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Daniel Jacobus Mystery #1
Devil's Trill
From concert violinist Gerald Elias comes this debut set in the classical music world about the theft of a priceless violin.
Daniel Jacobus is a blind, reclusive, crotchety violin teacher living in self-imposed exile in rural New England. He spends his time chain-smoking, listening to old LPs, and occasionally taking on new students, whom he berates in the hope that they will flee.
Jacobus is drawn back into the world he left behind when he decides to attend The Grimsley Competition at Carnegie Hall. The young winner of this competition is granted the honor of playing the Piccolino Stradivarius, a uniquely dazzling three-quarter-size violin that has brought misfortune to all who possessed it over the centuries. But the violin is stolen before the winner of the competition has a chance to play it, and Jacobus is the primary suspect.
With the help of his friend and former musical partner, Nathaniel Williams, his new student,Yumi Shinagawa, and several quirky sidekicks, Jacobus sets out to prove his innocence and find the stolen Piccolino Strad. Will he be successful? The quest takes him through the halls of wealth and culture, across continents to Japan, and leads him to a…murder.
Devil’s Trill gives the reader a peek into the world of classical music, with its backstabbing teachers and performers, venal patrons, and shady violin dealers. It is the remarkable beginning of a wonderful new series.
Daniel Jacobus is a blind, reclusive, crotchety violin teacher living in self-imposed exile in rural New England. He spends his time chain-smoking, listening to old LPs, and occasionally taking on new students, whom he berates in the hope that they will flee.
Jacobus is drawn back into the world he left behind when he decides to attend The Grimsley Competition at Carnegie Hall. The young winner of this competition is granted the honor of playing the Piccolino Stradivarius, a uniquely dazzling three-quarter-size violin that has brought misfortune to all who possessed it over the centuries. But the violin is stolen before the winner of the competition has a chance to play it, and Jacobus is the primary suspect.
With the help of his friend and former musical partner, Nathaniel Williams, his new student,Yumi Shinagawa, and several quirky sidekicks, Jacobus sets out to prove his innocence and find the stolen Piccolino Strad. Will he be successful? The quest takes him through the halls of wealth and culture, across continents to Japan, and leads him to a…murder.
Devil’s Trill gives the reader a peek into the world of classical music, with its backstabbing teachers and performers, venal patrons, and shady violin dealers. It is the remarkable beginning of a wonderful new series.
306 pages, Hardcover
First published August 12, 2009
21 people are currently reading
466 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Elias
38 books43 followersFor decades, Gerald Elias has brought joy to countless mystery fans and concertgoers alike.
His dozen novels include the critically acclaimed Daniel Jacobus mystery series, set in the dark corners of the classical music world. An audiobook of Murder at Royal Albert, the eighth installment of the series, features musical excerpts by the Boston Symphony and Elias himself, and was declared “an altogether delightful experience” by AudioFile Magazine. His standalone Western mystery, Roundtree Days, was a 2023 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion finalist. (Look for the sequel in 2026!)
Elias’s many short stories have appeared in such prestigious magazines and anthologies as Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Coolest American Stories 2023, and in his own short story collection, It’s a Crime! Coming up are two all-new collections of lighthearted short crime fiction, Murder on Vacation and Murder Goes Abroad, both featuring a new hero, retired NYPD Police Chief Maury Gross and his perspicacious wife, Bobbi.
A former violinist with the Boston Symphony, Elias has performed and taught on five continents. He has also been music director of Salt Lake City’s popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series for over 20 years.
Elias currently divides his time between the shores of the Puget Sound in Seattle and the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, where he continues to expand his literary and musical horizons while enjoying the outdoors, travel, coffee, sports, cooking, and most of all, being a devoted grandpa.
His dozen novels include the critically acclaimed Daniel Jacobus mystery series, set in the dark corners of the classical music world. An audiobook of Murder at Royal Albert, the eighth installment of the series, features musical excerpts by the Boston Symphony and Elias himself, and was declared “an altogether delightful experience” by AudioFile Magazine. His standalone Western mystery, Roundtree Days, was a 2023 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion finalist. (Look for the sequel in 2026!)
Elias’s many short stories have appeared in such prestigious magazines and anthologies as Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Coolest American Stories 2023, and in his own short story collection, It’s a Crime! Coming up are two all-new collections of lighthearted short crime fiction, Murder on Vacation and Murder Goes Abroad, both featuring a new hero, retired NYPD Police Chief Maury Gross and his perspicacious wife, Bobbi.
A former violinist with the Boston Symphony, Elias has performed and taught on five continents. He has also been music director of Salt Lake City’s popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series for over 20 years.
Elias currently divides his time between the shores of the Puget Sound in Seattle and the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, where he continues to expand his literary and musical horizons while enjoying the outdoors, travel, coffee, sports, cooking, and most of all, being a devoted grandpa.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 132 reviews
October 19, 2020
PSA: Listening to Ray Chen play Tartini's Devil's Trill Sonata while reading this book yourself is a form of self-care.
4 Stars // 85%
Devil's Trill is an exceptionally crafted, expertly played tale of theft, corruption, deceit, and exploitation in the cutthroat classical music industry. It follows blind violin teacher Daniel Jacobus as he tries to track down a stolen violin worth millions of dollars, but soon spirals into a much more sinister game of cat-and-mouse, where all bets are off and anyone could be victim or criminal.
From the very beginning, it's clear that Gerard Elias is a veteran in this trade. Not only is his prose vivid and expressive, the sensual way he writes about violin and music indicates a strong affection for it. The passage where he compares will stay with me for a long, long time. Fair warning, though: if you have never been involved in the world of classical music, Elias's rhetoric may just bore you.
As with other novels like this one, the characters are either hit-or-miss. Jacobus is a wholly unlikable protagonist, at best irritable and worst downright nasty. But even in his most foul moods, he is also multi-faceted, hiding a kind heart beneath his repellent exterior. The side characters are no less riveting, either—sensitive Yumi has a dark side and haughty Victoria Jablonski is far from bland.
In any case, Devil's Trill works both as a mystery and a careful commentary on what we do to get what we want, while also accurately depicting how music competitions capitalize on young prodigies and dump them in a landfill after they've served their purpose. It's not really the message anyone is looking for (especially now that the Menuhin Competition is going to be held extremely close to where I live), but it is the harsh truth no one wants to admit.
This is definitely not a book for everyone. I fully admit that. It is niche, it is specific, it is precise. But if you are looking for a realistic, if not exactly optimistic, portrayal of what it is like to work in the classical music industry, I can think of no better read.
4 Stars // 85%
Devil's Trill is an exceptionally crafted, expertly played tale of theft, corruption, deceit, and exploitation in the cutthroat classical music industry. It follows blind violin teacher Daniel Jacobus as he tries to track down a stolen violin worth millions of dollars, but soon spirals into a much more sinister game of cat-and-mouse, where all bets are off and anyone could be victim or criminal.
From the very beginning, it's clear that Gerard Elias is a veteran in this trade. Not only is his prose vivid and expressive, the sensual way he writes about violin and music indicates a strong affection for it. The passage where he compares will stay with me for a long, long time. Fair warning, though: if you have never been involved in the world of classical music, Elias's rhetoric may just bore you.
As with other novels like this one, the characters are either hit-or-miss. Jacobus is a wholly unlikable protagonist, at best irritable and worst downright nasty. But even in his most foul moods, he is also multi-faceted, hiding a kind heart beneath his repellent exterior. The side characters are no less riveting, either—sensitive Yumi has a dark side and haughty Victoria Jablonski is far from bland.
In any case, Devil's Trill works both as a mystery and a careful commentary on what we do to get what we want, while also accurately depicting how music competitions capitalize on young prodigies and dump them in a landfill after they've served their purpose. It's not really the message anyone is looking for (especially now that the Menuhin Competition is going to be held extremely close to where I live), but it is the harsh truth no one wants to admit.
This is definitely not a book for everyone. I fully admit that. It is niche, it is specific, it is precise. But if you are looking for a realistic, if not exactly optimistic, portrayal of what it is like to work in the classical music industry, I can think of no better read.
September 23, 2009
I really wanted to love Gerald Elias’ debut thriller, Devil’s Trill. I really, really, really wanted to love it. Really.
According to the jacket, the story has everything: classical music; a Stradivarius violin, in particular the Piccolino, supersititions, a crotchety protagonist, a great cover. Everything that makes Devil’s Trill sound like the fireplace read of the Fall. Now, I’m not one to give up easily. After all, I did read every word of Peter Straub’s Koko. But Elias needs to do what he knows best and that is sticking with playing the violin.
The main protagonist is Daniel Jacobus, a blind, reclusive violin teacher, who had the talent to win the prestigious Grimsley Competition at Carnegie Hall when he was less than thirteen years old. Jacobus attended the latest Grimsley, only to be ignored, berated, and accused of stealing the Piccolino.
Daniel enlists his best friend and former musical partner, Nathanial Williams, and a brand new student, Yumi Shinagawam to prove his innocence and find the stolen instrument. The jacket refers to the trio as “quirky sidekicks,” but Elias was going for political correctness. Jacobus is an old white guy, Williams is a robust African American, and Yumi is young, Japanese, and female. They don’t work.
The writing is boring, pure and simple. I was able to tolerate only one-hundred-and-nineteen pages before I couldn’t take it any more. There is no tension. The dialogue is inane and does not push the story forward. The haphazard trio’s characterization is over the top.
There is no doubt that Elias knows his stuff. His knowledge shines through and, while it can get too detailed at times, it doesn’t get in the way. Devil’s Trill is supposed to be the beginning of a new series. This is one reader who won’t be holding her breath until the next book hits the shelves.
Review originally appeared on www.armchairinterviews.com.
According to the jacket, the story has everything: classical music; a Stradivarius violin, in particular the Piccolino, supersititions, a crotchety protagonist, a great cover. Everything that makes Devil’s Trill sound like the fireplace read of the Fall. Now, I’m not one to give up easily. After all, I did read every word of Peter Straub’s Koko. But Elias needs to do what he knows best and that is sticking with playing the violin.
The main protagonist is Daniel Jacobus, a blind, reclusive violin teacher, who had the talent to win the prestigious Grimsley Competition at Carnegie Hall when he was less than thirteen years old. Jacobus attended the latest Grimsley, only to be ignored, berated, and accused of stealing the Piccolino.
Daniel enlists his best friend and former musical partner, Nathanial Williams, and a brand new student, Yumi Shinagawam to prove his innocence and find the stolen instrument. The jacket refers to the trio as “quirky sidekicks,” but Elias was going for political correctness. Jacobus is an old white guy, Williams is a robust African American, and Yumi is young, Japanese, and female. They don’t work.
The writing is boring, pure and simple. I was able to tolerate only one-hundred-and-nineteen pages before I couldn’t take it any more. There is no tension. The dialogue is inane and does not push the story forward. The haphazard trio’s characterization is over the top.
There is no doubt that Elias knows his stuff. His knowledge shines through and, while it can get too detailed at times, it doesn’t get in the way. Devil’s Trill is supposed to be the beginning of a new series. This is one reader who won’t be holding her breath until the next book hits the shelves.
Review originally appeared on www.armchairinterviews.com.
December 1, 2009
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. I found it under the new authors section in the bookstore while trying to find a good mystery. Even though the story (from the book jacket) reminded me somewhat of the film "The Red Violin," I decided to give it a chance - and I'm glad I did!.
I couldn't help but feel and care for the character Daniel Jacobus. As harsh as he presents himself, you find out that he really has emotions and feelings supressed under that hard armour.
The overall storyline was suspenseful and not at all overbearing or boring, for that matter. I find that sometimes authors describe a certain situation/character a bit too much, therefore distracting me from what is essentially going on.
I do have to note that if I did not have some background in music, I may not have been able to appreciate it as much as I did. I grew up playing the violin and piano myself and found that music knowledge to be very helpful. I also have to say that those without some musically might have a hard time understanding. Though it might also instill a new appreciation or even curiousity.
In all I loved the novel and highly recommend :)
I couldn't help but feel and care for the character Daniel Jacobus. As harsh as he presents himself, you find out that he really has emotions and feelings supressed under that hard armour.
The overall storyline was suspenseful and not at all overbearing or boring, for that matter. I find that sometimes authors describe a certain situation/character a bit too much, therefore distracting me from what is essentially going on.
I do have to note that if I did not have some background in music, I may not have been able to appreciate it as much as I did. I grew up playing the violin and piano myself and found that music knowledge to be very helpful. I also have to say that those without some musically might have a hard time understanding. Though it might also instill a new appreciation or even curiousity.
In all I loved the novel and highly recommend :)
March 2, 2015
Alright, so I'm a violinist, and New York and Japanese culture appeals to me. Needless to say, this review is heavily biased. Here goes.
Elias knows what he is talking about. Being an enthusiastic musician himself, when he's on a roll talking about music and philosophy associated to it, he paints some pretty pictures and some very intriguing perspectives of it.
The characters in this book are either hit or miss. For me, it was a hit. I loved how each character was almost comical in their descriptions. The main character is a cranky, blind, smoking, rude, yet loyal to music. Each character adds great tidbits of humor every here and there that keeps this novel entertaining along its mystery on who stole the evil violin.
TlDr? If you've watched the Red Violin and liked it, read this. If you haven't or didn't like it, stay away from this book.
Elias knows what he is talking about. Being an enthusiastic musician himself, when he's on a roll talking about music and philosophy associated to it, he paints some pretty pictures and some very intriguing perspectives of it.
The characters in this book are either hit or miss. For me, it was a hit. I loved how each character was almost comical in their descriptions. The main character is a cranky, blind, smoking, rude, yet loyal to music. Each character adds great tidbits of humor every here and there that keeps this novel entertaining along its mystery on who stole the evil violin.
TlDr? If you've watched the Red Violin and liked it, read this. If you haven't or didn't like it, stay away from this book.
April 21, 2021
I expected to love this one ... classical music, violins, Japan, mystery ... sounded perfect. But nah, didn't wind up working. As with the last book I read, the characters grated on me. And it was a slow read to boot. Not a terrible read, but not a very good one either.
September 8, 2009
Sadly I had to give up on this one about a third of the way through.
I know, "why bother reviewing a book you didn't read??"...right?
I WANTED to like this (I live in Salt Lake City where the author currently works). So I really gave it my all and chewed through as much as I could...
The themes and characters had some real promise, but Elias seemed to genericize them into people I did not care about. Then the story just started seeming like a "standard issue" mystery novel - bleh. I went into this thing far more than I would have with any other book I did not like, out of respect for the author.
If, by 1/3 of a novel, I cannot find anything compelling me to continue, then why waste my time? I am familiar with "slow starting" books, no problem with that. Oddly, this one actually started swiftly (the brief tale of the violin's origin was very well done) but then it petered out, guttering away slowly like a candle flame struggling to remain alive.
If I was involved the business-side of symphonic music, all the insider info and terminology might well make this an entertaining and interesting book.
I leave the book 1/3 reviewed, with full disclosure. I read A LOT, so I wish to state that the fact that I read 1/3 only is not something I take lightly or simply something I did out of laziness.
Nuff said.
I know, "why bother reviewing a book you didn't read??"...right?
I WANTED to like this (I live in Salt Lake City where the author currently works). So I really gave it my all and chewed through as much as I could...
The themes and characters had some real promise, but Elias seemed to genericize them into people I did not care about. Then the story just started seeming like a "standard issue" mystery novel - bleh. I went into this thing far more than I would have with any other book I did not like, out of respect for the author.
If, by 1/3 of a novel, I cannot find anything compelling me to continue, then why waste my time? I am familiar with "slow starting" books, no problem with that. Oddly, this one actually started swiftly (the brief tale of the violin's origin was very well done) but then it petered out, guttering away slowly like a candle flame struggling to remain alive.
If I was involved the business-side of symphonic music, all the insider info and terminology might well make this an entertaining and interesting book.
I leave the book 1/3 reviewed, with full disclosure. I read A LOT, so I wish to state that the fact that I read 1/3 only is not something I take lightly or simply something I did out of laziness.
Nuff said.
March 20, 2010
Gerald is my good friend, and came to my bookclub to speak about writing this book. That was fascinating in itself, a ten year saga. It is a murder mystery set in the world of high level New York violin lessons, competitions, agents, etc. I found the story a great read, and I recognized a lot of personalities I have met in my career. I am waiting for the second book to come out in a few months, a second murder mystery set in the world of the violin teacher. The language of the main character is a little strong, be warned.
April 30, 2022
If you like music, particularly classical music, and history, I predict that you will enjoy this story of an old violin and the musicians that surround it.
First there is the blind violin teacher, who is old and disenchanted with the musical world of today as well as the competitions that encourage children to be taught to play without learning the heart of the music. Then there are the supporting characters, the members of MAP, the insurance investigator, the children of past competitions, and the new Japanese student. Thrown into this mix is classical history.
http://collections.nmmusd.org/Violins...
Of course, the reader has to realize that Historical Fiction is fiction. The dwarf violinist, Matteo Cherubino, is one example.
Still this story covers much that is important and should be known, including the music. A wonderful example of a truly well-written and imagined debut. I will gladly look for the next book in this series.
First there is the blind violin teacher, who is old and disenchanted with the musical world of today as well as the competitions that encourage children to be taught to play without learning the heart of the music. Then there are the supporting characters, the members of MAP, the insurance investigator, the children of past competitions, and the new Japanese student. Thrown into this mix is classical history.
http://collections.nmmusd.org/Violins...
Of course, the reader has to realize that Historical Fiction is fiction. The dwarf violinist, Matteo Cherubino, is one example.
Still this story covers much that is important and should be known, including the music. A wonderful example of a truly well-written and imagined debut. I will gladly look for the next book in this series.
did-not-finish
March 6, 2022DNF around 15 percent
I’m sorry, but this is not gripping me. It’s a bit slow. The writing is a bit off. It’s hard to describe: it’s a little stilted or forced, like the author is not confident in his own Voice and is trying to copy others’.
I loved the author’s violin playing, which shows up every once in a while on the audiobook. It’s superb musicianship. I was also intrigued by the presence of the 3/4 Stradivarius. It never occurred to me that renowned luthiers would bother with children’s sizes.
Language: Moderate amount of swearing; some slurs, including use of “midget,” which I thought was offensive, so correct me if I’m wrong. (I didn’t read enough to note any other content or trigger warnings.)
I’m sorry, but this is not gripping me. It’s a bit slow. The writing is a bit off. It’s hard to describe: it’s a little stilted or forced, like the author is not confident in his own Voice and is trying to copy others’.
I loved the author’s violin playing, which shows up every once in a while on the audiobook. It’s superb musicianship. I was also intrigued by the presence of the 3/4 Stradivarius. It never occurred to me that renowned luthiers would bother with children’s sizes.
Language: Moderate amount of swearing; some slurs, including use of “midget,” which I thought was offensive, so correct me if I’m wrong. (I didn’t read enough to note any other content or trigger warnings.)
June 29, 2018
A cynical though likely not altogether inaccurate view of the classical music world and competitions. I enjoyed all the music references.
April 15, 2023
I enjoy reading about cultures or communities I have no knowledge or experience in. And this book provided that: a good insight into the elite world of violin classical music. It had an interesting story line with a mystery murder and theft. But it mostly felt drawn out. At times, I felt like I was completely missing the cues and subtle hints of the main character Jacobus; at other times, the conversation felt repetitive. Overall, it was a mostly entertaining book.
February 12, 2011
Ah, another book I gave up on reading.
Let me start by saying that the Prologue is brilliant. Elias writes it like an academic introduction, and I had to check the copyright page to be sure that "all characters and events portrayed" were fictitious. It also weaves in the pre-novel tragedy of our protagonist, a virtuoso violinist who went blind at the height of his career.
Sadly, the book goes downhill from there. The next section is an historical intro to a violin. Elias somehow manages to make scandal, sex, death, and triumph seem almost boring. But! Had the rest of the novel packed in so many enticing themes, I'd probably have finished it. It may even have won three stars.
No. When we finally reach chapter one, we are not-so-delighted to find a whiny protagonist and a whole lot of "tell, not show." Elias fills paragraph after paragraph with such un-riveting sentences as "Jacobus was depressed."
At the risk of sounding like a high school English teacher: Don't tell me he's depressed. Show me his depression. Tell me about the dishes that have piled up in the sink over the last few days that he can't find the energy to do. Or the fact that he's going out tonight so he figures he ought to take his first shower of the month. Tell me about the full container of Prozac his doctor prescribed three months ago.
Or, instead of saying "Jacobus didn't like him much", Elias could make a diary entry.
Things I Despise
1. That bastard Martin Lilburn
2. Kids whose parents force them to play music
3. Cold weather
I think the editor A. Victoria Mixon said (and I paraphrase) that modern mainstream literature has fallen into a "tell, don't show" rut. Critics believe that a book can only be good if it's difficult to read. She likes to draw a contrast to 1940s pulps, which contain better writing than highly regarded books today.
Let me start by saying that the Prologue is brilliant. Elias writes it like an academic introduction, and I had to check the copyright page to be sure that "all characters and events portrayed" were fictitious. It also weaves in the pre-novel tragedy of our protagonist, a virtuoso violinist who went blind at the height of his career.
Sadly, the book goes downhill from there. The next section is an historical intro to a violin. Elias somehow manages to make scandal, sex, death, and triumph seem almost boring. But! Had the rest of the novel packed in so many enticing themes, I'd probably have finished it. It may even have won three stars.
No. When we finally reach chapter one, we are not-so-delighted to find a whiny protagonist and a whole lot of "tell, not show." Elias fills paragraph after paragraph with such un-riveting sentences as "Jacobus was depressed."
At the risk of sounding like a high school English teacher: Don't tell me he's depressed. Show me his depression. Tell me about the dishes that have piled up in the sink over the last few days that he can't find the energy to do. Or the fact that he's going out tonight so he figures he ought to take his first shower of the month. Tell me about the full container of Prozac his doctor prescribed three months ago.
Or, instead of saying "Jacobus didn't like him much", Elias could make a diary entry.
Things I Despise
1. That bastard Martin Lilburn
2. Kids whose parents force them to play music
3. Cold weather
I think the editor A. Victoria Mixon said (and I paraphrase) that modern mainstream literature has fallen into a "tell, don't show" rut. Critics believe that a book can only be good if it's difficult to read. She likes to draw a contrast to 1940s pulps, which contain better writing than highly regarded books today.
July 18, 2012
I find this book very diffictult to review for one reason. Mr. Elias clearly seems to have a negative bias toward the American Pit Bull Terrier. I know one might find this unusual in a book that has to do with classical music and murder/mystery, and I certainly find it unusual as well. This is the first book in the trilogy about Daniel Jacobus, a blind violin teacher who seems to keep finding trouble. I so looked forward to this trilogy since its setting is in Massachusetts and I love reading books that follow the same characters throughout. It is very well written and I was very sad to stop reading the series with the second book (Danse Macabre)but my heart could not take any more negative references towards pit bulls. As someone involved in animal advocacy and specifically in the advocacy of pit bulls, I could not continue reading Mr. Elias, who seems to use every chance to perpetuate unjust stereotypes toward this sweet, beautiful breed. Knowing and witnessing what happens to these loving, living creatures every day who desperately need our help out of their tortuous, abusive situations, I cannot, in all conscienceness, keep reading. What a waste of great talent! As a librarian and avid reader, I find too many good books out there to waste my time with books that have such a negative agenda. Cannot recommend for this reason. Sorry.
February 1, 2010
At the Grimsley Competition for young violinists at Carnegie Hall, a rare and valuable Stradivarius violin is stolen, even though it had been in a locked room and guarded by two security guards. Daniel Jacobus, a blind, reclusive and crotchety former violinist who now teaches, is a suspect -- he dislikes the competition and the group that hosts it, the Musical Arts Project Group. As he tries to help solve the theft -- with Nathaniel Williams, the investigator for the company that had insured the violin, and Yumi Shinagawa, a 19-year-old student fresh from Japan -- a MAP member is murdered, and Jacobus is a suspect in the murder, as well. The story is written by someone who has been a violinist, composer, conductor and teacher -- so there's much insight into the world of music, and the fierce competition that is sometimes seen. And Jacobus, for unlikable as he can be, is a compelling protagonist. For a debut novel, Devil's Trill is good. But there are still some annoying quirks. For example, the author tries to be too cutesy with puns. It's not just one character who loves musical puns -- but just about every character. After awhile, it grates, and actually lowers the enjoyment of what otherwise is a good mystery.
April 17, 2011
This book starts off very strong with the backstory of the Stradivarius violin around which the entire story is going to revolve. And to be honest, I actually kind of liked the rough and unlikeable protagonist. I liked the way he looked at music and the music world, even though he doesn't want to be liked. I liked his dour attitude and the way he shocked people, just because he really didn't care.
The plotline is a little complex and there was a little bit too much expository for my taste. I think our murderer at the end admitted a little more than was necessary and than what a murderer would admit. I guess I've never understood why murderers or criminials admit things in the TV shows and movies and books that incriminate them, but I guess that's just this murder-mystery genre that I really don't read that often.
I picked this book up because my daughter and I go to the Utah Symphony often, and we saw this book for sale at the symphony store. I was intrigued I liked learning about the classical music world. I was also interested about the author's opinion on forcing kids to do too much too soon. It seems like everyone's in such a rush all the time.
A pretty good read.
The plotline is a little complex and there was a little bit too much expository for my taste. I think our murderer at the end admitted a little more than was necessary and than what a murderer would admit. I guess I've never understood why murderers or criminials admit things in the TV shows and movies and books that incriminate them, but I guess that's just this murder-mystery genre that I really don't read that often.
I picked this book up because my daughter and I go to the Utah Symphony often, and we saw this book for sale at the symphony store. I was intrigued I liked learning about the classical music world. I was also interested about the author's opinion on forcing kids to do too much too soon. It seems like everyone's in such a rush all the time.
A pretty good read.
July 17, 2014
Alas, this book fell into the, for me, Moby Dick vortex. You know, when you're zipping along and Mr. Dick is frolicking about, and Cap'n A is chewing the scenery left and right, and suddenly the author feels compelled to Tell You About A Thing. In Melville's case, whale blubber. In this author's case, violin bows. Admittedly more palatable, and yet the same grinding halt.
All right, this is a first novel from a professional violinist and music professor, so one can admit to a certain tolerance to certain enthusiasms. And I must also admit to a quarter century of being a violist in orchestras good, mediocre, and incredibly bad, so there is a certain bias here. (Admittedly we may well be the scorned stepchild of the string section, but those after-beats aren't going to play themselves - yes, Sleigh Ride, I AM giving you the hairy eyeball.)
So points for the main character - a blind crotchety violin teacher/semi-detective. And also points for hating on high-stakes youth music competitions. But the writing could have used some tightening up.
All right, this is a first novel from a professional violinist and music professor, so one can admit to a certain tolerance to certain enthusiasms. And I must also admit to a quarter century of being a violist in orchestras good, mediocre, and incredibly bad, so there is a certain bias here. (Admittedly we may well be the scorned stepchild of the string section, but those after-beats aren't going to play themselves - yes, Sleigh Ride, I AM giving you the hairy eyeball.)
So points for the main character - a blind crotchety violin teacher/semi-detective. And also points for hating on high-stakes youth music competitions. But the writing could have used some tightening up.
March 16, 2010
This is a mystery written by a serious musician (13 years as a Boston Symphony Orchestra violinist) who has drawn heavily upon his personal experiences. The musical details, which are all too often wrong or just silly when the author is a dilettante in music, are refreshingly accurate. I spotted only one error (*unlike* a sarabanda or the hokeypokey, the bossa nova is *not* a dance) but this is greatly outweighed by the spot-on descriptions of teachers, students, journalists, promoters, etc. and of the thoughts and actions of violin players.
Once you leave the musical aspects, the writing is not astonishing but is rather average mystery fare. There were a number of spots where I wish the author had had the benefit of a better editor - simply grammatical problems could have easily been avoided. In all, this is a good page-turner that will have special resonance for musicians and classical music fans.
Once you leave the musical aspects, the writing is not astonishing but is rather average mystery fare. There were a number of spots where I wish the author had had the benefit of a better editor - simply grammatical problems could have easily been avoided. In all, this is a good page-turner that will have special resonance for musicians and classical music fans.
May 16, 2018
SO. FREAKING. PROBLEMATIC. I want to type this entire review in caps to make my point, but I'm not going to because that might turn people off. ok. So I assumed based on the RAGING racism, misogyny, and just-barely-not-statutary-rape that occurs in every. single. chapter. that this book was written in MAYBE the early 70's. Nope. 2009. Less that ten years ago. Listen, I know that all of these things run rampant in classical music, but the fact that this book was published recently without any sense of shame or remorse is legitimately HORRIFYING. I found myself saying aloud "oh my God, gross" MULTIPLE TIMES. I am a person who can't not finish a book so I finished it but I had to stop because it was more disturbing than The Handmaid's Tale. For real. Because Margaret Atwood knew it was bad and this guy thinks it's cool or something. I love books. And I am going to dispose of this one because no one should have to be subjected to this.
May 2, 2011
This is very different from things I've been reading lately but I loved it. A mystery set in the world of classical music. And it's done well. I would expect no less from this author, who once was a chamber music teacher of mine.
I loved seeing the different types of people who truly exist in this much-misunderstood world. A lot of people have a hard time believing music has the kind of underworld portrayed here: greed, abuse, backstabbing, etc.--but it's very, very common. (Not the murders, although there would be a bunch if people thought they could get away with it!) These were portrayed very well.
It reminded me of some of the reasons I stepped away from this world!
I loved seeing the different types of people who truly exist in this much-misunderstood world. A lot of people have a hard time believing music has the kind of underworld portrayed here: greed, abuse, backstabbing, etc.--but it's very, very common. (Not the murders, although there would be a bunch if people thought they could get away with it!) These were portrayed very well.
It reminded me of some of the reasons I stepped away from this world!
October 22, 2009
This was an acceptable read. The protagonist is quite unlikeable, which is always dangerous ground for an author to tread. The reader who will most appreciate this mystery will be someone with a reasonably strong interest in "classical" music, who will also preferably actually be a violinist. This limits the potential audience quite a bit. Because the detailed musical aspects were interesting and accurate, I stuck it out, but this one won't appeal to many general mystery readers.
November 15, 2017
I so wanted to like this book and have enjoyed the book on CD (with nice musical interludes) but ... I just don't care. I'm not much of a mystery reader anyway and was only interested in this one because it involves music and it's by a local author, but the characters aren't engaging enough to hold me and I don't know enough about the music world to enjoy the spin he puts on it. Someone may love it.
March 17, 2014
OH MY GOD I FINISHED READING A BOOK. Not quite 7 months. I'm on a roll, people.
April 16, 2016
I'm starting to realize that I pretty much complain about books in these reviews, which isn't totally fair. I've read, what, thousands of books in my life? It takes a lot to impress me these days. Did Devil's Trill? It's a very mixed bag.
I think my favorite part about the book was the writing style (aside from a few stilted-sounding conversations). It was a genuinely fun read, with lovely descriptions and a quick-moving plot, even if not one that was always easy to follow. Plenty of remarkable characters to enjoy, which I always like, and it doesn't hurt that I happen to have attended my first concert at Carnegie Hall last week, so I was able to imagine what one of they key settings looked like.
I didn't really take the mystery seriously--the crotchety main character didn't seem to, so why should I? Yeah, there were some obvious leaps that I made the moment the clue showed up, but there also just didn't seem to be enough information to get to the actual killer. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the supporting characters: Nathaniel, Yumi, Kate, Goldbloom. I really think that they, along with the settings, provided the main structure to the stories.
Which brings me to the main character, Jacobus. I couldn't quite understand why he was such an ornery old man. I mean, it was fun at times, but I just feel like the House-type character is way too overdone these days: the irascible grump with a grey past and heart of gold. He even had the deductive reasoning thing you see in all these Sherlock Holmes wanna-bes. Which, yeah, I guess that kind of goes with the mystery aspect and might go a little way to explaining why the heck Nathaniel thought he might be more help than hindrance...but still.
It was also exhausting to see a book that otherwise had some decent diversity devolve when it came to the women. At least we had them, and they weren't even all white, but they could be disappointingly shallow, mean, sex-on-legs, and inexplicably attracted to the main character. Only one romance seemed interesting:
Anyway, I'm always complaining about the romance, aren't I? I guess what's disappointing about this book was that I actually really liked the second but was so weirded out by the first.
I love Nathaniel and Kate. IRAWBAT (I'd Read A Whole Book About Them). Kind of wish one of them had been the main character. It could have been fun to have everything from Nathaniel's point of view--trying to wrangle this weird friend, confronting cultural discord, enjoying all sorts of music, reading people. Kate obviously couldn't have this whole story, but I'd certainly be happy to read the story of her life.
Okay, one last complaint and then I'll get started on the quotes. This is a book about a blind guy, right? Granted, we do get a few chapters from other perspectives, but for the most part it's third person limited, over Jacobus's shoulder. So why the heck are there so many visual descriptions in his sections? The man's blind! There's so much potential for interesting writing there, and I do think there's enough evidence in the book that Elias could have done it, but for some reason no one seemed to twig that, hey, maybe a blind guy, even an incredibly perceptive one, wouldn't know that the awning outside his hotel is green.
17) green plaid flannel shirt...brown Naugahyde...browning the leaves...
The first page on which we meet Jacobus, our blind protagonist, and we get all these visual descriptions. Green plaid? You could focus on the fact that it's well-worn and soft. Brown leather? (I think it's leather.) You could leave it at the fact that it's torn. Browning leaves? How about telling us that they're falling early and unusually crunchy? Maybe the local TV stations are complaining about the impact this will have on New England fall tourism. There are, in fact, ways to write around the few things that Jacobus should not be able to deduce about his surroundings. (Don't worry, I didn't point out every single instance of this--some were even explained as being places that Jacobus had visited before going blind (123), but not all.
82) Jacobus arrived at the Carnegie Deli to claim his pound of fleisch.
Okay, that was pretty funny.
Yumi reluctantly accepted an offer from Williams to stay overnight at his spacious apartment on East Ninety-sixth Street.
Oh no, no way. You cannot convince me that a 19-year-old girl, already dragged to New York City (in the 80s!) from Massachusetts by her incredibly rude and unpredictable violin teacher would consent to stay, alone, with a complete stranger who, no matter how nice, is a friend of said rude and unpredictable violin teacher. No freakin' way.
109-110) In the 1940s, Jacobus and Nathaniel are touring with a woman as a classical trio. In one small town, the person who invited them takes one look at Nathaniel, a black man, and demands that they make their trio a duo. Jacobus goes along with it. The entire story is told wonderfully by Nathaniel's character, but here's the best bit:
216) The birds, disturbed by the intrusion of strangers in the middle of the night, began to chirp pugnaciously, defending their nest.
I just really, really like "chirp pugnaciously," okay? I can just see this puffy, ruffled, affronted-looking sparrow. And that's not a phrase you can read easily out loud--the two "p"s practically bring the phrase to a halt, so this is really just a fun little pair of words that I get to enjoy in my head.
222) Jacobus placed index fingers next to each other directly in front of him on the edge of the table, then moved them apart until his hands reached the corners. Having gauged the table's size, he proceeded to nimbly feel around the setting in front of him.
It's two thirds of the way into the book, but this is the first time I really felt like Jacobus was blind. It's the first time he's actually doing something ordinary to show us how he lives independently. Up until now we've had no hint that he has a cane, there are colors and visual descriptions all over his sections of the text, he's able to walk confidently through the streets of New York City. Maybe that last is possible possible, but his blindness just hasn't seemed believeable until now. Look, I live in NYC. I've passed blind and/or visually impaired people while we're going about our business. I'm sure most if not all of them had heightened senses to compensate for the loss of one, and I'm sure some of them were incredibly smart. Doesn't change the fact that they needed canes, if for no other reason than to keep people from jostling them on the sidewalk as rudely and roughly as they would anyone else. Seriously, how am I expected to believe that Jacobus has the number of steps between blocks memorized when I'm hard put to walk in a straight line down my sleepy little Sesame Street neighborhood? I have to dodge kids, pets, people paying attention to something in their hands (no cell phones in the 80s, but I'm sure people were still distracted), bikes, skateboards, sidewalk cafes, bundles of trash on garbage day, and people just generally not paying attention. So when we finally get to this point in the book and have a realistic-sounding explanation of how he makes his way through the world, it's a breath of fresh air. One that gets fouled up a few sentences later when he's picking through "elegant red-lacquered and blue-and-white porcelain bowls." Ugh. Also, I just thought of this...how does he pull his "clumsy blind man trick" if he doesn't have the number one visual cue that people associate with blindness: a cane? In just sunglasses, he could just be drunk or something. Hey, it's New York.
253) "These people...were like the Eta of Japan. Do you know who the Eta are, Mr. Jacobus?"
"Yumi!"
"See? We don't even talk about them here. They're the hidden undercaste of Japan who work with corpses--butchers, leatherworkers, gravediggers who live in the poor dark fringes of our cities. Do you know what Eta is in English? 'Full of filth'."
Every so often I come across something that reminds me of the stories that I have percolating in my head.
I think my favorite part about the book was the writing style (aside from a few stilted-sounding conversations). It was a genuinely fun read, with lovely descriptions and a quick-moving plot, even if not one that was always easy to follow. Plenty of remarkable characters to enjoy, which I always like, and it doesn't hurt that I happen to have attended my first concert at Carnegie Hall last week, so I was able to imagine what one of they key settings looked like.
I didn't really take the mystery seriously--the crotchety main character didn't seem to, so why should I? Yeah, there were some obvious leaps that I made the moment the clue showed up, but there also just didn't seem to be enough information to get to the actual killer. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the supporting characters: Nathaniel, Yumi, Kate, Goldbloom. I really think that they, along with the settings, provided the main structure to the stories.
Which brings me to the main character, Jacobus. I couldn't quite understand why he was such an ornery old man. I mean, it was fun at times, but I just feel like the House-type character is way too overdone these days: the irascible grump with a grey past and heart of gold. He even had the deductive reasoning thing you see in all these Sherlock Holmes wanna-bes. Which, yeah, I guess that kind of goes with the mystery aspect and might go a little way to explaining why the heck Nathaniel thought he might be more help than hindrance...but still.
It was also exhausting to see a book that otherwise had some decent diversity devolve when it came to the women. At least we had them, and they weren't even all white, but they could be disappointingly shallow, mean, sex-on-legs, and inexplicably attracted to the main character. Only one romance seemed interesting:
Anyway, I'm always complaining about the romance, aren't I? I guess what's disappointing about this book was that I actually really liked the second but was so weirded out by the first.
I love Nathaniel and Kate. IRAWBAT (I'd Read A Whole Book About Them). Kind of wish one of them had been the main character. It could have been fun to have everything from Nathaniel's point of view--trying to wrangle this weird friend, confronting cultural discord, enjoying all sorts of music, reading people. Kate obviously couldn't have this whole story, but I'd certainly be happy to read the story of her life.
Okay, one last complaint and then I'll get started on the quotes. This is a book about a blind guy, right? Granted, we do get a few chapters from other perspectives, but for the most part it's third person limited, over Jacobus's shoulder. So why the heck are there so many visual descriptions in his sections? The man's blind! There's so much potential for interesting writing there, and I do think there's enough evidence in the book that Elias could have done it, but for some reason no one seemed to twig that, hey, maybe a blind guy, even an incredibly perceptive one, wouldn't know that the awning outside his hotel is green.
17) green plaid flannel shirt...brown Naugahyde...browning the leaves...
The first page on which we meet Jacobus, our blind protagonist, and we get all these visual descriptions. Green plaid? You could focus on the fact that it's well-worn and soft. Brown leather? (I think it's leather.) You could leave it at the fact that it's torn. Browning leaves? How about telling us that they're falling early and unusually crunchy? Maybe the local TV stations are complaining about the impact this will have on New England fall tourism. There are, in fact, ways to write around the few things that Jacobus should not be able to deduce about his surroundings. (Don't worry, I didn't point out every single instance of this--some were even explained as being places that Jacobus had visited before going blind (123), but not all.
82) Jacobus arrived at the Carnegie Deli to claim his pound of fleisch.
Okay, that was pretty funny.
Yumi reluctantly accepted an offer from Williams to stay overnight at his spacious apartment on East Ninety-sixth Street.
Oh no, no way. You cannot convince me that a 19-year-old girl, already dragged to New York City (in the 80s!) from Massachusetts by her incredibly rude and unpredictable violin teacher would consent to stay, alone, with a complete stranger who, no matter how nice, is a friend of said rude and unpredictable violin teacher. No freakin' way.
109-110) In the 1940s, Jacobus and Nathaniel are touring with a woman as a classical trio. In one small town, the person who invited them takes one look at Nathaniel, a black man, and demands that they make their trio a duo. Jacobus goes along with it. The entire story is told wonderfully by Nathaniel's character, but here's the best bit:
216) The birds, disturbed by the intrusion of strangers in the middle of the night, began to chirp pugnaciously, defending their nest.
I just really, really like "chirp pugnaciously," okay? I can just see this puffy, ruffled, affronted-looking sparrow. And that's not a phrase you can read easily out loud--the two "p"s practically bring the phrase to a halt, so this is really just a fun little pair of words that I get to enjoy in my head.
222) Jacobus placed index fingers next to each other directly in front of him on the edge of the table, then moved them apart until his hands reached the corners. Having gauged the table's size, he proceeded to nimbly feel around the setting in front of him.
It's two thirds of the way into the book, but this is the first time I really felt like Jacobus was blind. It's the first time he's actually doing something ordinary to show us how he lives independently. Up until now we've had no hint that he has a cane, there are colors and visual descriptions all over his sections of the text, he's able to walk confidently through the streets of New York City. Maybe that last is possible possible, but his blindness just hasn't seemed believeable until now. Look, I live in NYC. I've passed blind and/or visually impaired people while we're going about our business. I'm sure most if not all of them had heightened senses to compensate for the loss of one, and I'm sure some of them were incredibly smart. Doesn't change the fact that they needed canes, if for no other reason than to keep people from jostling them on the sidewalk as rudely and roughly as they would anyone else. Seriously, how am I expected to believe that Jacobus has the number of steps between blocks memorized when I'm hard put to walk in a straight line down my sleepy little Sesame Street neighborhood? I have to dodge kids, pets, people paying attention to something in their hands (no cell phones in the 80s, but I'm sure people were still distracted), bikes, skateboards, sidewalk cafes, bundles of trash on garbage day, and people just generally not paying attention. So when we finally get to this point in the book and have a realistic-sounding explanation of how he makes his way through the world, it's a breath of fresh air. One that gets fouled up a few sentences later when he's picking through "elegant red-lacquered and blue-and-white porcelain bowls." Ugh. Also, I just thought of this...how does he pull his "clumsy blind man trick" if he doesn't have the number one visual cue that people associate with blindness: a cane? In just sunglasses, he could just be drunk or something. Hey, it's New York.
253) "These people...were like the Eta of Japan. Do you know who the Eta are, Mr. Jacobus?"
"Yumi!"
"See? We don't even talk about them here. They're the hidden undercaste of Japan who work with corpses--butchers, leatherworkers, gravediggers who live in the poor dark fringes of our cities. Do you know what Eta is in English? 'Full of filth'."
Every so often I come across something that reminds me of the stories that I have percolating in my head.
June 3, 2017
Daniel Jacobus is a blind, curmudgeonly violinist and teacher who has the highest of musical integrity and the deepest passion for music. So he is at odds with the Musical Arts Project and their Grimsley Violin Competition held every 13 years for child violinists. Jacobus believes they are abusing the child musicians' potential for their own financial ends and ruining music in the process. The winner of the Grimsley earns the honor to play the famed Piccolino Stradivarius, a 3/4 size violin with a tragic past. Jacobus decides to attend the winner's recital and the post-concert reception where the Piccolino Strad disappears. Everyone thinks Jacobus stole it, especially when he says he's glad it was stolen. His good friend Nathaniel Williams, a musician turned insurance investigator, asks Jacobus to assist his investigation into the violin's disappearance. And there begins a wild ride for Jacobus and the reader.
I thoroughly enjoyed Devil's Trill. I loved Gerald Elias' wonderful descriptions of just what the classical music world is really like -- far from glamorous -- and the very real human characters that populate it. Elias took a huge chance in making Jacobus such a crotchety and unlikeable character, but he grew on me. He's suffering the aftereffects of his own prideful fall. Elias also does a good job with the mystery, sending Jacobus, Williams, and Jacobus' newest student Yumi, on a chase that takes them to Japan and back. And there's a murder, too! And the police believe Jacobus is the murderer which ups the stakes considerably for him. Ferreting out the reasons behind each crime and finding the solutions keeps Jacobus so preoccupied that he loses sleep. I didn't lose sleep reading this book but I really looked forward to every chance I had to pick it up and read it.
Since my own novel, Perceval's Secret is set in the classical music world in Vienna, Austria, I'm always interested in reading the novels of other writers who've chosen to set their stories in that world. Elias knows what he's talking about since he's worked in that world for many years as a violinist. Toward the end, Jacobus and Yumi are in Japan speaking with Yumi's grandmother, also a violin teacher. When Yumi asks what the point of practicing is, her grandmother responds: "The goal, dear, is to search for beauty, an essential element of which is imperfection. That may seem contradictory, but for something to be perfect, it must contain imperfection, for that is what makes it human and enables us to appreciate its beauty. But then, of course, it is no longer perfect. A paradox." Music can make us feel, transport us through imagination, and ground us in our humanity. And what Jacobus (Elias?) fights for in this story is for the preservation of music as it is as an art rather than making it into a meaningless and emotionless commodity.
I recommend this novel to mystery lovers, anyone who loves classical music or who is even slightly interested in that world. And brace yourselves for a wild, enjoyable ride.
I thoroughly enjoyed Devil's Trill. I loved Gerald Elias' wonderful descriptions of just what the classical music world is really like -- far from glamorous -- and the very real human characters that populate it. Elias took a huge chance in making Jacobus such a crotchety and unlikeable character, but he grew on me. He's suffering the aftereffects of his own prideful fall. Elias also does a good job with the mystery, sending Jacobus, Williams, and Jacobus' newest student Yumi, on a chase that takes them to Japan and back. And there's a murder, too! And the police believe Jacobus is the murderer which ups the stakes considerably for him. Ferreting out the reasons behind each crime and finding the solutions keeps Jacobus so preoccupied that he loses sleep. I didn't lose sleep reading this book but I really looked forward to every chance I had to pick it up and read it.
Since my own novel, Perceval's Secret is set in the classical music world in Vienna, Austria, I'm always interested in reading the novels of other writers who've chosen to set their stories in that world. Elias knows what he's talking about since he's worked in that world for many years as a violinist. Toward the end, Jacobus and Yumi are in Japan speaking with Yumi's grandmother, also a violin teacher. When Yumi asks what the point of practicing is, her grandmother responds: "The goal, dear, is to search for beauty, an essential element of which is imperfection. That may seem contradictory, but for something to be perfect, it must contain imperfection, for that is what makes it human and enables us to appreciate its beauty. But then, of course, it is no longer perfect. A paradox." Music can make us feel, transport us through imagination, and ground us in our humanity. And what Jacobus (Elias?) fights for in this story is for the preservation of music as it is as an art rather than making it into a meaningless and emotionless commodity.
I recommend this novel to mystery lovers, anyone who loves classical music or who is even slightly interested in that world. And brace yourselves for a wild, enjoyable ride.
July 30, 2023
A Game of Tones…violin aficionados with catty bickering, intrigue, and murder…also a stolen violin…
Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias is a debut mystery in the world of classical music.
The lead character is a blind violin teacher named Daniel Jacobus, but there are a wealth of other characters ranging from other music teachers, students, art experts, and a mixed bag of other unusual figures.
The theft of a rare violin which allegedly belonged to a famous dwarf violinist is not nearly as interesting as the constant plotting between different members of a music arts program, criticism between teachers and their students, as well as a TON of discussion on violin music, instruments, and music appreciation history.
The story behind the book’s title was also interesting…though the theft (and later murder) which are part of the main mystery was probably one of the less intriguing elements of the novel.
Still, I liked it for those who are into cultural mysteries that drop a ton of knowledge on a particular artistic field. It makes me wonder why there aren’t a whole range of cosy music mysteries out there?
Devil's Trill by Gerald Elias is a debut mystery in the world of classical music.
The lead character is a blind violin teacher named Daniel Jacobus, but there are a wealth of other characters ranging from other music teachers, students, art experts, and a mixed bag of other unusual figures.
The theft of a rare violin which allegedly belonged to a famous dwarf violinist is not nearly as interesting as the constant plotting between different members of a music arts program, criticism between teachers and their students, as well as a TON of discussion on violin music, instruments, and music appreciation history.
The story behind the book’s title was also interesting…though the theft (and later murder) which are part of the main mystery was probably one of the less intriguing elements of the novel.
Still, I liked it for those who are into cultural mysteries that drop a ton of knowledge on a particular artistic field. It makes me wonder why there aren’t a whole range of cosy music mysteries out there?
July 20, 2019
As a musician myself I was delighted to find a novel that features excellent writing about music. Unfortunately the novel is marred by one very sexist scene, where the teenage Japanese student masturbates while thinking about her much older white violin teacher for no good plot or character-driven reason. As the author himself is an older violin teacher this read as extremely off-putting wish fulfillment; it also highlights the other unfortunate Gary-Stu aspects of the novel, where a cadre of intelligent and accomplished friends and acquaintances constantly praise the main character for his depth of insight and forgive him for being an inconsiderate asshole. Fans of House will enjoy this novel; those tired of that trope may wish to avoid. A shame, because it is so very rare to find passionate, knowledgeable, non-saccharine writing about music in fiction.
September 1, 2017
Ooooo what a wonderful first novel. By a classical musician. About the music business.
Here, a blind, semi-retired violinist, teaching in the Berkshires, is recruited by a fellow ex-trio mate who is now in the insurance biz, to assist in the recovery of a stolen Strad. The old fiddler is a real crank. A new student becomes his sidekick, sort of. And as the mystery of the stolen violin unfolds, the entire industry of teaching for competition, agents, instrument dealers, and career manipulation, is exposed. Many references to the actual interpretation of music, standard repertoire, and music history. New York City. The psychology of success and of failure. Ahhhh. All such great stuff.
Totally enjoyable read.
Here, a blind, semi-retired violinist, teaching in the Berkshires, is recruited by a fellow ex-trio mate who is now in the insurance biz, to assist in the recovery of a stolen Strad. The old fiddler is a real crank. A new student becomes his sidekick, sort of. And as the mystery of the stolen violin unfolds, the entire industry of teaching for competition, agents, instrument dealers, and career manipulation, is exposed. Many references to the actual interpretation of music, standard repertoire, and music history. New York City. The psychology of success and of failure. Ahhhh. All such great stuff.
Totally enjoyable read.
December 15, 2019
I wanted to like this more than I actually did.
I am not a classical music lover. I think most of the musical discussion was lost on me. Others might find that the best thing about this mystery.
I am not a New York fan. So the location did nothing for me either, despite it being nicely described.
I almost did not get past the Prologue. I don't think it was necessary.
I did enjoy the super awareness of Daniel Jacobus to the world about him. I did enjoy the plot and the detecting of Daniel and Nathaniel. I did enjoy the history of the violin making industry.
Overall I thought the book was way too long and filled with too many unpleasant people with no redeeming qualities.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
I am not a classical music lover. I think most of the musical discussion was lost on me. Others might find that the best thing about this mystery.
I am not a New York fan. So the location did nothing for me either, despite it being nicely described.
I almost did not get past the Prologue. I don't think it was necessary.
I did enjoy the super awareness of Daniel Jacobus to the world about him. I did enjoy the plot and the detecting of Daniel and Nathaniel. I did enjoy the history of the violin making industry.
Overall I thought the book was way too long and filled with too many unpleasant people with no redeeming qualities.
I borrowed a copy from the public library.
Read
May 23, 2023Mysteries aren't my usual genre, but I love classical music, and I was intrigued by the idea of a blind (amateur) detective. I loved the inclusion of the author's violin playing; I only wish there had been more of it! The pacing sometimes felt off, like the author was going off on tangents that interested him but had nothing or little to do with the plot. I also loved a character's argument that playing the violin is like sex.
August 22, 2017
In contrast to some of the other reviews, I did finish the book. I learned a lot about the nuance of the violin. The storyline drags, at one point I considered giving up but I stuck with it and it surprised me in the end. I wonder if he has fine tuned his technique in subsequent books. Perhaps I will find out.
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