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megancmahon's review
adventurous
funny
tense
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
4.0
I love Vicky. After reading so many female characters growing up who “didn’t know they were beautiful” until they were told so by a male protagonist (and had zero personality to boot), Vicky Bliss is so refreshing. “Yes, I’m beautiful, and it’s a damn nuisance.”
She’s got fire and fight and she’s prickly and genuinely flawed, as well as funny. John is her perfect foil. I love these books.
She’s got fire and fight and she’s prickly and genuinely flawed, as well as funny. John is her perfect foil. I love these books.
racheljoy7's review
4.0
I am really enjoying this series.
Vicky Bliss is a delight as the main character and the growing relationship between her and her rake, John, keeps the story interesting and unexpected at times.
Vicky Bliss is a delight as the main character and the growing relationship between her and her rake, John, keeps the story interesting and unexpected at times.
jessalynn_librarian's review against another edition
3.0
Another fun installment in the Vicky Bliss series. They're silly, and they poke fun at themselves, and the mystery is never anything all that complex. In this one, Vicky visits the land of her ancestors (Sweden) and gets involved in an inept and illegal archeological dig, and (of course) has another run-in with the elusive John.
inger70's review against another edition
1.0
Blech. Vicky Bliss is no Amelia Peabody, and this book wasn't much of a who-dunnit as a how-to-escape-those-who-dunnit.
anovelreader's review against another edition
4.0
For general thoughts on the Vicky Bliss series, please see my review of [b:Street of the Five Moons|41055|Street of the Five Moons (Vicky Bliss, #2)|Elizabeth Peters|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1297727852l/41055._SY75_.jpg|40635].
Like the others in this series, I've read this about a million times despite it being one of the more forgettable books. In Silhouette in Scarlet, Vicky travels to a foreign land (Sweden) to investigate a mystery involving art/antiquities. John is again involved. She finds herself isolated at the estate of a wealthy native right in the thick of the plot and surrounded by bad guys. John and Vicky become unlikely allies and plan their escape. Sound familiar? That's because it's basically the plot of its predecessor SotFM with some details changed.
I'd say skip this one (again until you decide you're a die-hard fan and need every possible interaction between John and Vicky possible), but elements of this book are referenced in later installments, so it is useful to breeze through. And breeze through you can because SiS (and SotFM) are relatively short, limiting their meatiness. Another reviewer mentioned that there were length limitations on these types of books in this era, which explains a lot.
Here are a few excerpts that demonstrate Vicky's humor:
And one on the romance -- spoilerish.
Like the others in this series, I've read this about a million times despite it being one of the more forgettable books. In Silhouette in Scarlet, Vicky travels to a foreign land (Sweden) to investigate a mystery involving art/antiquities. John is again involved. She finds herself isolated at the estate of a wealthy native right in the thick of the plot and surrounded by bad guys. John and Vicky become unlikely allies and plan their escape. Sound familiar? That's because it's basically the plot of its predecessor SotFM with some details changed.
I'd say skip this one (again until you decide you're a die-hard fan and need every possible interaction between John and Vicky possible), but elements of this book are referenced in later installments, so it is useful to breeze through. And breeze through you can because SiS (and SotFM) are relatively short, limiting their meatiness. Another reviewer mentioned that there were length limitations on these types of books in this era, which explains a lot.
Here are a few excerpts that demonstrate Vicky's humor:
"No matter; Max has a soft spot for you. And he has the typical middle-aged European male tendency to underestimate women.” “You can eliminate two of those adjectives,” I said.
Most heroines (in which category I account myself, of course) pick up handsome, dashing heroes as they pass through their varied adventures. I seemed to be building up a collection of critical grandpas.
“I object to murder. It’s just a silly girlish prejudice."
And one on the romance -- spoilerish.
I had always known John for what he was—a corrupt, unscrupulous man with the morals of a tomcat—and I’m not referring to the cat’s sexual habits, but to its incurable tendency to put its own interests ahead of everyone else’s. I didn’t love that man; I didn’t even like him. The one I loved was the guy with the perverse sense of humor and the peculiar brand of courage and the occasional streak of quixotry and the clever, twisty mind. But that man was part of the other, buried so deep it was hard to be certain he existed.
cmbohn's review against another edition
4.0
This one was a lot of fun. For some reason, I just can't get into the other series by Elizabeth Peters, but I love Vicky Bliss!
plantbirdwoman's review against another edition
3.0
This was a quick read because (1.) it's a pretty short book, and (2.) I got interested and just couldn't put it down.
Vicky Bliss really is an immensely attractive character. She's fun and rather full of herself. She spends an inordinate amount of time revealing her measurements and discussing her appeal to the opposite sex. She never entertains doubts about her judgments of others or of the situation, and she is always prepared to act when action is required.
Then there is her susceptibility to the charms of "Sir John Smythe," a smooth-talking charlatan and art thief. Or is he? What is he, exactly? Is he really as without scruple as he and Vicky would have us believe? Or is he the hero of dauntless courage who saves the day, and the heroine, at the end of this adventure? Well, perhaps we'll find out in the next book.
Meantime, this time Dr. Vicky Bliss is lured to Sweden by a message from John Smythe. This is the home of her ancestors, and once there she is contacted by a "cousin," Gus Johnson, and makes her way to his compound in the country where he lives a secluded life. And who should turn up there but the indomitable John Smythe, pretending to be another cousin. He is shortly followed, as he often is, by a gang of bad guys who are looking to dig up the farm in search of medieval buried treasure.
The plot moves along at a merry pace, in typical Peters fashion, with Vicky and John banding together once again to solve a mystery and solve the problem of how to escape from the clutches of the bad guys. This is a fun read, not at all to be taken seriously, just delicious brain candy, but a little candy is not necessarily a bad thing.
Vicky Bliss really is an immensely attractive character. She's fun and rather full of herself. She spends an inordinate amount of time revealing her measurements and discussing her appeal to the opposite sex. She never entertains doubts about her judgments of others or of the situation, and she is always prepared to act when action is required.
Then there is her susceptibility to the charms of "Sir John Smythe," a smooth-talking charlatan and art thief. Or is he? What is he, exactly? Is he really as without scruple as he and Vicky would have us believe? Or is he the hero of dauntless courage who saves the day, and the heroine, at the end of this adventure? Well, perhaps we'll find out in the next book.
Meantime, this time Dr. Vicky Bliss is lured to Sweden by a message from John Smythe. This is the home of her ancestors, and once there she is contacted by a "cousin," Gus Johnson, and makes her way to his compound in the country where he lives a secluded life. And who should turn up there but the indomitable John Smythe, pretending to be another cousin. He is shortly followed, as he often is, by a gang of bad guys who are looking to dig up the farm in search of medieval buried treasure.
The plot moves along at a merry pace, in typical Peters fashion, with Vicky and John banding together once again to solve a mystery and solve the problem of how to escape from the clutches of the bad guys. This is a fun read, not at all to be taken seriously, just delicious brain candy, but a little candy is not necessarily a bad thing.
ssejig's review against another edition
4.0
One of my favorite heroines is back again. Vicky Bliss is on the case once again as she's searching for a lost cache of Scandinavian treasure. One perfect rose (not, alas, a limousine for either she or Dorothy Parker) sends her off on a trip to the land of her ancestors. A trip where she encounters a lost love, a bad guy who does silhouettes, and an extended stay on a millionaire's island.
Another great story and very enjoyable as an audiobook, not as good when I reread as a physical copy. Rosenblat makes the angst fun but it was a little overwrought in the written word.
Another great story and very enjoyable as an audiobook, not as good when I reread as a physical copy. Rosenblat makes the angst fun but it was a little overwrought in the written word.