Seeing a Large Cat (Amelia Peabody Book 9)

I'm different from other readers of this series in that this is my first time through. As such, I missed one of the most important details of the series right from the beginning and it affected my entire attitude right up until this particular book. Therefore, when I read this novel, it became my favorite of the series for many reasons. Surely, the excellent writing, the wonderful recreation of Victorian Egypt, and the mystery that induces many a night of page-turning suspense are all givens. However, I had another reason.For me, this was the novel in the series where the great and powerful Amelia Peabody Emerson was truly rumbled.Again, I make no secret of the fact that I missed a major detail from the get-go. The detail was that Amelia, in all her Victorian, British, "stiff upper lip" glory is a caricature of the literary heroes of that time. Peters regularly references Rider Haggard (creator of Allan Quartermain) and uses Emerson to loudly denunciate the genre. Yet, as I read the preceding books, all of Amelia's efficiency, self-righteousness, and professed "calm intelligence" drove me insane. I was actually on the edge of giving up the series for good when I reached a glorious scene between Ramses, Nefret, and David. In an honest reminder to never underestimate teenagers, they discuss Amelia's foibles, thereby making her the human everyone knows (and I should have known) she is.The story itself is all one should expect from Elizabeth Peters - daring, chaotic, nail-biting, with that ever present dash of wit and humor. Yet, for me, it was the turning point in the series where the heroine becomes....just Amelia. The future books have a chance to be less about creating Amelia as this great dynamic presence - the Sitt Hakim - and more about having her out of her comfort zone...as a mother, as an aunt...maybe even as a wife. I like the human Amelia much more than the heroine and I look forward to reading more of her exploits (as long as the kids keep her humble)!

It has been three years since last we heard from our intrepid and blessedly unique family. Ramses is 16 and spent the summer with the Sheik "learning to be a man" now he must chaff under his mother treating him as though he were not, in their second home, already almost two years older than their definition of a grown up, Selim is married (more than once) and has many children and he is only 18. David is also now 18 but still very much Ramses' friend confidant, brother and (technically adopted cousin, calling Walter and Evelyn parents) and Nefret is 19 and the cause of many hearts breaking across England and Egypt including Ramses (though he has been smitten since he first saw her five years ago). This is the first time, via Manuscript "H" that Ramses contributes to the tales, and being Ramses it is as romantic as Peabody but with a bit more cynicism and logic thrown in, leading the Reader to forget he is just 16. Cyrus figures large and Carter as a historical figure figures more than those archeologists have in the past. We are hit with old friends Enid and Donald Fraser in marital crisis unwittingly caused by "medium" Katherine, described delightfully as a pleased tabby cat ( I think of Old Possum's Gumby Cat when I read Amelia's various comparisons). How to convince a gullible husband in "love" with a 3000year dead "princess" to rejoin with his pining and loyal spouse whom he now ignores (and give Katherine's poor feet a rest from "searching" all of the Valley of the Kings for her "lost" tomb)? Throw in a frustratingly rude US Colonel practically demanding that the Emerson clan take on the responsibility of his wayward 20-22 year old romantically predatory (especially toward Ramses) daughter of China doll looks and viper temperament, throw in a bit of social commentary on US and British attitudes toward the so called "natives" and you are in for as Emerson and Nefret might say"a devil of a ride!"😁

Elizabeth Peters’s “Seeing A Large Cat” disappointed me. Its plot is perhaps more ingenious than entertaining, lacking in emotional resonance and narrative drive until the very end. With one exception, the suspects and villains in the story seem like caricatures, their actions and motives often unconvincing. And while the "kids" accumulated by Emerson and Amelia—David, Nefret, and Ramses—are all grown up now and dealing with adult problems, they do still at times get in the way.Any lengthy series is likely to have books not up to snuff and, for me at least, “Seeing A Large Cat” falls into that category. But its Egyptian setting, historical details, and the amusing tone of its dominant narrator (there are several in this book) do compensate. And the cat is a delicate touch.

the book is an adventure story set in the early 20th century. The atmosphere of the British ruling classes in Egypt at that time is well portrayed. The book is also humourous with Amelia Peabody a larger than life figure and her family are excentric and loverble at the same time. This is an adventure story full of intrigue and suspense. I couldn't stop reading.

Amelia & family are back in Egypt excavating lesser known tombs but, as usual, their path is strewn with crime. This is a fun read with the children having more prominence than before and an easy way to pass a few hours.

I am mad about Egypt and its history and to have such wonderful characters and animals just makes its perfect. I have them all on my Kindle and woud now like tohave the actual books as I would read them again.

The book was like new. Joy to read.

The Amelia books always deliver. The stories combine , Archeology, Adventure, intrigue and occasionally romance. It is good to see the family grow and mature. It is almost like they are members of your own family and you watch with delight the development of their lives.