It is almost 1917 as THE GOLDEN ONE begins. If it were not for the
war in the Middle East, the Emerson family would be en route to
Luxor, Egypt with light hearts. As it is, they are
apprehensive.

Luxor, a vibrant city and second home for Amelia Peabody Emerson's
family, is vitally important to her husband Radcliffe, her son,
Ramses, and Ramses' wife Nefret. Every year, Radcliffe hopes to
unearth a magnificent royal tomb, to catalog its riches and
astonish and outdo his colleagues in the field. He knows how
humiliating it is to be outdone.

Ramses is in more peril than anyone in this family of
Egyptologists. The English War Office has a need for bright young
men to use as spies, especially if they can speak several languages
and are masters of disguise. Amelia and Emerson are too
recognizable to be useful as agents, but if the occasion demands
it, they are ready to don false beards and flowing native robes.
Amelia, armed with her usual weapon of choice, a lethal umbrella,
is a fierce opponent in a battle of wits. A fearless woman, she
sails into danger without a second thought for her own safety. It
is a given that THE GOLDEN ONE will call for the expertise of the
entire Emerson clan.

The Master Criminal, Sethos, appears on the scene in his own flashy
way. Inordinately fond of Amelia, Sethos arrives whenever there is
a dreadfully tense moment and then disappears like the mists over
the Nile. Nefret and Ramses admire Sethos and welcome his eccentric
behavior. His newest disguise is a dangerous one, but he will bring
important information to the British if his plans work. When Ramses
is taken prisoner, it is to nobody's surprise. This whole sequence
is as exciting as any chase movie, and there are elements of comedy
as well.

The success of Elizabeth Peters's novels rests on her use of humor,
history, and wonderful characters. The warmth and color of Egypt
permeate the stories as much as the feeling of gritty dust and
aridity. THE GOLDEN ONE is the 14th in a series in which each book
adds to the mystique of the land of the pharaohs.