Reviews

Night Train to Memphis by Elizabeth Peters

sjgochenour's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

o Lord, I stayed up until 2 am finishing this audiobook!

The emotional arc between Vicky and John is resolved so satisfyingly it makes one almost cross-eyed with enjoyment.

The way that the colonial past and present of Egypt is dealt with wasn't too bad for 1994, but probably should be reconsidered in the current day. Faisal is a great character, but I think he's the only really well-rounded Egyptian person on the page; every other Egyptian is a bit part or a caricature in a book mostly populated by white Americans, British, and European tourists.

mizwhatsit's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

this is one of those books that I read every time I need to feel better. it always does the trick.

lyndann's review against another edition

Go to review page

4.0

My fave Vicky Bliss so far!! 3.75

nedge's review against another edition

Go to review page

adventurous mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Too romantic for my tastes

jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition

Go to review page

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

Go to review page

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

Go to review page

5.0

My guilty pleasure and ultimately my favorite in the Vicky Bliss series.

michelleful's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

The apotheosis of this series, I think. Great plot, great tension between the characters. Loved it.

lisaebetz's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

plantbirdwoman's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.