The Mummy Case is one of my absolute favourite stories in the entire series. And you'll always envision Amelia Peabody Emerson, flanked by her belligerent husband and Machiavellian son, poking her parasol into every political and social bee's hive in the archaeological world. If you read these novels, you'll end up feeling like you know the Victorian archaeologists, bizarre eccentricities and all. The worst (or best) of it? Almost all the stories are true, and all the characters, if perhaps a little larger than life, are accurately portrayed.
And Budge.oh, don't get me started on Budge's antics. Wilbour will always be the amiable "father of the beard," working hard to smooth away the ire of the snappish Reverend Sayce. Petrie's illustrious name will conjure the man's tendency to eat canned peas after they had been left half-eaten, stewing and mouldering in the Egyptian sun. (I think the woman in the front might be Amelia herself.) After reading this book, every time you see a mention of DeMorgan's hallowed name in a museum or article, you will start giggling about his pathetically eager desire (at least, that portrayed in this novel) to be portrayed heroically in the Illustrated London Times:
WARNING: do not read this novel if you plan to maintain any awe of Victorian archaeologists such as DeMorgan, Petrie, Wilbour, or Wallis Budge.
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