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holl3640's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.0
veldhoenv's review against another edition
4.0
A great mystery that was much more action-packed and interesting than the first one in this series. However, I don't think I could classify it as "amazing" so no 5/5.
allisoncc's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
hatterxerxes's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
danielmbensen's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this one better than Trojan Gold, perhaps because the focus is tighter. Each scene collapses excitingly into the next, ratcheting up tension, but never becoming tense. There's an art counterfeiting ring, a very big dog, beautiful people making love to each other (off screen), and mechanical gargoyles. I enjoyed the ride.
megancmahon's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Another winner from Victoria Bliss. I think Peters is at her absolute best when she’s writing master thieves who have yet to be reformed - my favourite characters of hers definitely include Sethos and the ineffable John Smythe.
eserafina42's review against another edition
4.0
11/20 - Perfect pandemic escapist reading. I adore Caesar, the mistreated dog on whom Vicky takes pity and whose grateful adoration ends up getting her in hot water more than once, and whom she ends up adopting at the end. And Sir John Smythe in his first appearance (it's hard to count The Camelot Caper, in which he barely seems to be the same person as he is in this series). The spark - and the snark - between those two is something to behold.
Spoiler
I've probably noticed before, but a big plot hole that stuck out for me this time is the fact that Luigi is such an amazing forger that his work is practically undetectable but he seems to only be in his early 20s at the most - Vicky actually refers to him as a teenager at one point, but I assume she's taking liberties there, comparing him to a spoiled American teenager. Hard to believe that he would have acquired that kind of skill at such a young age, and each piece surely would have taken months, at least, to create, yet they have apparently done several.heyheyhailey1's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I was so excited to read this given that I studied Art History and have spent some time in Rome. However the fact that this was written in the 70’s really smacks you across the face given the misogyny and repeated fat-phobic comments throughout. For example, in the same sentence as explaining that a character has been murdered Peters takes the time to describe them as “a little too plump”.
That in addition to the too drawn out clue gathering and cheesey banter between love interests unfortunately outweighed my interest in the mystery and location. Will not be back for more Vicky Bliss.
That in addition to the too drawn out clue gathering and cheesey banter between love interests unfortunately outweighed my interest in the mystery and location. Will not be back for more Vicky Bliss.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Misogyny, Fatphobia, Murder, Kidnapping, and Body shaming
Moderate: Violence, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Alcoholism