Laughter of Dead Kings (Vicky Bliss, No. 6) by Elizabeth Peters
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Book Reviews of Laughter of Dead Kings (Vicky Bliss, No. 6)
Book Review: Laughter of Dead Kings
Summary: 4 Stars
Elizabeth Peters is one of my favorite authors and anything written with the setting in Egypt is exciting to me. Following her descriptions of this fantastic land makes her books come alive. I am not, however, an avid fan of Vicky Bliss, but I will continue reading anything of hers if it is located in Egypt.Book Review: very good
Summary: 4 Stars
loved it.I've read all her other books including the one with Amelia and family.Loved it...
Book Review: Not Quite Up to Peabody, But Worth a Read
Summary: 3 Stars
Elizabeth Peters ended her delightful adventures of English Egyptologist Amelia Peabody with "Tomb of the Golden Bird" in 2006, as the Peabody-Emerson clan witnessed (and took part in) Howard Carter's 1922 excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamon. Now Peters returns to Egypt and the tomb of the boy pharaoh, in the guise of her modern day art historian Vicky Bliss.
Tutankhamon's mummy has been stolen, and Vicky's lover John Tregarth, an art thief turned respectable dealer, is being blamed. Together with their Egyptian friend Feisal (a successor to Howard Carter as Inspector of Antiquities for Upper Egypt) and Vicky's rather bizarre boss Schimdt, they set out to clear Tregarth's name. There are some great moments here for Peabody lovers: Tregarth seems a lot like Peabody's Sethos, the Master Criminal of the antiquities game turned spy for the British, and Vicky makes a passable counterpart to Sethos' lover (and later wife) Margaret Minton. Peters actually puts herself briefly into the book, in the role of the editor of the Peabody novels, looking for more journals of the Emerson clan to use for new works. This is wonderful. The most important scene of the book actually seems to take place in the Peabody-Emerson's old house near the Valley of the Kings, and Peabody's parasol and her son Ramses' knife and sword make an appearance.
On the other hand, there really isn't a whole lot of action in this book. Our heroes spend a lot of time eating. Vicky is supposed to be very brainy, but we don't really see a lot of that, and she's certainly not as central to the action as Peabody. Tregarth seems the most interesting character, but for much of the book he is unfortunately off stage. (The cover, featuring the Pyramids, is just wrong. There are no pyramids in this book, all the important action is in Luxor and the Valley of the Kings.)
One interesting aspect is the prominent role given to the head of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, under a different name. Zahi Hawass, the real head of the council, is one of the best-known Egyptians today. Peters seems to treat him about the same way she treated his Victorian Era French predecessors in the Peabody books. Instead of the trademark Hawass hat, his counterpart here seems to wear a pith helmet.
While it is fun to return to modern Egypt with Elizabeth Peters, to visit the Winter Palace again and the Valley of the Kings, much of the inspired feeling for the country of the Peabody books is missing here. But it's still a must read for any Peabody fan.
Book Review: Can expectations be too high?
Summary: 3 Stars
To have another Vicky Bliss book at last is a real treat, as is meeting again so many of the characters from the previous books in the series.
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Spoilers
However, because I've waited such a long time for this book and spent a lot of that time trying to figure out the promised connection between John and the Emersons, I suppose any possible denouement would have fallen short of my expectations. I had hoped that the connection would prove to be through Sethos (thief to thief, as it were) and couldn't help feeling disappointed when it wasn't. I also felt that both Vicky and John had less time center stage than I would have liked and that the pace of the book was less exciting than that of some of the earlier ones (Street of the Five Moons, Trojan Gold, Night Train to Memphis). But I am grateful to Elizabeth Peters for giving us this one last fling with the intrepid trio--Vicky, John, and Schmidt all have personalities so strongly drawn over time that they have become virtually real people to me.
Book Review: Just happy to see a new book by Elizabeth Peters!
Summary: 3 Stars
I truly am just happy that Elizabeth Peters has a new book out, but I have to admit I was a little disappointed. I love both the Vicky Bliss and Amelia Peabody series and had been so awaiting a new one! I enjoyed the book as kind of a nice wrap up to the Vicky Bliss story line, but had I not been a fan, I don't think I would have enjoyed it much. There was far too much moving around endlessly without any real plan or intent. As one reviewer already said, Vicky's ongoing preoccupation with her next meal got tedious. I kept waiting for something to happen and for someone to step up with a real idea or plan for solving the "mystery". No one does and the characters just keep running from place to place hoping to stumble onto the answer. It's amazing they actually figure it all out. The characters themselves are still fun and enjoyable to read, and I love Ms. Peters writing style. I just wanted more of a plot. Great idea for one though, just not much follow through. I eagerly await her next novel!