The Last Camel Died at Noon

Written by Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by Suzanne O'Malley

The last camel is dead, and Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, her dashing husband, Emerson, and precocious son, Ramses, are in dire straits on the sun-scorched desert sands. Months before, back in cool, green England, Viscount Blacktower had approached them to find his son and his son’s new bride, who have been missing in war-torn Sudan for over a decade. An enigmatic message scrawled on papyrus and a cryptic map had been delivered to Blacktower, awakening his hope that the couple was still alive.Neither Amelia nor Emerson believes the message is authentic, but the treasure map proves an irresistible temptation. Now, deep in Nubia’s vast wasteland, they discover too late how much treachery is afoot (and on camelback)…and survival depends on Amelia’s solving a mystery as old as ancient Egypt and as timeless as greed and revenge.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Audio
• Release date: Aug 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9780786119905

Elizabeth Peters

Elizabeth Peters earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago’s famed Oriental Institute. During her fifty-year career, she wrote more than seventy novels and three nonfiction books on Egypt. She received numerous writing awards and, in 2012, was given the first Amelia Peabody Award, created in her honor. She died in 2013, leaving a partially completed manuscript of The Painted Queen.

Reviews for The Last Camel Died at Noon

[ktleyed · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

On audio, this (to me) wasn't quite as good as the previous installments in the Amelia Peabody mysteries. Nothing against Barbara Rosenblat, who (as usual) does a fantastic job with narration. She is beyond compare. But in this, Book 6 of the series, the Emersons find themselves in the Sudan this time. Excavating the usual sort of antiquities in the middle of nowhere, they find themselves stranded in the desert, their camels all dead, no water, no food and convinced death is near. Yet, they are rescued. Where are they? When they awake from their stupor of dehydration, they find themselves in the lap of luxury and well cared for. But, they are essentially held prisoners in a lost kingdom, known as Holy Mountain. Suck in the middle of a power struggle between two brothers, one of whom Emerson nicknames "Nasty"! It was more like they're stuck in the middle of a H. Rider Haggard novel, of which this is a homage (Amelia's favorite author*).This has the usual amusing bits, but I got lost in the plot line and all the names started to sound alike after a while. Still, it had it's humorous moments, I especially enjoyed Amelia's meeting of Blacktower. Also, his grandson's name is a hoot - Reginald Forth-Wright! I admit, these books are endearing to me, although this one was a slight departure from the norm, since they spent the majority of the time holed up in this secret kingdom.*H. Rider Haggard wrote adventure book, King Solomon's Mines, Allan Quatermain and She, among others, which were quite popular at the end of the nineteenth century.

[tjsjohanna_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This stands out in the series because it is so unique - a lost civilization, a living embodiment of ancient Egyptian practices and lifestyle. Amelia and Emerson are amusing as always, and Ramses is becoming quite an interesting character. And now Ms. Peters has expanded the family in an intriguing twist.

[riverwillow · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An interesting instalment in the series which sees Amelia, Emerson and Ramses caught up in an adventure in an homage to Amelia's favourite author Rider Haggard. Rather than excavating in Egypt as usual the Emersons decide to venture into Sudan, they've also agreed to search for Willie Forth and his wife, who've been missing for more than a decade. Along the way they're deserted by their servants and end up staying in a hidden city with a lost civilisation. A fun addition to the series, and we may have finally found the one thing that reduces Ramses to speechlessness.

[cbl_tn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Amelia Peabody, husband Emerson, and son Ramses set off on another archaeological adventure. This time their destination is not Egypt, but rather the Nubian desert south of Egypt. Willie Forth, a colleague of Emerson's, has been missing and presumed dead for more than a decade. A mysterious message suggests he might be living, so the Emersons head for his last known destination, where they encounter great danger. The book is written in the "lost world" style of Victorian novelist Sir Henry Rider Haggard, author of King Solomon's Mines. It's a great summer vacation read for genre fans.

[kayceel_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Amelia, husband and son find themselces stranded in the desert, without camels, supplies and water, all because an old man hopes they can find his long lost son and daughter-in-law. What the Emersons do find shocks and intrigues!Fun and an important entry in the series, as we meet a new character who will become integral to the series. Recommended.

[harmless_dilettante · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another excellent novel in the Amelia Peabody series: the ever confident Amelia and her explosive spouse take another unlikely detour, this time into lost civilization territory. Once there, they pick up Nefret, a picture and otherwise perfect addition to the recurring cast of characters. I continue to be charmed by the Emerson clan, but I like them best with their flaws on display.

[crewman_number_6 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I was really disappointed with this book. I have read all the books in the series up to this one, and I really felt that this was not up to the standard of her other works. Maybe it is because I recently read King Solomon's Mines, but I found it disapointing that Elizabeth Peters chose to rewrite that book. It was especially annoying in light of the fact that Amelia Peabody always talks about how she is a big H. Rider Haggard fan. I found it unlikely, since the books are written as memoirs, that Amelia, who is quite intelligent, would create a plot exactly out of one of his books, knowing that her readers know she likes his stories, and also knowing that it would have been a fairly recent book at the time. I found myself reading to the end just to get through it, but the plot held not intrigue, since it was a flimsy reproduction. I will read the next book, in hopes that this is the only downer in an otherwise entertaining series.

[mendoza_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is #6 in the Amelia Peabody series and introduces us to Nefret - a key figure in future books.It is hard for me to find critizism in any of the earlier Peabody works and this certainbly holds true for Last Camel. In this addition the Emersons are asked to search for a lost son and his wife. In doing so they come upon a 'lost' mysterious civilization. By the end the Emerson's have solved the mystery of the missing nobleman and his wife, have amassed quite a collection of artifacts for study, and Ramses their son is suffering from a bad case of puppy love for Nefret, who returns with them to England.A wholey enjoyable adventure.

[nextian_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

While this is not my favorite in the series, it has to be fairly close to the top. Besides being a vehicle to introduce the young Nefret, who is central to many later plots, it is a lovely tribute to H. Rider Haggard (whose writings I find myself strangely drawn to). I would highly recommend reading Haggard's "She" before you start this though. Without that basis, Peters' comedic genius is lost to a large extent and "Camel" becomes a simple, campy story instead of the great parody it is. In my opinion, this is a fantasic book all around for those who share Peters' sense of humor. Oh, and as an aside, Gibert and Sullivan fans should be warned that after reading this book you will never be able to hear "With Cat-like Tread" the same way again. I know I sure haven't.

[seasidereader · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was introduced to this series when I received He Shall Thunder in the Sky as part of my registration packet, complementary from publisher, at a Bouchercon (annual mystery conference), and was immediately hooked. Since then I have backtracked and read, mostly listened to, the books in sequence. Its appeal for me is the historical mostly Egyptian setting, archaeological quests amid intrigue, and the strong almost feminist lead, Amelia.Last Camel died at Noon isn't my favorite -- an extremely far-fetched plot and pace at times achingly slow and meandering don't help -- but it introduces Nefret, a major character.Barbara Rosenblatt is outstanding as the audio narrator of this series.

[turtlesleap · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was the first Elizabeth Peters book I've read and, frankly, I had a hard time staying with it through the end.

[a9shelf9apart · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ooo I really enjoyed this installment, taking the Emersons away from their usual Egyptian excavating.

Plus now there will be Nefret.

[cathymoore_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I was beginning to tire somewhat of Amelia and her rather repetitive adventures. Or so I thought. This is fantastic. Amelia, Emerson and Ramses are in the Sudan and it's not long before all kinds of excitement starts to happen. This is so different from those which it follows and not only is it exciting but absolutely hilarious as well. If you haven't read any of Peabody's previous escapades though, I perhaps wouldn't suggest starting with this one as it refers quite frequently to the previous books without giving much background explanation.

[hopeevey · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another fun, if a bit melodramatic, episode in the adventures of Amelia Peabody Emerson.

[kaulsu · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was a much better developed book than the previous five, but still Peyers doesn't know, it seems, how to move a plot forward rather than in circles. Emerson, Peabody, and even Ramses are simply too good to be true, though of the three I think Ramses the most believable. I don't think these are categorized as YA, but if there were, I would add a star.

[annertan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For some reason, this one is one of my favorites in the series. Maybe because the Emersons don't have as much control of their environments like they normally do when they are in Egypt.

[themulhern · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Ridiculous, but isn't that it's appeal? "King Solomon's Mines" was so annoying that I could not persist, yet this book is not nearly that. Go figure.

[empressreece · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an adventure! I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It was very unique I thought and I felt like I traveled back in time to an ancient civilization we can only read about and dream of. It was nice to see it come to life so to speak.

[antiquary_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This is a frank tribute to H. Rider Haggard, most of whose African adventure stories I heartily enjoy. I have to say, I don't think even Amelia is a match for Quartermain --this is a bit over the top even for her. A British nobleman asks her to find his daughter and her husband who vanished in the Sudan -a mysterious map and message have appeared offering clues. In due course thy do end uip rescuing a beautiful British girl who becomes a major figures In the rest of the series.

[Letitia Sokoll · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Usual fun Amelia Peabody stuff with a little twist to the mystery.

[Jackie Carroll · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is the sixth book in Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody series. I love this series, and this book is no exception. It takes place in the Sudanese desert, and the Emerson's adopted daughter Nefret makes her first appearance in this book. As usual, the Emerson family fights against impossible odds to save not only themselves but an entire civilization. The story parallels several fun classic including H. Ryder Haggard's King Soloman's Mine and She and Wilkie Collins' The Moonstone. If you've read these books you'll enjoy The Last Camel Died at Noon even more, but it isn't absolutely necessary. I'm giving it four stars for its exceptional entertainment value.

[foggidawn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wither is a dystopian book, set in a future North America where humans thought they had perfected genetic engineering . . . but they were wrong. After creating one perfect generation, they discovered that the children of that generation, though initially healthy and strong, died as young men and women -- men at 25, women at 20. That perfect first generation is still alive, struggling for a cure for their children, but meanwhile teenage marriage has become common, and very wealthy young men will often have several brides, in hopes of producing children before they die. Rhine, the story's protagonist, is one such bride. She was snatched from her brother, the only family member she has left, and is desperate to escape from her captors in any way possible.I enjoyed this book, though I have a few quibbles with the world-building. (So, if the premise intrigues you and you would like to read the book without any spoilers or preconceived opinions, you may want to skip the rest of this paragraph.) For one thing, I thought that the premise of that perfect first generation was flawed -- surely, before all of the non-tampered-with humans were past childbearing age, they would realize that there were problems with the children of the engineered ones. A "generation" is a fairly fluid thing. Also, how could every citizen of the US afford to have genetically engineered children? You'd think it would be something that only the rich could do, and that the children of the poor would actually be the ones to save the human race by not carrying the genetic flaw. Also, Rhine describes a world where the USA has obliterated all of the other continents in a third world war, to the point where they are all under water. The melting of the polar ice caps is also mentioned. However, places like Florida and New York City still exist, with only some minor changes in the weather as consequences. I don't buy this -- if all of that land is underwater, the ocean would have to go somewhere. But I am willing to suspend disbelief on this, since I think future books may reveal that what Rhine has been told about the rest of the globe may not, in fact, be true.Even with all of those issues, I still would recommend the story to those who enjoy a good dystopia, especially if you can suspend disbelief about some of the background details while you are reading.