Ellie and Henry are young, rich, in love, and engaged. In the carefree days before marriage and new responsibility, Ellie is happy to accept hereccentric Aunt Kate's request that shehouse-sit atKate's palatial estate in Burton, Virginia. With its nearly invisible housekeepers and plethora of pets, Ellie feels right at home. Conventional Henry, however, finds Aunt Kate and her lifestyle a little hard to take, and so he departs. After he leaves, Ellie realizes that there are disturbing secrets about the local aristocracy buried in a dusty old book she has carried into the mansion—some thatextend to her own family.
Suddenly, Ellie's interest in the past is attracting a slew of unwelcome guests—some of them living and some, perhaps, not. Unwittingly, she has aroused a terrible vengeance that is now aimed at her.
Download and start listening now!
"I love Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody series. This book is not as great as that series, but it was a page turner nevertheless. Good combination of mystery, romance, humor. The ending seemed a little rushed and could have been beter explained, but altogether a good read."
— Pam (4 out of 5 stars)
“No one else can write the kind of mystery Ms. Peters is so adept at producing.”
— Dallas Morning News“There’s mirth as well as mayhem in Peters’ mysteries, and Grace Conlin reads with a mischievousness…Her arch delivery reinforces Peters’ descriptions of unlikable people, Ellie’s stuffed-shirt fiancé in particular, but her voice warms when impersonating Ellie’s eccentric aunt or Ellie herself.”
— AudioFile" This book was a fun read. A fun little mystery with some great characters and Elizabeth Peters great sense of humor. "
— Laura, 2/14/2014" Enjoyable, but not my favorite Peters. Ellie goes to house sit for her Aunt and is visited by ghosts. "
— June, 2/13/2014" Well, it was ok and not what I was expecting from the author. I agree w/ most all the reviews, parts of the plot were unique, some of the details and time frame were boring; but enough curiosity to keep me reading to the end. I like the Peabody series best and am spoiled by having read all of them before this book. "
— Lizpeveto, 2/2/2014" I enjoyed it up until the ending. I thought the end was a bit of a cop out. "
— Sonja, 1/30/2014" It was an nice light and enjoyable book. I liked the characters "
— Alicia, 1/13/2014" With all the animals in the book, it makes the story a bit more interesting. Could never imagine house sitting could be so interesting, and in some cases a bit spooky. "
— Tricia, 1/10/2014" Meh. Just wasn't my style, I guess. "
— Johanna, 1/6/2014" Awesome book. I've been a devoted MPM fan since my friend Anna made me read "Crocodile on the Sandbank". "
— Emilie[-MLE-], 1/4/2014" I think Aunt Kate was a funny character and I love how down-to-earth all Ms. Peter's characters are, but after three or four of these books it kind of gets old. "
— Fiona, 12/21/2013" I love Elizabeth Peters! This book will not change the world or end poverty, but it will take you out of your troubles for a while. It is a fun read without any graphic sex or violence. A rarity in my world..... "
— Vicki, 12/17/2013" This is pure fun, romantic and silly. What's wrong with that sometimes? "
— Julie, 12/11/2013Elizabeth Peters (1927–2013) was a pen name of Barbara Mertz, who earned her PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago’s famed Oriental Institute. Over the course of her fifty-year career she wrote more than seventy mystery and suspense novels and three nonfiction books on Egypt, of which many were New York Times bestsellers. She was the recipient of numerous writing awards, including grandmaster and lifetime achievement awards from the Mystery Writers of America, Malice Domestic, and Bouchercon. In 2012 she was given the first Amelia Peabody Award, created in her honor and named after her major fictional character, at the Malice Domestic convention. She also wrote books under the names Barbara Mertz and Barbara Michaels.
Grace Conlin (1962–1997) was the recording name of Grainne Cassidy, an award-winning actress and acclaimed narrator. She was a member of the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in Washington, DC, and won a Helen Hayes Award in 1988 for her role in Woolly Mammoth’s production of Savage in Limbo.