Barbara Mertz died age 85 - Page 2

Xanthe · 08-13-2013, 11:58 PM

I just found out about her death and I am really saddened. She is one of the few authors that I have read continuously from my teen years to the present day. I also had gotten my mother interested in her books and it was fun to be able to share the love of those books with her during her life.

I loved all of her books, whether she was writing as Elizabeth Peters or Barbara Michaels. I probably own more of her hardcovers than I do for any other author.

The first book of hers that I ever read was "The Camelot Caper", which is basically the prequel to the Vicky Bliss series. I loved the humor in that book,and it was probably the first romantic mystery that I had read up to that point where the 'hero" wasn't a perfect male specimen yet she made him attractive to my mental eye nonetheless.

RIP, Barbara.

BearMountainBooks · 08-14-2013, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xanthe

I just found out about her death and I am really saddened. She is one of the few authors that I have read continuously from my teen years to the present day. I also had gotten my mother interested in her books and it was fun to be able to share the love of those books with her during her life.

I loved all of her books, whether she was writing as Elizabeth Peters or Barbara Michaels. I probably own more of her hardcovers than I do for any other author.

The first book of hers that I ever read was "The Camelot Caper", which is basically the prequel to the Vicky Bliss series. I loved the humor in that book,and it was probably the first romantic mystery that I had read up to that point where the 'hero" wasn't a perfect male specimen yet she made him attractive to my mental eye nonetheless.

RIP, Barbara.

What a nice tribute and I completely agree. She did some things with Vicky Bliss that I don't think have ever been repeated. And the sense of fun she put into her books is phenomenal. Just great reads.

Lynx-lynx · 08-14-2013, 09:42 AM

I loved her Amelia Peabody series in wich she seemed to capture the quintessential English unflappable characters.

One of my favourite scenes was when 6 or so of them were crossing over from the left to the right bank in a small craft in Luxor when it unexpectedly sunk. Peters had Amelia recalling the scene as guests sitting on benches either side of a table at a dinner party who just let the events of the sinking craft take place around them and then float off towards the bank without fuss as the boat sank.

Also, I found that when I was in Luxor and the Valley of the Kings etc I just knew the layout and other details because of her books.

What a wonderful treat to have discovered her books.

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08-13-2013, 11:58 PM	#16
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	I just found out about her death and I am really saddened. She is one of the few authors that I have read continuously from my teen years to the present day. I also had gotten my mother interested in her books and it was fun to be able to share the love of those books with her during her life. I loved all of her books, whether she was writing as Elizabeth Peters or Barbara Michaels. I probably own more of her hardcovers than I do for any other author. The first book of hers that I ever read was "The Camelot Caper", which is basically the prequel to the Vicky Bliss series. I loved the humor in that book,and it was probably the first romantic mystery that I had read up to that point where the 'hero" wasn't a perfect male specimen yet she made him attractive to my mental eye nonetheless. RIP, Barbara.

08-14-2013, 09:42 AM	#18
Lynx-lynx Treachery of images ... Posts: 4,123 Karma: 93720365 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Australia Device: Sony 650, Kobo Glo, H2O, Aura One, Forma, Libra 2, Libra Colour	I loved her Amelia Peabody series in wich she seemed to capture the quintessential English unflappable characters. One of my favourite scenes was when 6 or so of them were crossing over from the left to the right bank in a small craft in Luxor when it unexpectedly sunk. Peters had Amelia recalling the scene as guests sitting on benches either side of a table at a dinner party who just let the events of the sinking craft take place around them and then float off towards the bank without fuss as the boat sank. Also, I found that when I was in Luxor and the Valley of the Kings etc I just knew the layout and other details because of her books. What a wonderful treat to have discovered her books.

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