 4 out of 5]

With each Amelia Peabody mystery that I read, the characters become more and more dear to me. I have been reading these books over the past 18 months - THE most stressful 18 months of my life and yet the Emerson clan kept me company through it all and provided such a wonderful distraction when I needed it!
And yet, I grow a bit sad with each novel I finish because I'm coming close to the end of the series...
I'll probably cry when I finish the last one!!

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Golden One would have easily made two complete and wonderful books. Thank you, Elizabeth Peters, for telling this exciting tale altogether in one volume! The Emersons are one of my favorite fictional families. Each individual is fully developed and lovable in unique ways while the eminently readable stories are complex, tightly plotted mysteries, full of witty dialogue and action. Bravo!

[Eileen Lynx · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very exciting

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

[Laura Madsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amelia Peabody series stays fresh even 14 volumes in.

[Rin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amelia Peabody books are such a joy, and the narrator for the audiobooks is one of the all-time greats. Another excellent romp.