Did you know that Elizabeth Peters has a new Vicky Bliss book out? Did you care? Well I do. I care a lot. I know that I have expounded upon my love for Elizabeth Peters, and in particular, the Vicky Bliss books before, but here it is in a nutshell. Elizabeth Peters is really the writer who got me reading romance. My mother introduced me to her books when I was 12 or 13 or so. By that time she had already accrued an impressive backlist, as I believe she had already been writing for twenty years at that point. Plenty to keep me entertained for years.

Her mysteries often featured exotic locales, an interesting plot that involved art, history or archaeology. And there was always a smart, witty heroine who exchanged barbs with the mysterious hero until they gave in to the simmering sexual tension. In an innocent way. The books she wrote as Barbara Michaels were usually a bit darker and featured mysterious paranormal elements, i.e. Gothics. I didn’t love ‘em as much as the Peters books, but they were really good too. Peters is best known for her mysteries featuring Victorian Archaeologist Amelia Peabody and crew. But I am loyal to her Vicky Bliss series, which to date featured five books. They are rather tongue in cheek, almost spoofy. Vicky is an Art Historian who lives in Germany, and her on and off love interest is John Smythe, British Gentleman thief.

I bought the last Vicky Bliss book when I was a Freshman in college, fourteen years ago. Ever since then, I’ve been waiting. FOURTEEN YEARS AGO, people. I graduated, got a Master’s, got married, had two babies, and still no Vicky Bliss book. FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. River Phoenix had recently died, and Kurt Cobain was still alive. FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. When the original Beverly Hills 90210 was still on. FOURTEEN YEARS AGO. When female musicians ruled the airwaves, because they were awesome, not because they were insane and underdressed. Good times to be sure, but woulda liked a Vicky n’ John fix.

Since then Peters has focused on her Amelia Peabody books. I read those until Ramses and Nefret got together, then lost interest. So it’s been a number of years since I’ve read anything new by Peters (fourteen since anything new about Vicky and John, in case you were counting). I would occasionally re-read a book, and wonder if I would ever get more. Until today. We were headed for the register at B&N when a display of audiobooks caught my eye. The Laughter of Dead Kings—a Vicky Bliss Novel of Suspense. Could it really be? Was it a mirage? Had my fondest reading wish come true? I actually embarrassed my son with my shrieking and bouncing up and down. Go figure.

As it turns out, The Laughter of Dead Kings came out on 26 August 2008 in Hardcover. Right in time for my new super strict budget. I hate buying hardcover to begin with. Sigh. I’ve waited fourteen years, what’s two more days until I get to a library. At last, I will get to find out what happened to Vicky, John, the kooky sidekick Schmidt, her cat, her dog. Did John turn himself in to Interpol? Did he reform? Did they have babies? No, don’t tell me, soon I shall know. I have to say, I’m almost nervous. What if it’s not so good? What if the writing style doesn’t jibe with my much older than eighteen tastes? It’s been awhile, to say the least. Then the excitement takes over. I’m dancing in my seat right now. I’ll have it soon…I’ll have it soon…I’ll have it soon.

What about you? Have you been waiting for a book, movie, tv sequel, band reunion, new album, something, forever? Have you given up? Or did your dreams come true?