The Snake, the Crocodile and the Dog

By Elizabeth Peters and Peters Elizabeth

Book Overview

A brand-new Elizabeth Peters novel is one of the uncompromising pleasures in life. As Peter Theroux in the New York Times Book Review points out, "Her wonderfully witty voice and her penchant for history lessons of the Nile both ancient and modern keep (her) high adventure moving for even the highest brows". In her previous outing, The Last Camel Died at Noon, Amelia Peabody and her dashing husband, Emerson, discovered a fabulous lost oasis in the Nubian desert. Now, in the seventh mystery in the series, the Emerson-Peabodys are traveling up the Nile once again to encounter their most deadly adversary, the Master Criminal, who is back at his sinister best. Amelia Peabody was unabashedly proud of her newest translation, a fragment of the ancient fairytale "The Doomed Prince". Later, she would wonder why no sense of foreboding struck her as she retold the story of the king's favorite son who had been warned that he would die from the snake, the crocodile, or the dog. Little did she realize, as she and her beloved husband sailed blissfully toward the pyramids of ancient Egypt, that those very beasts (and a cat as well) would be part of a deadly plot. The expedition began so happily....Leaving their delightful, but catastrophically precocious, son, Ramses, back in England, Amelia hoped this romantic trip might rejuvenate her thirteen-year-old marriage and bring back the thrills that she feared were fading. She and her dear Emerson were returning to the remote desert site where they had first fallen in love, Amarna, the holy city of Akhenaton and his beautiful queen, Nefertiti. But their return would threaten not only their marriage, but their very lives with perils as chilling as a mummy'scurse. An old enemy was determined to learn Amelia and Emerson's most closely guarded secret: the location of a legendary long-lost oasis and a race of people bedecked in gold. So cunning was his scheme that Amelia might overlook - until it was too late - the truth about

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044651585X
• ISBN13: 9780446515856
• Release Date: October 1992
• Publisher: Warner Books
• Length: 340 Pages
• Weight: 1.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.4" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

One of the Best So Far

This is a thoroughly enjoyable Amelia Peabody--the first one I simply could not put down until I finished. I found Ramses's letters utterly hilarious. ("I have three pounds 11 shillings.") At first I thought Amelia was annoying with her "7-Year Itch" but it was turned round on her in a touching way. There is a great surprise ending (though I was not surprised!). This one is really funny. You won't be disappointed!

possibly the most entertaining one yet

If ever I needed a strong reminder not to pay attention to professional critics, the review from Kirkus listed here would be it. _The Snake, The Crocodile, and The Dog_ is actually a leaner book than its bulk would indicate, less self-indulgent (and even more fun!) than some of the earlier books (_The Lion in the Valley_ for example).If you're at all familiar with the Peabody books, you already know the basic set-up: archaeological mystery, mysterious goons, the Emersons in danger, etc. The delivery is what's so delightful this time. Characters from earlier books are involved and/or referred to in several places, keeping the continuity within the series high, and Peabody herself receives some much-needed humbling in multiple places.And Ramses is as entertaining as ever, even though he's not physically present for the bulk of the novel. But even separated by hundreds and hundreds of miles, Amelia can't escape him! It's as fun and frustrating as ever to hear Amelia criticize and complain about Ramses when, as is evident to everyone, HE IS EXACTLY LIKE HER! There is a telling line late in the book that makes it plain that other characters recognize Ramses' extraordinariness--in a *good* way--even when Amelia won't admit to it.This is a terribly fun book. I laughed out loud more times reading it than with any other in the series, possibly than with any other book I've ever read. Buy it, read it, and you should love it!

"Another shirt ruined!"

The most romantic and edge-of-the-seat book of the series, with a doozy of a surprise ending. For fullest appreciation, introduce yourself to the characters by reading prior books. "Snake" will then be all the sweeter and funnier and more poignant and suspenseful for it. This is a book for Amelia Peabody fans to cherish.

A bloody great read!

I've read all of E. Peters' books in this series and this is one of the best, if not THE best. Those of you who love Peabody and Emerson and the love they share will truly appreciate this book. Long live true love!

best book in the series!!!!!!!

Elizabeth peters is an amazing writer I have loved all of her Amelia Peabody mysteries. I look forward to more. This is for sure the best book in the entire series. The great "re-love" story and the surprising ending is fantastic. I would sugest that you read the other books in her series. So as to get the full effect of this book. I would encurage everyone who is into Egypt and Mysteries to read this series. sincerely, a very devoted reader