The Deeds of the Disturber

The Deeds of the Disturber is the fifth installment in Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody mystery series, set in London during the summer of 1896. The story centers on Amelia Peabody and her husband Emerson as they investigate mysterious deaths connected to the British Museum's Egyptian collection. While managing family obligations with her brother's children staying at their residence, Amelia must navigate competing newspaper coverage of supposed mummy curses at the museum. The investigation becomes more complex as museum employees turn up dead and various suspects emerge, including rival journalists and museum staff. The novel stands out in the series as the only one set entirely in England rather than Egypt, allowing for a different perspective on Victorian-era Egyptology and museum culture. The blend of archaeological expertise, family dynamics, and criminal investigation creates a layered mystery that explores themes of identity, deception, and the collision between ancient Egyptian beliefs and Victorian society.

Readers rate this fifth Amelia Peabody mystery lower than others in the series, with 4.05/5 on Goodreads (13,000+ ratings) and 4.4/5 on Amazon (300+ ratings). Readers appreciate: - The London museum setting, which provides a change from Egypt - The humor and banter between Amelia and Emerson - The complex mystery plot with multiple suspects - Character development of Ramses Common criticisms: - Less engaging without the Egyptian archaeology backdrop - Too much time spent on side characters and society events - Slower pacing in the middle sections - Some find the mystery resolution unsatisfying From reader reviews: "The museum politics and Victorian London atmosphere make up for missing the Egyptian setting" - Goodreads reviewer "Ramses really comes into his own as a character here" - Amazon review "The mystery feels more convoluted than previous books" - LibraryThing user The book maintains the series' core appeal while dividing fans on the location change.

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🗞️ The British Museum experienced a real "mummy fever" in the 1890s, with public unwrappings of mummies drawing massive crowds and extensive newspaper coverage. 🏺 Elizabeth Peters, whose real name was Barbara Mertz, held a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago and wrote numerous non-fiction books about ancient Egypt. 🌍 The character of Amelia Peabody was partially inspired by real-life Victorian female archaeologists like Amelia Edwards, who helped establish the Egypt Exploration Fund. 🌫️ The fog-filled London setting reflects historical reality - the city's notorious "pea-soupers" (thick smogs) were at their worst during the Victorian era due to widespread coal burning. 🎭 The book's title "The Deeds of the Disturber" references the ancient Egyptian concept of isfet (chaos/disorder), which was considered the opposite of ma'at (truth/order/justice).