Customer Reviews

Silhouette in Scarlet

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Vicky Bliss, an art historian now working at a Munich museum, is a bit frustrated with the dull, rainy late spring Munich weather. Life is a bit boring after some of her recent adventures but that changes when she opens a package containing a one-way ticket (coach) to Sweden, a two word Latin message and a single red rose. This has to be the work of the mysterious John Smythe so naturally Vicky is soon on her way to Stockholm. Others seem to be interested in her travel plans as well and Vicky quickly finds herself again involved in international intrigues of amazing proportions.

As with the rest of this series there are complicated intrigues, amazing conicidences, exciting chases and a cliff hanging ending all linked by Vicky wry observations on life and love.

Vicky Bliss who works for the National Museum in Munich had enough of the rainy spring in Bavaria that May and was just hoping to take an early vacation to some warm and sunny place when the parcel arrived. It contained a crimson rose and an airline ticket to Stockholm. There was no note, only the words "WIELANDIA FABRICA" printed on a card. The package had no return address, but had been mailed from Sweden. Vicky instantly knew it had been sent by Sir John Smythe, her lover, and a wanted art thief who she knew she should never trust because John had let her down more than a few times. Vicky had not seen or heard from him in over a year, but she decided to use the ticket and find out what kind of a caper that John was currently involved with. Her suspicions were that he was seeking a Viking treasure.

SILHOUETTE IN SCARLET is the third book in the Vicky Bliss Mystery series and another enjoyable story by Elizabeth Peters.

...apart from "Trojan Gold", this is the 2nd best Vicki Bliss book. My only gripe is that we see so little of Herr Doktor Anton Schmit. He's so cute! The interplay between Vicki and "Sir" John is acidic and rapier as usual, but the reader always knows they're crazy about each other. I enjoyed learning more about Sweden, which is a country I know very little about. If you enjoy the Vicki Bliss series, I believe you'll really like this one too! I'm tired of Amelia Peabody -bring back Vicki, please, Ms. Peters!

I am so glad that I went back to read this earlier Elizabeth Peters series. It is quite different in many aspects to the Peabody series but still features a strong central female character, some romance thrown into the mystery, and many red herrings and rather arcane information.

In this third entry of the series, Vicky Bliss receives an anonymous plane ticket and hotel reservation to Stockholm. She knows that the invite is from Sir John Smythe, introduced in the last book and her somewhat love interest. She goes to Stockholm, discovers what the mystery involves, is led to an island in the north of Sweden to follow up on some leads and most of the action takes place there. The mystery is interesting, the clues are available to the reader, there are plenty of red herrings to make it fun, and the ending is very satisfactory.

I guess there are only a couple of more in this series. I wonder if Ms. Peters will ever write any more or will stick with just the Peabody books?

I am a big fan of the Amelia Peabody mystery series and have enjoyed reading other works by Elizabeth Peters and (pseudonym) Barbara Michaels. The Vicky Bliss mystery series was started earlier than the Amelia Peabody series and the stories are not as well developed. They actually are rather "light weight"; a term I would never use for an Amelia Peabody book. Regardless, this is an enjoyable mystery, with enough twists and turns to make me have to go back once or twice and make sure I didn't miss something. It is the third in the series, so Vicky's relationship with John, the criminal, is still developing. The basic storyline is that Vicky is an art historian who receives an airline ticket to Stockholm in an unmarked package. She's sure it is from John, and decides to use it for a inexpensive vacation. Soon she is being held captive with two men by a group of men on a private island in a lake. She doesn't know which of these men are friends or enemies. A quick read; enjoyable, but light.

This is the 3rd book in the Vicky Bliss series, and even though it's been around for a while, there's not much in it to 'date' it, so it's just as enjoyable now as it was when first published. Elizabeth Peters wrote the first book (Borrower of the Night), and a couple of sequels, then let the Vicky Bliss novels rest for many years, until returning to them again fairly recently. There's no trace of the gap. All are filled with humor and wit. The characters are well-rounded and (mostly!) believeable - they just grow on you and you start to feel that you know them as people. The mystery is always tied to the art/antiquities world, and the snapshots of the foreign cities and countries in which the action occurs are always vivid. Elizabeth Peters is a 'must-read' author for those who like a light, fun, take on mystery and romance (with just a dash of education thrown in).

The third Vicky Bliss story, this novel sends Vicky to Sweden to find out what John is up to now. When she gets a call from "Cousin Gus", she knows that she must keep this man from being swindled. What she ends up in is a web of intrigue that John was unaware of.

This novel continues the developing relationship between Vicky and John, a criminal with a heart of gold. Vicky is, as always, independent and resourceful. The book is a fun read!

I had forgotten how much fun!! these books are until they popped up on my recommendation list. The Vicky Bliss series by this author was one of the earlier examples of the genre we call romantic suspense. The author has a light comic touch and a wicked sense of humor. She writes great if not exactly heroic heroes. The setting was great and the cast of characters amusing but often sinister.
The ending was harrowing, a bit unbelievable, but certainly gave me goosebumps. It leaves the door wide open for a sequel. The significance of the title is a bit subtle for some, but without giving too much away, it pretty much means that you are marked for death. This is a fast read, great for the beach or fun holiday reading.

Silhouette in Scarlet is lighter in tone than many of Peters's novels. But it has her characteristic sense of humor and adventure. Vicky will meet a handsome stranger, a fabulous treasure, and bumbling crooks. And maybe even a distant relative. Enjoy!

I loved this Vicky Bliss Mystery and it is my second favorite of them all. Max,the boss, Leaf,the villian, and Sir John Smythe, the lover, all set the scene for this witty and interesting mystery. This story takes place in Sweden, where Vicky gets involved in a plot to dig up a field of tresure. Vicky meets vital characters in this story and it is not one to overlook.