Amelia Peabody is back for one last hurrah. It’s been seven years since devoted fans of the daring, witty, parasol-toting Englishwoman have followed her adventures across the sands of Egypt.
Release: July 25, 2017
Series: Amelia Peabody #20
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: William Morrow
Egypt, 1912—Amelia Peabody and her dashing archeologist husband, Radcliffe Emerson, are once again in danger as they search for a priceless, stolen bust of legendary Queen Nefertiti and Amelia finds herself the target of assassins in this long-awaited, eagerly anticipated final installment of Elizabeth Peters’ bestselling, beloved mystery series.
Arriving in Cairo for another thrilling excavation season, Amelia is relaxing in a well-earned bubble bath in her elegant hotel suite in Cairo, when a man with knife protruding from his back staggers into the bath chamber and utters a single word—”Murder”—before collapsing on the tiled floor, dead. Among the few possessions he carried was a sheet of paper with Amelia’s name and room number, and a curious piece of pasteboard the size of a calling card bearing one word: “Judas.” Most peculiarly, the stranger was wearing a gold-rimmed monocle in his left eye.
It quickly becomes apparent that someone saved Amelia from a would-be assassin—someone who is keeping a careful eye on the intrepid Englishwoman. Discovering a terse note clearly meant for Emerson—Where were you?”—pushed under their door, there can be only one answer: the brilliant master of disguise, Sethos.
But neither assassins nor the Genius of Crime will deter Amelia as she and Emerson head to the excavation site at Amarna, where they will witness the discovery of one of the most precious Egyptian artifacts: the iconic Nefertiti bust. In 1345 B.C. the sculptor Thutmose crafted the piece in tribute to the great beauty of this queen who was also the chief consort of Pharaoh Akhenaten and stepmother to King Tutankhamun.
For Amelia, this excavation season will prove to be unforgettable. Throughout her journey, a parade of men in monocles will die under suspicious circumstances, fascinating new relics will be unearthed, a diabolical mystery will be solved, and a brilliant criminal will offer his final challenge . . . and perhaps be unmasked at last.
About the authors
Barbara Mertz, aka Elizabeth Peters, began her career with a Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago’s 
Oriental Institute. A recognized academic authority on Egyptology, her nonfiction books, including Temples, Tombs, and Hieroglyphs: A Popular History of Ancient Egypt, and Red Land, Black Land: Daily Life in Ancient Egypt, are in print today, thirty years after their publication. After early publishing success, Mertz found that as the Institute’s youngest female graduate at 23, her career options in the field were limited. She turned to writing fiction, using pen names to distinguish that work from her scholarly efforts. As Barbara Michaels, she published 28 thrillers. As Elizabeth Peters, creator of the legendary Amelia Peabody series, she wrote 20 novels, expressing her passions for adventure, archeology, humor, Edwardian England, and the sands of Egypt.
Over the course of her 50-year career, Barbara was the recipient of numerous writing awards, starting with her first Anthony Award for Best Novel in 1989. A cascade of prestigious awards and nominations followed over the years, including grandmaster and lifetime achievement awards from the Mystery Writers of America, Malice Domestic, and Boucheron. In 2012, she was given the first Amelia Peabody Award, created in her honor, at the Malice Domestic convention. She died in 2013, leaving a partially completed manuscript of The Painted Queen.
Joan Hess is the author of the Claire Malloy Mysteries and the Arly Hanks Mysteries, formally known as the Maggody 
Mysteries. She is a winner of the American Mystery Award, the Agatha Award, for which she has been nominated five times, and is a member of Sisters in Crime and a former president of the American Crime Writers League. She has contributed to multiple anthologies and book series, including Crosswinds, Deadly Allies, Malice Domestic, and The Year’s 25 Finest Crime and Mystery Stories. She also writes the Theo Bloomer mystery series under the pseudonym Joan Hadley. She lives in Austin, Texas.
Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of The Painted Queen. US entries only, please. The giveaway will end July 26, 2017. Good luck everyone!
All comments are welcomed.
I love this series. Bittersweet to see a new one
It’s great that Amelia & Radcliffe are back for another adventure.
What a treat to have another Amelia Peabody story. And to have Joan Hess co-write is lagniappe.
Nice that the series could be finished off with #20. So glad Joan Hess took up the challenge to give us that one last manuscript started by Elizabeth Peters.
What a great post. I love this series , I would love to win a copy of this one. Thank you for the chance.
One more Amelia book. Hurray!
Very nice tribute to Elizabeth Peters. I’m sure the finished product of this book she started, she would be proud of. I would love a chance to win her final book of the Amelia Peabody series. Have it in my collection, to keep forever.
Oh! Oh! Ohhh!!! My bellybutton has been buttoning and unbuttoning with anticipation for this book in the Amelia Peabody series!! I’m sure Joan Hess has done Elizabeth Peters proud.
I have so missed the Emerson family and their adventures in Egypt. This has been a favorite series of mine for years. So I’m looking so forward to this latest romp. I refuse to say last.
(PS-Who knows there could be hope for the Vicki Bliss series. I still think John is related to the Emerson)
This is probably my favorite series ever, and I have looked forward to this final book like crazy! I’d be delighted to win this copy.
Thank you Dru Ann for the introduction to Amelia Peabody’s mysteries. I haven’t had the opportunity to read any by Joan Hess and Elizabeth Peters but am sure I won’t be saying this much longer. My fingers are crossed. Have a wonderful day Dru.
I haven’t her books in a long time but when I did I enjoyed the setting among the pyramids and Egypt. The intrigue was a plus.
What a great surprise! I’ve love Egypt and this series forever. It would be great to win a copy!
I do love Amelia and Emerson and am so glad for one more adventure. Thank you for the chance to win.
Looking forward to reading this, thanks for sharing your thoughts!
I had no idea there would be one more book in this series! I can’t wait to read it!
One of my favorite series of all time. Kudos to Joan for finishing her good friend’s book.
Ah, one more time with Amelia and Emerson! Thanks to Joan Hess for finishing the book and allowing us the chance to explore one more time.
I’m so glad we have another Peabody. I’m so sad it will be the final one.
These are wonderful characters. I’m glad that we can visit them one more time.
I’m so excited to be able to have one last Amelia and Radcliffe book. I can hardly wait to read it.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
I had no idea there was one more book. I have all the rest so I MUST get this one too:)
My favorite mystery series of all of those that I read. No one has done that time period, location & background like Elizabeth Peters. A series that will stay fresh & funny forever.
So pleased there is another Amelia Peabody book, thanks to Joan Hess. Looking forward to reading. It will be a bittersweet read.
I love that this manuscript was finished. Such a scrumptious series.
Oh, I need to read this! I gather Hess finished an unfinished ms? I wonder if Peters knew it would be her last? At any rate, I must read … if I don’t win, I will buy. Thank you, Dru Ann!
I love, love, love this series. Also love that Joan Hess finished the manuscript for her friend.
Love this series. I’m glad that Joan Hess (another favorite author of mine) finished the manuscript.
I love Elizabeth Peters! Thanks so much, Dru, for the opportunity to win a copy of The Painted Queen!
I’m 82 and hoped I’d live long enough to be able to read this book.Thank you Joan Hess for finishing this book and Elizabeth Peters for the first 19 books.
What an end to a prolific career !
Sad to see the series end.
I’ve been a fan of the series for decades. I’m so pleased a partial manuscript has been found and we get to have one more visit with Amelia and her family!
I’ve been waiting months for this to come out!
Can’t wait to read what Amelia Peabody is up to in “The Painted Queen”.
I didn’t know she was an egyptologist! Sounds like fun!
Sad but excited for the last adventure with Amelia and Emerson. Joan Hess is a wonderful author, and I’m sure she did a great job with this manuscript.
So glad to have one last adventurr
Oh Wow…Amelia Peabody rides again…love that Series.
Marilyn ewatvess@yahoo.com
I am so happy to hear that a final book has arrived. I didn’t know about a partial adventure.
Would love to have a copy!
so hoping. Been awhile since I have read any in this series. Would love to read this one. Though I understand it will be the last. Hope the ghosts did a good job. So want to find out sooner. Rather than later
**** WINNER ****
The Painted Queen is Cynthia Westbrook
Congratulations!
Oh my !!! Thank You so much.!!! I look so forward to reading about Amelia and all the Emerson’s and their next adventure !!! I will grab my parasol and join them in their next mystery.
Thank You Again !