Synopses & Reviews
For the first time in more than a decade,
New York Times bestselling Grand Master Elizabeth Peters brings beautiful, brainy Vicky Bliss back into the spotlight for one last investigation. But this time the peerless art historian and sleuth will be detecting in Amelia Peabody territory, searching for solutions to more than one heinous offense in the ever-shifting sands of Egypt's mysterious Valley of the Kings.
Who stole one of Egypt's most priceless treasures? That is the question that haunts the authorities after a distinguished British gentleman with an upper-crust accent cons his way past a security guard and escapes into the desert carrying a world-famous, one-of-a-kind historic relic. But the Egyptian authorities and Interpol believe they know the identity of the culprit. The brazen crime bears all the earmarks of the work of one "Sir John Smythe," the suave and dangerously charming international art thief who is, in fact, John Tregarth, the longtime significant other of Vicky Bliss. But John swears he is retired not to mention innocent and he vows to clear his name by hunting down the true criminal.
Vicky's faith in her man's integrity leaves her no choice but to take a hiatus from her position at a leading Munich museum and set out for the Middle East. Vicky's employer, the eminent Herr Doktor Anton Z. Schmidt, rotund gourmand and insatiable adventurer, decides to join the entourage.
But dark days and myriad dangers await them in this land of intriguing antiquity. Each uncovered clue seems to raise even more questions for the intrepid Vicky the most troubling being, Where is John going during his increasingly frequent and unexplained absences? And the stakes are elevated considerably when a ransom note arrives accompanied by a grisly memento intended to speed up negotiations because now it appears that murder most foul has been added to the equation.
Review
"Armchair travelers and amateur Egyptologists alike will enjoy Peters's expert narration....Although this series' entries can be enjoyed in any order, enthusiasts will find it rewarding to reread the books from the start....Highly recommended." Library Journal
Review
"An over-the-top adventure yarn whose potent brew of mystery and romance should make it another hit among the Peters faithful." Kirkus Reviews
Synopsis
"A royal treat....Welcome back, Vicky Bliss ...For readers new to Vicky's sassy and distinctively smart stories,
The Laughter of Dead Kings will mark the start of a beautiful friendship."
--Tampa Tribune
New York Times bestselling Grand Master Elizabeth Peters--author of the thrilling fictional exploits of archaeologist Amelia Peabody in the Land of the Pharaohs--brings back beautiful, brainy art expert and sometime sleuth Vicky Bliss for one last adventure in The Laughter of Dead Kings. The incomparable Peters sends Vicky and her colorful entourage racing across modern-day Egypt to investigate the brazen theft of one the ancient desert land's most priceless treasures. Smart, funny, evocative, and suspenseful, The Laughter of Dead Kings is a fond and fitting farewell to the ever-delightful Vicky...and a superior mystery fit for a King Tutankhamen.
Synopsis
The author of the bestselling Amelia Peabody novels returns with the long-awaited final installment in her beloved contemporary series featuring art historian Vicky Bliss back for the first time in more than a decade.
Synopsis
“A royal treat….Welcome back, Vicky Bliss!...For readers new to Vickys sassy and distinctively smart stories, The Laughter of Dead Kings will mark the start of a beautiful friendship.”
—Tampa Tribune
New York Times bestselling Grand Master Elizabeth Peters—author of the thrilling fictional exploits of archaeologist Amelia Peabody in the Land of the Pharaohs—brings back beautiful, brainy art expert and sometime sleuth Vicky Bliss for one last adventure in The Laughter of Dead Kings. The incomparable Peters sends Vicky and her colorful entourage racing across modern-day Egypt to investigate the brazen theft of one the ancient desert lands most priceless treasures. Smart, funny, evocative, and suspenseful, The Laughter of Dead Kings is a fond and fitting farewell to the ever-delightful Vicky…and a superior mystery fit for a King Tutankhamen.
About the Author
Elizabeth Peters earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago's famed Oriental Institute. She was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America in 1998. In 2003, she received the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Malice Domestic Convention. She lives in a historic farmhouse in western Maryland.