Audiobook Review: The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog by Elizabeth Peters

The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog
Author: Elizabeth Peters
Narrator: Barbara Rosenblatt
Series: Amelia Peabody (Book 7)
Publication: Recorded Book (June 4, 2004)
Length: 15 hours and 15 minutes

Description: This adventure transports Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson to Amarna, the rustic desert site where the two archaeologists first met, beginning the 13-year association that would take them from mayhem to murder in the Egyptian outback.

For the first time in many years, Ramses chooses not to accompany his parents on their yearly excavation. At the tender age of 11, Ramses has fallen in love. The object of his affection is 13-year-old Nefret, the auburn-haired beauty the Emersons rescued from the clutches of the ancient city of Napata, now safe in England where the needlessly solicitous Ramses can keep a watchful eye on her. Ramses' new obsession does not deter him from putting in his two cents worth, however, in a series of lengthy epistles to Egypt, containing enough elaborate syntax and romantic ardor to stretch his mother's patience to the very breaking point.

Her son's budding affaire de coeur reminds Amelia of her once-tumultuous romance with Emerson. She is hopeful that their time alone together will rekindle old flames. But every confidence meets with disaster when Emerson is ambushed, kidnapped, and severely wounded on the road to Luxor. Rescued, and squirming under Amelia's gentle ministrations, Emerson wastes little time in recovering his irascible nature, but to Amelia's dismay, he seems to have no recollection of who she is!

Now, both past and future are in jeopardy as Amelia attempts to locate Emerson's attackers; prevent his disclosure of an important artifact relating to Nefret's security; and renew feelings in him that appear as remote as a Pharaoah's tomb.

My Thoughts: In this seventh Amelia Peabody adventure, Amelia and Emerson travel to Egypt without Ramses who has chosen to stay at home because Nefret is remaining there. But Amelia and Emerson don't need Ramses to get in trouble.

It seems that there is a villain who doesn't believe that they do not know the way to the untold treasures they discovered in the Nubian desert and is willing to find the information any way he can. When attempts to kidnap Amelia are foiled, he switches his focus to Emerson.

Emerson is captured and Amelia must go to his rescue. With Abdullah's help, she finds him and mounts a rescue only to discover that Emerson has lost his memory. He can remember his early days in Egypt but all memory of Amelia and the life they have build together is gone. 

As Amelia tries to bring back his memory and his love for her, she is assisted by Cyrus Vandergelt who, while helping her, is trying to further an agenda of his own. 

The story is filled with action and adventure almost all narrated by the unique voice of Amelia who has her own interpretations of the actions of the other characters in the story. Long letters from Ramses detailing the activities back home in England bring his voice to the story too. 

It took me a while to get used to Barbara Rosenblatt as the new narrator of this series. A first I thought that her voice was too "fruity" and too old. However, I did like the voices she chose for Emerson and Ramses and got used to her version of Amelia. 

I got this one via Audible Plus. You can buy your copy here.