The Copenhagen Connection

Elizabeth Jones who works as an assistant at a publishing company in New York has saved up for a couple of years to take her dream trip to Denmark. She really wants to see the Little Mermaid statue and has pored over all the guidebooks to plan her trip. Her trip doesn't start out very well since her seatmate is determined to tell her all about her family's medical issues in great detail. When Elizabeth escapes to the restroom, she discovers that her literary idol Margaret Rosenberg is on the same flight.

She makes an embarrassing approach which winds up with her spilling coffee into Rosenberg's son Christian's lap and slinks back to her seat. However, they are destined to meet again at the baggage claim when she witnesses an accident show more which happens to Rosenberg's secretary. Both to spend more time with her idol and because her boss who is Rosenberg's publisher would like it, she volunteers to fill in for the secretary who has a broken arm.

Being in close proximity to Margaret lets her see all of Margaret's eccentricities and makes her understand why Christian might be such an uptight sort of man. He recruits her to help ride herd on Margaret. However, she barely gets started in the job when Margaret disappears from the hotel suite.

Elizabeth and Christian begin a hunt all over Denmark to try to find his missing mother. Who hasn't been kidnapped but has taken off on her own for reasons she hasn't shared with her son. There are villains who want to find Margaret and get something she has. Elizabeth and Christian keep running into them in their pursuit of Margaret.

The story is packed with action. I did feel that the romance between Elizabeth and Christian was a little too insta-love to be believable though. Going from sniping at each other to love seemed awfully fast. The characters were otherwise interesting and well-rounded.

Grace Conlin did the narration. She wasn't the best at the male voices and sometimes I was confused about whether Elizabeth or Christian was doing the talking. She did a great job with the pacing and the suspense though. show less

I'm not at all sure what to say about this book. It's ... not great. Definitely not one of Peters' best by a long shot, but it's oddly readable.

The MC, Elizabeth, is on the plane, on her way to Denmark for a long awaited vacation, when she spots her literary idol on the plane too. In an effort to meet her, Elizabeth contrives to make an idiot of herself (sorry, I don't understand fandom), but she does get to meet her. Upon dis-embarking the flight, the author's secretary suffers an 'accident' that breaks her arm, and Elizabeth is there to offer her temporary services. Did I mention the author's son is traveling with her? The tall, good-looking, yet taciturn son?

This whole setup is the most improbable part of the story. From here it show more devolves into the author going missing - did she leave on her own or was she kidnapped? - being spotted in various disguises around Copenhagen, threatening notes, ransom demands, kidnapping and, of course, romance. With the tall, taciturn, jackass of a son. What Elizabeth sees in him I haven't a clue, because even when he's saving her (just the once, and not really), he's a pompous braggart. This one definitely falls into the 'ludicrous' category of romantic adventure.

Still, Peters' has a way about her writing, so that even when it's bad, it's not DNF bad. In this particular example I can't guess what that way is, because really, the characters weren't that great, and got knows the plot was ... dumb. Yet I kept reading it, and I wasn't yelling at it, or even complaining. Smirking ... there was an above average amount of smirking. Think of it as an entertaining read in the way old 'B' movies are entertaining. No value, but not the worst way you could waste a few hours. show less

A caper of the most extreme fluffiness. This is the first book I've read where Peters make an alter-ego of herself a principal character.

Elizabeth Jones gets the chance to work as a temporary secretary/assistant for her idol, the famous historian and novelist Margaret Rosenberg. But the next day, Margaret disappears. Elizabeth helps Margaret's son, Christian, look for her.

Let's just say there are reasons Elizabeth Peters is better known for her Amelia Peabody series.

I think I may be forgiven the use of the god-awful word "romp" when describing this book. Because that is was it is. A joyful romp through Denmark in pursuit of love and a woman with a penchant for strange clothing.

It seems to me thrillers, even cozy ones like this book, must have been much easier to write in the pre-Internet/cell phone/security camera age that we live in now. Not a problem if the characters are well done, and sadly these are not. Elizabeth meets her favorite authoress, Margaret, on a flight to Denmark and winds up working for her when her secetary gets injured at the airport. Soon enough Margaret goes missing and Elizabeth, along with margaret's ill-mannered son Christian, must try to find her. Lots of silly cloke and dagger stuff, but the history part of the story, about Queen Margaret of Denmark was truely interesting. Dated but fun.

Rendezvous Review: Elizabeth Jones works at a publisher's publicity department hoping to impress her bosses with her own writing. Now on her long awaited flight, she encounters the infamous Countess Margaret Rosenberg, historian, feminist, and best selling novelist, complete with green hair, her body engulfed in an Indian gauze print outfit. Once in Copenhagen, Elizabeth volunteers to help when her companion is injured in an "accident." Margaret's son, Christian Roseberg, is a pompous snob, but Elizabeth finds herself enjoying Margaret's wit and uniqueness. Christian's description is more like: she's crazy, loony, weird, or bonkers. Then she's kidnapped and Christian and Elizabeth must combine their efforts to unravel dark secrets and show more solve this unnerving mystery. Ah, I love Margaret! She could rival Amelia Peabody and Vicky Bliss, and those are large shoes to fill. Of course, the secret is the incredible talent of Ms. Peters. Her characters are an extension of their creator, and the humor is entwined throughout. Nancy McCann show less