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Elizabeth Peters
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Borrower of the Night: A Vicky Bliss Novel of Suspense (Vicky Bliss Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by Elizabeth Peters (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,098 ratings
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Meet art historian Vicky Bliss, She is as beautiful as she is brainy--with unassailable courage, insatiable curiosity, and an expertise in lost museum treasures that often leads her into the most dangerous of situations.

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 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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  1. Book 1 of 6
    Vicky Bliss Mysteries
  2. Print length
    336 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publisher
    William Morrow Paperbacks
  6. Publication date
    October 13, 2009
  7. File size
    445 KB
  8. Page Flip
    Enabled
  9. Word Wise
    Enabled
  10. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  11. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"A writer so popular the public library needs to keep her books under lock and key." -- "Washington Post Book World""An ancient European castle. . .secret passages. . .a mystery several hundred years old. . .and danger, make this Elizabeth Peters's best book!" -- "San Francisco Examiner""This author never fails to entertain."-- "Cleaveland Plain Dealer"

About the Author

Elizabeth Peters earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago’s famed Oriental Institute. During her fifty-year career, she wrote more than seventy novels and three nonfiction books on Egypt. She received numerous writing awards and, in 2012, was given the first Amelia Peabody Award, created in her honor. She died in 2013, leaving a partially completed manuscript of The Painted Queen.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000FCKM6A
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ William Morrow Paperbacks (October 13, 2009)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 13, 2009
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 445 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 0061656070
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,098 ratings

About the author

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Elizabeth Peters

Elizabeth Peters

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ELIZABETH PETERS, whose New York Times best-selling novels are often set against historical backdrops, earned a Ph.D. in Egyptology at the University of Chicago. She also writes best-selling books under the pseudonym Barbara Michaels. She lives in Frederick, Maryland.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,098 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

SAF48
5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating romantic & historical mystery
Reviewed in the United States on January 27, 2024
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Great fun to re-read this mystery after several years. Elizabeth Peters was such a great writer. This first book about Vicky Bliss’s adventures in history & mystery is an especially rollicking good read.
One person found this helpful
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C. Trussell
4.0 out of 5 stars A missing shrine.
Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2023
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When Vicky finds a clue to a missing carving in a book and Tony sees is while reading over her shoulder, finding the missing piece becomes a contest between the two. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones to believe it is hidden in a castle or to be the only ones searching for it there. The search involves magic, the occult, a seance, the attempted murder of others involved, secret passageways and more. A mystery with its feet firmly in history.
3 people found this helpful
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iiiireader
5.0 out of 5 stars First book in the funny Vicky Bliss mystery series by Elizabeth Peters
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2019
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I’ve read most of the novels written by Elizabeth Peters. Ms. Peters wrote her fiction under several pseudonyms, of which, Elizabeth Peters is arguably the most well-known.

While the Amelia Peabody books are the series that many people have read, one of my favorite series by this author is the Vicky Bliss mysteries. There are many less books in the series but I recommend that you start reading with this, the first one.

In this book, Vicky Bliss is introduced. Vicky is an art historian and, when confronted with the chance to solve a art mystery, she jumps in with both feet.

She is also in competition with her sometimes boyfriend as well as others. She heads off to the small town and castle Rothenburg in Germany. There, the competition heats up and then whodunnits are added into the fray.

Vicky isn’t sure who to trust and if she should share any of her insights with others, including her boyfriend Tony.

The story is funny and the plot is wonderful (though a tiny bit dated but that is to be expected.)

I was thrilled to find this series, as well as other books by Ms. Peters, available on Kindle. These days, due to health issues, reading paper books is something I have been told to avoid. Reading on the Kindle makes for a wonderful way to visit the books I consider my old friends.
32 people found this helpful
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Audrey
3.0 out of 5 stars The rest of the series is better...
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020
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I really like the Vicky Bliss series, but this first installment feels dated by Vicky's references to male chauvinists and her strong feminist slant. She's almost unlikable in this first book (and, fyi, the narrator of the Audible version really does make Vicky unlikeable with her sly, arrogant tone.) If you overlook the unattractive feminist moments (which are definitely not uncommon in many of Elizabeth Peter's/Barbara Michael's earlier books particularly), the story was engaging and we meet the important main characters that will populate the rest of the series.
7 people found this helpful
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Judith Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars --Mystery, Intrigue and Art History--
Reviewed in the United States on July 5, 2003
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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.
77 people found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting
Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2023
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This wasn't quite what I expected, but not in a bad way. The whole feminist tactics being shoveled down my throat got a bit old, but I get why Vicky was who she was. Brains, height, and a figure while wanting to be respected for the brains is hard. Tony and the doctor were interesting. I do appreciate that there wasn't any trying to make the male characters less. Anyway. I enjoyed the mystery and adventure involved, and plan on reading book 2!
One person found this helpful
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jtass
5.0 out of 5 stars The first 'Vicky Bliss' mystery
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2004
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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.
18 people found this helpful
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Carol Meyers
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2023
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Love Vicky Bliss. Very entertaining. Loved the street of five moons as well. Since the mentioned this one I decided to start at the beginning.
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Top reviews from other countries

picky one
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing trip into an ancient castle, a lost treasure an ancient murder and various cruelties from which the heroine eventually solves the puzzle.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 13, 2023
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I enjoyed reading this although it followed the well known plots of many crime an adventure tales. It kept my interest going well enough to finish it.
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Daniela Kraml
5.0 out of 5 stars First Vicky Bliss
Reviewed in Germany on February 20, 2017
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When I first met Vicky I instantly fell in love! Vicky always makes me smile and this book is no exception. Starting with a wager between Vicky and Tony the adventure begins and it is a fast paced , very amusing adventure. Although John is not yet part of the cast we encounter Schmidt for the first time. Enjoy!
One person found this helpful
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BILL LUCENKIW
5.0 out of 5 stars as described. fast delivery. thanks.
Reviewed in Canada on April 17, 2015
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as described. fast delivery. thanks.
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Bookworm
4.0 out of 5 stars An enjoyable read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 17, 2014
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This is the first of the Vicky Bliss books. I had read and enjoyed a few of Elizabeth Peters' Amelia Peabody books, so thought I would give this one a try. It was thoroughly enjoyable and I will certainly give the next one a try.
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Monosabio
3.0 out of 5 stars Unfavourable comparison
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 15, 2022
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This is the first Vicky Bliss novel I have read although I have read most of the Peabody books. Not as good on first comparison but am prepared to try another VB in the hope that her character is further developed. A touch convoluted in plot, bit too much running around dusty corridors and rooms for me but perhaps subsequent novels will be better.
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