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thyhandbelinda's review against another edition
3.0
3.75 stars. What a delightful mystery! I’ve been craving a good “academic/art heist” mystery, and oho how this fit the bill. The vernacular was quite posh and roundabout, however considering this is about academia and published in the 70’s, it is unsurprising.
jessmcall's review against another edition
3.0
Not as good as the Amelia Peabody series--which one one of my favorite series ever--but I'll give this series another book.
krisrid's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up because I adore Elizabeth Peter's other series about the Emerson family, and the character of Vicky Bliss sounded different, but still interesting enough for me to give her a try.
I enjoyed the book. Vicky, an American is just as spunky and unorthodox as Amelia but in a completely different flavour. Her rivalry with Tony, although certainly entertaining, doesn't have quite the same level of amusement and snap as the one between Amelia and Emerson.
Still, the story was fun, and the shenanigans that go on in the German manse where everyone is frantically, and in some cases murderously searching for a priceless piece of religious art are worth reading.
I will probably give another Vicky Bliss story a try, although Amelia and Emerson are still my favourites!!
I enjoyed the book. Vicky, an American is just as spunky and unorthodox as Amelia but in a completely different flavour. Her rivalry with Tony, although certainly entertaining, doesn't have quite the same level of amusement and snap as the one between Amelia and Emerson.
Still, the story was fun, and the shenanigans that go on in the German manse where everyone is frantically, and in some cases murderously searching for a priceless piece of religious art are worth reading.
I will probably give another Vicky Bliss story a try, although Amelia and Emerson are still my favourites!!
danico's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
writerlibrarian's review against another edition
2.0
Written in 1973, this is Peters' first novel in her Vicki Bliss series. I've been told that it isn't really representative of the whole series but still it was an enjoyable romp in an German medieval castle hunting for a lost treasure with ghost, villains and death waiting at the bottom of a forgotten cellar. There are some things, mainly Vicki's hear me roar I'm a tall, strong woman, that kinda got on my nerves a little but I'm reading the next one soon. Very different. This is not Amelia not by a long shot and it's a good thing.
summermsmith's review against another edition
3.0
Book One of the Vicky Bliss Series.
Vicky is a tall, brilliant and beautiful. Her and Tony, both scholars set off on an adventure to find a shrine carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, who is appartently Germany's greatest master of the late Gothic. Someone else is trying to get to the shrine at the same time. And trying to kill Vicky to keep her away.
This is a pretty good start to a new series for me by Elizabeth Peters. There is still something more enduring in the Amelia Peabody series, but I am excited to see where the rest of the series leads.
Vicky is a tall, brilliant and beautiful. Her and Tony, both scholars set off on an adventure to find a shrine carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, who is appartently Germany's greatest master of the late Gothic. Someone else is trying to get to the shrine at the same time. And trying to kill Vicky to keep her away.
This is a pretty good start to a new series for me by Elizabeth Peters. There is still something more enduring in the Amelia Peabody series, but I am excited to see where the rest of the series leads.
dgrachel's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0