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The Ape Who Guards the Balance
- The Amelia Peabody Series, Book 10
- Narrated by: Barbara Rosenblat
- Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins
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The Ape Who Guards the Balance
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Editor reviews
Summary
The Peabody-Emerson family has set sail for Egypt and the 1907 archaeological season. But a mint-condition papyrus of the Book of the Dead falls into their hands, and the prospects for the 1907 archaeological season turn deadly.
This captivating best seller showcases the talent that caused the Mystery Writers of America to name Elizabeth Peters a Grand Master. With Barbara Rosenblat's dazzling narration, you will find yourself held pleasurably in the balance of this exotic mystery.
You can also check out more of our Most Addictive Series.
Critic reviews
"An appealing cast of characters is led by a curious and adventurous heroine capable of handling any crisis that appears. The setting among ancient Egyptian ruins is an ever-fascinating one. Barbara Rosenblat's reading is lively, and her characterizations effective." (Library Journal)
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What listeners say about The Ape Who Guards the Balance
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- D. Dolenz
- 26-05-23
A 6 out of 5.
I rate the entire set of these audiobooks #5. If I could, I would rate this one a #6. The plot twists got me good!
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Pen
- 15-02-21
Great!!
I thoroughly enjoyed this version, which, unfortunately, was not available, when I chose this title orginally. Wonderful to have the version read by Barbara Rosenblat, she brings all the characters to life.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Yvonne Jocks
- 30-11-05
Another Wonderful Book in the Series
If one isn't familiar with the "Amelia Peabody" stories, then some plot elements might (per another review) seem irrelevant. But to those of us who love repeating characters, that is the true treasure of these books. The fact that they are mysteries about Victorian characters set in Egypt is significant, of course--because they're always dashing good mysteries! But the mysteries are rarely any more important than the interactions of Amelia Peabody Emerson (a wonderful example of a strong but human woman), her gruff but adored husband, her amazingly resilient if quiet-natured son nicknamed Ramses, and her adopted daughter Nefret--not to mention all the other wonderful repeating characters who await their return to Egypt each year. My mother loved these books, and I resisted them for a long time, but now I am an absolute fan, and buy the new one the moment it comes out each spring. If you like the time period and setting, if you enjoy delightful narration (both from the author and from the reader, Barbara Rosenblat), or if you enjoy finding a fictional family whom you'll want to revisit again and again, don't just try this book--try this series.
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23 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- bebe
- 21-05-12
Watch Out! I am totally addicted
I have tried to establish a pattern of not giving 5 stars except for extraordinary and exceptional books and I have generally given 4 stars to the books in the Amerlia Peabody series. However I have to give this book a 5 for two reasons. It is very well written and has a good plot. More importantly, this series is so extraordinarily entertaining and addictive that it deserves 5 stars. I am totally hooked. As soon as I finished The Ape Who Guards the Balance, I immediately ordered the next two audio books (books 11 and 12). Since 13, 14, and 15 aren't available in audio, I immediately ordered them in paperback from Amazon. I am going to start listening to book 11 tomorrow morning.
These characters are like family to me. I want to dress up and go to dinner with them. I want to sit on the bed with Nefret and pet her cat. I love them all.
I am particularly engrossed with the story line for the grown up Ramses and grown up Nefti. They are so perfect for each other but Ramses just doesn't have the social skills or maturity or confidence to let her know he loves her and I don't think Nefret knows that she loves Ramses - yet. That's the main reason I am addicted. I just have to go through this situation with them.
Sethos is back in this book along with many other regulars. David finds love. The Emersons solve a mystery. The are deaths of villians and a death that made me sad. The cats and horses are all doing well, even if the cat Horace is a bit peculiar.
The narrator is absolutely awesome. She gives the characters their wonderful personalities. Elizabeth Peters is a talented author and she is lucky she team up with Barbara Rosenblat for this series. Together they have created magic!
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12 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Susan
- 08-09-05
another great Amelia Peabody book
There are a few authors whose books I buy immediately without even reading the cover. And fewer who I will pre-order based on name alone. Elizabeth Peters is one of those authors. Her books are readable and of the best "who dunit" tradition.
As for Ms Rosenblat...to call her the best reader I have ever heard falls short of the mark. She is wonderful. Once you listen to her you cannot be satisfied with other duller, uni-dimensional narrators.
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8 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Donald
- 17-07-05
a great mystery
another terrific book from E. Peters. I continue to be hooked on B. Rosenblat's narration and can't listen to another!
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7 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- K. McRitchie
- 18-02-15
I am hooked on this series!
who knew. It was written in the 1980s and I had never heard of any of the books. This is the 10th book in the series and it is like a visit to old friends each time I read one. There are parts that make me smile and this one even made me cry along with the characters as they said goodbye to a dear friend. Each one is a mix of manners and mystery, with a formidable main character and her family. It this book, Amelia and her daughter are wearing trousers now instead of dresses...finally. I have never been interested in Egyptology before, however, the way the author weaves it into the story is interesting. Rumor is that it is fairly accurate, too.
Of course, the narrator is one of the best and anything she reads is like attending a performance. I am sure that makes the audio book much more fun than the printed one. You don't have to start at the beginning of the series to enjoy the books, they each sort of recap in the beginning, but it is fun being a part of this family's story and growing up with the children...as I mentioned, like a visit to old friends.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- Tanja
- 02-02-09
Tremendous
Frankly, one would assume that Peters' storytelling would wane on occasion, but no. She crafts her stories with finesse, wry humor. Though I hold out for the next time she will describe her husband's 'sapphirine' eyes... a term too oft used, I am reaching for just anything that rubs me. I cannot really complain, the story as always is engrossing, the family web and intricate emotional subplot as Ramses and his closest friends try to decipher the secret life of Amelia. I really think the narrative device Ms. Peters starts to employ (the newly found texts - 'Manuscript H' written by other members of the family) so as to present other perspectives is truly well done. The first author I have followed from book to book. A must read series and The Ape Who Guards the Balance, one of my favorite of the lot; provided you are listening to Rosenblat, of course, no disrespect to other narrators intended, but frankly, only Rosenblat can do all these personalities, accents and such.
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4 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Carol
- 30-05-19
Authenticity + Great Narration = Classic Series
First, Barbara Rosenblat's narration of this series is superb. Don't even consider the editions by any other narrator. Second, the series, which builds a storyline and family saga across four decades, is uniquely satisfying. Elizabeth Peters, a serious Egyptologist and archeologist, sets her marvelous characters in the waning years of Victoria and into Edwardian England and uses the often ugly but very real history of archeology at the dawn of the 20th century to launch suspenseful adventures that are exciting, fun, often humorous, sometimes violent, and always engaging.
The books span a timeframe from the late 1880s through the 1920s, and the relationships among the many characters (good and evil, and more than a few of them historical) grow and change. In "The Ape Who Guards the Balance," #10 in the series, the Peabody-Emerson family comes face to face with an issue that has been present since the beginning, but not overtly dealt with: the unquestioned, unchallenged assumption of "white superiority" inherent in Europeans of the 19th century colonial world. It also deals with the family dynamic that inevitably occurs when parents realize that their children are now adults.
Because the characters, writing, stories, and narration are all so good, and the setting so authoritatively authentic (offering the painless injection of an education in ancient Egyptian history and archeological excavation techniques), this series is defintely one of the best for "losing yourself in another world." I'd recommend reading the books in order. Admittedly, they can get a little repetitious, and I've always taken breaks in between.
"The Ape Who Guards the Balance" is one of the best in the series. The title refers to the ancient Egyptian "weighing of the heart," in which the heart of the newly deceased was believed to be placed on a balance scale against the Feather of Ma'at (Ma'at = truth, honor, righteous living). A baboon (or ape, or in some depictions a monkey) guards the balance during the ceremony, while the jackal-headed god Anubis awaits the verdict so he can escort the soul either to celestial glory or to be devoured by the hideous goddess Ammit, who was part hippopotamus, part lioness, and had the head and jaws of a crocodile.
Living hearts are weighed in this story, tombs are opened and excavated, danger is all around and a number of people are murdered (two apparently eaten by a crocodile, even though, as our heroine Amelia says, "There are no crocodiles in Luxor."). There is one unexpected scene that caught me unprepared, and (listening in my car) I was suddenly in tears driving down the interstate. It is the kind of scene that can only occur in a well-written saga with characters that you have come to know and love over many volumes. And it's worth it.
The books of this series are classics that will be enjoyed for years to come.
P.S. Reviewer complaints about missing text appear to have been fixed. My version was definitely complete.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Sherri
- 22-07-15
Wonderful
What a great continuing story of adventure, villains, love and friendships. Wonderful narrating adds to the experience of the characters and keeps you entertained the entire book. You will not be disappointed.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Raven's Maven
- 10-06-18
Great book but audio production not so good
This book, like all Mrs Peters books is amazing. The Audible audiobook though wasn’t good in several parts. I listened to this book originally on CDs purchased from Recorded Books. It was perfect. Audible took that product and when they sliced it up for a digital product failed to leave sufficient pauses between several chapters. This allows the end audio of on chapter to run into the beginning of another chapter. In two instances the words of the ending chapter are cut off so completely that you can’t make out what they are. This is the first Audible book I have ever experienced this effect with. Hopefully it’s the last.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story4 out of 5 stars
- Patricia G. Bowling
- 20-06-15
Excellent
Always a pleasure to visit the Emersons. A strong entry in the series. Highly entertaining.
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2 people found this helpful