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Barbara Mertz

1 series 19 books in order

Barbara Louise Mertz, an American novelist and Egyptologist who lived from September 29, 1927 to August 8, 2013, wrote under her own name as well as the pseudonyms Elizabeth Peters and Barbara Michaels. In 1952 she received a PhD in Egyptology from the University of Chicago, and while best known for mystery and suspense novels, she authored two books on ancient Egypt in the 1960s that have remained in print ever since.

Born
1927
Known for
Amelia Peabody series

Series by Barbara Mertz

Amelia Peabody series

19 books in order · 1975–2006

  1. Cover of Crocodile on the sandbank

    Crocodile on the sandbank

    1975 · Barbara Mertz

    Thirty-one-year-old Victorian gentlewoman Amelia Peabody has inherited her father's fortune along with his strong will. She travels to Cairo,…

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  2. Cover of The curse of the Pharaohs

    The curse of the Pharaohs

    1981 · Barbara Mertz

    One of the best-loved mystery writers weaves another tale of intrigue featuring Amelia Peabody and Radcliffe of Crocodile on the Sandbank. This time…

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  3. Cover of The mummy case

    The mummy case

    1985 · Barbara Mertz

    Radcliffe Emerson, an archaeologist known as "Father of Curses," and his wife Amelia Peabody, also an archaeologist and Egyptologist, find themselves…

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  4. Cover of Lion in the valley

    Lion in the valley

    1986 · Barbara Mertz

    The 1895-96 season is an exciting one for Amelia Peabody, her husband Emerson, and their son Ramses. They are set to excavate the burial chamber of…

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  5. Cover of The deeds of the disturber

    The deeds of the disturber

    1988 · Barbara Mertz

    Amelia Peabody and her husband, Radcliffe Emerson, return from the winter events in Dahshoor to face a new mystery at the British Museum. A murder…

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  6. The Last Camel Died at Noon

    1991 · Barbara Mertz

    The Last Camel Died at Noon is the sixth book in a series of historical mystery novels by Elizabeth Peters, featuring archaeologist and sleuth Amelia…

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  7. Cover of The snake, the crocodile, and the dog

    The snake, the crocodile, and the dog

    1992 · Barbara Mertz

    Amelia Peabody, a 19th-century Egyptologist, and her husband, Emerson, return to Amarna, the place where they first fell in love. In this seventh…

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  8. Cover of The hippopotamus pool

    The hippopotamus pool

    1996 · Barbara Mertz

    A masked stranger claims to know the location of an Egyptian queen's lost tomb, drawing the attention of Amelia Peabody and her husband, Radcliffe…

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  9. Cover of Seeing a large cat

    Seeing a large cat

    1997 · Barbara Mertz

    In 1903 Egypt, feisty archaeologist Amelia Peabody begins her ninth adventure. A papyrus suggests that dreaming of a large cat brings good luck, a…

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  10. Cover of The ape who guards the balance

    The ape who guards the balance

    1998 · Barbara Mertz

    A 1998 novel by Barbara Mertz set in the Valley of the Kings in 1907, following archaeologist Amelia Peabody and her companions on a perilous…

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Show all 19 Amelia Peabody series books in order →

Frequently asked questions

How many books has Barbara Mertz written?

We list 19 books by Barbara Mertz across 1 series, published between 1975–2006 — each shown in full reading order.

What order should I read Barbara Mertz's books?

Read each series in publication order. A good place to start is “Crocodile on the sandbank.” Open any series above for its complete numbered reading order.

Where can I buy Barbara Mertz's books?

Every title links to Amazon from its series page — see our affiliate disclosure in the footer for how that supports the site.

Bibliography and reading orders compiled from verified bibliographic data. Spotted an error? We continuously correct the catalog.