I just finished this one last night. It's the first one I've read in this series that is not set in Egypt, but relies on Egyptian antiquities. This novel is set in London, and revolves around Lord Liverpool and other aristocratic characters who don priestly robes to terrorize the public who are interested in mummies and other artifacts in the British Museum. Peabody's and Emerson's son Ramses takes on various disguises and continues to attract his mother's ire. At the end, though, she gives him an earned and sincere apology for some of her treatment of him in the course of the story.
This one is the darkest of the series that I have read so far. The ceremony and debauchery of the aristocrats is darkly disturbing and crazy. Peters does not get graphic, however, so it's somewhat less disturbing than it could be. A major theme in this story is Peabody's jealousy of an Egyptian courtesan who runs an opium den. Opium addiction is a sad side story in this novel as well. Still, an enjoyable and often funny read, due to Emerson's temper and Peabody's uber-confidence.
I'm having trouble tying all the complicated threads together, largely because there are so many of them, and some quite obscure. It could also be that I am sometimes very tired when I read, and have to reread the previous section the next night because I can't remember what I read before. Am I sleep deprived or losing my memory? Ha! I don't know, but this book helped entertain me and keep me light while I cared for Leonard during his recovery from knee surgery. A very helpful diversion during a busy time!
I should also not that this is the second in the Amelia Peabody series, and the sixth one that I have read.
