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Maggie O'Shea Mystery #2
Dark Rhapsody
Perfect for fans of Sandra Brown and Iris Johannsen.
In 1945, an Austrian girl discovers a priceless Nazi treasure near a remote alpine lake and sets in motion a decades-old secret that will change lives for generations to come.
Many years later, classical pianist Maggie O’Shea is preparing her return to the world of music. Instead, a nightmare of a haunting rhapsody and hundreds of roses from a deranged stalker propel her into a world of terror. Forces drive her to revisit the mystery of her mother’s death, her father’s startling disappearance, and a terrible secret from World War II. Maggie finds herself on a collision course with a brutal, disfigured killer who threatens those she holds dear—an aging pianist with a long-buried secret, a haunted cellist, a charismatic Maestro, and the crusty retired colonel she has come to love.
Chord by chord, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody becomes the heart of this story of profound loss, courage and love. Music tells our stories ...
In 1945, an Austrian girl discovers a priceless Nazi treasure near a remote alpine lake and sets in motion a decades-old secret that will change lives for generations to come.
Many years later, classical pianist Maggie O’Shea is preparing her return to the world of music. Instead, a nightmare of a haunting rhapsody and hundreds of roses from a deranged stalker propel her into a world of terror. Forces drive her to revisit the mystery of her mother’s death, her father’s startling disappearance, and a terrible secret from World War II. Maggie finds herself on a collision course with a brutal, disfigured killer who threatens those she holds dear—an aging pianist with a long-buried secret, a haunted cellist, a charismatic Maestro, and the crusty retired colonel she has come to love.
Chord by chord, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody becomes the heart of this story of profound loss, courage and love. Music tells our stories ...
368 pages, Hardcover
First published July 3, 2018
76 people are currently reading
3845 people want to read
About the author
Helaine Mario
8 books169 followersHELAINE MARIO - ABOUT THE WRITER
Best-selling author Helaine Mario grew up in NYC and is a graduate of Boston University. Now living in Arlington, VA, this mother of two, grandmother of five, and passionate advocate for women’s and children’s issues came to writing later in life. Her first novel, The Lost Concerto, won the Benjamin Franklin Award Silver Medal. Echoes on the Wind is her fifth novel and the fourth in her Maggie O’Shea Classical Music Suspense Series. Royalties from her books go to children’s music and reading programs. Helaine recently lost her husband, Ron, after 57 years together. Her new book echoes with loss, grief and, ultimately, the healing power of love.
Best-selling author Helaine Mario grew up in NYC and is a graduate of Boston University. Now living in Arlington, VA, this mother of two, grandmother of five, and passionate advocate for women’s and children’s issues came to writing later in life. Her first novel, The Lost Concerto, won the Benjamin Franklin Award Silver Medal. Echoes on the Wind is her fifth novel and the fourth in her Maggie O’Shea Classical Music Suspense Series. Royalties from her books go to children’s music and reading programs. Helaine recently lost her husband, Ron, after 57 years together. Her new book echoes with loss, grief and, ultimately, the healing power of love.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 20, 2018
Dark Rhapsody
Helaine Mario
Mario’s Dark Rhapsody, sequel to The Lost Concerto has something for everyone; terrifying twists and turns, beautiful settings on both US and foreign soil, well developed intriguing complex characters and a continuing love story between the main protagonists, Maggie and DOJ agent Michael Beckett. The story picks up right after The Lost Concerto ends but this storyline centers around WWII art stolen by the Nazi’s from a prominent Jewish art dealer. With a fabulous plotline, eloquent narrative, musical references all throughout the novel plus a secondary blooming romance, readers are treated to a non-stop action packed page-turner. The sadistic killer from the prequel is back now out for revenge and the good guys who want to see the art returned to its rightful heirs are back from book 1 as well. While readers might benefit from the insights and history from The Lost Concerto, Dark Rhapsody does well all on it’s own. Maggie’s past being revealed, and flashbacks to the dark days of Nazi occupied Europe make this hard to put down perfect for fans of both romantic suspense and thrillers and headed straight for the keeper shelf.
SUMMARY:
After the harrowing events of the last few months including almost being the victim of a sadistic killer Maggie O’Shea is ready for healing and some well earned normalcy. She’s getting stronger every day, practicing her precious piano and almost ready to start performing as a concert pianist again. There’s a lot to be thankful for and although the pain of losing her husband is still a raw ache she has found a way to cope and even better she’s found love again.
Colonel Michael Jefferson Beckett, an agent for the Department of Justice, is battle-scarred but loyal almost to a fault and would protect Maggie at any cost even keeping her in the dark when the madman who recently tried to kill her strikes out against him hoping for a clear a path to her.
Little do they know they will both soon be knee deep in mystery, secrets and danger involving not only a killer from Maggie’s past but also art stolen by the Nazis keeping them on their toes and unfortunately in the line of fire.
Helaine Mario
Mario’s Dark Rhapsody, sequel to The Lost Concerto has something for everyone; terrifying twists and turns, beautiful settings on both US and foreign soil, well developed intriguing complex characters and a continuing love story between the main protagonists, Maggie and DOJ agent Michael Beckett. The story picks up right after The Lost Concerto ends but this storyline centers around WWII art stolen by the Nazi’s from a prominent Jewish art dealer. With a fabulous plotline, eloquent narrative, musical references all throughout the novel plus a secondary blooming romance, readers are treated to a non-stop action packed page-turner. The sadistic killer from the prequel is back now out for revenge and the good guys who want to see the art returned to its rightful heirs are back from book 1 as well. While readers might benefit from the insights and history from The Lost Concerto, Dark Rhapsody does well all on it’s own. Maggie’s past being revealed, and flashbacks to the dark days of Nazi occupied Europe make this hard to put down perfect for fans of both romantic suspense and thrillers and headed straight for the keeper shelf.
SUMMARY:
After the harrowing events of the last few months including almost being the victim of a sadistic killer Maggie O’Shea is ready for healing and some well earned normalcy. She’s getting stronger every day, practicing her precious piano and almost ready to start performing as a concert pianist again. There’s a lot to be thankful for and although the pain of losing her husband is still a raw ache she has found a way to cope and even better she’s found love again.
Colonel Michael Jefferson Beckett, an agent for the Department of Justice, is battle-scarred but loyal almost to a fault and would protect Maggie at any cost even keeping her in the dark when the madman who recently tried to kill her strikes out against him hoping for a clear a path to her.
Little do they know they will both soon be knee deep in mystery, secrets and danger involving not only a killer from Maggie’s past but also art stolen by the Nazis keeping them on their toes and unfortunately in the line of fire.
June 20, 2019
Maggie is trying to get back on her feet, amid a tragic loss. However, she is going to find that there is so much more about to test her courage, and everything that she believed.
As she attempts to help track down some stolen art from WWII, Maggie is also trying to stay one step ahead of Dane, the person who has sworn to kill her. With Michael, her colonel, and Sugarman, an agent with the Federal Government, they are hot on the trail of tracking down clues and lost relics. But a note in her mailbox has her wondering if her father is really dead, and bringing up memories of her mothers death, so many years before.
What is really going on, and will Maggie make it through the entire ordeal alive?
I cannot say enough about this book! Oh my goodness! I LOVED IT! I could not put it down, so much so, that now I am playing catch up at work.
Get this book now!
As she attempts to help track down some stolen art from WWII, Maggie is also trying to stay one step ahead of Dane, the person who has sworn to kill her. With Michael, her colonel, and Sugarman, an agent with the Federal Government, they are hot on the trail of tracking down clues and lost relics. But a note in her mailbox has her wondering if her father is really dead, and bringing up memories of her mothers death, so many years before.
What is really going on, and will Maggie make it through the entire ordeal alive?
I cannot say enough about this book! Oh my goodness! I LOVED IT! I could not put it down, so much so, that now I am playing catch up at work.
Get this book now!
January 18, 2019
"He was always there, like a wolf watching her from a curtain of fog. Waiting." (quote from the book)
Maggie O'Shea is haunted. Haunted by the man who is stalking her and haunted by her childhood memories and nightmares. I was thrilled to be back in her life as we learn more of her history. A history even she is not aware of.
"So why did she feel as if she was always just one deep breath away from panic?" (quote from the book)
The hunt is far from over for lost treasures and art from World War II. There is still the missing collection of Victor Orsini and the race to see who will find it first. This element of the story, for me, is very interesting and I was completely surprised by the ending. My suspicions in one of the deaths, however, proved correct.
Again, the writing is beautifully descriptive, heartbreaking, moving and emotionally haunting. I was completely mesmerized by the music that played in my head while the scenes unfolded. New and old characters are back and I just love Gigi, Sugarman, Hannah and Jac. But the Colonel and his dog Shiloh have certainly won a place in my heart.
I highly recommend the Maggie O'Shea mysteries and look forward to Book 3!
January 13, 2020
Throughly enjoyed this follow up book to The Lost Concerto. The characters, settings and the musical references were wonderful. The suspense of the story kept me reading all day long. Made me also want to listen to some of the beautiful classical music mentioned in the book. Liked the ending.
October 16, 2021
Although the blurb says these books can be read as standalones, and in any order, I think I would have found this book lacking something had I not first read THE LOST CONCERTO. While the first book evokes a sense of music, DARK RHAPSODY defines the emotions felt when looking at a great painting. Which painting that is may be different for you than it is for me, but it is possible to get as lost in an image as it is to lose oneself in beautiful music.
Maggie O'Shea is finding her way back to her music when she encounters people who knew both of her parents… her mother, the concert pianist, Lily Steward and her father, the maestro Finn Stewart. There is a connection to Nazi Germany and Yale University's secret society Skull and Bones. How do all these mesh? That is the magic of Helaine Mario's writing. She takes what seems a disparate set of characters and events and composes a symphony, or perhaps a finished canvas, that will take you, the reader, through a complex series of notes and chords, brush strokes and colors, to reach an end that will choke you with emotion. Few books have left me as verklempt as the first two Maggie O'Shea mysteries.
Start your adventure with Maggie by reading the first book in the series and make your way to DARK RHAPSODY. In fact, plan on having DARK RHAPSODY at your fingertips as you finish THE LOST CONCERTO as to not miss a beat from the end of one to the other.
Maggie O'Shea is finding her way back to her music when she encounters people who knew both of her parents… her mother, the concert pianist, Lily Steward and her father, the maestro Finn Stewart. There is a connection to Nazi Germany and Yale University's secret society Skull and Bones. How do all these mesh? That is the magic of Helaine Mario's writing. She takes what seems a disparate set of characters and events and composes a symphony, or perhaps a finished canvas, that will take you, the reader, through a complex series of notes and chords, brush strokes and colors, to reach an end that will choke you with emotion. Few books have left me as verklempt as the first two Maggie O'Shea mysteries.
Start your adventure with Maggie by reading the first book in the series and make your way to DARK RHAPSODY. In fact, plan on having DARK RHAPSODY at your fingertips as you finish THE LOST CONCERTO as to not miss a beat from the end of one to the other.
August 17, 2018
The words flow like music to the ear, but one has to listen carefully to the lyrics. "Dark Rhapsody" is tale of one woman’s quest to find the truth. Her nightmares only seem to give a glance at what happened to her mother so long ago. She can’t understand why her famous father abandoned her after her mother’s death. The only thing that is keeping her centered is her passion and love of great music. Maggie O’Shea, the lead character in this story, has found a man that can ease her pain. With his help and patience Maggie hopes that she can resume her career as a concert pianist. In a few months she has a concert at Carnegie Hall; all her efforts must be spent on strengthening her hands and perfecting her playing. You would think that this would be enough on her plate. Think again. The past is coming back to haunt her. Dane, a wolfish man with yellow eyes, is seeking revenge and a treasure of stolen paintings from World War II. Maggie didn’t know it yet but her parents, godfather, and their affiliation with Yale’s Skull & Bones all have something to do with the lost treasure. Clues to the mystery send Maggie to seek answers, only to find more questions. If you love a great mystery, characters that move you and music that sings to your soul, you just got to read this book.
I won this e-book on Goodreads.com
I won this e-book on Goodreads.com
July 2, 2018
Maggie's been targeted and stalked and she's not sure why. She's a pianist and she didn't do anything she can determine to deserve what's been happening to her. The delivery of roses was not a positive but rather a sign that things are escalating...again. This turns on a historical secret so it takes you back in time to WWII. Maggie's not responsible for what her ancestors did but the bad guy wants to make her pay. This has a good sense of menace, Maggie's sympathetic, and it's well written. Thanks to Edelweiss for the ARC.
September 26, 2021
Classical pianist, Maggie O'Shea, is a woman who won't give into fear. Throughout the story, Dark Rhapsody blends classical music with art. Maggie deals with the death of her mother, her father who left her, a new love after the death of her husband. She encounters a sadistic killer/stalker who is hunting for a painting titled Dark Rhapsody that was stolen by the Nazis during WWII. Her quest is to return this stolen artwork to its rightful heir.
This thriller has non-stop action. The characters jump off the page. The story is compelling, multi-layered, and is beautifully written.
This thriller has non-stop action. The characters jump off the page. The story is compelling, multi-layered, and is beautifully written.
November 5, 2020
This was a suspenseful story of a pianist who tracks down info on her parents who left her- or died- years before, and also a story of those in the service who have PTSD, and therapy dogs, those who seek out lost or stolen art, music in general and just the joy of seeing and relating to music and art. I found the descriptions of the paintings and music played, just great. This is an author that I really appreciate and find exciting, slightly romantic, but just a darn good story teller.
September 18, 2018
Couldn't put down
Mysteries upon mysteries here! I was pulled into this story in the very first pages and couldn't wait to read more. The characters are likeable in their strengths and vulnerabilities. There are dogs that are interpreted with a true pet owner's understanding. There are peaceful scenes and great action. A really good book.
I won this on a goodreads.com giveaway.
Mysteries upon mysteries here! I was pulled into this story in the very first pages and couldn't wait to read more. The characters are likeable in their strengths and vulnerabilities. There are dogs that are interpreted with a true pet owner's understanding. There are peaceful scenes and great action. A really good book.
I won this on a goodreads.com giveaway.
June 21, 2020
I enjoyed the book and will definitely read another by this author. Developing a character who is a classically trained musician was a very interesting approach and, as a reader, I enjoyed the historical tidbits regarding famous musicians. The shifting geographical settings worked well for me, although I found the main antagonist too one-dimensional. But, overall, an engaging read.
April 12, 2020
Captivating!
Captivating from beginning to end. Unable to do anything else. Wonderful! It was all the better when I discovered it was a local to me author. I would definitely read his author's work again.
Captivating from beginning to end. Unable to do anything else. Wonderful! It was all the better when I discovered it was a local to me author. I would definitely read his author's work again.
July 22, 2018
puke!
This novel was pedantic, repetitive and boring!
This novel was pedantic, repetitive and boring!
August 14, 2018
I won this book on Goodreads and really enjoyed it. The story flowed well; the characters were interesting. Again, an enjoyable read.
August 19, 2018
First book from this author and I really enjoyed it. Will look for more in the future.
April 20, 2018
Wow! Ms. Mario has an amazing grip on plot twists and turns!
Read full review in the 2018 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Read full review in the 2018 April issue of InD'tale Magazine.
November 19, 2018
A beautiful collision of past, present, and mystery!
October 9, 2019
I liked the read it was a little slow for me but I got through it.
Read
September 21, 2023In 1945, an Austrian girl discovers a priceless Nazi treasure near a remote alpine lake and sets in motion a decades-old secret that will change lives for generations to come.
Many years later, classical pianist Maggie O’Shea is preparing her return to the world of music. Instead, a nightmare of a haunting rhapsody and hundreds of roses from a deranged stalker propel her into a world of terror. Forces drive her to revisit the mystery of her mother’s death, her father’s startling disappearance, and a terrible secret from World War II. Maggie finds herself on a collision course with a brutal, disfigured killer who threatens those she holds dear—an aging pianist with a long-buried secret, a haunted cellist, a charismatic Maestro, and the crusty retired colonel she has come to love.
Chord by chord, Rachmaninoff's Rhapsody becomes the heart of this story of profound loss, courage and love. Music tells our stories ...
Good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 27, 2020
This is a page turner BUT it comes with a cost - too many elements. First of all the characters. There is Maggie, a widow, who escaped being murdered by the evil Dane, a blackmarket art dealer. Maggie's boyfriend Michael and his dog Shiloh both experiencing PTSD from stints in Afghanistan. Hannah, a blind cellist and daughter of a Holocaust survivor and Sugar, an African-American investigator are just a few. Then there are the issues. Stolen art from Jewish collections by the Nazis, resuming your life after tragedy, buried art, redemption.....All of these combining to an action-packed mess.
June 16, 2023
From the magic of THE LOST CONCERTO to the keys of the grand piano being played by Maggie O'Shea, Helaine Mario weaves another masterpiece that walks you through her Classical Music Suspense Series. DARK RHAPSODY, the second book in the series takes you from the seats of power in Washington, D.C. and New York City, through the Hamptons into France, Italy and Austria. With the ups and downs and twists and turns of DARK RHAPSODY, the magic continues. You won't want to miss this journey.
October 26, 2021
This book has humor (I actually laughed out loud a few times), mystery (from the very beginning), thrills (what?) and some mayhem (learn to duck). Characters are well developed, complex and captivating. All the ingredients for a good read.
June 20, 2021
Ok. Decent plot but the characters talk like they know they’re in a book and are competing for Most Pretentious Conversation. (Note to editor: It’s “Last Rites”, not “Last Rights”.)
November 10, 2021
Perfecto
If you love classical piano, European travel, the art , historical events from World
War II, and strong women, Dark Rhapsody is the read for you.
If you love classical piano, European travel, the art , historical events from World
War II, and strong women, Dark Rhapsody is the read for you.
September 9, 2022
It was a good read.
February 5, 2025
It was just ok.
November 11, 2025
Just okay.
November 12, 2025
Art, music, suspense and dogs!
So much intensity! The passion for music and for art and what evil lengths some men will go to possess them. Such a good book!
So much intensity! The passion for music and for art and what evil lengths some men will go to possess them. Such a good book!
August 5, 2018
This book was just okay for me. I loved the first book in this series "The Lost Concerto" but this one just felt more like more of the same with not a very interesting plot.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews