What do you think?
Rate this book
Ghost Trio
A grieving pianist visits the site of her true love’s death hoping to find answers that will help her to move on, but what she finds leaves her with more questions than answers.
Lee Howe, a professional pianist, comes to Southern California from New York on a mournful mission: She believes that if she can see the site where her beloved Devorah met her death, she will begin to accept that she must move on with her own life.
Devorah Manikian had been rehearsing for a starring role in Carmen and was living in Eggerscliffe, a 1920s-style pseudo-castle belonging to the wealthy and eccentric impresario, Annajean Eggers. Devorah was gone only a few weeks before Lee was notified that she was dead—tragically killed in a tower fire at Eggerscliffe.
But as Lee stands alone on a deserted patch of beach just below the castle, she hears Devorah singing. Is it the cocktail of tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety drugs Lee has been taking since learning of Devorah’s death that makes her hallucinate her beloved’s voice—or is Devorah being kept a prisoner somewhere in Eggerscliffe?
Phyllis Irwin, a nonagenarian mystery writer, and musician teamed up with her spouse Lillian Faderman (often called the “mother of lesbian history”) to write Ghost Trio.
This novel has been revised and updated from the Bold Strokes Books edition originally published in April 2013 under the nom de plume of Lillian Q. Irwin.
Lee Howe, a professional pianist, comes to Southern California from New York on a mournful mission: She believes that if she can see the site where her beloved Devorah met her death, she will begin to accept that she must move on with her own life.
Devorah Manikian had been rehearsing for a starring role in Carmen and was living in Eggerscliffe, a 1920s-style pseudo-castle belonging to the wealthy and eccentric impresario, Annajean Eggers. Devorah was gone only a few weeks before Lee was notified that she was dead—tragically killed in a tower fire at Eggerscliffe.
But as Lee stands alone on a deserted patch of beach just below the castle, she hears Devorah singing. Is it the cocktail of tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety drugs Lee has been taking since learning of Devorah’s death that makes her hallucinate her beloved’s voice—or is Devorah being kept a prisoner somewhere in Eggerscliffe?
Phyllis Irwin, a nonagenarian mystery writer, and musician teamed up with her spouse Lillian Faderman (often called the “mother of lesbian history”) to write Ghost Trio.
This novel has been revised and updated from the Bold Strokes Books edition originally published in April 2013 under the nom de plume of Lillian Q. Irwin.
276 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2013
1 person is currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Phyllis Irwin
5 booksPhyllis Irwin, a professor of music emerita, is the author of two college music textbooks and the co-author of a music education textbook. As a nonagenarian, she is still performing publicly as a pianist.
see also: Lillian Q. Irwin
see also: Lillian Faderman
see also: Lillian Q. Irwin
see also: Lillian Faderman
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
April 6, 2022
Ghost Trio is a suspenseful mystery novel written in the vein of an opera. There is the one true love between Lee and Devorah. The villian is Annajean who lures Devorah away from Lee under the guise of a big opportunity to her singing career. There is also a dark and looming castle where Devorah was last seen alive.
The writing is seamless between the two authors. They present a well written story which will keep you guessing until the finale.
I received a review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The writing is seamless between the two authors. They present a well written story which will keep you guessing until the finale.
I received a review copy from Bywater Books and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 24, 2022
Ghost Trio by Phyllis Irwin and Lillian Faderman takes the reader on a wild ride full of mystery, intrigue, and suspense all wrapped up in an atmosphere filled with Gothic tension. Add in striking and unforgettable characters, and you have a great story for those who love Gothic mysteries.
This is truly a character-driven tale with folks who fit the dark and mysterious theme. We see the story through the eyes of Lee who has lost her wife Devorah to what she believes was a tragic fire in a tower of a pseudo castle in California. However, when Lee visits the site secretly in the depths of her grief, she is sure that she hears her wife singing in the castle. Gradually she comes to believe that Devorah may still be alive and being held against her will by the woman (Annajean) who lured her to California with the promise of a lead singing role in a new opera house.
Lee, as well as the secondary characters she enlists to help her find Devorah, if she is truly alive, are all well-developed and fit the roles they play in the story. Annajean is just creepy from the moment she first appears which also fits her role. The authors did a fine job with all of these people. The setting as well as the actions and atmosphere of the story make this a good read for mystery lovers.
I recommend this to all who love Gothic mysteries with lots of twists and turns.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
This is truly a character-driven tale with folks who fit the dark and mysterious theme. We see the story through the eyes of Lee who has lost her wife Devorah to what she believes was a tragic fire in a tower of a pseudo castle in California. However, when Lee visits the site secretly in the depths of her grief, she is sure that she hears her wife singing in the castle. Gradually she comes to believe that Devorah may still be alive and being held against her will by the woman (Annajean) who lured her to California with the promise of a lead singing role in a new opera house.
Lee, as well as the secondary characters she enlists to help her find Devorah, if she is truly alive, are all well-developed and fit the roles they play in the story. Annajean is just creepy from the moment she first appears which also fits her role. The authors did a fine job with all of these people. The setting as well as the actions and atmosphere of the story make this a good read for mystery lovers.
I recommend this to all who love Gothic mysteries with lots of twists and turns.
I received an ARC from Bywater Books for an honest review.
November 15, 2018
Ghost Trio by Lillian Q. Irwin was an outstanding read with a great cast of characters. A contemporary Gothic noir complete with a eerie castle on a cliff’s edge, it’s unhinged mistress, her creepy servants and a tragic death under mysterious circumstances at the center of it.
The setting is in de classical music scene. Professional pianist Lee Howe is a mess. She has recently lost her life (and musical) partner, mezzo-soprano Devorah Manikian in a fire. Devorah had gotten an offer she couldn’d refuse from eccentric millionaire and patron of the arts Annajean Eggers to have a starring role in Eggers new opera company. She leaves a somewhat bewildered Lee and trades New York for sunny California to stay with Eggers at her family castle Eggerscliffe to practice and network.
As time goes by Lee feels more and more unsettled about the whole arrangement. There is something off about that Eggers woman but on the other hand she don’t want to be a hindrance to Devorah’s ultimate shot at stardom. When she gets the news that Devorah has died in a freak fire at the castle she is devastated. She puts her job on hold and travels to California to stay with friends and to visit the spot where her lover met her untimely end.
On the beach with the castle looming overhead on the cliff, she swears she briefly hears Devorah singing to her. Is it a ghost, her imagination, the pills she has been taking to cope with her grief or is it really Devorah reaching out to her. If she’s not dead, then is she is surely kept against her will by that madwoman.
Lee needs to convince her friends to form a rescue party and help her get into Eggerscliff to free her love. That is not as easy as it sounds.
f/f
Themes: no themes this time. I’m going to keep it vague not to spoil the fun, classic music lovers will have a great time, there are some great twists, give it a shot.
5 stars
The setting is in de classical music scene. Professional pianist Lee Howe is a mess. She has recently lost her life (and musical) partner, mezzo-soprano Devorah Manikian in a fire. Devorah had gotten an offer she couldn’d refuse from eccentric millionaire and patron of the arts Annajean Eggers to have a starring role in Eggers new opera company. She leaves a somewhat bewildered Lee and trades New York for sunny California to stay with Eggers at her family castle Eggerscliffe to practice and network.
As time goes by Lee feels more and more unsettled about the whole arrangement. There is something off about that Eggers woman but on the other hand she don’t want to be a hindrance to Devorah’s ultimate shot at stardom. When she gets the news that Devorah has died in a freak fire at the castle she is devastated. She puts her job on hold and travels to California to stay with friends and to visit the spot where her lover met her untimely end.
On the beach with the castle looming overhead on the cliff, she swears she briefly hears Devorah singing to her. Is it a ghost, her imagination, the pills she has been taking to cope with her grief or is it really Devorah reaching out to her. If she’s not dead, then is she is surely kept against her will by that madwoman.
Lee needs to convince her friends to form a rescue party and help her get into Eggerscliff to free her love. That is not as easy as it sounds.
f/f
Themes: no themes this time. I’m going to keep it vague not to spoil the fun, classic music lovers will have a great time, there are some great twists, give it a shot.
5 stars
May 8, 2013
Ghost Trio is simply amazing! It twists and turns and then twists again. One minute you are sure our main character Lee is not quite right in the head, devastated so badly by losing her one true love that she can't tell the difference between reality and fantasy. The next you agree with her that Devorah, her partner of fifteen years, IS still alive, being kept prisoner high up in a castle tower, off the Pacific Coast Highway.
Lee's friends become worried when they realize she is perfectly serious about trying to rescue her beloved Devorah from the evil clutches of one singular and very wealthy patron of the arts, Annajean Eggers. Along the way Lee reconnects with an enchanting old friend named Lily who makes her question everything she thought she knew about her own heart. Part of the suspense, a lot of the emotional anxiety you feel as the reader, comes from wondering where this is all going to go, both as a romance and a mystery.
The novel gets its name (and aptly so) from Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Trio (Opus 70, #1), often referred to as The Ghost due to the spooky mood of the second movement, Largo. It's clear that Lillian Q. Irwin (actually two women who have been together for over forty years!) really know their stuff. Their love and devotion to music and each other comes through so well in every page of Ghost Trio.
I loved Ghost Trio for so many reasons: it's loaded with lots of music references that will delight classical and opera fans, it will make you want to read up more on the things that are new to you (I'd never heard of lied singing before and was charmed by all the passion behind the music) and (most importantly) it has _the_ best love story you could ever ask for in a book.
When I finished the last page my heart pretty much broke, at the fact this lovely novel was over and because while this kind of love borders on the fantastical it is not any less pretty or magical for it.
Lee's friends become worried when they realize she is perfectly serious about trying to rescue her beloved Devorah from the evil clutches of one singular and very wealthy patron of the arts, Annajean Eggers. Along the way Lee reconnects with an enchanting old friend named Lily who makes her question everything she thought she knew about her own heart. Part of the suspense, a lot of the emotional anxiety you feel as the reader, comes from wondering where this is all going to go, both as a romance and a mystery.
The novel gets its name (and aptly so) from Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Trio (Opus 70, #1), often referred to as The Ghost due to the spooky mood of the second movement, Largo. It's clear that Lillian Q. Irwin (actually two women who have been together for over forty years!) really know their stuff. Their love and devotion to music and each other comes through so well in every page of Ghost Trio.
I loved Ghost Trio for so many reasons: it's loaded with lots of music references that will delight classical and opera fans, it will make you want to read up more on the things that are new to you (I'd never heard of lied singing before and was charmed by all the passion behind the music) and (most importantly) it has _the_ best love story you could ever ask for in a book.
When I finished the last page my heart pretty much broke, at the fact this lovely novel was over and because while this kind of love borders on the fantastical it is not any less pretty or magical for it.
May 9, 2022
This is a great mystery/romance for one to lose themselves in for a few hours. Centered around a love that seems to transcend time and space, it captures one’s heart and squeezes it like only a heartfelt romance truly can. It’s well-written, well-constructed and filled with engaging characters. Full of twists and turns, this unusual romance is sure to keep readers guessing till the very end.
Though there is a lot of action in this tale, it is very much a character driven story. Irwin and Faderman do a nice job creating Lee, the story’s protagonist. She is a flawed, believable and sympathetic character. Readers feel her grief in their bones and they connect with her. When Lee develops suspicions about Devorah’s death, readers become very invested in her little investigation. They hope for a positive outcome and justice to be served.
Devorah is a unique character. When she enters this story she’s dead. Because of this, readers learn about her desires and fears second-hand through Lee’s memories and recountings. Readers like Lee, and because they do, they accept Devorah. They grow to care about her and her untimely death. Subsequently, they get behind the mystery that surrounds her death and hope for the impossible—for Devorah to return to Lee, even as impossible as that may seem. Irwin and Faderman flex their creative juices here and send readers on a wild and mysterious ride, one they won’t soon forget. The journey proves to be completely captivating and quite engrossing.
The antagonist, Annajean Eggers, is also exceptionally well-developed. She’s diabolical and very creepy. One almost has the urge to yell, “No! Run!” when other characters enter a scene with her. Her presence in this captivating drama is craftily designed; she’s meant to heighten the chills that trickle down the spine. Most importantly though, she’s meant to challenge Lee and push the mystery in this paranormal romance, making it a real edge-of-your-seat read.
Final remarks..
This is an engaging read, start to finish. Irwin and Faderman give readers a mysterious and suspenseful tale that’s fresh and original. Lee’s devotion to Devorah is deep and abiding; it drives this story forward in interesting ways. Readers’ curiosity is piqued with the many unanswered questions surrounding Devorah’s death and they want resolution for Lee. Because they crave it almost as much as she does, they find Ghost Trio hard to put down.
Strengths…
Engaging
Entertaining
Suspenseful
Mysterious
Well-written
Interesting characters
Though there is a lot of action in this tale, it is very much a character driven story. Irwin and Faderman do a nice job creating Lee, the story’s protagonist. She is a flawed, believable and sympathetic character. Readers feel her grief in their bones and they connect with her. When Lee develops suspicions about Devorah’s death, readers become very invested in her little investigation. They hope for a positive outcome and justice to be served.
Devorah is a unique character. When she enters this story she’s dead. Because of this, readers learn about her desires and fears second-hand through Lee’s memories and recountings. Readers like Lee, and because they do, they accept Devorah. They grow to care about her and her untimely death. Subsequently, they get behind the mystery that surrounds her death and hope for the impossible—for Devorah to return to Lee, even as impossible as that may seem. Irwin and Faderman flex their creative juices here and send readers on a wild and mysterious ride, one they won’t soon forget. The journey proves to be completely captivating and quite engrossing.
The antagonist, Annajean Eggers, is also exceptionally well-developed. She’s diabolical and very creepy. One almost has the urge to yell, “No! Run!” when other characters enter a scene with her. Her presence in this captivating drama is craftily designed; she’s meant to heighten the chills that trickle down the spine. Most importantly though, she’s meant to challenge Lee and push the mystery in this paranormal romance, making it a real edge-of-your-seat read.
Final remarks..
This is an engaging read, start to finish. Irwin and Faderman give readers a mysterious and suspenseful tale that’s fresh and original. Lee’s devotion to Devorah is deep and abiding; it drives this story forward in interesting ways. Readers’ curiosity is piqued with the many unanswered questions surrounding Devorah’s death and they want resolution for Lee. Because they crave it almost as much as she does, they find Ghost Trio hard to put down.
Strengths…
Engaging
Entertaining
Suspenseful
Mysterious
Well-written
Interesting characters
January 27, 2016
Very engrossing!
Wow, what a wonderful story. Full of suspense, mystery, true love and real friendship. The storyline is engrossing, I was drawn into the story right away. The historical setting was great. An old castle with a horrible lady and creepy servants, they made a chill run down my spine. I loved the vivid imagery of the castle and the surroundings. Through the whole story you could feel their devotion to the music. You could hear the piano playing and you could hear her singing. The ending was very exciting. Well done!
Wow, what a wonderful story. Full of suspense, mystery, true love and real friendship. The storyline is engrossing, I was drawn into the story right away. The historical setting was great. An old castle with a horrible lady and creepy servants, they made a chill run down my spine. I loved the vivid imagery of the castle and the surroundings. Through the whole story you could feel their devotion to the music. You could hear the piano playing and you could hear her singing. The ending was very exciting. Well done!
July 3, 2019
This was an enjoyable lesbian thriller, good for a long weekend afternoon. I love the creepy mansion genre, and this delivers; all of the music references were also wonderful. I wasn’t sure when the book was set, as the technology used by the characters, in their early 40s, made it seem like it was set in the early 1990s (and the book was published in 2015); that took me out of the story a few times, but that’s a minor quibble.
July 7, 2022
Truly trulyyyy wish I could rate this higher because a gothic horror that is this Lesbianic™ (not a single straight woman to be seen in here!!!!) written by a lesbian duo is what dreams are made of. Unfortunately 'twas a bit of a dud for me; I think to call it "watered down Du Maurier" is even a bit generous, but I'll call it that anyway. It just really wasn't creepy or suspenseful enough and I sped through the second half just to get to the ending. Not mad I read it, but probs wouldn't rec it. You win some you lose some when you're deep in the 'SAPPHIC BOOK RECS, NO NOT YA, NO NOT THOSE ONES EVERYONE ALREADY RECS' google result trenches!
January 8, 2018
Oh how I loved this book. From the hauntingly beautiful start, through the twists and turns of doubt and questioning of the supposed tragic death of our main character's lover. Then the war within herself when another melody comes into play in her life that grabs a piece of her heart and makes her tremble with excitement, yet brings somberness at her core. All the way to the final crescendo of a solved mystery, and leading to the contrast like a soft piano fade out of the chapter... This book had my soul and heartstrings in a haunting and captivating duet with one another.
April 30, 2013
(nb: I received a review copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley)
When NYC-based pianist Lee Howe's partner, mezzo-soprano Devorah Manikian, moves to California, the couple is separated by more than just physical distance. Lee feels personally and professionally abandoned, and more than a little bit worried. Something seems a bit hinky about Devorah's new benefactress, the millionaire Annajean Eggers.
Sure, Annajean comes from one of the Southern California's oldest and wealthiest families, so it could be that Annajean really is founding an opera company, and she really does want Devorah to star in "Carmen." But Lee can't shake the feeling that something is off, and she's filled with dread for her lover's safety.
When she gets word that Devorah was killed in a housefire, Lee is devastated. After pulling herself together, she has to investigate for herself. She puts her conservatory job on hold, flies to California, and goes to the Eggers estate. When she gets there, she discovers it's an honest-to-ostentation castle--and for a brief moment, she swears she hears ever-so-faintly her lover's distinctive singing.
Was it really Devorah? Or was it just Lee's grief-crushed brain wishing for the impossible, or maybe a side-effect from the psychotropic meds Lee took to cope with her loss?
Perhaps leading with her heart and not her head, Lee becomes convinced that Devorah is still alive, and being held prisoner by Annajean Eggers. Her big-hearted friends believe in Lee, even if they can't believe her wild theory.
Lee's bittersweet search for closure lay at the heart of Lillian Q. Irwin's new release, "Ghost Trio," one of the best books I've read this year.
The basic story device--can Lee really believe what she heard--reminds me a little of Hitchcock's "Vertigo," where James Stewart is sure he keeps seeing Kim Novak, even after he watched her die. This core idea is painted against the world of professional classical musicians.
Music is the first area where this novel could have gone wrong. I've read so many books where a character with only a nodding acquaintance with practicing somehow thrives as a professional musician, where some schmo off the street suddenly sings like Pavarotti or plays piano like Van Cliburn.
"Ghost Trio" gets this right. Even top professionals practice religiously, hours and hours each day. It takes incredible discipline to make it to music's upper echelon, and just as much discipline to stay there.
Also, I don't think this story would have worked had Lee and Devorah been a hetero couple. Women think and love differently than men do. I doubt a man would have taken the leap of faith Lee did. Most likely, a man would have read the Medical Examiner's report and been satisfied. If he did hear something at the scene of his beloved's death, I think he would have accepted a simple explanation: it was the meds, or a seagull's cry echoing on a cliff, or wishful thinking.
Lillian Q. Irwin is the nom de plume of a California Lesbian couple who have been together over 40 years. One is a Lesbian historian; her partner is a professional musician. This pairing explains a great deal about "Ghost Trio." First off, each of the gay couples in this novel is believable. They are drawn neither as parodies nor cliches, but as pairings of normal people who fall in love, get jealous and fight, make-up, and work hard to honor their commitment to one other. They're just both XX, not an XX and an XY.
The musical detail in "Ghost Trio" is truly outstanding. The musicians here are not members of giant symphonies, but of smaller groups--a trio of piano, violin, and cello, e.g., or a classical vocalist working with a solo pianist for accompaniment. The works listed span a broad range of styles and composers. Even the book's title comes from Beethoven's Opus 70 in D, the second movement of which is somewhat chilling, causing the piece to be nicknamed "The Ghost Trio."
Finally, the quality of the writing in "Ghost Trio" is simply outstanding. Descriptions are lush when they need to be; the characters' actions and dialogue are sharply written. The writing brings to mind a complex piano piece a gifted musician has practiced thousands of times, till every note is where it should be, and precise as a metronome tick.
"Ghost Trio" is not a book that will give you whiplash from jerking plot twists and non sequitur action sequences. However, with elegant prose, wonderfully drawn characters, and an intriguing story to tell, you won't miss the typical thriller hullabaloo even a little bit.
Very Highly Recommended
When NYC-based pianist Lee Howe's partner, mezzo-soprano Devorah Manikian, moves to California, the couple is separated by more than just physical distance. Lee feels personally and professionally abandoned, and more than a little bit worried. Something seems a bit hinky about Devorah's new benefactress, the millionaire Annajean Eggers.
Sure, Annajean comes from one of the Southern California's oldest and wealthiest families, so it could be that Annajean really is founding an opera company, and she really does want Devorah to star in "Carmen." But Lee can't shake the feeling that something is off, and she's filled with dread for her lover's safety.
When she gets word that Devorah was killed in a housefire, Lee is devastated. After pulling herself together, she has to investigate for herself. She puts her conservatory job on hold, flies to California, and goes to the Eggers estate. When she gets there, she discovers it's an honest-to-ostentation castle--and for a brief moment, she swears she hears ever-so-faintly her lover's distinctive singing.
Was it really Devorah? Or was it just Lee's grief-crushed brain wishing for the impossible, or maybe a side-effect from the psychotropic meds Lee took to cope with her loss?
Perhaps leading with her heart and not her head, Lee becomes convinced that Devorah is still alive, and being held prisoner by Annajean Eggers. Her big-hearted friends believe in Lee, even if they can't believe her wild theory.
Lee's bittersweet search for closure lay at the heart of Lillian Q. Irwin's new release, "Ghost Trio," one of the best books I've read this year.
The basic story device--can Lee really believe what she heard--reminds me a little of Hitchcock's "Vertigo," where James Stewart is sure he keeps seeing Kim Novak, even after he watched her die. This core idea is painted against the world of professional classical musicians.
Music is the first area where this novel could have gone wrong. I've read so many books where a character with only a nodding acquaintance with practicing somehow thrives as a professional musician, where some schmo off the street suddenly sings like Pavarotti or plays piano like Van Cliburn.
"Ghost Trio" gets this right. Even top professionals practice religiously, hours and hours each day. It takes incredible discipline to make it to music's upper echelon, and just as much discipline to stay there.
Also, I don't think this story would have worked had Lee and Devorah been a hetero couple. Women think and love differently than men do. I doubt a man would have taken the leap of faith Lee did. Most likely, a man would have read the Medical Examiner's report and been satisfied. If he did hear something at the scene of his beloved's death, I think he would have accepted a simple explanation: it was the meds, or a seagull's cry echoing on a cliff, or wishful thinking.
Lillian Q. Irwin is the nom de plume of a California Lesbian couple who have been together over 40 years. One is a Lesbian historian; her partner is a professional musician. This pairing explains a great deal about "Ghost Trio." First off, each of the gay couples in this novel is believable. They are drawn neither as parodies nor cliches, but as pairings of normal people who fall in love, get jealous and fight, make-up, and work hard to honor their commitment to one other. They're just both XX, not an XX and an XY.
The musical detail in "Ghost Trio" is truly outstanding. The musicians here are not members of giant symphonies, but of smaller groups--a trio of piano, violin, and cello, e.g., or a classical vocalist working with a solo pianist for accompaniment. The works listed span a broad range of styles and composers. Even the book's title comes from Beethoven's Opus 70 in D, the second movement of which is somewhat chilling, causing the piece to be nicknamed "The Ghost Trio."
Finally, the quality of the writing in "Ghost Trio" is simply outstanding. Descriptions are lush when they need to be; the characters' actions and dialogue are sharply written. The writing brings to mind a complex piano piece a gifted musician has practiced thousands of times, till every note is where it should be, and precise as a metronome tick.
"Ghost Trio" is not a book that will give you whiplash from jerking plot twists and non sequitur action sequences. However, with elegant prose, wonderfully drawn characters, and an intriguing story to tell, you won't miss the typical thriller hullabaloo even a little bit.
Very Highly Recommended
April 17, 2022
A haunting Gothic romance mystery thriller!
Co-author Phyllis Irwin, a music professor emerita and pianist, has written college music textbooks and joins her wife, co-author Lillian Faderman, author of lesbian history books, in this new edition of a novel originally published in 2013 – now revised and updated for eager audiences of Gothic romance. They have been together for over fifty years. They live in California
Entering a dark gothic atmosphere in which this story is placed becomes evident as the novel opens – ‘At the top of the hill Lee turned right. And there it was. She stopped the car. The house – if you could call a 1920s pseudo-castle a house – looked like something American millionaires were building just before the Crash. It was separated from the street by a gate of black rails and pillars that were decorated with urns of startling white camellias. The effect reminded her of things funereal, like cemetery entrances and tomb paraphernalia. Through weeping willows she could see that the house (Devorah has said it was called Castle Eggerscliffe) was built of slabs of dark stone…’
Into this mood the story ascends, with so many twists and turns that the reader must be always alert – while enjoying the experience. ‘A grieving pianist visits the site of her true love’s death hoping to find answers that will help her to move on, but what she finds leaves her with more questions than answers. Lee Howe, a professional pianist, comes to Southern California from New York on a mournful mission: She believes that if she can see the site where her beloved Devorah met her death, she will begin to accept that she must move on with her own life. Devorah Manikian had been rehearsing for a starring role in Carmen and was living in Eggerscliffe, a 1920s-style pseudo-castle belonging to the wealthy and eccentric impresario, Annajean Eggers. Devorah was gone only a few weeks before Lee was notified that she was dead—tragically killed in a tower fire at Eggerscliffe. But as Lee stands alone on a deserted patch of beach just below the castle, she hears Devorah singing. Is it the cocktail of tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety drugs Lee has been taking since learning of Devorah’s death that makes her hallucinate her beloved’s voice—or is Devorah being kept a prisoner somewhere in Eggerscliffe?’
This is solid writing from a team who has obviously explored the dynamics of the tale – music, performance, relationships and love. Highly recommended Gothic Romance novel! Grady Harp, April 22
Co-author Phyllis Irwin, a music professor emerita and pianist, has written college music textbooks and joins her wife, co-author Lillian Faderman, author of lesbian history books, in this new edition of a novel originally published in 2013 – now revised and updated for eager audiences of Gothic romance. They have been together for over fifty years. They live in California
Entering a dark gothic atmosphere in which this story is placed becomes evident as the novel opens – ‘At the top of the hill Lee turned right. And there it was. She stopped the car. The house – if you could call a 1920s pseudo-castle a house – looked like something American millionaires were building just before the Crash. It was separated from the street by a gate of black rails and pillars that were decorated with urns of startling white camellias. The effect reminded her of things funereal, like cemetery entrances and tomb paraphernalia. Through weeping willows she could see that the house (Devorah has said it was called Castle Eggerscliffe) was built of slabs of dark stone…’
Into this mood the story ascends, with so many twists and turns that the reader must be always alert – while enjoying the experience. ‘A grieving pianist visits the site of her true love’s death hoping to find answers that will help her to move on, but what she finds leaves her with more questions than answers. Lee Howe, a professional pianist, comes to Southern California from New York on a mournful mission: She believes that if she can see the site where her beloved Devorah met her death, she will begin to accept that she must move on with her own life. Devorah Manikian had been rehearsing for a starring role in Carmen and was living in Eggerscliffe, a 1920s-style pseudo-castle belonging to the wealthy and eccentric impresario, Annajean Eggers. Devorah was gone only a few weeks before Lee was notified that she was dead—tragically killed in a tower fire at Eggerscliffe. But as Lee stands alone on a deserted patch of beach just below the castle, she hears Devorah singing. Is it the cocktail of tranquilizers, sleeping pills, anti-depressants, and anti-anxiety drugs Lee has been taking since learning of Devorah’s death that makes her hallucinate her beloved’s voice—or is Devorah being kept a prisoner somewhere in Eggerscliffe?’
This is solid writing from a team who has obviously explored the dynamics of the tale – music, performance, relationships and love. Highly recommended Gothic Romance novel! Grady Harp, April 22
April 16, 2013
Castles, ghosts, lost love, and pain are all staples of the classic Gothic story of the 1800s. Ghost Trio from Lillian Irwin has all of these elements wrapped up in a modern, gay-themed package. Lee Howe is a professional pianist. The novel opens with her partner Devorah and a starring role in the famous opera Carmen. Devorah heads to New York for rehearsals and moves into a 1920s-style pseudo-castle. She’s mysteriously killed in a fire at the bizarre home and Lee, ripped apart by the loss, is compelled to seek out the place her love died. But as she stands on the beach below the mansion, she is sure she hears the haunting siren song of her dead lover. Is it the pile of pills she been drowning her sorrows under or is there something more sinister at work?
The novel includes a Gothic cast of compelling and creepy characters. Annajean’s very name raises goosebumps and her behavior throughout the novel shifts from strange to utterly evil at times. Irwin avoids the Gothic female stereotype in Lee. She’s torn apart by the loss of her love, but she maintains an inner strength throughout. The characters are flawed (Lee and Lily have a passionate exchange that lingers with both women), but isn’t that the way real life should be?
The story itself is modern Gothic. The tone and atmosphere reminded me of a touch of Wuthering Heights with a hint of Henry James. The music motif gave the story an excellent framework as it allowed for the eccentric artist to slip over the cusp of madness. It’s a question of the ages that fine line between genius and insanity is it not? Irwin creates a brilliant madwoman in AnnaJean and brings the story to a wonderfully Gothic climax (including a delightful closure with “The weird sisters were deported”). Lovely!
April 14, 2013
I got a copy of this through NetGalley for a review.
The story is about musically talented couple Lee and Devorah who have been together many many years, Dev an opera singer and Lee a pianist. When Dev gets the chance of a life time to play Carmen through eccentric Annajean Eggers initially Lee is reluctant to let her go but does seeing the fantastic career making opportunity that her beloved has been yearning for for years. The story starts out as Lee mourning the death of her beloved Devorah, who has perished in a tragic fire whilst staying with Annajean whilst preparing for the role of Carmen.
The opening is beautifully depicted and Lee's heart ache is so raw and painful it almost hurts to read at times. Lee is on the beach by the castle where the fire happened when she hears what she believes is Devorah singing to her. Convinced Dev is still alive the novel takes the reader through Lee's journey to convince her friends and help her rescue her beloved.
This story is engaging and impossible to put down, its so easy to connect with Lee's yearning to be with her lover again and her refusal to accept her demise. The world of classical musicians and singers is a fascinating one to me so I loved being immersed in that side of Lee's profession along with her friends also classical musicians. It only took me four days to read this and I will definitely be reading it again.
The story is about musically talented couple Lee and Devorah who have been together many many years, Dev an opera singer and Lee a pianist. When Dev gets the chance of a life time to play Carmen through eccentric Annajean Eggers initially Lee is reluctant to let her go but does seeing the fantastic career making opportunity that her beloved has been yearning for for years. The story starts out as Lee mourning the death of her beloved Devorah, who has perished in a tragic fire whilst staying with Annajean whilst preparing for the role of Carmen.
The opening is beautifully depicted and Lee's heart ache is so raw and painful it almost hurts to read at times. Lee is on the beach by the castle where the fire happened when she hears what she believes is Devorah singing to her. Convinced Dev is still alive the novel takes the reader through Lee's journey to convince her friends and help her rescue her beloved.
This story is engaging and impossible to put down, its so easy to connect with Lee's yearning to be with her lover again and her refusal to accept her demise. The world of classical musicians and singers is a fascinating one to me so I loved being immersed in that side of Lee's profession along with her friends also classical musicians. It only took me four days to read this and I will definitely be reading it again.
May 7, 2014
I received this ARC from Netgalley for an honest review
I want to say that I rarely drop a book at the beginning (30 pages)
I also want to say that I LOVE lesbian stories and lesbian erotica
With that in mind I have to admit that this one had it all wrong.
The sadness of its beginning soon turns into boredom. It felt bland, cold and distant whereas I thought I would find a great and sad love story. I have to blame the writers style, it is complicated, too descriptive and sometimes with a bit of purple prose. It lacks flow, it lacks feelings. It's just a pile of words and actions with nothing to add to it.
I hope to read something new from them where all these problems were fixed :)
I want to say that I rarely drop a book at the beginning (30 pages)
I also want to say that I LOVE lesbian stories and lesbian erotica
With that in mind I have to admit that this one had it all wrong.
The sadness of its beginning soon turns into boredom. It felt bland, cold and distant whereas I thought I would find a great and sad love story. I have to blame the writers style, it is complicated, too descriptive and sometimes with a bit of purple prose. It lacks flow, it lacks feelings. It's just a pile of words and actions with nothing to add to it.
I hope to read something new from them where all these problems were fixed :)
October 16, 2013
This book is a prime example of why I rarely buy lesbian-themed books any more. It was awful. I don't know if the authors were trying to be clever and witty, or serious, or just what exactly, but they failed miserably. I understand completely their desire to use an anonymous pen name; I'd never want to put my real name to this pile of trash either.
December 7, 2014
Yes the plot is a little silly but it definitely is a catchy book. I read it quickly.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews