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jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
I always felt like Elizabeth Peters was cheating with this one - taking Vicky Bliss to Egypt, the same location as the Amelia Peabody series. Of course, this leads to plenty of insider references to Amelia & Co., dramatic settings (and escapes), the required injuries to long-suffering John, and the usual madcap adventures and art-related crimes. Fun and entertaining, like the rest of the series. No need to read them in order - she always catches you up.
eirenophile's review against another edition
4.0
Even though I thoroughly enjoyed it and will want to read it again, the fact that I read it late at night in about 4 hours means that my ability to judge its quality is not quite on. It was, however, a fun read all around. This may get upgraded.
anovelreader's review against another edition
5.0
My guilty pleasure and ultimately my favorite in the Vicky Bliss series.
michelleful's review against another edition
5.0
The apotheosis of this series, I think. Great plot, great tension between the characters. Loved it.
lisaebetz's review against another edition
4.0
I love Elizabeth Peters's sense of humor. This book serves it up in spades.
I usually read the Amelia Peabody series rather than the contemporary Vick Bliss, but this was a great book, too.
Not only was it a fun mystery, but it was set in Egypt, so I enjoyed the subtle mentions of the Emerson's exploits that crop up as the heroine visits various sites. Pure fun.
I usually read the Amelia Peabody series rather than the contemporary Vick Bliss, but this was a great book, too.
Not only was it a fun mystery, but it was set in Egypt, so I enjoyed the subtle mentions of the Emerson's exploits that crop up as the heroine visits various sites. Pure fun.
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fun read from beginning to end, with just the right mix of romance, mystery, and suspense as only Elizabeth Peters does it.
Dr. Vicky Bliss of Munich is persuaded by some mysterious security types to head down to Egypt and take an all-expense paid cruise on the Nile. Her mission will be to identify an evildoer - or perhaps evildoers - who may be planning to make away with priceless Egyptian antiquaties. Upon arriving on board the boat she will be traveling on, she discovers that three of the other passengers are her lover John, his mother, and his new bride! At once, the reader suspects that all is not as it seems, although Vicky appears to accept the new state of affairs at face value.
The cruise seems fairly lighthearted until a young man dies rather mysteriously and then another man, a newly appointed official in the business of overseeing Egyptian antiquaties, is murdered, supposedly by a bomb. Then strange things start happening on the boat and the cruise is interrupted. Where will it all lead? Meantime, the only "evildoer" Vicky has been able to identify is John!
This was the fifth in the Vicky Bliss series and I think it is my favorite of the lot. I had recently read number 6 out of order, so I have now completed this series unless Peters decides to add another installment. I have enjoyed the adventures of the intrepid trio Vicky, John and Schmidt, and in this entry a fourth "musketeer" was added - Feisal, John's old Egyptian buddy from Oxford days. Feisal returned in the sixth book. Now, having read this one, I have a greater appreciation of his character.
Will the "Fearless Foursome's" adventures continue in yet another book? One can only hope.
Dr. Vicky Bliss of Munich is persuaded by some mysterious security types to head down to Egypt and take an all-expense paid cruise on the Nile. Her mission will be to identify an evildoer - or perhaps evildoers - who may be planning to make away with priceless Egyptian antiquaties. Upon arriving on board the boat she will be traveling on, she discovers that three of the other passengers are her lover John, his mother, and his new bride! At once, the reader suspects that all is not as it seems, although Vicky appears to accept the new state of affairs at face value.
The cruise seems fairly lighthearted until a young man dies rather mysteriously and then another man, a newly appointed official in the business of overseeing Egyptian antiquaties, is murdered, supposedly by a bomb. Then strange things start happening on the boat and the cruise is interrupted. Where will it all lead? Meantime, the only "evildoer" Vicky has been able to identify is John!
This was the fifth in the Vicky Bliss series and I think it is my favorite of the lot. I had recently read number 6 out of order, so I have now completed this series unless Peters decides to add another installment. I have enjoyed the adventures of the intrepid trio Vicky, John and Schmidt, and in this entry a fourth "musketeer" was added - Feisal, John's old Egyptian buddy from Oxford days. Feisal returned in the sixth book. Now, having read this one, I have a greater appreciation of his character.
Will the "Fearless Foursome's" adventures continue in yet another book? One can only hope.
ssejig's review against another edition
4.0
A tip has been given to the authorities that some valuable items are going to be stolen from Egypt. And that Vicky Bliss somehow knows the culprit. So she's strong-armed into joining a luxury tour as a guest lecturer even though ancient Egypt is nowhere near her area of expertise. But to make matters a living nightmare, she's confronted with the man she loves... married to another woman.
So now, she's dealing with claustrophobia, mayhem, jealousy... and maybe even murder.
Barbara Rosenblat is, as always, amazing and this series continues to delight.
So now, she's dealing with claustrophobia, mayhem, jealousy... and maybe even murder.
Barbara Rosenblat is, as always, amazing and this series continues to delight.
catsbah's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. I have been a fan of the Amelia Peabody series for a long time, but never really got into the Vicky Bliss ones in the same way. This is by far my favourite from the series, however I think you need to read the first ones to understand the characters and nuances of the book. Very fun.
pussreboots's review against another edition
4.0
Night Train to Memphis, the fifth Vicky Bliss mystery by Elizabeth Peters was actually the first one I read. When we were moving to Daly City from South Pasadena we got the audio version and listened to it up and down the I5. Having so enjoyed listening to the mystery, I went back and found copies of the previous four which I read through over the next couple of years.
Night Train the Memphis finds Vicky Bliss outside her comfort zone and plopped into the middle of Amelia Peabody Emerson's hunting grounds: Egypt. Yes, the two series exist in the same universe, just separated by a number of decades. Interestingly, Barbara Michaels (another pen name for the author) also exists and is publishing books; Vicky mentions being a fan.
Vicky is sent on a cruise as a lecturer to help the Munich police figure out who among the guests are planning to rob the Cairo Museum. What she isn't expecting is to find her old lover (and well known art thief). Worse of all, he's newly married!
The book has its moments of humor especially when Vicky is trying to feign interest in a subject she's supposed to an expert in when she's bored to tears. Lie the other Vicky Bliss novels, it's much shorter than the newer Amelia Peabody mysteries. Peters books are best when they are short and tightly edited.
On re-visiting the story with better knowledge of John (her thieving lover) I found his actions and motivation especially in the marriage out of character for him. His now obviously odd behavior distracted me from my earlier complete enjoyment of the mystery.
Nonetheless, I am still eager to read the recently released sixth novel Laughter of Dead Kings.
The entire list of books in the series is:
1. Borrower of the Night (1973)
2. Street of Five Moons (1978)
3. Silhouette in Scarlet (1983)
4. Trojan Gold (1987)
5. Night Train to Memphis (1994)
6. Laughter of Dead Kings (2008) (I really want to read this one!)
Night Train the Memphis finds Vicky Bliss outside her comfort zone and plopped into the middle of Amelia Peabody Emerson's hunting grounds: Egypt. Yes, the two series exist in the same universe, just separated by a number of decades. Interestingly, Barbara Michaels (another pen name for the author) also exists and is publishing books; Vicky mentions being a fan.
Vicky is sent on a cruise as a lecturer to help the Munich police figure out who among the guests are planning to rob the Cairo Museum. What she isn't expecting is to find her old lover (and well known art thief). Worse of all, he's newly married!
The book has its moments of humor especially when Vicky is trying to feign interest in a subject she's supposed to an expert in when she's bored to tears. Lie the other Vicky Bliss novels, it's much shorter than the newer Amelia Peabody mysteries. Peters books are best when they are short and tightly edited.
On re-visiting the story with better knowledge of John (her thieving lover) I found his actions and motivation especially in the marriage out of character for him. His now obviously odd behavior distracted me from my earlier complete enjoyment of the mystery.
Nonetheless, I am still eager to read the recently released sixth novel Laughter of Dead Kings.
The entire list of books in the series is:
1. Borrower of the Night (1973)
2. Street of Five Moons (1978)
3. Silhouette in Scarlet (1983)
4. Trojan Gold (1987)
5. Night Train to Memphis (1994)
6. Laughter of Dead Kings (2008) (I really want to read this one!)