Saturday, August 24, 2013

Absolute Vicky Bliss!

by Anna Campbell

On the 9th August, I saw the sad news that Elizabeth Peters had passed away at the age of 85 at her home in Maryland. Her Amelia Peabody books have become a real favorite in the last few years and now I'm addicted to the Vicky Bliss books. This review was originally scheduled for next month, but I've put it up today as a tribute to a marvelous writer who has provided me with many hours of wonderful entertainment.  She will be missed.

As many of you know, I've long (well, the last few years - nobody has ever accused me of being au courant, as they say in the best Regencies!) been a huge fan of Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody books, featuring a headstrong and managing Victorian woman and her curmudgeonly but lovable husband Emerson, as well as assorted eccentric (and in the case of Ramses, their son, extremely sexy!) family and friends. But until very recently, I hadn't ventured further into EP territory.

Enter my lovely critique partner Annie West who lent me the first two Vicky Bliss mysteries.

Vicky Bliss is a unique character. She's gorgeous - I keep thinking of bosomy blonde Anita Ekberg from LA DOLCE VITA. In case you don't know her, that's a picture on the right. You can see what I mean about blonde and bosomy! But Vicky also has a brain like a steel trap.

Naturally, her film star/call girl looks get in the way of the respect people pay her brain, both to her advantage and not. In her career as an art historian, she wants to be taken seriously, but the dumb blonde act really helps when she's out solving mysteries (yes, this is another mystery/romance series - I seem to be addicted to them at the moment).

In these earlier books in the series, the casual sexism that Vicky encounters was probably funnier when the stories were written starting in the 70s, but there's still enough sexism around (more than enough, sadly!) for the jokes to retain their point. The books are written in first person and Vicky's voice is great - smart and snarky.

There's a link between the Peabody and Bliss series - a kind of sly joke about academic practice. Vicky Bliss is credited as the editor of the Amelia Peabody papers from which the earlier stories supposedly come.

The first book is fun - one of the great things about all the Elizabeth Peters books is their wonderful acerbic humor, sometimes tumbling over into uproarious slapstick. BORROWER OF THE NIGHT was released in 1973 and introduces Vicky who at this stage is a penniless history lecturer looking for something to keep her in the lifestyle to which she'd like to become accustomed. When she stumbles across a clue to the whereabouts of a priceless 15th century German shrine, she sets out in search of the discovery that she believes will make her reputation.

Unfortunately, assorted bad guys have also twigged to the shrine's possible whereabouts, so a host of potential villains descend upon Rothenburg in Germany. Not to mention the family who originally owned/stole the shrine want to get in on the act too to restore their sadly decayed fortunes. Mayhem and hijinks ensue (actually I could basically just write this review as "Vicky Bliss books - mayhem and hijinks ensue"!). Be prepared for skullduggery, ghosts, false identities, danger, suspense, laughs, silliness, romantic intrigue. Pretty much the whole kit and kaboodle. A quick and entertaining read that makes a great introduction to the series. And you'll learn a bit about German medieval/renaissance history in a painless fashion.

Then we come to book 2, STREET OF THE FIVE MOONS (1978). This one's a completely different kettle of fish. The world is still fun and mysterious and dangerous. But there's the added zing of sexual tension when Vicky's quest to uncover a gang of brilliant jewelry forgers places her in the path of charming but nefarious thief Sir John Smythe.

Sir John is a breed of hero I adore (think Raffles or the Scarlet Pimpernel, if the SP was purloining the jewelry belonging to the people he rescues from the guillotine). Aristocratic. Witty. Outwardy uncaring and selfish, but concealing the heart of a hero, much as he wishes he doesn't. On a personal note, Sir Richard Harmsworth from my next release A RAKE'S MIDNIGHT KISS is of this ilk! Love a hero in spite of himself!

Vicky is pretty smart-mouthed in her sassy American way and Sir John is bitingly witty in that brittle English upper-class way. You'll find yourself laughing when you read their prickly exchanges, even though it's perfectly clear to the (romance) reader that these two are made for each other. But how can a rising academic hitch her wagon to a conman/drifter/criminal? No matter how gorgeous he is! Sigh.

The third book SILHOUETTE IN SCARLET (1983) places Vicky in the land of her ancestors, Sweden, and on the trail of a priceless Viking treasure. Speaking of which, don't you just love the cover of this one? Valkyrie Vicky in very Viking pose (and that sentence was brought to you by the letter 'V').

As you've probably gathered by now, various bad guys are also on the hunt, including her sneaky and cheeky lover Sir John. There's the usual great mixture of adventure and laughs and romance and again, some nice info about Viking history. A spoonful of sugar makes the history go down in the most delightful way!  

I'm really looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. Hurry up, Annie, and send them to me! If you like beautifully rendered exotic settings, brilliant humor, a nice bit of romance and a clever and resourceful heroine, not to mention an intriguing mystery, I highly recommend these.

So do you enjoy romantic mysteries? Any favorites? Do you like books where the romantic subplot continues over several stories without being resolved in the actual story? I really love the exotic settings of these. Has any exotic setting in a book ever prompted you to travel somewhere?

37 comments:

  1. Hi everyone! I'm away from home and having a few computer problems. I'll be back home tomorrow when I'm looking forward to seeing and responding to your comments!

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  2. I love romantic mysteries and Elizabeth Peters books have been a favourite of mine since I began reading them in the 1970's. I love how she combines a crime, with memorable characters, adventure and wit. The exotic settings of Egypt are another plus in my eyes. Another lady whose books I thoroughly enjoy (more along the lines of romantic cozies) is Dorothy Cannell with her Ellie Haskell books. There are a few which are so funny I could fall off my chair laughing. Ms Cannell is another great writer who incorporates quirky characters into her stories. The first Ellie Haskell story was called The Thin Woman. The subsequent books continue with her 'romantic' life as a running subplot. And yes I love those types of stories. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this post about the Vicki Bliss books of which I must read more! Thanks Anna .

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    1. SE, thank you so much for the recommendation for the EH books. I've never heard of them before but they sound like fun - love that title! What a great description of the appeal of the EP books. Actually aomething that often surprises me about them too is the emotional depth she can achieve amongst all the mayhem. Ramses's love affair is really quite deeply affecting.

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  3. Happy Birthday, Anna! Thanks for another terrific Second Helping review. I'm on the road but will try to drop in when I reach my destination. Hopefully, I'll have internet!

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    1. Oh, PJ, so wishing you were on the road to me! I'd love to celebrate my birthday with you! We had a lovely seafood lunch by the beach yesterday - you would have fitted right in!

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  4. I have seen your posts before about Elizabeth Peters' Amelia books and I have never read one. I have certainly got to rectify that and find them and read them. The Bliss books sound good, too. Thanks for your blog today, Anna, and Happy Birthday!!!!

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    1. Deb, thanks for the birthday wishes! I had a great day - and it was perfect weather too which was a bonus. Lots of photos coming up for my Facebook page! Give Amelia a go - I think you'd like her!

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  5. I hold a special place in my heart for two mystery/romance series - the Nell Sweeney series by P.B Ryan and the Ariana Franklin series about Adelia, a female forensic expert first introduced in Mistress of the Art of Death. I was quite sad when Ms. Franklin died because it was the loss of a lovely storyteller. I also have enjoyed her writing as Diana Norman. I certainly have read other series of this sort so upon reflection, yes I do like series with building romances and great mysteries combined. A hallmark of this sort of series, at least for me, is that they include competent, intelligent women as main characters - I like that!
    As for settings, be they historical or unusual places, anything works for me if the author is skilled at bringing that setting alive. The only place I have been prompted to travel by an outside influence was to Greece by an outstanding history teacher - and I did love it!

    Thank you for your contributions here. I frequently discover new to me authors and I always enjoy your writing.

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    1. Mary Beth, what a lovely thing to say. I'm so glad you enjoy the reviews. Thank you. I really enjoy having the chance to share books I love with you all - thanks, Dishies, for giving me the chance!

      The Nell Sweeney books have been on my radar for a while - I'm pretty sure that P.B. Ryan is Patricia Ryan the historical romance author and I always enjoyed her books. Is that right? How fantastic you went to Greece! I've never been there although it's on my list. I think my general yen to see the world was inspired by my reading.

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  6. Happy Birthday, Anna! I hope you are having a glorious day.

    I've read Elizabeth Peters's Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss mysteries. I've even read her four Jacqueline Kirby (a librarian) mysteries. If you haven't read these, you should. The third one, Die for Love is set at the annual Historical Romance Writers of the World convention in New York City, and the Queen of Romance is the target for murder. It is laugh-out-loud funny, although the lampooning in this and book 4, Naked Once more may ruffle some feathers.

    You know I love the mysteries of Margaret Maron and Julia Spencer-Fleming. I'm also a fan of Nancy Atherton's Aunt Dimity series, which is up to eighteen books now. Aunt Dimity, by the way, is a ghost who communicates by writing in a journal; the series also features a special pink-flannel bunny named Reginald. The first two books in the series, both of which have great romances, are among my all-time favorite mysteries.

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    1. Janga, I'm going to look up Nancy Atherton right now!

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    2. Janga, thanks for the recommendations! As you know, you've introduced me to some of my fave books ever (and my friends too - I pass on the word about the good stuff!). I'm going to order a Nancy Atherton as soon as I get home. They sound like fun! Who can resist a pink bunny called Reginald? Thanks for the birthday wishes. Had a great day!

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    3. Janga, just ordered Aunt Dimity's Death! Looking forward to reading it! Thanks for the recommendation.

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  7. Anna, thank you for the wonderful column in honor of the great Elizabeth Peters. I just rediscovered the Amelia Peabody mysteries a few months ago - had read one or two in university, got sidetracked, and then returned this summer when I saw a sale of the first few books on Kindle. I am now a devotee of the Emerson family and glomming my way through them. It's so great to know that I'll have the Vicky Bliss mysteries to look forward to when I say adieu to the Emersons. And, yes. I love romantic mysteries, including Deanna Raybourn's, the Jane Austen mysteries, and some others that are escaping me at the moment. But it's such fun to have the mystery and suspense elements with a dash of romance. It's like all my favorite things in the same book!

    Happy birthday, lady!

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    1. Vanessa, thanks for the birthday wishes! You must come over to celebrate my 30th next year, snerk! Hey, cool that you're an EP devotee. I read the first one ages ago and while I liked it, didn't pursue the series. Then I re-read it for a review here ad I've been mad for them ever since. You mention the Jane Austen mysteries - I really like Carrie Bebris's Jane Austen continuations. They've got great titles and characters. I agree that mystery and romance together are like chocolate ice cream with chocolate topping!

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    2. Great! We can celebrate my 29th birthday at the same time!

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    3. Vanessa, you don't look a day over 27! ;-)

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  8. Hey, just saw the birthday wishes! Thanks, girls! I had a great day and I've got the pictures to prove it (oh, dear, my friends are taking up blackmail in a big way, send cash!). So nice to be 29 - again!

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  9. Happy Birthday!!! I do enjoy romantic mysteries but I prefer them to be resolved in one book. It's just that there is so much I want to read and keeping up with series is hard sometimes. I actually checked and see I have two of her books but I've not read them yet. (finding them in my many book piles (sometimes 3 deep) is going to be difficult lol).And I love different settings and would travel everywhere if I could!

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    1. Catslady, I hear you on series! I must say when it comes to romance, I tend to like the ones that wrap up in three or four books. But with mysteries, I find if it's a great set of characters, I'll keep reading. Laughing at you finding treasures in your TBR pile that you didn't know were there - I know the feeling! Happy travels!

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  11. I'm actually looking for recommendations, so if you have any, please let me know :D

    Also, happy belated birthday!! :D

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    1. Antonia, if you search this blog on second helping or anna campbell, you'll find all my reviews. I always talk about books I love here so I'd highly recommend all of them. I'm always here on the 24th of the month (even Christmas Eve!). Thanks for the birthday wishes!

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  12. Hi Anna, lovely to see you blogging here as always. Happy Birthday wishes to you!
    I'm so sorry about the passing of Elizabeth Peters earlier this month. I know from your posts here that she was a special author for you. Every time you mentioned her I swore I would add her to my TBR list; now I am even more commented to that goal.

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    1. Flora, thanks for the birthday wishes! I was so sad about Elizabeth Peters passing away - although she'd clearly had a good life and she was a good age. No more new books for me! Hope you enjoy them!

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  13. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANNA!!! I hope your day is wonderful. :)

    Thanks for another terrific Second Helping! I've not read these books, but your post makes me wish I read faster so I could. Ha!

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    1. Andrea, thanks for the birthday wishes. I had such a great day! Oh, isn't it so difficult when you keep hearing about fabulous books you want to read and you've only got so many hours in a day - and you know, some of those hours you have to spend NOT reading!

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  14. A fellow book reader introduced me to Elizabeth Peters in High School. Love both Amelia and Vicky. Just re-read Vicky's books earlier this summer.

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    1. Hey, Anonymous, thanks for swinging by. So glad you're another fan. Actually I would have loved these books in high school. Somehow she went under my radar until fairly recently!

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  15. Anna, happy birthday! I was sorry hear Barbara Mertz had died. I enjoyed the Vicki Bliss, Amelia Peabody, and Jacqueline Kirby series. One of the JK books had to do with Richard III, and I won a signed copy at an RIII Society meeting. Mertz was a member of the Society for a time.

    I do like romantic mysteries and don't mind a multi-book relationship arc. Besides Eve and Roarke, there are Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, Inspector Lynley and Lady Helen Clyde, GBI Agent Will Trent and Dr. Sara Linton, and, of course, Brooklyn Wainwright and Derek Stone, to name just a few. Some of those edge into thrillers, maybe, but they all involve mysteries.

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    1. Nancy, I haven't broached the JK books yet - I must. There's some gothic romance under another name too, apparently, that I need to check out. As you know, I love me a good gothic romance.

      Oh, I adore Peter and Harriet. That's such a heart-wrenching romance. You can see both their points of view so clearly - I'd hate to marry someone I was obliged to be so grateful to all the time too! Glad she saw the light in the end!

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  16. Happy Birthday, Anna. Hope you had a wonderful day and have a great new year.

    I have had several of Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody books on my TBR shelf forever. I think I have been delaying starting the series because there are so many books. I have heard good things about the series and know once I start it I will want to work my way through the whole thing as soon as I can.

    I was not aware of her Vicky Bliss series. This series sounds like something I will really enjoy. Humor is important to me in the books I read. She sounds like a smart, tenacious broad who will go after what she wants. The books reflect the time period in which they are set. Rather than being dated, I think they are old enough to be considered "period pieces." The travel around the world is a big bonus for me. I love the variety the different locales give to the story.

    The Clare Fergusson/Russ VanAlstyne series by Julia Spencer-Fleming and Deanna Raybourn's Lady Julia Grey series are good mysteries as well as series where the relationship between the couple develops over the course of the series. Both have strong, capable, independent women whose hero compliments them.

    Lots of books have made me want to travel to where they are set. I love to travel. I am most inspired to go to the Highlands of Scotland and to Ireland with Australia and New Zealand a close second (mainly because they are so far away). Since seeing the Moonspinners, I've wanted to go to Greece.

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    1. HiPat! Thanks for the birthday wishes. Had a fabulous day eating and drinking far too much!

      One of the pluses of the VB books is that the series isn't as long, although that could also be counted as a minus. With the AP books, I read a few in a row and then take a break and then come back to them. Due for another foray into the series as we speak!

      Oh, those Julia SF books are the bee's knees, aren't they? I've spread the word about them far and wide and nobody's ever come back to say they didn't like them. I love LJG too - Nicholas Brisbane is a great hero.

      Hope you get to all those places. I've never been to Greece although it's definitely on my list.

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    2. I especially like the Julia SF books because they are set where I grew up. Born and raised in Plattsburgh, then later, stationed at Plattsburgh AFB where she was born. She has perfectly captured the life and personality of the area and people. It is like going home, only more is happening.

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    3. Pat, it sounds like it's a BRRRRR cold place in the winter. Still remember the heroine stuck in the snow in the first book. I could feel the ice!

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  17. Anna, so glad you're enjoying the Vicky B books. Aren't they wonderful? It seemed far recompense to introduce you to them since you shared Julia S-F with me!

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    1. Annie, thank you so much for putting me onto Vicky Bliss. They're such fun reads and the romance is wonderful. I'm still completely stoked that you're such a Julia S-F fan. She's fantastic!

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