ELIZABETH PETERS

(psuedonym of Barbara Mertz, a.k.a. Barbara Michaels

Barbara Mertz has built a large and loyal following in two genres. As Elizabeth Peters she writes mysteries featuring three very different heroines as well as other stories whereas as Barbara Michaels, she writes historical romantic suspense with a touch of the supernatural. She has a Ph.D. in Egyptology and has written two books on the subject using her own name. She has also been president of the American Crime Writers League. Barbara Metz won an Agatha Award for Naked Once More in 1989 and was given the Grand Masters Award in 1988.

 

Literary Criticism (Based on Amelia Peabody Series)

Full of wit, Elizabeth Peters portrays a hero set in a time when such strong, very pro feminist characters are difficult to imagine. However the over exaggeration of not just her main character but also of the other members of her family is not insulting to the genders but just underlines the peculiarities of men and women. She also draws the turn-of-the-century characters of her books very well showing a considerable knowledge of the Victorian age as well as of Egyptology and archeology. Her plots may sometimes be weak but that is not what her aim is: the characters are more important!