Crocodile on the Sandbank (Dramatized Adaptation)

Amelia Peabody, Book 1

By: Elizabeth Peters

Narrated by: full cast, Nanette Savard, Michael Glenn, Jenna Sharpe, Nathaniel Priestley, Stewart Crank, Keval Shah, Elias Khalil, Peter Holdway, Christopher Davenport, Colleen Delany, Niusha Nawab

From a New York Times bestselling author, a Victorian-era thriller featuring Egyptologist Amelia Peabody, a self-proclaimed spinster and heiress who's unrattled by anyone–including mummies.

The unshakeable Amelia Peabody embarks on an Egyptian adventure armed with self-confidence, a journal to record her thoughts, and, of course–a sturdy umbrella. On her way to Cairo, Amelia rescues young Evelyn Barton-Forbes, who has been abandoned by her scoundrel lover. Together the two women sail up the Nile to an archeological site run a pair of handsome brothers.

Strange visitations, suspicious accidents, and a botched kidnapping convince Amelia that there is a plot afoot to harm Evelyn. Now Amelia finds herself up against an unknown enemy–and perilous forces that threaten to make her first Egyptian trip also her last...

Adapted from the novel and produced with a full cast of actors, immersive sound effects and cinematic music!

Performed by Nanette Savard, Michael Glenn, Jenna Sharpe, Nathaniel Priestley, Stewart Crank, Keval Shah, Elias Khalil, Peter Holdway, Christopher Davenport, Colleen Delany, Niusha Nawab, Scott McCormick, Christopher Williams, Shravan Amin, Nora Achrati, Terence Aselford, Yasmin Tuazon, Jeri Marshall and Crystal Judkins.

©1975 Elizabeth Peters (P)2025 Graphic Audio LLC

Very nice retelling

I think I read this book the year it came out and I have had the single narrator audio version probably since it came out as well. This version is a great addition, I liked all the narrators. I particularly like Michael Glenn as Emerson, he does such a nice gruff drawl when Emerson is being his most obnoxious. The only caveat is that I listen on relatively inexpensive silicone earbuds off my phone and the mix has several places where the background music is as loud as the dialog. This is only an occasional thing, it's not all the way through the book and it may just be the way the mix works on my setup. Definitely looking forward to the rest of the series!

Amelia Peabody rocks!

I have loved Amelia Peabody and her adventures since reading the first one in 1975. I love Barbara Rosenblat’s wonderful audio narration as well (available on Audible, of course!) I was introduced to Graphic Audio with their performances of the works of Ilona Andrews, and I’ve purchased, listened to, and loved every single one.

So I was excited to learn that Graphic Audio was releasing a full cast performance of Crocodile, the first Amelia adventure, and purchased it immediately. I thoroughly enjoyed the performance. The voice actors are superb. I especially enjoyed Michael Glenn’s performance of Emerson - just as I imagined his voice as I read the book.

**I have only one issue to raise, and it is not with the story or the performance. Graphic Audio often adds music and other effects to accompany the actors. It can add to the atmosphere and drama. In this case, however, I found the music to be a concern. A little goes a long way. Many times, the music made it hard to understand the dialog, and sometimes the music was discordant enough to detract from the performance of the actors.**

I want to emphasize that I thoroughly enjoy Graphic Audio’s interpretations. But in this case, I would respectfully ask that the music be less intrusive and distracting. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series, and to being able to enjoy the actors’ performances.

Didn't Live Up to Expectations

I really wanted to like this. I almost always enjoy Graphic Audio's dramatizations, but this didn’t work. It probably doesn't help that I've listened to all the Barbara Rosenblatt audiobooks and her narrations are superb. This version doesn’t quite capture Amelia’s pomposity and Emerson’s bluster. Granted, Crocodile on the Sandbank is doing a lot of work to introduce characters that are more fleshed out in future books, so the story is a little weak. All this being said, if Graphic Audio adapts the 2nd book, The Curse of the Pharaohs, I’ll give it a listen.

Delightful!

I've always loved this series and the presentation and characters were perfect. Can't wait for the next one.

Fun to hear the actors.

I’m a huge fan of Amelia Peabody. Barbara Rosenblat did her proud. I was worried this adaptation wouldn’t live up to those audio books. I was wrong this is great fun. Hope the do them all.

Horrible background music and sound effects

Ugh! Where do I begin. Amelia sounds like an old lady and a prig. Evelyn sounds like she 14 years old. The background music is insipid and maudlin overly sentimental at times. LOSE the music! The sound effects are also stupid. The moaning and groaning of the Mummy, the sounds when Amelia and Emerson are kissing, a couple of the other characters when in pain or moaning sound like they're constipated. The desert wind and water sounds on the boat make it sound like they are in storm somewhere. The whooshing sound between scenes is awful as is the echo chamber effects every time Amelia has an inner dialog with herself. I have been a fan of these books since the 1990's and have listened to the audio versions, both by Barbara Rosenblatt and Susan O'Malley, on cassette tape, CDs and now through Audible. I have listened to them too many times to count and was looking forward to a new version of the story. I was sorely disappointed. Wasted a credit on this and had to listen to most of it in order to write this review when I was ready to give up after less than 45 minutes into the story.

Weak

I was curious to see what different narration would sound like. I'm a fan of Barbara Rosenblatt. This dramatization is not for me. I don't think the voice actors brought this to life and I don't think the background sounds added anything to it. I wasn't able to finish listening and I returned it.