Waiting on Wednesday #188: The Painted Queen by Elizabeth Peters and Joan Hess

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly event which had been hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine where we spotlight upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating. I'm now linking up with "Can't Wait Wednesday" hosted over at Wishful Endings.

Synopsis from Goodreads: 

Egypt, 1912—Amelia Peabody and her dashing archaeologist 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 a 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.

The Painted Queen is due to be released from HarperLuxe on July 25, 2017.

Why am I waiting on this one? I love Peabody and Emerson. They've long been among my favorite mystery characters. I love Elizabeth Peters writing and am interested to see what Joan Hess does. Joan Hess has long been a favorite author of mine as well. But, typically what she writes is so different from the Amelia Peabody series, I really am curious to see how it turns out and hoping for the best.

What book are you waiting on this week? Share it or a link in the comments so we can check it out and maybe add it to our TBR lists. Thanks for coming by and Happy Reading!

Waiting on Wednesday - Naked Once More by Elizabeth Peters

 "Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week my choice is Naked Once More by Elizabeth Peters due out August 6, 2013 by Grand Central Publishing. This is actually a re-release, but I missed it the first time out which was 1989. It won an Agatha award for best novel that same year.

Jacqueline Kirby, Jake, is a librarian turned novelist. She is contemplating getting out of the writing business when her agent approaches her with the option to write the sequel to the blockbuster novel Naked in the  Ice. Naked in the Ice was written by Kathleen Darcy who was missing and declared dead after 7 years. The novel had skyrocketed her to instant fame. Jake thought only a fool would turn down this opportunity. 

From Goodreads: "It’s an opportunity no novelist in her right mind would pass up, and there’s no doubting Jacqueline’s sanity…until she starts digging through the missing woman’s papers—and her past. Until she gets mixed up with Kathleen’s enigmatic lover. Until a series of nasty accidents convince her much too late that someone wants to bring Jacqueline’s story—and her life—to a premature end."

Lest the thought that Jaqueline is a librarian turn you off, the official web site for Elizabeth Peters assures you that Jake is not your stereotypical librarian. Rather, she is described as "an intelligent, glamorous, and flamboyant woman of mystery whose passion for reference work and natural talent combine to make her an excellent detective. No matter what the situation, she always gets her man."

I find the premise intriguing. I used to work in the public library system. I think that I will enjoy it. I think that if you like Elizabeth Peters writing, you would probably enjoy it. I love the cover too.