AMELIA PEABODY, born in 1852, found her life’s work and life partner in 1884, when on a trip to Egypt she married Egyptologist, Radcliffe Emerson. Their son Walter ‘Ramses’ Emerson was born three years later, and their adopted daughter, Nefret, joined the family in 1898. Other important members of the family include several generations of Egyptian cats.

Although the Emersons own a handsome Queen Anne mansion in Kent, they spend half of each year digging in Egypt and fighting off criminals of all varieties. Amelia is planning to draw her last breath holding a trowel in one hand and her deadly parasol in the other.