The Rules of Dreaming

by Bruce Hartman

Selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the "Top 100 Indie Books of 2013" and awarded the Kirkus Star for Books of Exceptional Merit.

Award-winning author Bruce Hartman is back with THE RULES OF DREAMING – A tale of madness, music — and murder.

A beautiful graduate student suspects that her psychiatrist is ruled by the fantasies of a poet who’s been dead for two hundred years...

A mental patient with no musical training sits down at the piano and plays a fiendishly difficult piece of classical music...

A young doctor’s life spins out of control as he falls under the spell of three irresistible women...

Art and illusion. Deception and delusion. Sex, evil and death.

“A mind-bending marriage of ambitious literary theory and classic murder mystery…. In this intricately plotted novel, Hartman spins the familiar trappings of gothic mystery together with a fresh postmodern sensibility, producing a story that’s as rich and satisfying as it is difficult to categorize…. As Hartman skillfully blurs the lines between fiction and reality, the book becomes a profound meditation on art, identity and their messy spheres of influence.... An exciting, original take on the literary mystery genre.” — Kirkus Reviews.

“A great read and highly recommended." - Jack Magnus, Readers' Favorite Book Reviews.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery Thriller, Amazon, Ebooks

300 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2013

About the author

Bruce Hartman has worked as a pianist, bookseller and attorney. The author of twelve novels, he divides his time between Pennsylvania and Colorado. He has been writing fiction for many years.

Bruce Hartman's first western, LEGEND OF LOST BASIN, was published in September 2024. Kirkus Reviews called it, "A riveting addition to the Western genre... Skillful storytelling and rich characterizations make this a must-read for fans of Westerns or those who just like good storytelling.," The book aims to transcend the western genre into the area of literary fiction. It was Finalist for the Spur Award from the Western Writers of America for Best Traditional Western Novel in 2025. It was also awarded the Peacemaker Award by Western Fictioneers for Best First Western Novel.

His second western to be published was THE DIVIDE, the second book in the Lost West Trilogy.

Prior to those westerns, his most recent book was THE PHILOSOPHICAL DETECTIVE'S LAST CASE, the third and final book of the Philosphical Detective Trilogy. The previous books are THE PHILOSOPHICAL DETECTIVE, published in 2014, and THE PHILOSOPHICAL DETECTIVE RETURNS, published in 2020. All three novels feature the iconic Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges wrestling with an extraordinary series of crimes and the equally baffling conundrums of literature and philosophy, including Zeno's paradoxes, the mind/body problem, and the mysteries of destiny, memory, personal identity and artistic creation. Kirkus Reviews called THE PHILOSOPHICAL DETECTIVE "a suspenseful, pitch-perfect novel.. an intelligent, original detective novel." Midwest Book Review rated THE PHILOSOPHICAL DETECTIVE RETURNS as "...highly recommended for classic detective story enthusiasts who look for complexity and intellectual challenges in their characters and stories."

Bruce Hartman's previous book, PAROLE, is a crime thriller in the tradition of Elmore Leonard about an unlikely pair of parolees from San Quentin struggling against the odds to recover their lives and fortunes in L.A. If it were a movie, it would probably be classified as an action/comedy/thriller. It has recently become available as an audiobook on Audible.

His first novel, PERFECTLY HEALTHY MAN DROPS DEAD, won the Salvo Press Mystery Novel Award and was published by Salvo Press in 2008. In 2018 it was reissued by Swallow Tail Press in a revised Tenth Anniversary Edition (both paperback and ebook).

Bruce Hartman's second book, THE RULES OF DREAMING, published by Swallow Tail Press in 2013, was awarded Kirkus Star for Books of Exceptional Merit. Kirkus Reviews called it "a mind-bending marriage of ambitious literary theory and classic murder mystery" and selected it as one of its "Top 100 Indie Books of 2013." Another mystery, THE MUSE OF VIOLENCE, was also published in 2013.

Bruce Hartman's seventh novel, POTLATCH: A Comedy, is a satirical comedy set in Philadelphia. Readers' Favorite Book Reviews called it "one of the most amusing reads ever to be published."

POTLATCH is the second entry in a projected trilogy which began with A BUTTERFLY IN PHILADELPHIA. Readers' Favorite Book Reviews called BUTTERFLY "one of the strange comic masterpieces that you're quite lucky to run across once in a very great while."

POTLATCH followed another comic novel, BIG DATA IS WATCHING YOU!, a satirical techno-dystopia set in a future in which the all-powerful force of Big Data rules humanity through the Internet of Things and the corporate power of the FANGs. It is the story of how one defiant customer foils the conspiracy to delete humanity from Google Earth. A slightly revised version of this book has also been published under the title, I AM NOT A ROBOT!

Bruce Hartman's eighth novel, a legal thriller entitled THE DEVIL'S CHAPLAIN, was published in 2018. This book tells the story of a young attorney, Charlotte Ambler, who volunteers to represent a death row inmate, a once-prominent biologist named Christopher Ritter,

Reviews

[Latasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was ok. at the beginning i was confused sometimes. it seemed we had 2 men telling the story from their point of view? i stuck with it but it was just ok. Neal Arango narrates this and he does a good job. i love the cover art for the book.

[Michael McManus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Michael McManus for Reader's Favorite

In this book, “The Rules of Dreaming”, the author takes us into the mind of a psychiatrist who works and lives in a modern-day institute in which the mood and architecture are strangely reminiscent of a gothic period insane asylum. The doctor begins to investigate what could have caused one of his patients to suddenly play a very difficult piano piece, having never had a lesson in his life. The doctor’s actions put him in the middle of an ongoing disagreement between the two founders of the institute about how the patient’s schizophrenia should be treated. The patient and his sister, both permanent residents of the institute, have been living there since their mother, a renowned opera singer, was found hanging from a chandelier in her home rehearsal studio. The mother’s death was ruled a suicide at the time, but the appearance in town of a known blackmailer, who is suddenly asking question about her death, raises suspicions about conclusions made at the time. Suddenly, we are caught up in a tale of murder and madness, one that could have lasted for more than the seven years since the singer’s death, one that might even have been going on for centuries.

While you read this marvelous work by Bruce Hartman you get caught up in the madness of the story, which twists and turns and returns. Mr. Hartman uses a device in telling the story that is not obvious until he tells you about it near the end of the book. For me it was one of the best “ah ha” moments I have had in reading in a long time. I recommend this book strongly to anyone who enjoys a fine mystery, laced with a little madness, mischief and the macabre.

[Tina · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Rules of Dreaming - was I dreaming?

I was hesitant to leave a review about this book as I haven't finished it - but I'm not sure I ever will. I was impressed with the good reviews and the premise intrigued me. then I started reading the actual book. First I just want to say Mr Hartman can obviously write and his talent was apparent. However, this book was definitely not my cup of tea. You can't please everyone. I only got through approximately 50 pages in 3 days. Last week I completed 3 entire books so 50 pages in 3 days? To me, this book seemed based on that old idea: are we just pieces in someone else's dream? Or is all of this just part of a dream I can't wake up from? And such a premise could make an interesting thesis topic. For me, it didn't present itself as a premise I could follow or believe in a fictional account. I spent more time reading about the author featured (E T A Hoffman) and his writings than I did reading this story. so although I really hate to give up so early in a book, I just wasn't drawn in or interested in going any further. There are obviously other readers that enjoyed this book. I don't want to dis' Mr Hartman, but this one just didn't do it for me. Too convoluted for me. Maybe I'll put it down for a while and then try again. if I do, and if my opinion changes, I'll be the first to say so in an update. I decided to submit my review now because I depend on other readers and their opinions before I download a book. and maybe this will save someone a little time and money.

[Paulah · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I ever start to go mad, please don’t let me go to the Palmer Psychiatric Institute in upstate New York! Mystery writer Bruce Hartman scares the living daylights out of me in The Rules of Dreaming, a pulse-raising, mind-bending thriller that weaves characters from The Tales of Hofmann through a contemporary murder mystery, until you as a reader are not sure who or where you are. By the time you figure it out, you may be half as mad as the young Dr. Ned Hofmann, caught in a sexually charged web connecting himself with the beautiful Nicole, the enchanting Olympia and the silent Antonia. Sound familiar? It is, and it isn’t. The Rules of Dreaming is a gem of book, especially for music lovers, armchair philosophers and serious voyeurs. Sanity is optional.

[Rebecca · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately I didn't enjoy this book at all. Each section jumped around too much and the narrators changed too quickly without any clues as to who was the main focus of the next little spot. I don't like it when it takes me several sentences to figure out who is speaking. You also only get bits and pieces of how each character interacts with each other and their role in the story. Its supposed to be about these two twins who are schizophrenic and they are hardly the focus in the story at all. Because I didn't feel like it had a good flow to it it was kind of a fight for me to get through the book, and I really hate feeling like that towards a book, but the experience I had wasn't a good one.

[Lori Weis coffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Psychological deception at it's finest. An intricate tale of mental health and reality befuddled by a work of fiction. Well tole details of diagnosed yet non-schizophrenic individuals intertwined with the staff members of a State Instituition, The Rules of Dreaming takes the reader on a trip of interesting proportions.

[Jackie · Rating 2 out of 5]

A psychological thriller that weaves you in and out of various realities. Wasn't a fantastic read but it held my interest

[Jaime · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

This one was just a bit slow to start, but not for long. Once it picks up some steam, it really gets interesting.

I did not see that coming! Has a delightful shocking twist that I really did not see coming!

Great psychological story with a mysterious flare. I enjoyed this one!

Good narration, good flow, excellent emotions.

Recommend for those who enjoy mystery &/or psychological type books!

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The Rules of Dreaming" which I won from a Goodreads Giveaway is a tantalizing murder mystery that revolves around the death of an opera singer, Maria Morgan, the mother of twin schizophrenic patients at the Palmer Institute a prestigious psychiatric hospital outside New York. Suffering from the trauma of the alleged suicide the twins reamin after seven years, heavily sedated ; the one lost in a world of silence, the other uttering mad gibberish.
In this novel Bruce Hartman blends a murder coverup, an operatic score, and madness which not only impacts the patients but the staff at the Institute. He weaves a story so intense and at times so complicated that the reader is challenged to pay close attention to details because the insanity can seem like reality.
As the plot thickens and the mystery of Maria's death begins to unravel leaving those trying to solve it in a wake of sinister repercussions, Bruce Hartman's characters seem to evolve, the strength of their personalities growing stronger as they confront each other and the sinister evil underlining the mystery. Ned Hoffman a newly graduated psychiatrist finds the isolated life of the Institute lonely. As he tries to bring the twins back to a kind of normalcy, Hunter's madness threatens to expose his secret desires that come alive in his fantasies and nightmares.
Nicole, a 26 year old graduate student recovering from a breakdown and struggling to regain her life befriends the twins and becomes involuntarily sucked into the mystery that surrounds their psychosis. When Hunter Morgan, the mad twin who speaks through multiple personalities begins fiendishly playing a Shumann piece without any training on the piano the threads of his psychosis begin to unravel and clues to his mother's murder are exposed. Into this insanely riveting plot add the sleuthing ability of Dubin,a self-proclaimed blackmailer, a guilt-ridden father, a distraught and unloved second wife, two competitive brothers, and two mad women-one an innocent virgin, the other a nymphomaniac. With each twist and turn of the story, each new murder, betrayal and illicit affair the timbre of the mystery and madness grows until the facts seem blurred in unreality. Only at the end does it all make sense and this novel becomes a remarkable, complicated work worth reading.

[Bruce Hartman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hope you will read it and enjoy it!

[Melanie Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having thoroughly enjoyed The Devil's Chaplain by Bruce Hartman, I thought I'd give The Rules of Dreaming a listen. Firstly, let me say that the narration by Neal Arango is excellent. He is an extremely talented voice actor, I thought he turned in a stellar performance in The Devil's Chaplain and, once again, in this book, his abilities are thoroughly tested and he scores A+++ throughout. I'll definitely be searching for more books Mr Arango has narrated. Now, onto the story. I have to confess I got somewhat confused; there is difficulty knowing which Hoffman is being referred to, if the talk is of composers, story characters or characters in this story. I was so busy trying to work out who was who that I kept losing the thread and having to go back and listen again. After a while I realised that it didn't actually matter and I just let the story kind of wash over me, and that made it so much easier. It may be that books such as these, where there are a number of people with the same or similar names, just don't translate well to audio, (or it may be that I'm a bit stupid). Anyway, once I stopped driving myself crazy trying to figure out exactly what was going on with who, I enjoyed it much more. I'm still not convinced I know precisely what happened, but I understood enough to get the gist. As I'm unlikely ever to be asked to write a paper on the intricacies of The Rules of Dreaming, comprehending the book on a very superficial level was more than enough!

[Dina_s · Rating 1 out of 5]

Ugh. Another dud I let alone couldn't finish - I could barely manage 20 pages of this. Terribly simplistic voice of the main character. Lots of overexplanation, generally used by inexperienced authors who don't quite know how to build a storyline or develop characters. Better suited for mid to late teens perhaps, although there is so much good quality YA literature out there one doesn't need to consider this book at all.

[Jessica L. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a quick read with one dynamic characters and a conclusion full of plot holes. If you’ve never read The Tales of Hoffman this book will be confusing, and it’s clear the author isn’t aware of this. Also, it was similar in style to Agatha Christie novels where the killer is revealed in the last couple pages without any clues actually leading to the killer, and then quickly ending.

[Rebecca Holliman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Odd, strangely compelling story in which the writings of E.T.A. Hoffman and the related Offenbach opera wind themselves into the lives and actions of the characters in and around a psychiatric institute.

[Deb · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book confusing, not only in the changing of narrator, but just the basic premise. A bit too philosophical for my taste, perhaps. It was an interesting premise, complicated by the writing style.

[Dianne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very slow confusing book with lots of twists and a surprise ending. Early on the chapters are labels as to the speaker then there is a confusing muddle. Soldier through as it is well worth the final few chapters.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Good book

You people should just read this book yourselves and write your own review on this novel yourself and I really enjoyed reading this book very much so. Shelley MA

[Mindy Boss · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good!

I would recommend this to anyone who love an excellent exciting mystery with lots of plots twists! Absolutely everything I look for in a book.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this author. Surprising twist at the end.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

Genre: Psychological mystery
Title: The Rules of Dreaming
Author: Bruce Hartman
Are we living our own life and in control of our own destiny or are we merely characters in the dreams of someone else?
The Rules of Dreaming is a murder mystery, a novel of madness and music that takes us deep into the minds of the characters in this intricately plotted novel which begins in a psychiatric hospital located in a small town just north of New York City.
An opera singer apparently commits suicide. Shortly thereafter, her two children are committed to a psychiatric hospital. Seven years later a blackmailer who was once a writer begins an investigation of the suicide and triggers a string of murders meant to look like suicides.
The truth lies deep in the minds of the children.
I especially enjoyed reading this book, having been a US Navy Corpsman who worked in a psychiatric ward and knows full well the fine line that can exist between those who have been diagnosed with a psychiatric illness and those of us who have not (yet) been diagnosed.
Like any good mystery, you will find yourself trying to solve the riddle before you get to the end by making careful note of the clues. But are you picking up on the right clues or are you being led astray? This is what drives you forward as you turn the pages in pursuit of the elusive truth.
What is reality? What is fantasy? In his book, Man and His Symbols, Carl Jung states, “What we consciously fail to see is frequently perceived by our unconscious, which can pass the information on through dreams. Dreams may often warn us in this way; but just as often, it seems, they do not.”
About the author
Author, Bruce Hartman live in Philadelphia and has worked as a pianist, music teacher, bookseller and attorney, and has been writing fiction for more years than he cares to remember. His first novel, Perfectly Healthy Man Drops Dead, won the Salvo Press Mystery Novel Award and was published by Salvo Press in 2008.
Summary: Highly Recommended, especially for those who love a well plotted mystery.
Reviewer: Peter Klein Allbooks Reviews.

Available from Amazon

Title: The Rules of Dreaming
Author: Bruce Hartman
Publisher: Swallow Tail Press
ISBN-10: 0988918102
ISBN-13: 978-0-98891-810-8
Pages: 298

[Donnie Burgess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dubin, an unscrupulous detective-turned-blackmailer, finds himself outside the Palmer Institute in northern New York. He’s investigating the apparent suicide of Maria Morgan, a local opera singer and the wife of a wealthy landowner, some seven years ago. His motive isn’t necessarily to find the truth.

Ned Hoffman, a psychiatrist who is new to the institute, is charged with the care of Hunter and Antonia Morgan, twin siblings and progeny of Maria and Avery Morgan. He’s concerned that the treatment they are receiving may not be in their best interest.

Each begins to question the same series of events from seven years before, trying to determine what really happened to Maria, and why Hunter and Antonia are in the institute. They soon learn that there’s more to Maria’s suicide and her children’s descent into madness than meets the eye.

In The Rules of Dreaming, Hartman uses a diverse cast of characters to tell a chilling tale of power, corruption, greed, and consequences. Each character is so well defined that it is often difficult to tell whose narrative is the most important to the story. Hartman’s seamless blend of first and third person narration keeps the mystery at the fore, while always leaving more questions than answers. From the first page to the last, I found myself reading at a frenzied pace to unravel the mystery. The moment I reached the words ‘the end’, I immediately wanted to read it again to look for hidden clues. The Rules of Dreaming is unquestionably the most engrossing mystery story I’ve read in years!

The Rules of Dreaming is a very unique book. It has one of the most complex stories I have read in years, with equally important narratives from half a dozen primary characters. The amount of action and introspection from the primary characters makes keeping track of everything a bit laborious, but well worth the effort. The esoteric nature of arguing the merits of different schools of psychology and complex literary theory make for a recondite mental workout -- If you’re looking for a light cozy mystery, this isn’t it.

See additional notes on this story on my website.

[Brook · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book, at my request, and am leaving this voluntary unbiased review.

Let me start by saying, I don't read/listen to much mystery. However the premise of this one intrigued me. I was a little confused when I started, as the story I was expecting was not what I got.

The synopsis of the book suggests the book centers around Nichole, a stressed college student. While she is one of the 3 POV's we see the story through, the bulk of the story is told from the POV of her psychiatrist Dr. Hoffman. He tells the main narrative, while Nichole and Dubin are mostly there to provide external information that Dr. Hoffman doesn't posses.

The story, however, is good. It twist the turns and eventually gets to a conclusion. **minor spoilers** don't think too hard, though, the book doesn't really give you enough info to solve the mystery more than a guess or hunch.

But ultimately, this book is less mystery and more of a study of the human mind. The "who done it" is really just the catalyst for the plot, rather than the plot itself. It definitely speaks great volume about the state of a decaying mind and our perception of reality.

I wasn't a big fan of the pacing of the main story, however. It crammed a lot into the first 1/3 of the book, then languished on for quite a while. Instead of progressing the plot, it more increased the mystery and just kind of hung about. The story would burst forward a small amount then just grind to a stop again. The starting and stopping made it hard to get any momentum with the story. I haven't decided if this was deliberate or not, to keep the reader off balance (like a patient) or if this was an oversight.

The voice narration by Neal Arango was good. His male characters were well done and mostly differently acted. His female voices were passable and not bad. However, as there was few females in the book,I don't know how he would have coped in a book with a wider character set.

All in all a very interesting book, even if it did drag on a bit at times. The voice acting was well done and believable. A definite 3.5 /5.

[Regina]

You don't what's what or who's who in this listen! Could Dubin be someone other than who he says he is? Is Nicole really crazy?? Whose daughter is Olympia, anyway? Was Maria murdered or was it suicide? Are Hofmann and Bratolli crazy or brilliant and about to cure Hunter and Antonia? Are Hunter and Antonia as crazy as they appear?

Maria commits suicide while rehearsing to perform the opera of the Tales of Hofmann. This sets the stage for a real life drama acting out the opera seven years later. The setting is a mental hospital where her two children have been placed after her death. They are schizophrenics who have every appearance of living in their own world. The real and surreal are so deftly painted that you really don't know what happened to who and who anybody really is until the very end! I did guess what happened and by whom about an hour from the end of the listen but I wasn't entirely sure I was right until the last scene unfolded.

Neal Arango does a great job with the narration and brings the story to life.

I received this audiobook from Audiobook Boom! in exchange for an honest review.

[Francis Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say, the subject Bruce Hartman chose to write about, is a particularly interesting and fascinating one for me. The story; set in a psychiatric institution, (the Palmer Institute) grabbed me from the start. The story is obviously written by a skilled writer, who is able to put across his ideas in an easy and profound way. The story is launched by an inmate Hunter Morgan (who has a twin sister), who unexpectedly starts playing the piano, despite anyone having any knowledge of his ability to play or musical training. The style of Hunter’s music is later described as “demonic music”. The story is often told through the first person, a doctor being the narrator but other characters also bring the story to light. The story delves into the complex subject of Schizophrenia. The story has lots of twists and turns and unexpected surprises. A very dark pleasing story that seems very well researched and well thought out. If you are brave enough to read a dark complex be sure to check out Hartmen’s uniquely original book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love books where reality and fantasy are so well blended that you can't tell which is which. The Rules of Dreaming is that kind of book, a tale of obsession, failed love, and madness. The play The Tales of Hoffmann, that took the real-life German poet, E.T.A. Hoffmann, and made him a character in some of his own fanciful stories, is part of the story. The reader is whirled like a puppet dancer onto stage into a dark setting of art and murder where all is not as it seems. The author is pitch-perfect, pulling the strings at just the right moments, weaving a hynotic who-dunnit with eccentric, creepy characters and a powerful voice. Add to that a mental hospital and an atmosphere that would make Edgar Allan Poe proud, and you've got a winner. A twisted tale of obsession that will grab you and won't let go. Highly recommended!
Kelly Jameson, author of Dead On, What Remained of Katrina, and others

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I crazy?

This book took me a little longer to get through. At times it was a little difficult to follow who was speaking. Sometimes it was in first person other times third person. The plot of this book is about a murder that was never solved. The murder of a mother of two young children who witnessed it but we're to young to tell their story. They were so traumatised they were put into a mental institution because .no one could understand them. Years later through storytelling and various investigations the truth is revealed.
This book takes many twists and turns. It leads you through a maze of wonder. Why is this Dr. doing this or that. Then the last few chapters arrive and it begins to make sense. Then come the question of who really killed Maria.
Love, lust and true craziness affect the lives of many.
A great book to read. I hope you enjoy.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was good, really interesting, but just not as good as I had hoped. It didn't sweep me away into another world like I had hoped it would. It did however make me very interested in some of the stories and writers referenced throughout, that the story is based on.


** Possible Spoilers? **









Got a tad confusing towards the end, what with characters having multiple personalities I knew something was "not right" but still a bit challenging to comprehend what exactly was going on. I feel like there was a gap in the story, that the author sums up as a complex hallucination, but that's not good enough for me. I want more explanation about what was actually happening during that hallucination. It like he took the easy the way, as if he were to use "and then he woke up. The end."

[DotBlack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting novel with an original plot.

It really grabbed my attention from the beginning and I actually liked how story switched from one charater to another and the way characters were introduced, especially that several characters and settings took place in each chapter; I find it relieving for my curiosity.

There were also insightful poetic lines in this thriller, and a few really thrilling moments. I like the way the novel was written, but I felt like something "got broken" (besides personalities or realities) in the last quarter of the book; I'm not sure what exactly was it.

After reading The Rules of Dreaming I'm interested in reading other work from the author (as well as the work he mentioned in this novel).

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

They say that there is a fine line between sanity and sanity. How do you know when that line has been crossed?
This dark and edgy psychological thriller had my brains twisted! The convoluted plotting and deception are of the highest calibre.
The characters include schizophrenic twins, two competitive brothers, a blackmailer, a father who is consumed by guilt, a neglected second wife, a librarian, a graduate, a nymphomaniac and a virgin.
It leaves you wondering, what is reality and what is fantasy?
A tale of madness, music—and murder! It delivers all that and more!

[Leann · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book. Creative, complex, even convoluted plotting yet I never felt lost or confused. Surprised, yes. It does require suspending disbelief for a bit, but this is fiction after all. Furthermore, it is a pleasure to read. The editing so clean and polished there is no stumbling over mechanics here.