Egyptologist and prolific author Barbara Mertz died on Thursday at the age of 85. If her name doesn’t sound familiar to you, it didn’t to me, perhaps the other names she wrote under will. As Barbara Michaels she wrote dozens of mystery stories. As Elizabeth Peters she created the character of Amelia Peabody, an Egyptologist and Victorian-era amateur detective. She also wrote works of history under her own name.
Her agent of 35 years wrote that Barbara was “a skilled novelist with an acute sense of character and humor.” He says that he will miss her as I am sure her fans will too.