Rating: 
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable light mystery
Review: If this is the same book as the one published by Elizabeth Peters back in 1973 with the title 'Borrower of the Night', it's an entertaining book with a strong female character.
Rating:
Summary: Vicky Bliss -- much more fun than Amelia Peabody
Review: Lovely blonde heroine. Tall dark hero. Moldering castle. Hidden secrets. Lost art treasure. Leave it to Elizabeth Peters to take all the elements of a trashy Gothic novel and turn them into a comic romp instead. *Borrower of the Night*, written in 1973, introduces readers to Vicky Bliss, who -- like Jacqueline Kirby and Amelia Peabody -- finds her way into several Peters' mysteries. Vicky is bright, very bright. And stacked, very stacked. The combination of brains and breasts have made her determined never to marry, despite the constant proposals of fellow academic Tony Lawrence. Tony decides that Vicky needs for him to prove his intellectual superiority, so he challenges her to treasure hunt. The pair ends up in Germany searching the tombs and passages of Schloss Drachenstein. But when accidents start occurring, Vicky and Tony realize that they're not the only ones hunting for treasure -- and that their unknown rival considers murder just another step in the search.
No one mixes history, comedy, and mystery with the same deft touch as Elizabeth Peters. And although *Borrower of the Night* isn't as good as the Vicky Bliss mysteries in which she matches wits with John Smythe (*Street of Five Moons* is the first), it's still terrific fun. Tony turns up again in *Trojan Gold* (the best of the Bliss books), and *Borrower of the Night* also introduces Herr Schmidt, who becomes Vicky's boss and sometimes sidekick.
Rating: 
Summary: A good introduction to a wonderful series
Review: This book begins the series introducing us to one of Elizabeth Peters lesser known heroines, Vicky Bliss. Although many readers will be familiar with her more popular Amelia Peabody series, Vicky has a style and wit that makes it will worth your time to immerse yourself in her life. Set in present day Europe, the Borrower of the Night introduces us to Vicky as she leaves her midwestern college, and begins a quest to locate a carving by a master craftsman that has been lost for centuries. Following the clues turned up in an old manuscript, she, and other of her colleagues, descend on a small German town. Here of course is where the murder and chaos begin. Elizabeth Peters is always excellent at providing readers with historical background and information, without making it seem like you accidentally stepped into History 101 and her characters and plots are amusing, engaging and believable. Vicky is just self conscious enough that we believe that she really does hate being tall, blond, and curvy. The one thing she never apologizes for though, is her intelligence, although sometimes her arrogance can lead her into trouble. Borrower of the Night is a well plotted, light hearted mystery set in a nicely detailed quaint German town. Vicky and her cast of supporting characters, many of whom make appearances in subsequent books, are fun, engaging, and leave the reader wanting to spend more time in their often absurd world. A highly enjoyable work by the always talented Elizabeth Peters.
Rating:
Summary: Vicky is no Amelia
Review: This book was enjoyable - compared to many other authors, it was excellent, but compared to Peters's other works, it is merely good. I've been hooked on the Amelia Peabody series for years, and in my opinion this isn't quite as good as those books. The characters aren't as well developed, and the plot didn't grip me - I didn't feel the usual urgency to find out what would happen right away. However, it's still a fun adventure and full of the wit I've come to expect from Peters. I would recommend this to anyone who knows and loves Elizabeth Peters, but newbies should start with Crocodile on the Sandbank or another of Amelia's exploits.
Rating:
Summary: A great introduction into women detectives
Review: This is a great first book into the Elizabeth Peters lineup. If Amelia Peabody Emerson is not quite your speed, Vicky Bliss is sure to please. She is a strong heroine with an attitude that states "How did I allow myself to get into this mess?" Although this isn't my first introduction to Elizabeth Peter's work, it's one of the most enjoyable. I collect Elizabeth Peter's books, and this was my first purchase. Even my eleven year old daughter likes this book. As my daughter says,"Vicky is a woman I'd like to be...as long as I figure out who and where before the bad guy gets me."
Rating:
Summary: The first Vicky Bliss mystery
Review: This is a reprint of a novel copyrighted in 1973. While it may not be the best
book of the series, it should be read first as it establishes the characters.
The story finds university historical researcher Vicky Bliss in competition
with fellow faculty member, Tony Whats-his-name, to find a lost
carving. The novel is written in a semi-narrative fashion, and it
takes a while for the narrator to be introduced by name.
The novel becomes a whodunit as the various characters search
Schloss Drachenstein seeking the lost carving. Various secrets become
revealed as the plot moves towards a climax. Different people have their
own agendas, and a little detective work reveals both the location of the
carving and the real story of its disappearance. Justice had its own way
of prevailing both in the past and the present.
The novel is worth reading, although it seemed to drag a bit at some points
with excessive descriptions of the passing scenery.
Rating:
Summary: The first Vicky Bliss mystery
Review: This is a reprint of a novel copyrighted in 1973. While it may not be the best
book of the series, it should be read first as it establishes the characters.
The story finds university historical researcher Vicky Bliss in competition
with fellow faculty member, Tony Whats-his-name, to find a lost
carving. The novel is written in a semi-narrative fashion, and it
takes a while for the narrator to be introduced by name.
The novel becomes a whodunit as the various characters search
Schloss Drachenstein seeking the lost carving. Various secrets become
revealed as the plot moves towards a climax. Different people have their
own agendas, and a little detective work reveals both the location of the
carving and the real story of its disappearance. Justice had its own way
of prevailing both in the past and the present.
The novel is worth reading, although it seemed to drag a bit at some points
with excessive descriptions of the passing scenery.
Rating:
Summary: --Mystery, Intrigue and Art History--
Review: This is the first story in the Vicky Bliss mystery series and although, it's not absolutely necessary to read the stories in chronological order, it really does help to understand the background of the main characters and frankly, it makes reading the books even more enjoyable. In BORROWER OF THE NIGHT, Vicky Bliss, art historian and college professor finds a reference in a book that might lead to the discovery of a missing masterpiece by Tilman Riemenschneider, a very famous German sculptor. Tony, Vicky's boyfriend and colleague, challenges her to see which of them can locate the missing treasure first. Their information leads them to visit Rothenberg, Germany, and an ancient castle. Several other people are also on the trail of the missing treasure, including Herr Dr. Schmidt and a wealthy American named George. Gorgeous Vicky is in her glory when she collects many admirers among the group, but the beautiful young countess who lives in the castle seems to have captured the interest of Tony. What can be more sinister than an old castle with secret passages and a history of evil inhabitants? I listened to the audiotapes of this book read by Barbara Rosenblat. It was helpful to hear the pronunciations of the German words and her narration was wonderful. If you're intrigued enough to want to read this series in order, here they are: BORROWER OF THE NIGHT, STREET OF THE FIVE MOONS, SILHOUETTE IN SCARLET, TROJAN GOLD and NIGHT TRAIN TO MEMPHIS. These are all excellent stories and I only wish that Elizabeth Peters would write more of them.
Rating:
Summary: The first 'Vicky Bliss' mystery
Review: This is the introductory book of the Vicky Bliss series. Dr Bliss is an art historian teaching in a small midwestern college. She has decided never to marry since she has discovered that the only thing that intimidates most men more than a tall woman is a smart tall woman and Vicky is both. Another member of the faculty, Tony, is also tall and smart and quite taken with Vicky. The two stumble across a reference to a long missing art work and are soon off to Germany to track it down, in competition with each other. They find that they are not the only ones seeking this piece. The trail leads to a castle turned hotel complete with a ghost, secret passages and damsel in distress. This book was written in 1973 and does show its age a bit. If you are looking for the mysterious John Smythe of the later books he does not appear here but we do get the first appearance of Schmidt. While she is not as captivating a Amelia Peabody, Vicky is charming in her own way. The series makes for an enjoyable, light hearted read.
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