The Seventh Sinner by Elizabeth Peters (1972) 4/5 stars
This is the first book featuring Jacqueline Kirby, a forty-something American librarian. She is visiting Rome, and while there she makes friends with a clique of seven international students. The book focuses on Jean, one of the group, who discovers a fellow scholar -- disliked by all -- dying from a slit throat, and finds her life in danger as a result.
While Jaqueline isn't as fully likable as other Peters' heroines, she's an interesting and well-written character. The Seventh Sinner is typical of Peters' entertaining style, with an intelligent, twisty, and attention-holding plot.
The Murders of Richard III by Elizabeth Peters (1974) 4/5 stars
In the second of the Jacqueline Kirby series, she and her friend Thomas attend a house party with Richard III apologists. The story follows Thomas' point of view as various tricks are played, resembling the supposed murders committed by Richard III. Jacqueline becomes convinced that more serious plans are in the works, but as she doesn't share all of her deductions with Thomas, he and the reader are left to discover the culprit without her aid.
This novel may not appeal to those who are not historians (professional or armchair), as there is much rehashing of the theories surround that King. I doubt that such dedicated Ricardians would continue to go over the same ground again and again at a meeting, but despite that, I still found the plot, mystery, and characters well-written, attention-holding, and entertaining.
