Meet art historian Vicky Bliss, She is as beautiful as she is brainy--with unassailable courage, insatiable curiosity, and an expertise in lost mus...
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Oct 23, 2008
Angie
rated it: 
I've been hearing about Elizabeth Peters' Vicky Bliss and Amelia Peabody books for quite awhile now and for some reason just haven't found my way to reading any of them until now. I noticed these re-issues of the Vicky Bliss series and decided to pick up the first one and see.
Vicky is an art historian with a delightful sense of humor and a certain dry acceptance of her statuesque stature and tendency to intimidate those around her. When we first meet Vicky, she is teaching at a coll More...
Vicky is an art historian with a delightful sense of humor and a certain dry acceptance of her statuesque stature and tendency to intimidate those around her. When we first meet Vicky, she is teaching at a coll More...
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Jun 25, 2010
Lady
rated it: 
I love Elizabeth Peters! I love Amelia Peabody Emerson (and company), and I really like the Vicky Bliss mysteries, too. I recently realized that although I've read both series numerous times, I had never actually read the very first Vicky Bliss (mainly I think since it does not feature Smythe...). So I went back and read it. Honestly, this is the worst novel Elizabeth Peters has written. Compared to many others in the genre it isn't bad, but I can't say that it was outstanding.
Vicky More...
Vicky More...
Sep 29, 2011
Emily
rated it: 
The Vicky Bliss series by Elizabeth Peters (aka Barbara Mertz) will never be as good in my opinion as the Amelia Peabody Series, but it is my second favorite. This first books stands to introduce us to Vicky Bliss, historian and art lover, who is a strong, independent female who despite being a tall, leggy, curvy blond cares more about her brains than her looks and wishes others would too. This first installation provides a good mystery both in the present day and a historical mystery that requi
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Feb 15, 2009
Rachel
rated it:
Vicky Bliss decided at a young age that she would not ever get married. Her tall height and high IQ was what kept boys away when she was ten years old. However, now men seem to be determined to change her mind. Vicky must battle with her coworker Tony who is determined to prove himself her intellectual superior in order to dominate over her and make her his wife. They compete to find the long lost Riemenschneider shrine in Rothenburg, Germany. Vicky soon discovers that she has more people to com
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Sep 07, 2010
Kaye
rated it:
After finishing the Amelia Peabody series decided to give the same authors' Vicky Bliss series a try. Vicky is a current day expert on medieval art and history. She is tall, blonde and bright. She uncovers a clue to a missing historical shrine that sends her on a summer hunt to a castle in Rothenburg, Germany. I have been to the area and enjoyed the descriptions. Also Peters historical information and art history is spot on. As a mystery it is clean, has engaging characters but is slightly
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Jul 05, 2008
Shannon
rated it: 
It was hard for me to get into this at first but as soon as I did I couldn't put it down. Apparently it is a series so here I go. I am going to have to keep reading:)
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Oct 14, 2010
Bonnie
rated it:
I hear the library keeps Elizabeth Peters' books under lock and key so I had to read one to see what the fuss was all about. I'm not head over heals in love with sleuth, Vicky Bliss, certainly not comparable to the girl crush I had on Nancy Drew and Linda Craig (she had a palomino horse I soooo coveted) when I was in my formative years, but nonetheless I might just be at the infatuation stage, and could possibly move into an "in a relationship" facebook status with this art historian,
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May 08, 2009
Terri
rated it:
I love the Amelia Peabody series and so I thought I'd give another series by Elizabeth Peters a try.
This book was very similar to the Peabody ones. You might even say that the books are a bit formulaic. But within that formula Elizabeth Peters manages to surprise me every time. I love the strong female character who is so confident and sure of herself and yet is sometimes dead wrong. I like the sense of humor her female characters possess. Vicky (or Amelia) are never wrong for long an More...
This book was very similar to the Peabody ones. You might even say that the books are a bit formulaic. But within that formula Elizabeth Peters manages to surprise me every time. I love the strong female character who is so confident and sure of herself and yet is sometimes dead wrong. I like the sense of humor her female characters possess. Vicky (or Amelia) are never wrong for long an More...
Aug 09, 2011
Lisa Kay
rated it:
★★★½✩ Well narrated by Susan O'Malley, this audiobook by Ms. Peters is a nice little ghost story set in an old German castle with secret passageways, that eventually leads to a séance, then a treasure hunt. I liked the (brilliant) Vicky Bliss and her lover, Tony, well enough; I enjoyed their trying to “one-up” each other in their challenge, and that their sparing never turned mean-spirited. But, I’ll be honest and say I liked Amelia Peabody in her series more. What am I saying? I loved More...
Sep 14, 2011
Scarlett
rated it:
2 1/2 stars
Originally posted on my blog here.
After getting hooked into the FRIGGIN' AMAZING world of Amelia Peabody I had high hopes for this series also by Elizabeth Peters. I shouldn't have gotten so excited.
After the hilarious dry humor and wit of Amelia, Vicky was too light and modern, not enough substance to her as a character or to the story line as a whole. I've heard that the series gets better as time goes on (as in a better guy shows up...hey, romant More...
Originally posted on my blog here.
After getting hooked into the FRIGGIN' AMAZING world of Amelia Peabody I had high hopes for this series also by Elizabeth Peters. I shouldn't have gotten so excited.
After the hilarious dry humor and wit of Amelia, Vicky was too light and modern, not enough substance to her as a character or to the story line as a whole. I've heard that the series gets better as time goes on (as in a better guy shows up...hey, romant More...
Feb 01, 2012
Sam
rated it:
This is the first book in the 5 book Vivki Bliss Series. I've wanted to tryout Elizebeth Peters for some time, without getting drawn into her longer running series, and this seems like a nice start. Vicki is a history instructor at a small Midwestern college, with a passion in art history and a professional rivally with a fellow colleague and suitoir Tony.
Whlie reviewing books for his editor Vicki and Tony come acorss some text that put them on a competing path for a long lost shrine More...
Whlie reviewing books for his editor Vicki and Tony come acorss some text that put them on a competing path for a long lost shrine More...
Jun 03, 2011
in a sentence or two: Vicky Bliss is hot on the trail for what she hopes to be the missing Riemenschneider art piece. unfortunately, finding it in the seemingly haunted gothic castle might not be as easy as it seems...
Vicky is described in the opening chapters as quite the hottie. though, she does not consider this to be an asset in her life. she's tall, big (in the right places), blonde and blue-eyed. she's envious of those little sharp-featured dark haired lovelies in the world, bu More...
Vicky is described in the opening chapters as quite the hottie. though, she does not consider this to be an asset in her life. she's tall, big (in the right places), blonde and blue-eyed. she's envious of those little sharp-featured dark haired lovelies in the world, bu More...
Sep 08, 2008
Angela
rated it:
In preparation to read the shiny new The Laughter of Dead Kings from Elizabeth Peters, I re-read the original Vicky Bliss today, Borrower of the Night.
This is the book that introduces Vicky as well as Schmidt, her longstanding boss. However, it's also the odd duck out from the rest of the series, since there's no sign yet of Vicky's future love interest, the infamous John. It's the most dated of the books as well--though this isn't a surprise, given that this installment first came o More...
This is the book that introduces Vicky as well as Schmidt, her longstanding boss. However, it's also the odd duck out from the rest of the series, since there's no sign yet of Vicky's future love interest, the infamous John. It's the most dated of the books as well--though this isn't a surprise, given that this installment first came o More...
Sep 08, 2008
Jess
rated it:
Vicky Bliss has always been my favorite Elizabeth Peters heroine - maybe because there aren't so many books about her that you lose track of them. It's been ages since I read any EP, but I heard there's a new Vicky Bliss out so I decided it was the perfect time to reread the series.
This was about what I remembered - lashings of humor, and engaging narrator who isn't afraid to poke fun at herself and pretends to be humble, an array of possible villains, an art history mystery, and More...
This was about what I remembered - lashings of humor, and engaging narrator who isn't afraid to poke fun at herself and pretends to be humble, an array of possible villains, an art history mystery, and More...
Mar 17, 2008
Laurel
rated it:
Book on tape, narrated by Barbara Rosenblat.
Enjoyable, but I didn't like it as well as The Camelot Caper.
Book Description from Amazon.com
Meet art historian Vicky Bliss, She is as beautiful as she is brainy--with unassailable courage, insatiable curiosity, and an expertise in lost museum treasures that often leads her into the most dangerous of situations.
A missing masterwork in wood, the last creation of a master carver who died in the violent tumult of More...
Enjoyable, but I didn't like it as well as The Camelot Caper.
Book Description from Amazon.com
Meet art historian Vicky Bliss, She is as beautiful as she is brainy--with unassailable courage, insatiable curiosity, and an expertise in lost museum treasures that often leads her into the most dangerous of situations.
A missing masterwork in wood, the last creation of a master carver who died in the violent tumult of More...
Nov 13, 2009
Ana T.
rated it:
I've heard so much about this Vicky Bliss series that when I finally had the chance to pick it up I was almost afraid that my expectations would be too high and I would be disappointed. I'm happy to say that I wasn't. It was a fun, cosy, gothic read, just the kind you pick up when you need a comfort read. The book has very funny quotes as it is written in the first person and Vicky has the kind of self deprecating humour that appeals to me.
Vicky Bliss is an Art Historian; when the st More...
Vicky Bliss is an Art Historian; when the st More...
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Sep 03, 2009
Kimberly
rated it:
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one. It was written in the 70s, so it's faintly historical (the scholars write up their papers on typewriters, and the descriptions of fashions are, well...you can guess). I mostly read deliberately historical mysteries so this was a nice change. I enjoyed the protagonist, Vicky Bliss (what a name!), who narrates in first person and is one of Elizabeth Peters' strong-willed heroines. It seems she might be slightly autobiographical as well.
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Jan 10, 2009
Trin
rated it:
This was a fairly unremarkable mystery/thriller with supernatural trappings. I found Vicky's assertions of toughness and her triumph over the (not just shown to be, but frequently referred to as) male chauvinists fighting with and against her to find an ancient Germanic treasure to be rather self-conscious; the tone of the whole book, actually, is like that. I'm told the series gets much better with the next book, so I will give it a shot, but this volume really didn't do much for me.
Nov 13, 2009
Dorothy
rated it:
Vicky Bliss is no Amelia Peabody, but she shows some promise. She is a historian from a small midwestern school, friends with a colleague named Tony, both of whom have an interest in art of the Middle Ages. When they come upon a clue regarding a possible work by a 16th century German master, they are off on the hunt, seeking their treasure.
The hunt takes them to Germany and involves them with some rather unsavory people and gets them into some tight situations in very dark places b More...
The hunt takes them to Germany and involves them with some rather unsavory people and gets them into some tight situations in very dark places b More...
Oct 18, 2011
Vanessa
rated it:
This book was interesting...I found the main characters to be arrogant and hard to like. When they decided to visit Germany in search of the lost shrine, I thought the story dragged. However, the ending was exciting and turned out well for all involved.
I much prefer the Amelia Peabody series that Elizabeth Peters writes, but I've read a few reviews of the Vicky Bliss series and it seems that the next books in the series are better than this one. I may have to see if they're righ
I much prefer the Amelia Peabody series that Elizabeth Peters writes, but I've read a few reviews of the Vicky Bliss series and it seems that the next books in the series are better than this one. I may have to see if they're righ
Nov 06, 2011
Tracy
rated it:
For some reason I resisted the Vicky Bliss books while devouring the author's Amelia Peabody series. Fortunately I ran across an audiobook version and found it was narrated by one of my favorite readers, Barbara Rosenblatt (from the Dianne Mott Davidson Goldy Bear-Schulz series).
Yep. I like it. I haven't solved the mystery before time yet (this is my second Vicky Bliss novel). The main character is a 'modern woman' and doesn't take herself too seriously.
Yep. I like it. I haven't solved the mystery before time yet (this is my second Vicky Bliss novel). The main character is a 'modern woman' and doesn't take herself too seriously.
Jun 27, 2011
Nicole
rated it:
Vicky Bliss is a very similar character to Amelia Peabody, highly educated, strong, ready to confront situations and people and in favor of a good argument when she can find a mind her equal. Bliss is an art historian specializing in medieval European works while Peabody is an archeologist specializing in Egyptian history and their dynastic pyramid cultures. Bliss however is a modern woman with less to curtail her activities than Peabody as a Victorian woman.
Jul 16, 2011
Fiona
rated it:
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
To view it, click here
Mar 11, 2011
Warnie B.
rated it:
Ah, the introduction of the beautiful, intelligent Vicky Bliss and the adorable, frustrating, bumbling, demented Santa Claus, Schmidt (although he's really not around all that much in this first book)! This is definitely my least favorite in the series (well, maybe second least favorite now that there's a sixth book, which I like to pretend doesn't exist), but even so, I've read it numerous times, and never really get tired of it.
Jun 01, 2011
Christine
rated it:
This was fun, and the mystery was interesting, but the writing is really mediocre. However, this was first published in 1973, and Elizabeth Peters has improved her writing a great deal over the years. Worth reading because it's the first of a series (Vicky Bliss) that I assume gets better with time. This first book doesn't hold a candle to the Amelia Peabody series.
Jul 29, 2011
All but one character in this whole novel is incredibly annoying--but the details of German artifacts and such appear to be accurate (or least not inaccurate enough to rankle me--which is a low bar, admittedly :-) It takes forever for there to be any violence whatsoever, but it was acceptable--I would not seek out another in the series, however.
Feb 02, 2011
I love it when authors do what I call "self-reference." In this book the heroine says, "I'm going to... write a book about Riemenschneider, and also a best-selling historical novel based on the Drachenstein story.... The plot has everything--murder, witchcraft, blood, adultery.....I'll make a fortune. Of course I'll publish it under a pseudonym so the scholarly reputation I intend to build in the next five years won't be imparied."
Oct 23, 2010
Becca
rated it:
Good pulpy but interesting mysteries are the Vicky bliss novels. I think this one was written in the 60s and peters is still occasionally writing them. The lead character is outspoken, clumsy, brilliant And six feet tall so obviously I could not resist. Plus it's about the art/museum world so I really could not resist. Funny too!
Nov 08, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
It's a toss up as to who gets more sly nods in Peters' Borrower - Monk Lewis or Mrs. Radcliffe. Certainly she shamelessly steals from both to adorn what's basically a lightweight mystery, the first in the Vicky Bliss series, and one of the few instances in literature where the initial book is weaker than the sequels.
