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.
Having had this book on my to read shelf to read shelf for some time I was quite pleased when I decided to pull it out and proceed.What a mistake; it is dull and uninteresting from first page to last. The storyline is so poor that I struggled to come to terms with it (perhaps that says more about me than about the book) and although there are passages of good descriptive writing they do not add up to making the book a good, and understandable, read.Vicky Bliss is a boring character, her co-conspirators and opponents are no better, and what the heck she is doing in chasing around Stockholm and remote islands is beyond me. I am therefore afraid I am unable to comment on the tale because I am not sure of its purpose.It was far from a blissful experience and one that I do not think I will be repeating despite Elizabeth Peters' good reputation for great entertainment.
Do You like book Silhouette In Scarlet (2000)?
Dr. Vicky Bliss takes off to Sweden to meet John Smythe and gets dragged into his latest scheme to get a Swedish recluse to let him dig for buried medieval treasures. Of course he is betrayed by his co-conspirators and with the help of Vicky must try and save the day and their own lives. With Vicky there are history and art lessons but the location on a Swedish Island made the book a little less compelling as were the villainous characters. You know too early who the bad guys are it is just a matter of how to outwit and outlast them.
—Kaye
The trouble with having been in love with a daring jewel thief is that you're easily set up as if to reacquaint yourself with him and instead find yourself in the hands of brigands. Ever happen to you? Well you probably aren't a voluptuous blond so beautiful that you can't get people to take your impressive academic credentials seriously, are you? Vicky Bliss, to our good fortune, is all those things, including, in this volume in an outstanding pickle, which may have put her in need of saving, things are looking so bad. I've seldom enjoyed a series more or guffawed less politely as I read myself to sleep at night. Happily so.
—Lynne-marie
Finding a good cozy can be a bit like panning for gold. You have to go through a lot of grit to find a nugget worth keeping. Elizabeth Peters' books are those nuggets.I fully admit I'm biased. I've loved the Elizabeth Peters books since I stumbled across them in elementary school. Vicky's my favorite of her heroines, and Silhouette is a close second to my all-time favorite, Trojan Gold.Silhouette has wit and charm. Are parts of it well, maybe a bit implausible? Yeah, probably, but for me, that just adds to the charm. It every so subtly parodies the great romances (in the adventurous sense, not the Harlequin sense) while at the same time praising them.
—Gina
