The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters

There are so many gaps in our knowledge, the thought that the culture might have been preserved nearly intact after all these centuries is a compelling fantasy. The mere thought of living, breathing descendants of that culture still practicing the old ways makes every Egyptological bone in my body quiver with longing. This is the final compelling piece for me. Naturally, the Emersons discover not just the remains of the ancient royalty, but their descendants as well. It starts a bit slow, building into the dramatic moment when they finally strike off into the desert on camel-back, bent on discovering a lost oasis which they believe may contain the remnants of the Meroitic royalty who ruled Ancient Egypt during the Late Period. The main thrust of the story is not about Amelia solving a murder mystery, but rather her family’s adventures in the desert. The Last Camel Died at Noon is a bit different in form from the previous books in the series. But her very existence and rescue by the eponymous heroine and her family is the entire thrust of this book. In this book, she mostly appears briefly, and at the very end. She may be over-burdened with gifts on the surface, but she also has her own distinct character arc in which she grows and changes and develops as a person. Nefret is a full character, developed over many books, and with her fair share of flaws and human weaknesses. If that sounds like the description of a Mary-Sue, it could well be, except Peters manages to avoid that with Nefret with her usual careful skill. Nefret is as much a special character as the rest of the cast beautiful, talented, clever, good-hearted and wealthy.

It’s actually most likely a combination of reasons, starting with the introduction of Nefret Forth, a major character in the series henceforth. I’ve always found this one memorable and compelling for some reason. The Last Camel Died at Noon is the sixth Amelia Peabody Mystery (APM) by Elizabeth Peters. ‘The Last Camel Died at Noon’ by Elizabeth Peters

The Last Camel Died at Noon by Elizabeth Peters