For some bizarre reason, I have ignored the many books of Elizabeth Peters despite consistently favorable reader reviews. Stupid move, because I really enjoyed this one, written several years ago and reissued. I listened to it on my Audible player while traveling, and it was a very enjoyable 6 hours. Apparently, Peters has become known for her Amelia Peabody series, Amelia being known for an acerbic wit and getting herself into and out of difficulties. Jacqueline Kirby must be a forerunner of Peabody even though she is not the central figure, she resolves the mystery using all the skills of that most formidable professions, the librarian. She's also amusingly condescendingly toward the academic seven who are all more than a little naive. In fact, it's her familiarity with the academic community and its peccadilloes. Dr. Scoville, father of Andy, one of the students could have been the prototype for another famous fictional archaeologist from Indiana. He could be the prototype for that later developed and more famous fictional archeologist. He is brilliant, handsome, sexy, and world famous for his daring exploits in pursuit of archeological treasures. Sound familiar, movie fans? The story is set in Rome and, while perhaps a little dated -- it was written in 1972 -- is very enjoyable nevertheless. It unfolds through the eyes of Jean Stuttman, one of seven -- a number that ostensibly has great significance to the murder - - art/archaeology students studying at Rome's famous Institute of Art and Archaeology. (Peters, trained as a classical archaeologist, has filled the book with all sorts of interesting details about Rome and its history and archaeology -- she also writes under the name Barbara Michaels.) While on a tour of some ancient rooms found underneath Rome, one of their members, Albert is brutally murdered. Jean discovers him barely alive and watches him scratch "VII" in the dirt (at the time Jean reports it only as the number seven. Its Roman numeral character becomes significant only later.) It's hard to write about this book, because Peters left so many clues pointing in all sorts of directions; it' not easy to avoid giving away the ending. Jacqueline becomes attached to the students by chance, and when she realizes that "accidents" that happen to Jean may be attempts to murder her, she surreptitiously begins to work with a police lieutenant to uncover the clever killer
