Women in Roles Traditionally Occupied by Men

The story is set in the late 1890's or early 1900's, although the exact dates are never mentioned. Women of this period were not allowed or expected to be involved in archaeology or any of the "manly" sciences. The heroine and narrator of this novel is a woman who actively flaunts these beliefs and is an accomplished archaeologist partner of her husband, accompanying him to dangerous wildernesses and situations.

Amelila is resourceful, using her intelligence, her parasol, and her assertiveness to track down clues, rush to her husband's defense and set up midnight meetings with murder suspects in her search for the truth. She is clearly disdainful of other women, finding few of them worthy of her friendship or even conversation. At the beginning of the novel, Amelia is bored to tears at the idea of putting on a tea party for...