Kirkus (Kirkus Reviews, February 15, 2005 (Vol. 73, No. 4))
Intrepid is the word for Vespar Holly. It's 1876, but unlike most girls her age of that era, Vespar is a classical scholar with a strong sense of adventure. In the past, she has dealt with natural disasters, assassination attempts and other dastardly deeds. In this newest addition to the series, she's in Greece searching for Troy. She and her companions are swept up in a demented plot by their archrival Helvitius. They are carried away to an island on which he has built a version of Xanadu, along with a factory that produces a deadly chemical compound that foreshadows modern weapons of mass destruction. Poison, imprisonment, daring escapes-nothing can stop them. For they are from Philadelphia, a location that endows them with every admirable virtue. Alexander's language has just the right touch of 19th-century syntax and sensibility. The characters may be caricatures, but they are delightful and charming. Moreover, there's a lovely surprise ending for romantically inclined readers. Just plain fun. 2005, Dutton, 160p, $16.99. Category: Fiction. Ages 10 to 14. © 2005 Kirkus Reviews/VNU eMedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Myrna Dee Marler (The ALAN Review, Fall 2005 (Vol. 33, No. 1))
Lloyd Alexander, well known for his more adult fantasy novels, is with this book closing out the Vesper Holly series, one created to fill the empty spaces where smart, spunky, adventurous heroines ought to be. Vesper has been called on several times in past novels to save the world in exotic places, and this narrative set in Xanadu, is no exception. Vesper has her final showdown with the evil Dr. Helvitius, accompanied as always by her biographer, the prissy Professor Brinton Garrett and his beloved wife Mary, and a newer character, “the Weed,” or Tobias Wister Passavant. Vesper is comely and wealthy. The Weed is gangly and awkward but of a scientific bent. After all the villains are [finally] conquered, Vesper and Tobias marry and produce a child, thus apparently putting an end to her need to travel. Witty prose and sly jokes at Dr. Brinton Garrett’s expense make this a lively read. Fans of this series will grow up to read and enjoy Elizabeth Peters. Category: Girls’ Adventure Quest. YA--Young Adult. 2005, Dutton’s Children’s Books, 145 pp., $16.99. Ages young adult.Laie, HI

Krista Hutley (The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, January 2005 (Vol. 58, No. 5))
Vesper Holly (from The Illyrian Adventure, etc., BCCB 4/86) is back, and she's still galloping through the nineteenth century; excited by her friend Toby's theory that Troy, not Greece, was the cradle of civilization, she agrees to visit the newly discovered site of the Trojan War. Along with Toby, she is accompanied by her elderly guardians, Brinnie (Professor Brinton Garrett) and his wife, Mary, as well as others from the household. After two dangerous boating trips, Vesper and crew disembark--to find that they have been taken to the wrong dig site. Who else could be behind the trouble but Vesper's archenemy Helvitius? Left for dead at the end of the last adventure, he is now determined to acquire all the oil on the Arabian peninsula, forcing the world's leaders to answer to him. (Just in case, he has also developed an explosive so powerful that he's named it after himself.) Only Vesper Holly can defeat him--as soon as she breaks out of his lair, Xanadu. Vesper's top billing is deceptive, since she does not stand out as much as she has in the past; though she has the unhesitating spirit and good head for danger that all action stars have, her solo derring-do is undercut by Toby's heroism as well as Brinnie's reserved first-person narration. Through Brinnie, Alexander also includes a great deal of subtle scholarly humor that will likely miss the mark for young readers (though adults, particularly professors, will be amused). However, Helvitius is a perfect example of the old-fashioned villain who oozes cosmopolitan malevolence (he is as likely to quote poetry to his captive dinner guests as to poison them with the pistachio nuts). This is more of a clever parody than pulse-pounding adventure, and readers who are looking for the latter may be disappointed; however, those who enjoy a slower-paced, intelligent poke at classical adventure stories may find this to their liking. (Reviewed from galleys) Review Code: Ad -- Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area. (c) Copyright 2005, The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. 2005, Dutton, 160p, $16.99. Grades 5-8.

Kim Miller (The Kutztown University Book Review, Spring 2007)
This book, the 6th in the Vesper Holly series, once again features Vesper and her guardians and their mystery-solving skills. After the death of her parents, Vesper has been left with her guardians Brinton and Mary Garrett. Brinton is a professor of history and archeology. In the 6 years that Vesper has been with them, their life has been filled with mystery and excitement. This latest story adds the character of Tobias Wistar Passavant (aka The Weed) – a student of history, and as discovered late in the book, Vesper’s love interest. The Weed has discovered some new information that could rewrite the entire history of civilization. The group embarks on a trip to Troy to further investigate The Weed’s theory. Unfortunately, along the way, they once again meet their arch enemy, Dr. Helvitius – and, his mission is to destroy Vesper once and for all. Each chapter is filled with suspense as Vesper and her companions fight for their lives and to escape the palace of Xanadu. This story takes place in 1876, so it is unusual for the main character to be a strong, independent young woman. In addition, Vesper’s home base is Philadelphia so that most readers will be pleasantly surprised to recognize many of the places described in the 1st chapters. The characters are well-developed and the story has enough twists and turns to make the reader race on to the finish. Category: Mystery.. 2005, Dutton Children’s Books, $16.99. Ages 11 to 14.