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Lorenzo Da Ponte #1
The Figaro Murders
In 1786 Vienna, Lorenzo Da Ponte is the court librettist for the Italian Theatre during the height of the enlightened reign of Emperor Joseph II. This exalted position doesn't mean he's particularly well paid, or even out of reach of the endless intrigues of the opera world. In fact, far from it.
One morning, Da Ponte stops off at his barber, only to find the man being taken away to debtor's prison. Da Ponte impetuously agrees to carry a message to his barber's fiancée and try to help her set him free, even though he's facing pressures of his own. He's got one week to finish the libretto for The Marriage of Figaro for Mozart before the opera is premiered for the Emperor himself.
Da Ponte visits the house where the barber's fiancée works—the home of a nobleman, high in the Vienna's diplomatic circles—and then returns to his own apartments, only to be dragged from his rooms in the middle of the night. It seems the young protégé of the diplomat was killed right about the time Da Ponte was visiting, and he happens to be their main suspect. Now he's given a choice—go undercover into the household and uncover the murderer, or be hanged for the crime himself.
Brilliantly recreating the cultural world of late 18th century Vienna, the epicenter of the Enlightenment, Lebow brings to life some of the most famous figures of music, theatre, and politics.
One morning, Da Ponte stops off at his barber, only to find the man being taken away to debtor's prison. Da Ponte impetuously agrees to carry a message to his barber's fiancée and try to help her set him free, even though he's facing pressures of his own. He's got one week to finish the libretto for The Marriage of Figaro for Mozart before the opera is premiered for the Emperor himself.
Da Ponte visits the house where the barber's fiancée works—the home of a nobleman, high in the Vienna's diplomatic circles—and then returns to his own apartments, only to be dragged from his rooms in the middle of the night. It seems the young protégé of the diplomat was killed right about the time Da Ponte was visiting, and he happens to be their main suspect. Now he's given a choice—go undercover into the household and uncover the murderer, or be hanged for the crime himself.
Brilliantly recreating the cultural world of late 18th century Vienna, the epicenter of the Enlightenment, Lebow brings to life some of the most famous figures of music, theatre, and politics.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 21, 2014
4 people are currently reading
1299 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lebow
4 books66 followersLaura Lebow holds a degree in European History from Brandeis University and a Master in City Planning from MIT. A long-time mystery reader and history buff, she lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
January 31, 2024
I liked everything about this mystery and would be ready to start and reading it one more time immediately! _ 5 FULL STARS WELL DESERVED
__THE PLOT__ Vienna,1786.
Lorenzo Da Ponte, poet and opera librettist, is working for the theater of the court of Joseph II together with composers such as Mozart and Martín y Soler.
One morning he is involved with an acquaintance-friend in the search for his real mother who gave him up for adoption as soon as he was born.
Starting this research, Da Ponte finds himself involved, without his knowledge, in a murder and accused by the police of being the culprit, he has only one possibility to avoid hanging: that of discovering the real murderer, who, according to the police, is also a spy sent by the King of Prussia.
For his investigations he will have to infiltrate in disguise, into the house of an important baron, a close collaborator of the emperor.
___AN HISTORICAL MYSTERY RICH IN HISTORICAL NOTIONS, BUT NEVER BORING :
This is a mystery for those who love historical mysteries in the true sense of the word.
We are at the end of the 18th century and unlike other books in which the author limits himself to describing wigs, silver buckles and outfits, here we can fully grasp the atmosphere of the city at that time.
As we read we can see its wonderful palaces, churches and cathedral, streets and squares that still exist today.
The author inserts places and historical notions throughout the plot of the book and does so in a wise and captivating way, without ever making the reading boring and without going out of the context of the mystery (or rather of the 2 mysteries) on which our "improvised detective " is investigating.
There are many historical characters, who really existed, in the book and many of them take part in the dialogues from time to time, following the real memoirs that Da Ponte wrote and that some historical figures ( part of the characters in this novel ) wrote.
Lorenzo Da Ponte, the main character, was truly an Italian librettist who wrote the libretto for 3 of Mozart's operas, including "The Marriage of Figaro".
Just as I loved walking around the city of Vienna (where I was born and which I know quite well) with Da Ponte, so I loved being with him at the opera, while he attended the premieres, while he worked with Mozart and the actor-singers (those real people who performed at the premiere of the opera), while he compares himself with his colleagues-rivals-enemies such as Salieri, Casti and the theater director Rosenberg (all of whom really existed).
I can say that even if you are not a music expert or opera enthusiast, the plot is fascinating and interesting, there wasn't a single moment in which I was bored, I loved everything and made me want to read a biography about Joseph II and watch Mozart's and other composers operas, starting immediately with some videos on Youtube.
The whole plot of the mystery is cleverly constructed and there are at least 7 suspects and each has valid reasons to be the culprit, so it is impossible to understand the culprit before the revelation at the end of the book.
___THE MAIN CHARACTER ___ I like the protagonist. In the book he is about 37 years old and is a romantic man in love with love, who suffers from the remoteness of his hometown (from which he was exiled) and earns his living by working for the court of Vienna as poet and opera librettist.
Despite his prestigious job, he earns little and often has to deal with the reality of an expensive city.
He is often mocked by his rivals, he is humble but also confident in his artistic abilities to be able to take his victory.
He is not interested in being a detective and would really like not to have ended up in that mess, however he is man enough to keep the word given to a friend and not to betray the confidences of those he cares about even if this could put his life at risk. .
The character of Lorenzo Da Ponte tells us everything in the first person and does so in an effective and engaging way, so much so that I often felt completely involved in his emotions.
Obviously this is a fiction so we must always keep this in mind, but I liked reading in the author's historical notes that the description of the character (i.e. of his way of being) was faithful to what could be intuited from his memoirs, the same it applies to some events described and actually happened and to other characters.
There is a second installment with Lorenzo Da Ponte in Vienna and I will read it as soon as possible, as I will do for another series of 2 books set in 18th century Paris (with a different main character).
However, I was very sad to discover that this good author has written nothing else and has literally disappeared (no news about her, no other books in recent years, the author's website actually no longer existing).
The author's writing is very fluent and the book can be read well in 3 or 4 days.
It took me longer because I had a bad flu and it's difficult to read with a cough, a stuffy nose and watery eyes, but I couldn't have had better company (after my 3 cats obviously).
Thanks for reading my review. I apologize for the errors in the text, but as always I remember that English is not my native language.
__THE PLOT__ Vienna,1786.
Lorenzo Da Ponte, poet and opera librettist, is working for the theater of the court of Joseph II together with composers such as Mozart and Martín y Soler.
One morning he is involved with an acquaintance-friend in the search for his real mother who gave him up for adoption as soon as he was born.
Starting this research, Da Ponte finds himself involved, without his knowledge, in a murder and accused by the police of being the culprit, he has only one possibility to avoid hanging: that of discovering the real murderer, who, according to the police, is also a spy sent by the King of Prussia.
For his investigations he will have to infiltrate in disguise, into the house of an important baron, a close collaborator of the emperor.
___AN HISTORICAL MYSTERY RICH IN HISTORICAL NOTIONS, BUT NEVER BORING :
This is a mystery for those who love historical mysteries in the true sense of the word.
We are at the end of the 18th century and unlike other books in which the author limits himself to describing wigs, silver buckles and outfits, here we can fully grasp the atmosphere of the city at that time.
As we read we can see its wonderful palaces, churches and cathedral, streets and squares that still exist today.
The author inserts places and historical notions throughout the plot of the book and does so in a wise and captivating way, without ever making the reading boring and without going out of the context of the mystery (or rather of the 2 mysteries) on which our "improvised detective " is investigating.
There are many historical characters, who really existed, in the book and many of them take part in the dialogues from time to time, following the real memoirs that Da Ponte wrote and that some historical figures ( part of the characters in this novel ) wrote.
Lorenzo Da Ponte, the main character, was truly an Italian librettist who wrote the libretto for 3 of Mozart's operas, including "The Marriage of Figaro".
Just as I loved walking around the city of Vienna (where I was born and which I know quite well) with Da Ponte, so I loved being with him at the opera, while he attended the premieres, while he worked with Mozart and the actor-singers (those real people who performed at the premiere of the opera), while he compares himself with his colleagues-rivals-enemies such as Salieri, Casti and the theater director Rosenberg (all of whom really existed).
I can say that even if you are not a music expert or opera enthusiast, the plot is fascinating and interesting, there wasn't a single moment in which I was bored, I loved everything and made me want to read a biography about Joseph II and watch Mozart's and other composers operas, starting immediately with some videos on Youtube.
The whole plot of the mystery is cleverly constructed and there are at least 7 suspects and each has valid reasons to be the culprit, so it is impossible to understand the culprit before the revelation at the end of the book.
___THE MAIN CHARACTER ___ I like the protagonist. In the book he is about 37 years old and is a romantic man in love with love, who suffers from the remoteness of his hometown (from which he was exiled) and earns his living by working for the court of Vienna as poet and opera librettist.
Despite his prestigious job, he earns little and often has to deal with the reality of an expensive city.
He is often mocked by his rivals, he is humble but also confident in his artistic abilities to be able to take his victory.
He is not interested in being a detective and would really like not to have ended up in that mess, however he is man enough to keep the word given to a friend and not to betray the confidences of those he cares about even if this could put his life at risk. .
The character of Lorenzo Da Ponte tells us everything in the first person and does so in an effective and engaging way, so much so that I often felt completely involved in his emotions.
Obviously this is a fiction so we must always keep this in mind, but I liked reading in the author's historical notes that the description of the character (i.e. of his way of being) was faithful to what could be intuited from his memoirs, the same it applies to some events described and actually happened and to other characters.
There is a second installment with Lorenzo Da Ponte in Vienna and I will read it as soon as possible, as I will do for another series of 2 books set in 18th century Paris (with a different main character).
However, I was very sad to discover that this good author has written nothing else and has literally disappeared (no news about her, no other books in recent years, the author's website actually no longer existing).
The author's writing is very fluent and the book can be read well in 3 or 4 days.
It took me longer because I had a bad flu and it's difficult to read with a cough, a stuffy nose and watery eyes, but I couldn't have had better company (after my 3 cats obviously).
Thanks for reading my review. I apologize for the errors in the text, but as always I remember that English is not my native language.
March 25, 2015
The Figaro Murders is a traditional cozy murder mystery novel set in the past, Vienna in 1786, featuring fictionalized versions of historical people: Lorenzo Da Ponte, Mozart, Saleri, Emperor Joseph II... The author tries to stay as close to the truth about theses people and the events they were involved in at that time.
In the case of Lorenzo Da Ponte, the Italian-Venetian protagonist of this book, of which this is the first in a new series, there are his many writings to mine for facts, personality traits, trivia, etc. The author makes good use of these things to bring her main character to life.
The Italian poet is rich with quirks, an interesting past (seen in remembrances by the character), and a fascinating present. And like any decent Italian, he misses his Italian food, resorting to frequenting a secret Italian trattoria run by a Neapolitan.
Like all good amateur detective novels, the protagonist is drawn into an investigation. The first investigation is for a friend, but that is quickly overtaken by a more serious investigation Da Ponte must conduct by order of the authorities.
The book begins the story in 1786 in Vienna, and we spend the whole time in and around Vienna until 1787 with Da Ponte. Da Ponte had been living in Vienna for five years when we join him. Vienna at the time of The Figaro Murders is the busy, hectic capital of an Empire. The author works hard to bring a strong sense of place to the story.
Because Da Ponte was a poet and librettist for operas, we are immersed in the opera community, given a ring-side-seat as Mozart and others create and stage an opera. The opera featured in the book is Mozart and Da Ponte's Marriage of Figaro.
The book is well-written, well-edited and nicely presented. I received it as a review-copy. For readers who love historical novels, there is much about the time and place to enjoy and edify. There is great appeal for lovers of opera, too. And for lovers of mysteries, there is a well-plotted murder-mystery for the amateur detective to unravel.
There is some violence that happens before the reader about 1/4 of a way in, and a bit later, too, manly perpetrated against the amateur detective, which I found distasteful reading, and out of place in a traditional cozy mystery, in which the violence normally takes place off-scene.
But on the whole, I thought the book was very entertaining, and I wouldn't mind reading the next in the series, which features Mozart's and Da Ponte's work on the opera Don Giovanni.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
In the case of Lorenzo Da Ponte, the Italian-Venetian protagonist of this book, of which this is the first in a new series, there are his many writings to mine for facts, personality traits, trivia, etc. The author makes good use of these things to bring her main character to life.
The Italian poet is rich with quirks, an interesting past (seen in remembrances by the character), and a fascinating present. And like any decent Italian, he misses his Italian food, resorting to frequenting a secret Italian trattoria run by a Neapolitan.
Like all good amateur detective novels, the protagonist is drawn into an investigation. The first investigation is for a friend, but that is quickly overtaken by a more serious investigation Da Ponte must conduct by order of the authorities.
The book begins the story in 1786 in Vienna, and we spend the whole time in and around Vienna until 1787 with Da Ponte. Da Ponte had been living in Vienna for five years when we join him. Vienna at the time of The Figaro Murders is the busy, hectic capital of an Empire. The author works hard to bring a strong sense of place to the story.
Because Da Ponte was a poet and librettist for operas, we are immersed in the opera community, given a ring-side-seat as Mozart and others create and stage an opera. The opera featured in the book is Mozart and Da Ponte's Marriage of Figaro.
The book is well-written, well-edited and nicely presented. I received it as a review-copy. For readers who love historical novels, there is much about the time and place to enjoy and edify. There is great appeal for lovers of opera, too. And for lovers of mysteries, there is a well-plotted murder-mystery for the amateur detective to unravel.
There is some violence that happens before the reader about 1/4 of a way in, and a bit later, too, manly perpetrated against the amateur detective, which I found distasteful reading, and out of place in a traditional cozy mystery, in which the violence normally takes place off-scene.
But on the whole, I thought the book was very entertaining, and I wouldn't mind reading the next in the series, which features Mozart's and Da Ponte's work on the opera Don Giovanni.
Please visit my full and illustrated review at Italophile Book Reviews.
http://italophilebookreviews.blogspot...
December 31, 2015
A murder mystery set in Vienna in the late 1700s. The main character is Lorenzo Da Ponte, a real historical figure who worked as a librettist for Mozart's operas (and, you know, also for other people's operas, but most of them have no name recognition today). Which is a pretty cool idea, but sadly the actual book did not live up to the premise. The writing is extremely choppy and does that thing where it avoids contractions in the hope of sounding formal and ~historical~. Lebow clearly has done a lot of historical research, but it's all communicated in awkward infodumps that disappears again as soon as the moment's over. There's no deep sense of world-building. Da Ponte as a character is whiny, misogynist (the book is incredibly, weirdly full of male gaze, with every female character defined as either "hot and useful" or "old and/or ugly and annoying"), and self-pitying, but in Lebow's defense, I think that might be historically accurate. It doesn't make him a sympathetic character though.
The strangest part of the book is that it's basically a retelling of the The Marriage of Figaro (well, if Cherubino had gotten murdered at the beginning) with the names changed, but none of the characters remark on the similarity. It's not just a retelling, because the opera also exists in the world of the book, but it's not supposed to be the characters' inspiration to write the opera either, because it's already written before the book starts. It's just... a weird reenactment, down to most of the major mysteries of the book (guess who the barber's long-long mother is? the same one as in the opera! Guess who the murderer is? the only character who didn't really have a plot in the opera!). I'd say the intended audience is people who don't know The Marriage of Figaro, but surely anyone who would buy a book advertized as about Mozart's librettist would be at least vaguely familiar with one of the most famous operas.
I read this as an ARC via NetGalley.
The strangest part of the book is that it's basically a retelling of the The Marriage of Figaro (well, if Cherubino had gotten murdered at the beginning) with the names changed, but none of the characters remark on the similarity. It's not just a retelling, because the opera also exists in the world of the book, but it's not supposed to be the characters' inspiration to write the opera either, because it's already written before the book starts. It's just... a weird reenactment, down to most of the major mysteries of the book (guess who the barber's long-long mother is? the same one as in the opera! Guess who the murderer is? the only character who didn't really have a plot in the opera!). I'd say the intended audience is people who don't know The Marriage of Figaro, but surely anyone who would buy a book advertized as about Mozart's librettist would be at least vaguely familiar with one of the most famous operas.
I read this as an ARC via NetGalley.
June 14, 2016
I finished Laura Lebow's THE FIGARO MURDERS. So there is that. The book is more or less interesting, interesting enough to see the story through anyway. The murders, and there are three, have very little to with Figaro, Figaro being the lead character in the famous Mozart opera. Mozart plays a role too, though not a large one. The story focuses instead on Lorenzo Da Ponte who really was the librettist for Mozart when he wrote Figaro.
Da Ponte, Lebow explains in her notes after the story, was chosen as the focus of the story because too much is known about Mozart for him to have been a viable storyteller in a murder mystery. That little is known about Lorenzo Da Ponte made him more compelling, in her eyes.
The trouble is... the story was a good story from the start. It didn't need an actual character to be interesting. Da Ponte tells the story well enough, because the emperor's poet would have traveled in all the worlds necessary to tell the story but it almost seems as though Lebow tries too hard to keep him in character, when little seems to known about his character. He's not the most interesting person in the story.
The supporting characters, the entirely fictitious characters are. I want to read them tell me the story.
But it's a good enough read to pass the time and be happy about it.
(I received a copy of THE FIGARO MURDERS through NetGalley and ___ in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)
Da Ponte, Lebow explains in her notes after the story, was chosen as the focus of the story because too much is known about Mozart for him to have been a viable storyteller in a murder mystery. That little is known about Lorenzo Da Ponte made him more compelling, in her eyes.
The trouble is... the story was a good story from the start. It didn't need an actual character to be interesting. Da Ponte tells the story well enough, because the emperor's poet would have traveled in all the worlds necessary to tell the story but it almost seems as though Lebow tries too hard to keep him in character, when little seems to known about his character. He's not the most interesting person in the story.
The supporting characters, the entirely fictitious characters are. I want to read them tell me the story.
But it's a good enough read to pass the time and be happy about it.
(I received a copy of THE FIGARO MURDERS through NetGalley and ___ in exchange for an honest and original review. All thoughts are my own.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2017
In preparation for Classic Lines new gig with the Pittsburgh Opera I've been reading fiction that ties in with the upcoming productions. This murder mystery, set in Vienna, features Lorenzo Da Ponte (librettist for Marriage of Figaro) as the main character working to solve the murder while trying to finish the libretto. It a great depiction of Vienna during the late 1700s and the early years of Joseph II's reign of the empire. You'll want have a street map of Vienna to follow Da Ponte's travels all over the city. Reading this really made me want to visit Vienna again and to see the Marriage of Figaro again too. Fortunately the opera is doing it this season in November.
March 12, 2015
Lovers of historical mysteries will devour Laura Lebow's The Figaro Murders. You get wonderful glimpses of Mozart as well as two mysteries that are intertwined.
Lorenzo finds himself in trouble after he does a favor for a barber friend, who is looking for his birth mother and through that mystery he gets caught up in the murder of a young prince who was working for the baron.
Lebow brings the historical figures to life while weaving a story full of intrigue, affairs and betrayal. Da Ponte is the librettist for Mozart and a court poet. For those not well versed in classical music, he really is the librettist for The Marriage of Figaro.
Da Ponte is instantly likable because things aren't all rosy for him. He's working hard to make Figaro a success and he has a lot of enemies that would like to see him fail. But it is his loyalty to his barber that will endear him to readers. His crush on the baroness is really sweet too.
He has only a small box of items that may or may not help him find his barber's family. This hunt leads him from pawn shops to schools for the deaf. I felt that this search was more important than his search for the killer.
There are many twists and turns along the way and it is virtually impossible to figure how whodunit as well as who the barber's mother was. When you finally get the big reveal, I guarantee that you'll be surprised.
A wonderful read. Highly recommended.
Lorenzo finds himself in trouble after he does a favor for a barber friend, who is looking for his birth mother and through that mystery he gets caught up in the murder of a young prince who was working for the baron.
Lebow brings the historical figures to life while weaving a story full of intrigue, affairs and betrayal. Da Ponte is the librettist for Mozart and a court poet. For those not well versed in classical music, he really is the librettist for The Marriage of Figaro.
Da Ponte is instantly likable because things aren't all rosy for him. He's working hard to make Figaro a success and he has a lot of enemies that would like to see him fail. But it is his loyalty to his barber that will endear him to readers. His crush on the baroness is really sweet too.
He has only a small box of items that may or may not help him find his barber's family. This hunt leads him from pawn shops to schools for the deaf. I felt that this search was more important than his search for the killer.
There are many twists and turns along the way and it is virtually impossible to figure how whodunit as well as who the barber's mother was. When you finally get the big reveal, I guarantee that you'll be surprised.
A wonderful read. Highly recommended.
April 26, 2015
This book was enjoyable and I would give it 3.5 stars. The main character, Signore Lorenzo Da Ponte, is rather whiny and weak-by his own admission. By the end of the book he was slightly better but I prefer my main protagonist not be so whiny while at the same time full of himself. A little humility would have gone a long way with Signor Poet. All-in-all an easy read that held my attention. The murder plot was a little thin and when the murderer revealed a little anti-climatic. I liked Vienna as the backdrop of the book and the exchanges with Herr Mozart though I would have liked a little more from him. While reading the authors notes at the end she wanted the focus to be on the almost forgotten Da Ponte and not the over-exposed Mozart but I think the story could be a little richer with more Mozart. The author alludes to more adventures coming and I will read future exploits of Lorenzo, Vienna and Herr Mozart.
April 1, 2015
Murder and musical genius!
A fascinating walk through 1786 Vienna during the time of Emperor Joseph II. Lorenzo Da Ponte the court librettist is working with Mozart on The Marriage of Figaro. At the same time he is fighting off the taunts and political machinations of his court rivals. When Da Ponte's barber is taken to debtor's prison Ponte agrees to help him. Suddenly Da Ponte's path is strewn with murder, secret police and possible traitors before he can come to some illuminating conclusions. A clever mystery that rings true with the jostling politics of artistic rivals and the more sinister actions of other interested parties. Lebow brilliantly imbues the times and personalities with startling and believable realism.
A NetGalley ARC
A fascinating walk through 1786 Vienna during the time of Emperor Joseph II. Lorenzo Da Ponte the court librettist is working with Mozart on The Marriage of Figaro. At the same time he is fighting off the taunts and political machinations of his court rivals. When Da Ponte's barber is taken to debtor's prison Ponte agrees to help him. Suddenly Da Ponte's path is strewn with murder, secret police and possible traitors before he can come to some illuminating conclusions. A clever mystery that rings true with the jostling politics of artistic rivals and the more sinister actions of other interested parties. Lebow brilliantly imbues the times and personalities with startling and believable realism.
A NetGalley ARC
June 7, 2016
Actually, I would like the rating to be 3.5 stars, but I'm not given that option. I found it hard to like da Fonte, the solver of the Figaro murders. There's a lot--maybe too much--going on in this mystery. His work as a librettist for Mozart and Martin, his willingness to search for Vogel's birth mother, the whole Baron Gabler's household, his work as a "soy" to uncover the murders,to name just four. There are a lot of characters in the household and two murders occur there. I also found it hard to like him as a person and to believe that anyone could get that beat up and still carry on five minutes later. The author certainly knows a lot about Vienna and musicians there at this time. And she certainly knows the names of all the streets and houses.
March 10, 2017
The good news is that you can enjoy the Figaro Murders without any special love of opera. The setting is Vienna in the weeks before the opera has its opening. Lorenzo DaPonte is an "accidental detective" in the truest sense. He is working with Wolfgang Mozart on the opera Figaro when he is asked to solve two puzzles. Not easy tasks at all he thinks and he is right. But before long these puzzles turn into murder cases.
Go ahead and spend some time in Vienna in 1783. Just watch both ways for horses.
Go ahead and spend some time in Vienna in 1783. Just watch both ways for horses.
March 21, 2015
VERDICT: If you enjoy both the world of operas and historical mysteries, The Figaro Murders is a must for you. Built on very serious background work and using the characters of the opera itself, it offers a very suspenseful, entertaining, and insightful view of late 18th century Vienna in which lived famous librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte.
My full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2015/03/21/b...
My full review is here:
http://wordsandpeace.com/2015/03/21/b...
June 26, 2015
If this were a screenplay, I would cross out about half of the first chapter. No. 3/4 of it. The dialogue is repetitive and trite and the opening puzzle is unrealistic and trite. The premise was exciting, but the execution was poor. After reading other reviews, I am glad I didn't pursue the book any further.
Disappointed in what could have been a great historical murder mystery.
Disappointed in what could have been a great historical murder mystery.
February 17, 2015
Thanks St. Martins press and netgalley for arc.
I couldn't help but love this book. The main character is so likeable and you just want to kick some of the other's ass for him. Very twisty turny mystery set in 'vienna, and the atmosphere was just right.
I couldn't help but love this book. The main character is so likeable and you just want to kick some of the other's ass for him. Very twisty turny mystery set in 'vienna, and the atmosphere was just right.
February 16, 2022
I really wanted to love this but there was too much character development missing so I never felt investing in the story or the characters, especially the main character. I loved the descriptions of Vienna and the music but the actual story left me cold.
August 30, 2015
Good mystery set in an interesting time period with great historical characters
January 15, 2025
DNF. So so boring! It only gets a second star because the author took some trouble with the historical detail which she seemed to enjoy a lot more than writing about the characters or the mystery.
November 9, 2019
We like to keep in tune and march in step with musically themed fiction and we direct our attention to 1786 Vienna, all aglow in the strains of Mozart and others who bow to the high Cs. In The Figaro Murders by Laura Lebow (her first novel), Wolfgang is an incidental character, with the principal being Lorenzo Da Ponte (an actual librettist who worked with Mozart) who is charged with solving all the cacophonous crimes, including murder (of course) and misplaced identities, wrongful deaths, unrequited love, and so on, until the final curtain comes down.
To Ms Lebow’s credit, she does conduct a vivid scene of old Vienna. Peter Tremayne, a noted author himself, calls "The Figaro Murders” “tightly written…compelling the reader breathlessly to the final scene. Masterful story telling.” This reader is not sure if Tremayne is referring to "Figaro" here, but “breathless” isn’t in our vocabulary for this book. Or even “masterful story telling.” Still, though, while the author simply has too many “movements” in this opus, we found it worth reading and entertaining, although as a mystery it has some weaknesses, mainly in characterization and plot control. But the author’s eye for detail and location made the book interesting reading.
And if it’s going to involve Mozart, perhaps, as the King says, we can all whistle a happy tune!
To Ms Lebow’s credit, she does conduct a vivid scene of old Vienna. Peter Tremayne, a noted author himself, calls "The Figaro Murders” “tightly written…compelling the reader breathlessly to the final scene. Masterful story telling.” This reader is not sure if Tremayne is referring to "Figaro" here, but “breathless” isn’t in our vocabulary for this book. Or even “masterful story telling.” Still, though, while the author simply has too many “movements” in this opus, we found it worth reading and entertaining, although as a mystery it has some weaknesses, mainly in characterization and plot control. But the author’s eye for detail and location made the book interesting reading.
And if it’s going to involve Mozart, perhaps, as the King says, we can all whistle a happy tune!
January 20, 2018
Intriguingly situated in the Vienna of 1786 during the reign of Emperor Joseph 11. Mozart is at his peak, furiously turning out the music for his opera, "Figaro," while his librettist, Lorenzo da Ponte, is desperate to finish the lines in time for the following week's premiere. Da Ponte impetuously decides to assist his barber before the police drag him off to debtors' prison. This help involves going to the home of the barber's former employer, Count Gabler. The visit sets alarm bells ringing in certain quarters, as Da Ponte is dragged from his bed that night, taken to the Minister of Police, suspected of murdering the young protege of the Count whose death was deemed to have taken place around the time of Da Ponte's visit. When we mix in the plight of the barber, the murder of a youth who could pass for a girl, a love affair, jealousy over Count Gabler's expected diplomatic appointment to the German court, suspected spying, an illegitimate baby lost these many years, and nuns with secrets, we have the plot-lines for more than one opera. All that was missing in this delightful book was Mozart's transcendent music
March 6, 2019
I found this mystery ultimately frustrating. Lorenzo Da Ponte was, if his libretti are anything to go by, a quick-witted, clever sort of fellow. But the Da Ponte in the novel, our reluctant detective, was dull. The novel is filled with dramatic irony--the reader reaches easy conclusions from obvious clues, then sits and waits for Da Ponte to slowly put two and two together. I don't mind a reluctant hero, but at some point I want their thirst for knowledge, for the truth, to take over and for them to end up being natural detectives all along. Instead, the mystery sort of happens to Da Ponte while he follows along stupidly. I found it hard to cheer for him.
Nice to run into Mozart, though. Mozart could have cracked the case in two seconds.
Nice to run into Mozart, though. Mozart could have cracked the case in two seconds.
November 6, 2020
An entertaining, if rather lightweight, mystery in a historical context. The central character, Lorenzo da Ponte, gets involved in one of the grand houses of Vienna to discover the identity of a person apparently spying for Frederick of Prussia and who killed the son of an important noble of the Holy Roman Emperor, Joseph II, who is also da Ponte's (and Mozart's) protector. The author has done her homework well and depicts the Vienna of the late 18th Century well, along with the political intrigues of Vienna and of the Empire. The plot develops along with the final preparations of the opera "Marriage of Figaro", thus the title of the book.
March 14, 2023
Lorenzo DaPonte is the focus of this mystery created around real characters and events, set during the making of Mozart's opera The Marriage of Figaro. Although I have attended many operas I confess to being grossly ignorant of the importance of the role of the librettist. Author Laura Lebow has enlightened me by placing DaPonte into the featured role as the hero who is being forced into the unlikely task of solving murders and uncovering espionage while striving to achieve success as the librettist for composers such as Mozart.
I look forward to reading the sequel and DaPonte's next adventures.
I look forward to reading the sequel and DaPonte's next adventures.
June 12, 2017
An absolute perfect mystery – with a complicated plot, well written --- and a lot of history included although a few of the characters are fictional – life with Mozart in Vienna during the 1786’s! Was so very good I read it in less than 24 hours and was a fun read! There's just not enough stars to rate it as it should be!
May 13, 2021
Vienna: Salieri squabbles with Mozart & the poet & co-writer w/ Mozart for the Emperor. (who is sent to investigate the murder of the young boy)
The bumbling poet who is sent to investigate the murder of high-ranking government official's nosey son (who pushed out the window for spying on the Duke's household).
Booooooooooring.....
The bumbling poet who is sent to investigate the murder of high-ranking government official's nosey son (who pushed out the window for spying on the Duke's household).
Booooooooooring.....
July 31, 2018
Perhaps not really my thing - a historical, cozy mystery. Nothing wrong with it, but I found it a bit too easy to put down and a take a while to wander back.
August 2, 2018
Lots of good descriptions of Vienna, but thin character development.
June 7, 2021
Not what I expected. Writing was not up to par. Seemed weak and contrived. I skimmed most of it.
December 8, 2021
good mystery and I liked how it all tied together in the end!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2023
I loved this book - it's setting, the main character, and the mystery itself. I will be looking for more novels from this author.
March 8, 2018
An ok mystery from the perspective of Lorenzo Da Ponte, a poet in the Viennese court, but I felt the author was trying to show off the historical research too much at times. There were some sentences that just seemed to exist to flatly give information. It was interesting to see the creation of Mozart's famous opera from the poet/librettist's view (Da Ponte was a real historical figure).
April 1, 2015
[Full disclosure: I requested and received a free ebook in exchange for an honest review.]
First off, if you’ve watched the actual opera The Marriage of Figaro you will appreciate this book much, much more. It’s not necessary for understanding it or even appreciating it but you will appreciate it on a much deeper level if you have seen the opera.
Why? That’s because we have a murder mystery set in Vienna with what are essentially the characters of the opera. We have ourselves a lecherous count, a desperate love-seeking countess, her grumpy former guardian, a girl-obsessed young nobleman working as a page, a maid and a barber. That, my friends, reads very much like the list of characters in the actual opera. But if you have seen the opera, don’t worry. The murderer is definitely not who you think it is and not for the reasons you think. Knowing something about the characters and general plot doesn’t reveal the culprit too early, believe me. Really, Laura Lebow basing her characters off of actual characters in the opera was brilliant in that respect because if you’ve seen the opera you think you’ll know who did it but it’s really a sort of red herring. It just adds a whole other layer to the book and I did enjoy it.
Lorenzo Da Ponte himself is nothing like I pictured but I never actually knew much about the historical figure so that’s not really saying much. He’s a largely toothless lady-killer, a relatively impoverished man working as the court poet and sort of official librettist at the court of one of the more enlightened European monarchs, Joseph II. He was good friends with Mozart and is of course a bitter rival of Salieri and his librettist. Essentially, in the beginning he’s not all that remarkable but things change quickly when he’s accused of murdering young Florian. Then the secret service equivalent of the day swoops in and forces him to go undercover in the household as a poetry teacher to discover who really murdered the young prince. Why would they send a poet in to do a spy’s work? Well, things aren’t all that simple in Vienna of the day and some main players keep their cards very close to the chest. Despite his indignation at the whole situation, Lorenzo does rise to the occasion quite well and discovers that not everything is as it seems in that household.
Laura Lebow’s writing was excellent. She brings to life 18th century Vienna so well that you really do feel like you’re there along with Lorenzo. Her characters are well fleshed-out anyway but it’s her brilliant writing that really makes them come alive. While you may or may not be able to predict who killed Florian near the end, I personally was quite surprised (not that that’s really saying much as I don’t read many mystery novels.) Even if you are able to predict the outcome, I think you’ll enjoy the book because Lebow writes suspense quite well. Throughout the book there’s this aura of tension that gets slowly ratcheted up as the novel progresses. Sometimes it’s almost unbearable and you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. Really, you can’t ask for more in a historical murder mystery: actual history brought to life and plenty of mystery and suspense.
The book ended quite realistically and I was actually surprised to learn that The Marriage of Figaro was not what Da Ponte was most known for in his day because it’s a staple of opera houses everywhere. No, he was known for some obscure little opera that is practically never performed today. But after he solved the mystery and the opera premiered fairly successfully, he and Mozart are going on a little road trip to write one of the darker, more terrifying operas I’ve ever seen: Don Giovanni. It was definitely a satisfying ending with that little promise of an awesome sequel coming up because I do love Don Giovanni as well. The Figaro Murders doesn’t come out until March 31, but I already can’t wait for the next book.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
First off, if you’ve watched the actual opera The Marriage of Figaro you will appreciate this book much, much more. It’s not necessary for understanding it or even appreciating it but you will appreciate it on a much deeper level if you have seen the opera.
Why? That’s because we have a murder mystery set in Vienna with what are essentially the characters of the opera. We have ourselves a lecherous count, a desperate love-seeking countess, her grumpy former guardian, a girl-obsessed young nobleman working as a page, a maid and a barber. That, my friends, reads very much like the list of characters in the actual opera. But if you have seen the opera, don’t worry. The murderer is definitely not who you think it is and not for the reasons you think. Knowing something about the characters and general plot doesn’t reveal the culprit too early, believe me. Really, Laura Lebow basing her characters off of actual characters in the opera was brilliant in that respect because if you’ve seen the opera you think you’ll know who did it but it’s really a sort of red herring. It just adds a whole other layer to the book and I did enjoy it.
Lorenzo Da Ponte himself is nothing like I pictured but I never actually knew much about the historical figure so that’s not really saying much. He’s a largely toothless lady-killer, a relatively impoverished man working as the court poet and sort of official librettist at the court of one of the more enlightened European monarchs, Joseph II. He was good friends with Mozart and is of course a bitter rival of Salieri and his librettist. Essentially, in the beginning he’s not all that remarkable but things change quickly when he’s accused of murdering young Florian. Then the secret service equivalent of the day swoops in and forces him to go undercover in the household as a poetry teacher to discover who really murdered the young prince. Why would they send a poet in to do a spy’s work? Well, things aren’t all that simple in Vienna of the day and some main players keep their cards very close to the chest. Despite his indignation at the whole situation, Lorenzo does rise to the occasion quite well and discovers that not everything is as it seems in that household.
Laura Lebow’s writing was excellent. She brings to life 18th century Vienna so well that you really do feel like you’re there along with Lorenzo. Her characters are well fleshed-out anyway but it’s her brilliant writing that really makes them come alive. While you may or may not be able to predict who killed Florian near the end, I personally was quite surprised (not that that’s really saying much as I don’t read many mystery novels.) Even if you are able to predict the outcome, I think you’ll enjoy the book because Lebow writes suspense quite well. Throughout the book there’s this aura of tension that gets slowly ratcheted up as the novel progresses. Sometimes it’s almost unbearable and you just have to keep reading to find out what happens next. Really, you can’t ask for more in a historical murder mystery: actual history brought to life and plenty of mystery and suspense.
The book ended quite realistically and I was actually surprised to learn that The Marriage of Figaro was not what Da Ponte was most known for in his day because it’s a staple of opera houses everywhere. No, he was known for some obscure little opera that is practically never performed today. But after he solved the mystery and the opera premiered fairly successfully, he and Mozart are going on a little road trip to write one of the darker, more terrifying operas I’ve ever seen: Don Giovanni. It was definitely a satisfying ending with that little promise of an awesome sequel coming up because I do love Don Giovanni as well. The Figaro Murders doesn’t come out until March 31, but I already can’t wait for the next book.
I give this book 5/5 stars.
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