Lion in the Valley

The Emersons return to Egypt in 1895–96 to excavate at Dahshoor - with some real pyramids for Amelia.

In looking for a keeper for Ramses, they find a demoralized Englishman named Donald Fraser. Donald has troubled family relationships and a hashish habit, both of which Amelia means to reform. Enid Debenham, a young lady whose behavior scandalizes Cairo society, also takes a hand when Amelia takes her under her wing.

The Master Criminal reappears personally, taking an interest not only in illegally obtained antiquities but in the person of Amelia herself.

Another name for the Master Criminal is Sethos. It is the name of a number of Pharaohs, and is tied to Set or Seth, the Egyptian god of the desert. Sethos the criminal interacts in a number of ways, including offering gifts and returning the communion set stolen from Mazghuna the previous year. Sethos also appears in many disguises, only one of which Amelia sees through. She does assume a number of others are either Sethos or in his gang, too often incorrectly.

The title is taken from the Battle of Kadesh Inscriptions of King Ramses II:

"Lord of fear, great of fame,
In the hearts of all the lands.
Great of awe, rich in glory,
As is Set upon his mountain. ...
Like a wild lion in a valley of goats."

Kirkus Reviews found this novel, with its murders and young love, to be "Loaded with wit, irony, Egyptian lore, Victorian mores, good-humored flamboyance and solid entertainment." The main character, feisty Amelia, copes with a lot, and most interestingly, when finding herself the "madly desired object of the supercriminal's machinations".[1]

• List of characters in the Amelia Peabody series