Sophia Rose Reviews: The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters, narrated by Grace Conlin

 

The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters, narrated by Grace Conlin

#1 Jacqueline Kirby

Historical Mystery

Publisher:  Blackstone Audio

Published:  7.1.98

Time: 5 hours 55 minutes

Rating: 4 stars

Format: Audio

Source:  Purchased

Sellers:  Amazon

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Goodreads Synopsis:

At first, Jean Suttman thought she had died and gone to Heaven when she was granted the opportunity to study in Rome. But the body that's lying in the ancient subterranean Temple of Mithra—the murdered corpse of a repulsive and disliked fellow student—isn't her idea of heavenly. Now she is truly frightened, not just because small "accidents" seem to be occurring around her with disturbing regularity. It's the ever-increasing certainty that someone, for some unknown reason, is ruthlessly determined to do her harm. Jean's innocent underground excursion into a sacred pagan place has trapped her in something dark and terrifying, and even the knowledge that practical, perceptive fellow American Jacqueline Kirby is on the case won't ease her fears. Because there's only so far Jean Suttman can run . . . and no escape for her except death.

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

A murder isn’t exactly what seven grad students had in mind for their time studying abroad in Rome.  Elizabeth Peters’ first Jacqueline Kirby story has the cynical, observant, empty-nester librarian who is filled with all sorts of worldly wisdom and knowledge on the spot to act as amateur sleuth right along the group of diverse students who have formed a friendship when they met in Rome.

 

Originally published in 1972, Elizabeth Peter’s The Seventh Sinner is a fun blend of local color with the sights, tastes, and culture of Rome paired with the culture of scholars abroad.  The book is narrated by the ‘peacemaker’, hard studying Jean who is one of the students studying and competing for an internship and of the close group of seven who knew the unlikeable dead man.

 

 Fortunately for Jean and this group of grad students, they encounter the eccentric and enigmatic Jacqueline Kirby.  Jacqueline is on holiday and taking advantage of an old librarian friend’s invitation to stay in her apartment while she’s away.  Jacqueline intrigues Jean and the others because she is parts’ middle-aged empty-nester who does odd things embarrassing to her kids, parts scholarly librarian, parts jaded woman of the world full of wisdom, and finally, a parts mystique because she keeps bits of her past to herself.  Jacqueline can be bitter and biting or warm and maternal, but she can definitely get to the bottom of Albert’s murder.

 

It's been years since I read the Jacqueline Kirby series and it was fun to revisit this first book with the audio edition read by Grace Conlin.  Grace Conlin told the story well and voiced the variety of student voices diverse in gender and foreign accent along with the older characters led by Jacqueline, herself.

 

The mystery isn’t that twisting, but still was entertaining twined with the snappy dialogue, interesting historical tidbits, and the character personalities.  Those who want a light modern historical mystery written as a contemporary story should pick this one up.

 

 

Author’s Bio:

Elizabeth Peters is a pen name of Barbara Mertz. She also wrote as Barbara Michaels as well as her own name. Born and brought up in Illinois, she earned her Ph.D. in Egyptology from the University of Chicago. Mertz was named Grand Master at the inaugural Anthony Awards in 1986 and Grand Master by the Mystery Writers of America at the Edgar Awards in 1998. She lived in a historic farmhouse in Frederick, western Maryland until her death.

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, piano-playing, and gardening. Road trips and campouts, museums and monuments, restaurants and theaters are her jam. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

As a lifelong reader, it was inevitable that Sophia would discover book blogs and the joy of blog reviewing. Sophia is a prolific reader and audiobook listener which allows her to experience so many wonderful books, authors, and narrators. Few genres are outside her reading tastes, but her true love is fiction particularly history, mystery, sci-fi, and romance. Though, sorry, no horror or she will run like Shaggy and Scooby.

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