Lion in the Valley by Elizabeth Peters

*****
The Emersons are back in Egypt for the 1895-96 season and Amelia has a dark foreboding!  The family are working in Dashoor, which de Morgan has conceded to them, probably after some sort of bribery and definitely a form of corruption from young Ramses at the end of the last book.
When they first arrive at Shepheard's hotel they meet the sinister Kalenischeff again, who is escorting the beautiful and unchaperoned young heiress, Miss Debenham around Cairo and creating a scandal.  Emerson insists on a quick move to their archaeological site after there is an attempt to abduct Ramses from the Great Pyramid.  They offer a job to Ramses's rescuer, the opium addict Nemo, but their plans are delayed when Kalenischeff is found dead in Miss Debenham's hotel room and the lady has disappeared.  Amelia immediately blames all these strange events on the enigmatic master criminal, much to Emerson's disgust!
Once at the site, Miss Debenham reappears in the guise of a young Egyptologist "Miss Marshall", Amelia decides to go along with the charade for a while, but the appearance of Ronald Fraser, cousin and supposed fiancé of Miss Debenham reveals the true identity of Nemo and further confusion occurs.  As one of her talents is matchmaking, Amelia is determined to help the young lovers but is perturbed by Ramses' fondness for Miss Debenham, which means that Emerson has to have a difficult discussion with his precocious son who insists on taking notes and would like further diagrams!  Strange events and odd gifts imply that the Master Criminal is watching the Emersons and Amelia is determined to spot him amongst the many people that she meets, but is his motivation, purely revenge?  Emerson doubts it and a kidnapping proves him correct.

This is one of my favourites from earlier in the series, even though (as you'll have already realised and I have already mentioned several times) I do love them all!  The murder mystery element takes a back seat to the humour, it's all tongue in cheek and the kidnapping scenes are hilarious - the one liners and Amelia's unintentional quips are great, I found myself sniggering when listening to the CDs in the car!  Probably not the best audiobook to have when in public!

Ramses remains horribly precocious and is always a couple of steps ahead of his parents.  He remains the most sensible and logical of the family and his loquacity is the mini-version of Amelia, although she of course would refute that accusation!  Emerson is still all bluster, but it's sweet how he quickly realises the MC's true intent and wins the day.
Sethos comes into his own with his dastardly plan, all he needs is the twirling moustache!  His scenes towards the end of the book show wicked charm, wit, intelligence and a fit physique which make him a serious contender for being more attractive than Emerson! (Even Amelia could be slightly tempted for a moment, but she has her thrilling moment when both men are fighting over her!) 
As an aside, it's worth remembering these characters as they do pop up again needing further help from the Emersons in a later story too!

The Mummy Case by Elizabeth Peters

*****

The third instalment of the Amelia Peabody series sees the Emersons off to Egypt for the 1894-95 season with their catastrophically precocious son, the cat Bastet and their servant, John.  Emerson is refused permission to dig at the pyramids of Dashoor and instead is given the pyramids of Mazghunah.  The family view these unprepossessing heaps of rubble in the middle of nowhere a great disappointment and expect a season of little challenge.  However, before setting off to their "pyramids", Amelia buys a scrap of coptic papyrus but witnesses something strange during her shopping trip in the souk.  Linking this with the knowledge that illegal antiquity dealing is on the increase, Amelia and Emerson return that night to see the shopkeeper, Abd el Atti, but find him murdered.  Amelia deduces there must be a Master Criminal at work, weaving his evil throughout Egypt and terrifying the dealers!
Once at the dig they have more immediate concerns.  There are missionaries and Emerson has little time for the disruption created by the maniacal Reverend Ezekiel Jones, his sister Charity and the overly handsome David Cabot.  With an obstructive Coptic priest and an allegedly cursed camp, sinister events escalate.  There's also the mystery of the Baroness's mummy case and her missing lion club to cope with too.  Circumstances lead to the Emersons being entrapped in a pyramid and a show down with the Master Criminal.

It's more of the usual stuff - a murder mystery romp through Egypt, which gives us the first glimpse of the Master Criminal.  He remains a shadowy figure who promises that they will not meet again, but it's clear that their paths will cross throughout the series.  Although the setting is less than promising and at times the book feels like (and as a veteran of the series - I know that's what's happening!) it is setting up characters and ideas for future stories, it does flow well and Amelia's insistence on her logical deductions pay off.
The humour created by Ramses is enjoyable, he manages to make a big impression and the family are now presented very strongly as a trio.  At first the lisp is irritating, although it is a constant reminder that despite his extensive vocabulary he is much younger than his thought processes imply, I do like him and it's good that he plays a large part in the ongoing events, particularly his sneaky infringement of de Morgan's work, and unusually for a child in a mystery novel he doesn't need to be "rescued" by his parents.

A light fun read which although not my favourite of the series, is well work a look!

The Curse of the Pharaoh by Elizabeth Peters

*****
The second of my Amelia Peabody re-reads.

Set during the 1892-93 season, the second in the series is several years after the events described in Crocodile on the Sandbank.
We find Amelia and Emerson in more domestic circumstances, they have settled in Kent due to being unable to tear themselves away from their child, "Ramses" Walter Peabody Emerson.  Emerson has taken a post lecturing at University College and Amelia strives to be a suitable English lady and entertains the local gentry.  However, this idyll is not really suiting them, they both feel disappointed and restricted and long for a return to the excitement and romance of Egypt.  Emerson is a doting father, whilst Amelia's wry and rather scathing views of her precocious son hide her own devotion.
They are easily tempted back to Egypt by the beautiful and recently bereaved Lady Baskerville, who wants Emerson to continue her dead husband's work in a royal tomb in the Valley of the Kings.  People associated with the tomb have started to drop dead or see visions of the ghostly white lady.  The story of the Pharaoh’s Curse makes its way into the newspaper and the press become a constant irritant, particularly the irrepressible Kevin O'Connell.  None of this is a problem for the Emerson's and they leave Ramses behind with Evelyn.  Lady Baskerville and a whole cast of rather eccentric characters are not always what they seem and the story twists and turns until Amelia and Emerson have one of their little wagers on who the culprit really is.

Again, another wonderful adventure...the setting is so well described and the whole atmosphere of the Valley of the Kings just makes me want to be there!  This is the novel that introduces some of the longer serving characters; Kevin O'Connell the annoyingly persistent reporter from the Daily Yell;  Cyrus Vandergelt the wealthy and good humoured patron who becomes a great friend;  Abdullah the reiss reappears and makes a more striking impression "every year another dead body!" and the cat Bastet, who honours the Emersons with her company and becomes Ramses staunch friend in later books.  All these colourful supporting characters are beautifully written and jump off the page.

Amelia and Emerson are on form, the verbal sparring and tender affection between them is good fun.  Emerson is all bluster and in this book he manages to hold one of his famous exorcisms to the amusement and entertainment of the staff and local workers.  Amelia remains her usual brave, no nonsense self with a weakness for young lovers, but as usual she doesn't always see what is going on right in front of her!

When I first read this book (many years ago, now) I didn't really like Ramses and thought he was a twee diversion from the main story of Amelia and Emerson.  After reading the whole series I can forgive him anything and after several re-reads I appreciate him much more.  Although he only really appears at the beginning of the book his actions and strong opinions demonstrate what promise he has as he grows older.  Amelia describes him as "catastrophically precocious" with her usual acerbic tone and that sums him up exactly!

The Curse of the Pharaohs is a pleasant and entertaining read, not one of my top five of the series but with strong engaging characters, a fascinating setting and a murder mystery thrown in it's good fun.

India Black by Carol K Carr

****1/2
When an important figure in the Disraeli government dies in a compromising position at the Lotus House, Victorian Madam, India Black has to act quickly to avoid any disruption to her business and reputation. Calling on the dubious talents of the odoriferous street urchin Vincent, she has a plan to remove the body discreetly, but is interrupted by government spy French. Blackmailed with the threat of losing the Lotus House she is drawn into his world of espionage to serve the British government.

It seems her “punter” was carrying important documents that put the government in a tricky situation with the Russians and they’ve gone missing! India and French end up in the most unlikely situations to save the day!

I bought this book hoping it would fill the huge hole left by my favourite Victorian female characters. I worship Amelia Peabody, love Lady Julia Grey, wait for the new Parasol Protectorate books with excitement and even read Emily Ashton (although they’re not my favourites!). I enjoy my strong, clever, sarcastic characters that thrive on disaster, near death and criminal activities. The other important factor in all these is also the strong, devastatingly cool and handsome male interest (who can blame me?!). So India Black, slightly different background to the others and I wasn’t at first convinced that it’d work, but despite my reservations (and I still think it referred to her professional activities a little too much and unnecessarily, which is why I docked half a star!) I really enjoyed it!

India has a high regard for herself and her talents, but the overall tone is light and humorous. French (we don’t find out his first name!) is suitably intelligent, devious and handsome, (yay!) but remains fairly mysterious. Not quite a Brisbane, but he definitely has potential! Although India acknowledges his looks and there is a spark between them, this first in the series doesn’t go down the romance route, which is probably better for future books if it develops into a long running series. Vincent, although thinly sketched, I’m sure will develop into a far more interesting character and some of India’s more colourful work colleagues and acquaintances will just have to reappear in later books.

To sum up…it’s a fun, fast paced read with strong lead characters. The cover is also really pretty, but a bit too “romance” for the style of the writing.  I’ve already bought the second book and although it hasn't completely stopped me wishing for many more (and immediate) Amelia and Julia books, I found it a really enjoyable read. Give it a go!

Russian Winter by Daphne Kalotay

****
Ageing ballerina Nina Revskaya, formerly of the Bolshoi, now lives in Boston and has decided to sell her extensive collection of jewellery to help support the Ballet Company she has worked for in her later years.  However, renewed interest in the history of the treasures alongside her increasing frailty and illness makes Nina reluctantly dwell on her past.
The book combines a modern day story with Nina's earlier experiences before she defected to the West; working through the ranks to become a star dancer, known as the "butterfly" to the exclusion of almost everything else, including the dangers and motives of the people around her.

Drew is managing the details of the auction and is fascinated by Nina's reticence to discuss the jewels and her own past.  A set of amber earrings and bracelet are particularly interesting and the intrigue increases when university professor, Grigori Solodin, donates a matching necklace to auction alongside the Revskaya collection.  Drew searches for specific details of the owner, whilst Grigori has his own reasons for the personal interest in the history of Nina and her husband the poet, Victor Elsin.

I think it's pretty clear that I read this partly due to my current ballet fixation (sorry - it's still ongoing!) and my love of historical fiction.  Although I know quite a lot about about the ballet, I'm pretty ignorant about Russia, particularly the era covered in this book, so it was an interesting read.  The descriptions of life in the Bolshoi were realistic and contrasted the beauty created on stage with the hard work, physical tolls and seediness of backstage life.  The historical aspect was well done and obviously well researched without coming across as inserting big chunks of a text book into the plot.  A claustrophobic atmosphere was created where the characters had to cope with the bleakness, lack of privacy and poverty of everyday life, where there was real danger in being seen not to conform.  I thought it was brave that many of the main characters in this section weren't particularly likable, although by the end of the book most have redeemed themselves.  It showed people in frightening circumstances managing the best way they can.

As I became absorbed in the Russian back story, I actually found the modern day sections with Grigori and Drew a bit of an irritation.  They are both thoroughly decent characters and are needed to shed light on Nina's earlier decisions and the eventual reveal, but I wasn't really bothered.  It was also difficult at first to see how the young Nina became the old (not very nice) Nina, but that became more apparent as the story developed.

I really enjoyed this book and its unravelling mystery.  Just to be really picky there was a couple of things could have put me off!  Firstly I didn't get the gorgeous cover that I'd seen on goodreads (go and look!) and got the rather boring cover, shown here...I've said before that I know I should judge by the cover, but let's be honest, we all do to some extent!  Secondly, the four and a half pages of quotes to tell me how wisely I'd chosen seemed a bit of overkill on behalf of the publishers, I can go for a couple of admiring quotes on the back cover, but honestly!  However, that's not the author's fault and I would recommend this as a tale of dance, history, love and betrayal...a good read!