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Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN num: 9780061656071
ISBN number: 0061656070
Label: Harper
Manufacturer: Harper
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 304
Printing Date: August 01, 2008
Publishing house: Harper
Release Date: July 29, 2008
Sale Popularity Level: 25756
Studio: Harper
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Product Description:
A missing masterwork in wood, the last creation of a master carver who died in the violent tumult of the sixteenth century, may be hidden in a medieval German castle in the town of Rothenburg. The prize has called to art historian Vicky Bliss, drawing her and an arrogant male colleague into the forbidding citadel and its dark secrets. But the treasure hunt soon turns deadly. Here, where the blood of the long-forgotten damned stains ancient stones, Vicky must face two equally perilous possibilities. Either a powerful supernatural evil inhabits this place . . . or someone frighteningly real is willing to kill for what Vicky is determined to find.
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Rated by buyers 
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I am a huge fan of Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody series, so I dove into this book, the very first in the Vicky Bliss series, with high expectations. At first, I was put off by Vicky's prickly personality. She's tall, smart, and beautiful and fully aware of the effect she has on men. Vicky is an art historian in friendly competition with friend Tony Lawrence. The two discover evidence of a long-lost Riemenschneider sculpture and fly off to Germany to find it. Once there, they find seances, sleepwalking maidens, secret passages, and many, many suspects who may also be searching for the sculpture. Once I got over Vicky not being like Amelia (and God bless Peters for creating such different and fascinating characters), I couldn't put the book down. Twists and turns with plenty of mayhem make this a wonderful read.
Rated by buyers 
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Here it is, finally my very first Vicki Bliss mystery. The story is a good one, even if not terribly interesting. Based on other works from Michaels and Peters, this is just an average effort. It could be because she was finding her grounding with new characters, but something about it didn't hook me as much as it should have. I can't help but feel that Peters couldn't think of enough story to write this one, not sure where she wanted to go, mainly drawn to characters she wished to invent. I'm sure that the follow-ups are better, and Vicki does seem a great character to follow the adventures of.
Characters were fun, especially Vicki and Tony. Her personality was a trademark type, a strong heroine with an intelligent mind, independent backbone, and curious disposition. The story would be a great mystery, yet turns out merely good simply because not enough detail filled out 243 pages. The story was a very simple one that was forced to slowly drag on because not enough substance was held.
Nothing is urgent until perhaps the end climax, but even that lacks a certain desperation usually found in intriguing stories. Rich with history, people into the castle setting will be in for a nice surprise as the couple wanders each night in search of an old legend that may not even be true. People who love mysteries but who are a virgin to Peters may be turned off by the lack of intensity, while cozy fans that are Elizabeth Peter regulars will likely feel right at home.
Rated by buyers -
The very first Vicky Bliss novel, this story introduces us to the large blonde academic who is interested in the legend of a lost Riemenschneider sculpture. She engages in a bet with a fellow academic, Tony, who bets that if he can find it before she can, she has to marry him.
Peters writes with ascerbic wit and wonderful characters. Vicky Bliss is an independent thinker, capable of making intriguing decisions without any help.
This is a great series- I recommend it to any mystery lover!
Rated by buyers 
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Elizabeth Peters books are fun, comical, gripping mysteries -- read them all!
Vicky is different from Amelia Peabody (she's tall, 20something, and a blonde bombshell with curves). Peters' spends a lot of time trying to establish this new character, and Vicky's figure/views are mentioned a lot at very first (which turned my mom off of it initially), but it gets better.
==>> Why read this book? BECAUSE THE SEQUELS ARE PHENOMENAL!! <<==
I COULD NOT put the 2ND BOOK DOWN (Street of the 5 Moons), and when I was done I immediately drove to the library for the rest. I even skipped the 3rd book (because the library didn't have it) because I was ABSOLUTELY HOOKED, and the 4th and 5th were so good I didn't get any sleep! I don't feel bad about skipping the 3rd book, but I'm certainly glad I read this 1st one to get established. Don't pass up this series!!!
Rated by buyers -
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 very 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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