Rating: 
Summary: Shallow Characters Hold Back An Intriguing Tale
Review: "Borrower Of The Night" is the first book by Elizabeth Peters that I've read. It was my understanding that Ms. Peters books have been quite popular, so I expected an entertaining and fast-paced story. Happily, that is exactly what I got. The story finds university historian Vicki Bliss and her colleague, Tony, trying to track down a lost piece of German art, the last work of a master wood carver who died in the 16th century. Most of the story takes place in a medieval castle in a small German town, complete with a mysterious late-night spectre, secret passageways, and a bloody history reaching clear back to the time when the missing carving was created.There is a nice amount of authentic history worked in to this tale, and the narrative is easy to read and flows along at a satisfying pace. The main drawback is the rather shallow main characters. This story, along with being a mystery, has a romantic aspect. Unfortunately, and the boy/girl relationships were juvenile. For supposed university scholars, the dialogue between Vicki and Tony sounds like something you might hear at a junior high school. Nor can Vicki resist making childish, catty observatiions about Irma, the scion of the noble family that owns the castle. Despite the childishness of the relationships in this book, it was, overall, fun to read. The mystery, with its historical aspect, was intriguing and held my interest. Overall, this is an amusing, light story and I recommend it on that basis. I will probably be reading more of Ms. Peters' tales in the future. On the other hand, if you're looking for more depth (adult dialogue and mature relationships), you will want to look elsewhere.
Rating: 
Summary: Heroines don't have to be petite or helpless.
Review: And Vicky Bliss isn't either. This was my first Elizabeth Peters book, and I've read it over and over. It's set in Rothenburg ob der Tauber, Germany, and centers on a lost altar carved by Tilman Riemenschneider, one of Germany's greatest sculptors. Having been to Rothenburg and seen a couple of Riemenschneider's altars, I knew Peters had her facts down, something that's important to me. This novel has interesting, quirky characters, it's fast-paced, and has humor. I've recommended to friends, but I never loan out my copy, which I picked up as a library discard back in the 70s. It's priceless!
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Summary: Elizabeth Peter's Strikes Again!
Review: Borrower of the Night by Elizabeth Peters exemplifies what a good mystery novel should be. It is witty, intelligent, and highly captivating. I looked for this book last year when it was still out of print and was unable to find it in any bookstore, so I checked it out of the library. Although I had already read it, when Borrower of the Night was re-published I had to buy it so I could read it again and again, it is so good! For fans who have already read later books in the Vicky Bliss series, go back and read this book, it is one of the best in the series. You will notice minor discrepancies between Vicky's habits in this book as compared to the later ones; for instance she is an avid smoker in Borrower of the Night, and in Night Train to Memphis, she can't even inhale a cigarette. Also, some character names are re-used for different people who have no relation to one another. However, these do not detract from the overall quality of the book. Borrower of the Night finds Vicky in a small German town competing with her lover Tony to find a renowned artists' lost shrine. They encounter seemingly supernatural adversaries in the 16th century castle that has been converted to a hotel. There are several smaller mysteries that must be solved before Vicky can even begin to decipher the mystery of the shrine. Odd characters, secret passages, and ancient mysteries riddle this novel as ultimately, Vicky must struggle for her life beneath the crumbled ruins of an ancient building. This book is a must read for all mystery lovers!
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Summary: 1st Vicki Bliss Mystery but not 1st John Tregarth mystery
Review: Fans of the Vicki Bliss series should check out The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters. It features John Tregarth in his pre-Vicki days.
Rating:
Summary: 1st Vicki Bliss Mystery but not 1st John Tregarth mystery
Review: Fans of the Vicki Bliss series should check out The Camelot Caper by Elizabeth Peters. It features John Tregarth in his pre-Vicki days.
Rating:
Summary: A favorite of this Elizabeth Peters fan.
Review: First off, I am an Elizabeth Peters fan, and have been since I read the first book of hers to show up in my local library "The Seventh Sinner". I've read all of her books, both under the Peters name and those she has written as Barbara Michaels. The Peters books are all imbued with a certain lighthearted charm. The characters are all slightly larger than life, vivid and distinctive. The heroine of Borrower of the Night, Vicky Bliss, is one of my favorite recurring characters. She can actually make this shortish, stout brunette feel a bit of sympathy for the trials of a tall gorgeous blond. A small bit, but still.. The story is a playful reworking of the gothic, complete with an ancient castle (well, ancient in American terms), a dainty damsel in distress, gallant men, and even an hint of witchcraft. But what sets the Peters books apart is here in full measure - intelligent plotting, realist reactions of the characters, and introduction of history and art in such a pleasant way that one learns more than one is aware. In fact, one of the later Vicki Bliss books, "Trojan Gold" inspired my college paper on the famous founder of that golden trove, since lost. This isn't all fluff, there are some ponderings on medieval "law and order" that hit home. But EP has built a loyal following because she entertains, and "Borrower" is one of her best. 'Course, I like all of her books. I reread them, and EP has expanded my list of the many places to which I would like to travel. "Borrower" is a wonderful starting place, if you are a poor deprived reader that hasn't read an EP book before. For an addict like me, it's a loverly fix.
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Summary: Terrific, one of my new favorite books.
Review: Having run out of new Amelia Peabody mysteries to read, I decided to try some others by Elizabeth Peters. This book is the first in the Vicky Bliss series. It is quite as much fun as Peters' other novels, and it contains quite as much adventure / mystery / history et al. When Vicky and Tony travel to Schloss Drachenstein in Germany, searching for a lost work of art by the sculptor Riemenschneider, they become embroiled in the past and the lives of the Drachensteins, those long-gone, and those still alive-and-well. (Historical facts blended with fictional are a specialty of Peters'. Her novels are educational as well as entertaining!) As each determines to be the first to find the lost shrine, they encounter all sorts of dangers. There is as much humor as there is suspense and romance, making this one terrific book!
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Summary: What a blast!
Review: I am in love with the "Vicki Bliss" character. If you loved the Janet Evanovich "One for the Money" series you will have a great time with these books. I purchase the book and the audio book for those stories I love for my husband. The Audio for the Borrower of the Night is not as good as those read by Katheryn Turner. Turner reads "Trojan Gold" and "Last Train to Memphis" and has you in fits of laughter with her accents and on the edge of your seat during the suspenseful parts. I can't say enough good things about this series. They just get better as the characters become more developed. I wish Ms. Peter's would write another book in this series!
Rating:
Summary: What a blast!
Review: I am in love with the "Vicki Bliss" character. If you loved the Janet Evanovich "One for the Money" series you will have a great time with these books. I purchase the book and the audio book for those stories I love for my husband. The Audio for the Borrower of the Night is not as good as those read by Katheryn Turner. Turner reads "Trojan Gold" and "Last Train to Memphis" and has you in fits of laughter with her accents and on the edge of your seat during the suspenseful parts. I can't say enough good things about this series. They just get better as the characters become more developed. I wish Ms. Peter's would write another book in this series!
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Summary: She's tough
Review: I am just getting around to reading the Vicky Bliss series, and this one is pretty good, although I like Vicky better in later books. She is way too self deprecating and prickly, as most of Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels heroines (and heroes) are. The plot is not her best either, but the history you learn keeps you glued, which is why I read these. Our intro to Herr Dr. Schmidt is very funny and not to be missed.
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