Crocodile on the Sand Bank (1975) by Elizabeth Peters

🌵 First of all, there are no crocodile involved in this light mystery, set in Victorian era. 'Crocodile on the sand bank' was a jargon used by Egyptian locals to indicate that a problem is underfoot. When thirty something spinster of Amelia Peabody - an unorthodox English woman, intelligent, and independent - decided to have a long journey to Cairo, she's never expected that any 'crocodile' would be on her sand bank. It all began when she rescued a typical Victorian girl - beautiful, soft, feminine, who blushes and fainted a lot, you know the type - in Rome, named Evelyn. Evelyn is a granddaughter of a wealthy old man, who disinherited her after her elopement with a scoundrel called Alberto, whom, then abandoned her altogether. Now alone and poor, Evelyn was 'recruited' then and there as Amelia Peabody's companion. And so, the two ladies departed together to Cairo.

🌵 Then entered Radcliffe and Walter Emerson - the archeologist brothers - whom Amelia and Evelyn met at a museum in Cairo. Emerson (means Radcliffe, the old brother) is of Amelia's age, coarse, cynical, and swears a lot, but he's a good archeologist. While Walter, is more soft spoken, and is an expert in hieroglyphics. He's fallen in love with Evelyn at once, and she also reciprocated his feeling, though her ruin complicated things (on the girl's side). The four unexpected acquaintances parted ways, only to meet again at an archeological site in Armana, where the Emersons were excavating a newly found royal tomb. Amelia is interested in archeology, so she's having a good time, amidst Emerson's rudeness and bickering. Then, the mummy they had just found was missing from the tomb. Moreover, the mummy had been seen walking around the site at night! The superstitious local crew thought it was a curse, but the Europeans knew better that it's a disguise of someone with bad intention. What was the aim, though? To get them out of the site? Or to harm Evelyn, as it has seemed to be? And whodunnit?

🌵 Overall, I think this book is intended partly to be a parody of Victorian era's stereotypes. The wandering mummy was hilarious, rather than eerie in Gothic way. And the way Amelia entangled in her own skirt everytime she needed to run away fast in critical moments, was a comical way to criticize how women were barred from many active involvement. The infamous smelling salt made its appearance too, but its apply beyond waking the fainting damsel-in-distress, made me choking in laughter. Other than that, the archeological theme is interesting and educational, it made me think how Agatha Christie would approve of this book. Finally, it's an entertaining read, even if the mystery felt rather dull. Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of this read is that I've listened to the audiobook, narrated by the inimitable Barbara Rosenblat, who also narrated Mrs. Pollifax series. She's just become my new favorite narrator!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐