SERPENT ON THE CROWN

Before the Peabody-Emersons can begin the season's archaeological dig, a flamboyant woman asks Emerson to remove an alleged curse from a rare gold statuette. The close-knit family faces danger and shocking surprises in Elizabeth Peters's seventeenth Amelia Peabody mystery. Harper Audio's author-approved abridgment scrupulously strives to include major characters and plot points. The CD version also provides helpful tracking information on each disc, and, no music to distract from the performance. The truly exceptional Barbara Rosenblat avoids abridgment confusion with her masterful portrayals. Her wit, intelligence, and subtle shadings establish age, class, and motive beyond any doubt. If they ever make a movie of the series, Rosenblat is the perfect choice for all the roles. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2006, Portland, Maine [Published: FEB/ MAR 06]