The Falcon at the Portal

The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 11

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat

Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

Join spunky Amelia and her charming family for a thrilling new archaeological adventure in Edwardian Egypt. Even on the joyous occasion of the marriage of their Egyptian "son" David to their beloved niece Lia, trouble finds Amelia and hunky hubby Emerson. And this time it is personal.

In London, someone impersonating David is peddling high-quality fake antiquities, and soon the Emerson-Peabody home is burglarized. Once in Egypt, trouble only escalates as Amelia becomes a shooter's target, her son Ramses is implicated in a paternity scandal, and an American girl is found dead in the shaft of the pyramid they are excavating. When the family's impetuous ward Nefret disappears and comes back married, it takes all of their upper-crust British restraint to keep familial relations civil.

Grand Master Elizabeth Peters once again delivers the delectable goods we have come to expect: beloved characters, an intriguing mystery, and alluring settings among the ruins. Romance and danger heighten the excitement, as does Barbara Rosenblat's narration, which is nothing short of perfection.

Don't miss the rest of the Amelia Peabody series. You can also check out more of our Most Addictive Series.

©1999 Elizabeth Peters (P)1999 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Between Amelia Peabody and Indiana Jones, it's Amelia, in wit and daring, by a landslide." (The New York Times Book Review)

Wonderful as always

When I first began this series I was hesitant about switching narrators to Barbara Rosenblat but I very much enjoy her reading of these books. She puts so much into each character that they come alive for me. Really superb. I'm quite happy with the whole series and am growing pensive that I'm coming toward the end.

Great, just Great!

I discovered this series a few months ago, and it is simply wonderful! This book however, took the story to a whole new level. WE see the characters struggle with some incredibly deep and hard life circumstances. I even cried through some of it, but there is always, as Emerson says, comic relief with the Emersons. I recommend this to any who like a mystery, a likable but not perfect main character, and who lov adventure.

Narrator So Awful Could Not Finish Book

The narrator is shrill, smacks, her lips multiple times (when she is not swallowing) in the reading, and frequently mispronounces names. I cannot finish this book with this lady reading it. The Amelia Peabody series of books needs to be re-recorded with someone else.

Plot is great (so far), and looking forward to learning what happens next… It just will not be from this audiobook.

Perhaps Best of Series

I made the mistake of first listening to the abridged version of FALCON. Some books can be abridged well, but not this one. Every line is full of characterization, or humor, or poignancy -- I cannot recommend the unabridged version, narrated by Barbara Rosenblatt enough.

FALCON is part of Peters' series of Amelia Peabody mysteries, and contains everything readers come to expect--another dead body, another shirt ruined, delightful narration, and the incredible character of Amelia herself, who manages to both exemplify and transcend Victorian femininity. We have all the wonderful secondary characters (Cyrus & wife, David, Lia, Selim, Kadija, etc.) and an actual pyramid (though a sad pyramid it is) for Amelia and her gruff husband Emerson to explore--in an archeologically sound manner, of course. We even get a glimpse of their English home at the start (along with an important wedding) and a forgery plot implicating someone near and dear to their hearts.

But what makes FALCON stand out more than (arguably) any other book in the series is the depth of the characterization. Yes, these are the same Amelia, Emerson, Ramses, and Nefret. But the clarity with which each is drawn, from their body language to their vocal inflections (thanks both to Peters and to narrator Rosenblatt) is absolute magic. The Emerson family has more personal stake in this mystery than ever before--because of the implications of the forgery, and because the murder victim is someone we get to know and, if not like, with whom we sympathize. Add to that a crescendo to the building romantic subplot between Amelia's genius son Ramses (it's a nickname) and her adopted daughter Nefret (it's Egyptian), and the fact that her horrible nephew Percy gets in some wonderfully low blows against the family's happiness, and FALCON ends up working not only as a mystery but as the best of family dramas.

Give it a shot.

The Most Infuriating And Fascinating Installment

Talk about an emotional rollercoaster. I give this one the highest rating of any in the series, much as it maddened me the first time I listened to it. I would not recommend starting this one without having the next (He Shall Thunder in the Sky) on hand; these two collectively mark the high point of the series for me. Just when you think you're getting a payoff several books in the making, Elizabeth Peters turns the tables again.

A really good addition to the series

This is excellent. There are many things going on, all of which are interesting, but I most liked the parts about Ramses and Nefret. A huge misunderstanding between Ramses and Nefret, stirred up by cousin Percy, leads to their separation and a surprise marriage by Nefret. I wanted to strangle her - such a stupid thing for her to do. My heart ached for Ramses. David and Lea are on their honeymoon but David is being accused of faking and selling Egyptian artifacts David and Lea return to Egypt and join in on trying to discover who is creating the artifacts. Emerson, Peabody, and their entire family are in danger. Near death things keep happening to them, and other people actually die. The listener does not know who the villain is until the very end. A new character, a two year old girl, joins the Emerson family. She is super cute. This is one of the very best books in the series.

Wow

There is so much that happened in this story that it boggles my mind. I was really disappointed in Nefret but who knows what anyone would do?

Unfortunately several people are left up in the air (see they are real to me! The sign of a great author!)

Cannot wait to hear more

A Winning Combo

Barbara Rosenblat reading Elizabeth Peters = just the ticket for a fun and informative escape! No explicit sex or gore or using the f*** word. Sometimes I just want to smack Emerson, but each of Peters’ characterizations is well developed, consistent and bigger than life!

Great mystery series

Just when you think it could get better it does. This was full of twists and turns that were completely unexpected. Trust me the next in the series is even better this is a must read. It is amazing how Barbara can change your voice to male female and children characters of different nationalities with complete believability I loved every second

Humorous/Mysterious Story

What did you love best about The Falcon at the Portal?

I love the interaction between Amelia and Emerson

Who was your favorite character and why?

I cannot chose a favorite - love the entire Peabody family

Which character – as performed by Barbara Rosenblat – was your favorite?

Amelia - except for one thing when she talks you can hear her swallow and sounds like she has mouth full of Saliva

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

yes

Any additional comments?

love the entire series...hope they do the 3 books missing