The Seventh Sinner

The Seventh Sinner (1972) Elizabeth Peters

I read one book in this series years and years ago, and remembered next to nothing about it other than I wanted to read the other books in the series, so when I came across the ebooks on sale, I snatched them up.

First, this story was copyrighted in 1972, which I hadn’t realized until I started. Second, I think it has aged surprisingly well, with a few anachronisms (like the smoking and the clothes and a couple of mentions of previous political events, such as the Six Days War).

And some things are very slow to change.

“After a year in Rome I’m used to being pinched,” Ann said.

Part of the reason it may have aged well is that characters were all students of antiquities. When the characters are talking about saints and visiting ancient ruins, you’ve already got a pretty good sense of timelessness.

That and so many bits were pretty much outside of time.

Half the trouble in human relations arises from expecting human beings to conform to a single one-dimensional image. We are all hydra-headed monsters. But most people never learn that.”

It will be a long, long time,” said Jean softly, “before I can close my eyes at night without seeing him the way he looked, just before—”

“Forget it. I mean it literally, even if it does sound cruel. The time will come when you won’t think of it. And much sooner than you believe.”

“But that bothers me too. Death is such a final thing, it ought to…well, affect the world more than it does.”

But of course the best part of this story was that Jacqueline Kirby is middle aged.

“That’s one of the advantages of middle age. You don’t have to pretend you’re cultured.”

I thoroughly enjoyed the story and dove right into the next book in the series (there aren’t many).
Rating: 8/10

Publisher: William Morrow

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