A River in the Sky

In this nineteenth installment of the Amelia Peabody series, the intrepid Egyptologist and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson, find themselves in 1910 Palestine rather than their usual Egyptian digs. Banned from the Valley of the Kings, the couple joins a dubious expedition led by Major George Morley, who claims to be searching for the Ark of the Covenant. What begins as a lighthearted archaeological adventure quickly turns into a tense espionage thriller as British intelligence suggests Morley is a German agent seeking to destabilize the region on the eve of World War I.

Peters blends her signature wit with high-stakes political intrigue, following the Peabody-Emerson family as they navigate the religious sensitivities of Jerusalem and the political machinations of the Ottoman Empire. The narrative weaves together the search for ancient treasures, the prevention of a potential holy war, and the rescue of their son, Ramses, who has become entangled with a mysterious group of travelers in Samaria. The story highlights the intersection of archaeological passion and geopolitical danger, maintaining the series' characteristic balance of humor, historical detail, and suspense.

Description adapted from Open Library ↗.