jcbmathcat's review
4.0
Our library mystery book club members were to read one of Gerald Elias' four books with Daniel Jacobus as protagonist. I selected this one when a review likened it to Agatha Christie's "Ten Little Indians."
I learned so much about classical music and string quartets from this book. I'm sure people with a more musical background than I would appreciate things I missed.
Jacobus is a former violinist who now teaches violin lessons because he is completely blind. He is a bitter man, but there is still some well-hidden compassion in his heart along with his love of classical music.
It is impressive to me that an author can not only pen an absorbing mystery, but can couch it in the world of string quartets and Schubert, knowledge of which may be unfamiliar to many readers. The author has an impressive musical background, and he shows readers the types of bickering and politics that abound in the world of classical music.
"Fascinating" is a good descriptor. Not only was this a good mystery, but I feel as if I learned about string quartets, Schubert's "Death and the Maiden," and the difficulties of life as a professional musician.
I hope to read the other books in this series.
I learned so much about classical music and string quartets from this book. I'm sure people with a more musical background than I would appreciate things I missed.
Jacobus is a former violinist who now teaches violin lessons because he is completely blind. He is a bitter man, but there is still some well-hidden compassion in his heart along with his love of classical music.
It is impressive to me that an author can not only pen an absorbing mystery, but can couch it in the world of string quartets and Schubert, knowledge of which may be unfamiliar to many readers. The author has an impressive musical background, and he shows readers the types of bickering and politics that abound in the world of classical music.
"Fascinating" is a good descriptor. Not only was this a good mystery, but I feel as if I learned about string quartets, Schubert's "Death and the Maiden," and the difficulties of life as a professional musician.
I hope to read the other books in this series.
yoshi83's review
3.0
The descriptions of music and performance are still phenomenal. It was a little hard to swallow that important events near the end were not heard by Jacobus, given his proximity to them and general good hearing.
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