Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Danse Macabre-Gerald Elias

Danse Macabre
Gerald Elias
Minotaur, Aug 31 2010, $24.99
ISBN: 9780312541897

Someone murders internationally renowned French violinist Rene Allard following his farewell appearance at Carnegie Hall. The police arrest Allard’s former top protégé and rival African-American superstar BTower. The crossover musical legend BTower is convicted of the homicide of his ex teacher as he was seen near the body, had blood on his hands; and testimony by eye witness Mabel Bidwell and blind violinist Daniel Jacobus. BTower is sentenced to death.

His lawyer Cy Rosenthal needs help to overturn the capital punishment conviction. As he appeals the case, he persuades reclusive music teacher Daniel that justice was not served and to investigate the homicide as he has solved a previous murder mystery (see Devil’s Trill).

The case of the “Two Maestros” murder mystery is an enjoyable amateur sleuthtale starring a malapropos musician who reluctantly investigates a string of broken violins. The story line is leisurely paced so is not for everyone and why a blind amateur albeit with musical knowledge rather than a horde of professional private detectives seems odd. However, those readers who relish an entertaining look at the music world inside an investigation will enjoy Allard’s farewell performance in the Danse Macabre.

Harriet Klausner

No comments: