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eserafina42's review against another edition
4.0
Not one of her best, but enjoyable enough, and just for the fact that it introduces the redoubtable Jacqueline Kirby, I'm giving it an extra star.
slferg's review against another edition
5.0
Jean will never forget her introduction to Jacqueline Kirby. She and Michael were running from the library to get some sun and coffee when they ran over Jacqueline - knocked her flat in the floor, the books from her arms and spilled her purse. Jacqueline has come to Rome to visit some friends and do some work in the library. She is older than the two who ran into her, she has children not much younger than they are. The group is called the Seven Sinners because there are seven of them and one of them gave the group the nickname. A lot of them go by nicknames. They are all studying in Rome, mostly on fellowship grants and are trying to work up their papers to get refunded for another year. Michael is a brilliant artist, Jean is studying medieval mosaics, Andy is an archeologist, Jose is a priest, etc. There is much back and forth between the group. But Albert has invited himself to belong to the group and no one much likes him. Then on a tour to a site, Jean discovers him in the Temple of Mithra - with his throat cut. He tries to talk to Jean and writes something in the dust, the number seven. Then Jean begins having "accidents", falling down stairs and being pushed in front of a taxi, then nearly drowned. Jacquelyn sort of adopts the group and tries to figure out what Jean knows that someone things she shouldn't.
rivula47's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Fatphobia
horsenerd's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.0
octavietullier's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
summermsmith's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
3.5
Elizabeth Peter's Amelia Peabody's series is one of my favorite historical mystery series to date. This is her lesser known contemporary series (1970s) and it is good and was entertaining and I did not guess who the killer was, but it lacked the timelessness that the Amelia Peabody series has. I will continue with the series. I hope to find out a little more than we did in this installment, of who Jacqueline Kirby really is.
perictione's review against another edition
I couldn't finish this. The murdered character is hated by everyone, primarily because he is ugly and fat. This is lingered on for pages and pages, and the reader is clearly supposed to also find this person repulsive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia
janetlun's review against another edition
I adore Elizabeth Peter's books, and her character Jacqueline Kirby in particular. I don't think I'd read this very first Jacqueline book before, and I'm afraid I was a bit disappointed.