Trouble in the Brasses

Madoc and Janet Rhys #4

by Alisa Craig, Charlotte MacLeod

A Canadian Mountie investigates a murder among musicians in this mystery by the Edgar Award-nominated author of the Peter Shandy series.
Although he is a decorated officer of the Mounted Police, Madoc Rhys's tin ear has long been an embarrassment to his musically fixated family. But when his father's orchestra needs a policeman, the Mountie gets a chance to make daddy proud. It began as pranks among the brass instruments, but something is rotten inside the Wagstaffe Symphony, and is about to graduate to something criminal. Called in to look into the tensions within the group, Madoc arrives just in time to see the French horn player keel over. The death appears natural, and the orchestra boards the plane to its next engagement. But when a storm forces them to make an emergency landing and take shelter in an eerie old lodge, the extent of the danger becomes clear. Madoc may never understand music, but he has a good ear for murder, and is about to show off his chops.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Cozy Mystery, Canada, Humor, Music

212 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1989

About the author

A pseudonym used by Charlotte MacLeod.

Reviews

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Without Janet this plot was a bit slow, but having Madoc's father and mother in the story was great, especially since his mother finally got to see how he worked and stopped saying her son worked for the government in research because it was so embarrassing to have a policeman for a son. Sir Emlyn's character shows some surprising traits. I particularly loved it when he grabbed the sedate Lady Rhys and kissed her. Even Madoc was surprised, and he must have been somewhat used to it, one would think. I certainly hope most musicians don't go in for the type of behavior these symphony members did. Many of the practical jokes were just plain mean and the others were in poor taste.

[Joan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Madoc's Rhys father has been a world renowned conductor for many years. In this book, he has undertaken another long world tour with a rather boisterous symphony orchestra. His wife, a born organizer, makes the tour runs smoothly to ease the stress on her aging husband. Unfortunately, these particular musicians look for excitement in all the wrong places - drinking too much alcohol, having affairs, and orchestrating elaborate practical jokes. What first appears a joke, is actually a murder. While the parents work to keep the peace under these stressful circumstances, Detective Madoc and his wife Janet work to solve the mystery quickly so the tour can continue I enjoyed the background information about moving all the symphony members and staff along with the valuable and often unweildly instruments around the world. Enjoy!

[Ivonne Rovira · Rating 5 out of 5]

Despite the title, it isn’t just the brass section of the Wagstaffe Symphony Orchestra that’s troubled. In this fourth book in the series featuring Detective Inspector Madoc Rhys of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Rhys’ famous father, renowned conductor Sir Emlyn Rhys, has become worried about strange goings-on in the orchestra. But cruel pranks give way to murder when a French horn player is poisoned; soon thereafter, other musicians suffer as well, although I don’t want to spoil it for readers with too many details.

Charlotte MacLeod, writing as Alisa Craig, has penned a charming cozy with plenty of suspense and humor. The only downside is knowing that the late Ms. MacLeod left only one more book in this fun series.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

2022 bk 104. I love all books MacLeod, but this one a little less than the other. The ending felt rushed and like we had missed a clue earlier in the book - but overall, the characters were well rounded, the scenario was fun. I think what I most missed in this tale was Janet - she stayed at home while Madoc went to the aid of his parents and I missed her quiet and gentle humor.

[Natalie aka Tannat · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adorable

I loved watching Madoc's father and mum in this story just as much as I loved watching Madoc cope with everything that went on. It's adorable and cute. Missed Janet, but the ending just made my day.

[sg.00 macc · Rating 3 out of 5]

A “Janet & Madoc” book with no Janet?? Come on! // downgrade to 3 stars.

[Kamas Kirian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful Charlotte MacLeod novel. I read this before, back when I was in high school, not long after it came out. I liked it as much as I remembered, even if I couldn't remember the particular points of the story. Madoc and his family are absolutely wonderful characters. My main quibble with this story is that there are too many characters (~around 20 at the lodge alone) to really allow for any of them to be fully developed. Many of them just sort of blended into one another in the background. With no real motivation for the murders revealed until the very ending, it did seem a tad rushed at the end. Still, it was well written and paced quickly.

The eBook was formatted well, but there were several spelling mistakes. It appears the OCR occasionally got 'the' confused with 'me'.

[Teri-K · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting take on the small-group-trapped-together mystery. (Why isn't there a better name for this trope? Or am I just forgetting it?) The story moved quickly and had a bit of humor. As a former oboist I had to smile at the portrayal of the musician who spent all his spare time making reeds. :) A fun, light story that doesn't feel like all the others out there, in part thanks to the detective being a Mountie. It's a bit tongue in cheek, too. 3 enjoyable stars

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Charlotte MacLeod’s (aka Alisa Craig’s) Trouble in the Brasses, the 4th installment in the Madoc Rhys mystery series, this Canadian caper has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It all started for Inspector Madoc Rhys when he was requested by his father, Tad, to see him conduct the Wagstaffe Symphony play their concert. But some things went awfully wrong, when one of the lead trombonists had gotten sick and then later died on the site. Though undercover, he had to blend in with the other musicians to find out what happened to Wilhem Ochs and who wanted him dead. When he made his presence known with his title, he investigated all the players and discovered Ochs’s background along with learning about his sordid past. When there was an attempted strangulation on another musician, things turned dicey as they were stranded on Lodestone Flat with a busted airplane to make things get awfully wrong and later awry. The more he later learned the truth, another brutal death had befallen them. Now before they were rescued, he would later learn whodunit and why in this locked-door mystery before it would be too late.

This intriguing mystery novel is captivating and full of suspense. I cared for Madoc because though he visited his parents in Wagstaffe, he had a job to do and did it well to discover the culprit when things might’ve gotten tense. I liked the dual locations of Wagstaffe and Lodestone Flat, Canada. It had good visualization for the scenic settings. The theme of the story is looks might be deceiving when murder is afoot.

This fascinating mystery is compelling to keep you reading to the end in a quick read. I rated this book, three out of five stars for no reason. If you love fast-paced mystery capers with plenty of dramatic action, heart-stopping suspense, and shocking gasps, Trouble in the Brasses is a great read.. This book is recommended for those who love locked-room mystery capers set in Canada or in the USA, and those who love police procedurals and cozy mysteries.

[PR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Madoc Rhys mystery...no Janet just Lady and Sir Rhys and company this time

Murder most foul with Sir Ellyn Thus orchestra and choir this time. Missed Janet...hope she and Thus are together again for the last book in the series.
Anticipate the loss!
So sad to have a series end when it has hardly begun.
Characters less likeable this time except for the three members of the Thus family. Sir Emlyn and Lady Rhys are compelling characters , well written and well thought of!
One can "see" where Madoc gets his temperament and character from. So nice to get to know more of his family after getting to know Jane's in the previous books.
This more rarified environment, at least at the outset of the story, is a sight different than the farm! Doesn't mean the characters who inhabit it are any less quirky or "individual" than the characters in Pitcher villa or anywhere else doe that matter...reply like Charlotte Macleod's characters and how they develop in each book...the ones we need to know and understand, we do.
The plot was a tad confusing at times but all is realized at the end, as per usual, in this series as well as her others.
The downed airplane plot is a tad farfetched.
but I bought into it as the story unfolds. Loved the ranger, his family, the sheriff and the Ace characters, especially.
Can't wait to read the last book in this series but anticipate hoping there had been more.
Recommended.
These she wrote, originally, under her pseudonym, Alicia, Craig, jyst FYI.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Books author is really Charlotte MacLoed Ths series is Madoc Reyes and his wife Janet Mysteries.
Madoc Rhys is a RMP Inspector. His Mom and Dad are Lady Rhys and Sir Emlyn and he is the conductor for the Wagstaffe Symphony Orchestra, They ask Madoc to come and help them with murders in the Orchestra. The Section Is turning up dead. Madoc is there to investigate. Her books are always full of crazy characters and especially murderers. Read it, you'll like it.

[Robyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free Prime Reading | Obvious killer, and Janet was missed, but pretty good | MacLeod had a few deeply irritating habits in 90% of her books, and this one is missing all of those. The murderer was clear basically from the moment they were introduced, though their motive was a long time in coming, but this was a pretty good trapped-together-away-from-civilization cozy.

[Patricia Moffitt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really like this author. She has good plots, great characters, but I really dislike the cursing. I can take a little bit, ut she seems to use more and more with each book. I have read her other books with enjoyment, but had not read this series. If you don’t mind the swearing and cursing you would most likely enjoy these books.

[Sandy Shin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stranded in the Canadian wilderness with an orchestra's first chair musicians, a choir's leading singers, the conductor and his wife and a few miscellaneous characters is a great setting for a wild west murder mystery

[Thelma · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book I've read about murder involving an orchestra and a Canadian RMP. Set up nicely. There was a lot of talking, talking, talking. Not saying that's bad, just different. Learned a couple of new words. I'm going to read another of her books.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amusing mystery

I liked Madoc and his parents. The mystery was interesting and not easily solved. Some of the characters were eccentric , as is the case with most of this author's books.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Terrific - Every Bit of It!

This series is great fun! Very clever plotting & settings so interesting! Love the returning characters & the new ones too! Entertaining all the way through!!! Recommend!!!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

An OK read, not terrible, not fantastic but OK. For me, the beginning was really long (about 3/4 of the book) and the ending rather rushed but the story overall is OK.

[Corey Zander · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty cute story.

[Jeff Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a fun easy read. Think beach read.

[Alice Brewer · Rating 4 out of 5]

#52books2018 number 55: Trouble in the Brasses by Alisa Craig. I've a lot of love for these Mountie Midsomers. Have read it before and will again. Good Canadian (murderous) fun.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having a family full of musicians made this one even more enjoyable. Luckily none of us have ever played in an orchestra like this one. This book was light and fun even if there were a few murders.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever as Always!

A fast-paced story in an unusual setting featuring yet another of Ms. MacLeod's crew of curmudgeons, crackpots, comics, and criminals.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting take on a party being stranded with an active murderer in its midst. The ending was kind of a let down, though. I did like the humor.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another delightful romp by MacLeod, under any name.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hysterical side characters and situations.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Light and enjoyable with lots of eccentric characters but the plot does pretty much hold together. I read these books decades ago so this was a bit of a walk down memory lane.

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read these books years ago and loved them….not so much now. The writing is odd…or maybe it’s just me…

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Surprise ending .. very long-winded denouement.