This is the thirteenth book in the Amelia Peabody series. It's nearly Christmas 1915 and the Emersons are in Egypt. Ramses, who has refused to do more work for British intelligence, is newly married. When one of the men from his earlier work attempts to murder him, he and Nefret are sent to Luxor to check out thefts of antiquities and, hopefully, get him out of danger while Amelia and Emerson try to find out who wants Ramses dead.

But Luxor is no safer for Ramses and Nefret. Rumors of the reappearance of the Master Criminal and further attempts on Ramses' life along with persistent rumors of a marvelous new find all keep Nefret and Ramses busy.

Despite their vows to each other, both sets of Emersons are keeping secrets from the other and each are convinced that this is keeping the other pair safe. For example, the younger Emersons are aware that the Master Criminal who supposedly died in Amelia's arms after a heroic action is actually still alive and rebuilding his criminal enterprise in Luxor.

It isn't until both sets of Emersons reunite in Luxor that the mysteries are solved.

I enjoyed this episode which seems weighted to the younger Emersons' viewpoint and provided a lot of action including the Master Criminal. I am becoming quite a fan of the Master Criminal. The plot was twisty as is the case when the subject matter includes spies and thieves and political activities. ( )

Mientras las batallas de la Primera Guerra Mundial se suceden en Europa, Amelia Peabody y su familia parten desde Inglaterra a su siempre añorado Egipto para continuar con las excavaciones en El Cairo. Sin embargo, otros peligros les acechan en la tierra de los faraones. Ramsés y Nefret, que disfrutan de sus primeros meses de casados, son atacados y en Luxor, la tumba descubierta por Emerson está amenazada por un misterioso asaltante. El joven matrimonio tratará de averiguar su identidad partiendo hacia Luxor, mientras Amelia y Emerson intentan descubrir quién y por qué atacó a Ramsés. Un nuevo cadáver y la inquietante presencia de su denodado enemigo, el Maestro del Crimen, a quien creían muerto, pondrá a la familia a prueba para salir airosa del peligro.

"I challenge even you, Peabody, to find a silver lining in this situation, " Emerson remarked.
We were in the library at Armarna House, our home in Kent. As usual, Emerson's desk resembled an archaeological tell, piled high with books and papers and dusty with ashes from his pipe. The servants were strictly forbidden to touch his work, so the ashes were only disturbed when Emerson rooted around in one pile or another, looking for something. Leaning back in his chair, he stared morosely at the bust of Plato on the opposite bookshelf. Plato stared back. He had replaced the bust of Socrates, which had been shattered by a bullet a few years ago, and his expression was not nearly so pleasant.

Slowly climbing upwards. The "new" relative brings a bit of spice to the narrative although it's still recovering from it's slump. ( )

Synopsis: 'In this installment, which takes place during the 1915–1916 season, newlyweds Ramses and Nefret Emerson spend their time living on their family's dahabeeyah on the Nile, while the rest of the group remains at the house near Giza, where their excavations continue. Between the antics of Ramses' former associates in the smuggling trade, the reappearance of the Master Criminal, and yet another unknown adversary with a rich find, little time is permitted for romance...but of course, the younger Emersons make the most of it.'
Review: Peabody has a reoccurring dream in which Abdullah meets her on their favorite overlook and gives her advice. This is a nice foreshadowing of what is to come. I'm glad Sethos is back. The cats are always entertaining. ( )