Status
Available
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Series
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Collection
Publication
HarperCollins
Description
Fiction. Mystery. What did it mean? The note with the hieroglyphs was found in the pocket of a man lying dead in an alley. The only other item of interest on him was a piece of jewellery, a reproduction of the Charlemagne talisman, but so well done that Vicky Bliss thought she was being shown the real thing. The gold work had been done by a master craftsman; the stones were of top quality synthetic...Vicky didn't know what it meant yet, but ion the sundrenched streets and moonlit courtyards of Rome, she was going to find out -- if the dangerously exciting Englishman didn't get in her way!.
User reviews
LibraryThing member ewalrath
I love Elizabeth Peters but I cannot, will not, read a book where the heroine is knocked out and when she comes to, unknown villains are discussing raping her. And then, when a handsome, but ethically challenged man rescues her, she then doesn't tell the police, doesn't tell her boss, doesn't leave
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the country she GOES BACK TO THE CRIMINALS' HIDEOUT. I can't read a book with a heroine that stupid. Show Less
LibraryThing member Katissima
Technically, this is the second installment in the Vicky Bliss series (Borrower of the Night being the first). I don't think Borrower of the Night is nearly as good as its sequels (which is really quite unusual). Besides, it isn't until Street of the Five Moons that the real reason we all love
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Vicky Bliss so much is introduced (and no I am not talking about Caesar the dog!) The handsome ENGLISH ART THIEF (Sir) John Smythe. Notice the emphasis on English and art thief. Either of the two by themselves would be fine but the two together? Perfection! Vicky and John's eternal bickering and their constant state of getting into mischief and then having to rescue each other--this is why we love Vicky Bliss novels and clamor for more! Show Less
LibraryThing member RoC
My favourite Vicky Bliss book, with much bonkers mills and boon style romance between Vicky and John, who while not exactly a master criminal in the mode of other Elizabeth Peters books (the whole Amelia Peabody series - and by the way, could we have a few less of those - now she'd a grandmother
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and we're up to something like 20, I've sort of lost interest. Write more about your other heroines, or invent some new ones!) - as I was saying, while John isn't an evil master criminal, he's fine and sexy and rather makes me want to go and find my own raffles-style jewel thief to run about with. Show Less
LibraryThing member Heptonj
This is the second 'Vicky Bliss' novel I have read with another one to go. I can't make up my mind if I like this series or not. The books are a quick, light read and entertaining in a way but like the first one, this one seems to lack something - I thought it might get a bit deeper.
Intrigue in
Intrigue in
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Italy beginning with a near-perfect copy of a famous piece of jewellery being found on a dead man and a host of unlikely and unsavoury characters make this book flow easily. The addition of a 'gentleman' thief into the heroines' life is a nice touch. Show Less
LibraryThing member Nextian
Now this is more like it. The second installment in the Vicky Bliss series is a very enjoyable read and is quite worthy of belonging to the same universe as the Peabody series. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series now.
LibraryThing member lisaschensted
in a sentence or two: Vicky Bliss is hot on the trail of a gang of artistic forgeries in Rome. her sly detective work (insert sarcasm here) leads her to be kidnapped, beat up, be whisked away to an Italian mansion, and attacked by garden statues while on the case of the remarkably accurate
having read and loved the first Vicky Bliss mystery, Borrower of the Night, i knew i was in for a treat. Vicky is smart, witty, snarky, and all around awesome. while working for Herr Schmidt at Munich's National Museum, some suspicious activities take place. like an unidentified man carrying what seems to be a priceless and ancient gold pendant sewn into his jacket. always ready for an adventure, Vicky is off to Rome to try and discover what she can - based on a little scrap of paper found at the scene containing a quasi-clue.
due to school and other commitments (work, laundry, etc.), i didn't get a chance to read this as quickly as i would have liked. i feel like the Vicky Bliss mysteries are best read as uninterrupted as possible. that being said, i still really dug this. Vicky's discoveries are well balanced with the humor, sarcasm, and wit that sets these novels apart from other mysteries i've read. you don't know who to suspect, or why, and quite frankly - neither does Vicky. mainly it's a hodge podge of suspicions and clues leading up to the dramatic "ah-ha" moments. i don't mean that in a demeaning way at all - in fact, i absolutely love that method of suspense. plus, with a new love interest, John Smythe, i was totally sucked in.
i am wary to compare books to other books, because i feel like they are written to be judged on their own merit. however, if i had to, i'd say that i preferred Borrower of the Night to this one. only because that had a gothic/creepy ghost feel whereas this was more focused on the Italian mansion/secret gang of art thieves feel. both solid mysteries were kept exciting with suspense and the fantastic voice of Vicky.
fave quote: "I am by nature an optimistic person. But during those minutes in the mud and the dark, alone with a man who was quietly bleeding to death on my lap, with a mob of murderous brutes scouring the fields to find us...I was depressed." (271)
fix er up: i didn't want it to end. seriously. when i finally got the couple hours free i needed to sit and plow through this, i just couldn't get enough! good thing there are more mysteries for Vicky Bliss to solve...
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forgeries being sold to museums.having read and loved the first Vicky Bliss mystery, Borrower of the Night, i knew i was in for a treat. Vicky is smart, witty, snarky, and all around awesome. while working for Herr Schmidt at Munich's National Museum, some suspicious activities take place. like an unidentified man carrying what seems to be a priceless and ancient gold pendant sewn into his jacket. always ready for an adventure, Vicky is off to Rome to try and discover what she can - based on a little scrap of paper found at the scene containing a quasi-clue.
due to school and other commitments (work, laundry, etc.), i didn't get a chance to read this as quickly as i would have liked. i feel like the Vicky Bliss mysteries are best read as uninterrupted as possible. that being said, i still really dug this. Vicky's discoveries are well balanced with the humor, sarcasm, and wit that sets these novels apart from other mysteries i've read. you don't know who to suspect, or why, and quite frankly - neither does Vicky. mainly it's a hodge podge of suspicions and clues leading up to the dramatic "ah-ha" moments. i don't mean that in a demeaning way at all - in fact, i absolutely love that method of suspense. plus, with a new love interest, John Smythe, i was totally sucked in.
i am wary to compare books to other books, because i feel like they are written to be judged on their own merit. however, if i had to, i'd say that i preferred Borrower of the Night to this one. only because that had a gothic/creepy ghost feel whereas this was more focused on the Italian mansion/secret gang of art thieves feel. both solid mysteries were kept exciting with suspense and the fantastic voice of Vicky.
fave quote: "I am by nature an optimistic person. But during those minutes in the mud and the dark, alone with a man who was quietly bleeding to death on my lap, with a mob of murderous brutes scouring the fields to find us...I was depressed." (271)
fix er up: i didn't want it to end. seriously. when i finally got the couple hours free i needed to sit and plow through this, i just couldn't get enough! good thing there are more mysteries for Vicky Bliss to solve...
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LibraryThing member tjsjohanna
There's a new love interest for Vickie Bliss in this second installment in the series - the lovable rogue, John "Smythe". Vickie is trying to track down a jewelry forger and charges straight ahead without any thought of danger. The characters are funny and appealing and the story ticks right along.
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A good quick read. Show Less
LibraryThing member LARA335
Light-hearted frothy mystery with wise-cracking Vicky Bliss detecting an art fraud in Italy.
LibraryThing member susanamper
In this entry, maybe the second (1978) Vicky Bliss is off to Rome to find a gang of jewel forgers. John Smythe is introduced here and the story moves along at a good clip. Vicky gets kidnapped; John saves her; Vicky gets kidnapped; John gets kidnapped--the switch on the switch as to the identity of
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the evildoer. The Rome settings are nice to read about. Show Less
LibraryThing member JenJ.
Listened to the Recorded Books cassette edition. John Smythe makes a much better foil for Vicky than the guys in the previous outing. I gather he shows up throughout the rest of the series to which I give a yay! Still comes across a little dated but lots of fun anyway.
LibraryThing member Aelianna
A quick and fun read.
LibraryThing member Jean_Sexton
The second book in the Vicky Bliss series, this story just keeps moving. I can't help but like Vicky and John Smythe is a welcome foil for her. Rollicking fun!
LibraryThing member EmpressReece
I really liked this one. The first book seemed like it dragged on and on at the beginning. This book was written much better. You can tell Peters is improving. I really love the characters in this series and the humor and action. Looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
LibraryThing member PattyLee
A bit disappointing after the first in the series. I will hang on and see if ti was simply an aberration.
LibraryThing member themulhern
Afte the prequel and the first book in this series, I wasn't expecting the second to be as good as it turned out to be. Kathleen Turner's narration really suited the book.
Original publication date
1978
Local notes
Vicky Bliss, 2
DDC/MDS
| Fic Mystery PetersEz |