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LeGarde Mystery #3
Mazurka
Music professor Gus LeGarde is about to embark on a European honeymoon with his new wife, Camille, when his socially challenged brother-in-law receives a mysterious invitation to visit an ailing relative in Germany. Siegfried can’t travel alone, but the newlyweds have no qualms over bringing him along.
Unfortunately, their idyllic vacation takes a dark turn at the first stop in Paris, when Gus and Siegfried are caught in a bloody street brawl with a group of neo-Nazis -- and a flawed news report frames Siegfried for the murder of one of their leaders, thrusting him into the deadly group’s crosshairs.
After a narrow escape, Gus manages to bring his brother-in-law safely to Germany, where he hopes to both salvage the rest of the honeymoon and explore the shocking family secret that awaits there. But the events they’ve set in motion have far-reaching consequences, and the ruthless leader of the terrorist faction has lethal plans in store for Gus, Camille, and Siegfried -- and ultimately, the world.
Unfortunately, their idyllic vacation takes a dark turn at the first stop in Paris, when Gus and Siegfried are caught in a bloody street brawl with a group of neo-Nazis -- and a flawed news report frames Siegfried for the murder of one of their leaders, thrusting him into the deadly group’s crosshairs.
After a narrow escape, Gus manages to bring his brother-in-law safely to Germany, where he hopes to both salvage the rest of the honeymoon and explore the shocking family secret that awaits there. But the events they’ve set in motion have far-reaching consequences, and the ruthless leader of the terrorist faction has lethal plans in store for Gus, Camille, and Siegfried -- and ultimately, the world.
- GenresMystery
230 pages, Paperback
Published September 15, 2009
22 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Aaron Paul Lazar
42 books188 followersUSA Today Bestselling Author Aaron Paul Lazar writes to soothe his soul. Author of 28 books, including three addictive mystery series, writing books, a romantic suspense series, and a new love story series, Aaron enjoys the Genesee Valley countryside in upstate New York, where his characters embrace life, play with their dogs and grandkids, grow sumptuous gardens, and chase bad guys. Visit his website at http://www.lazarbooks.com. Aaron has won 21 book awards for his novels and finds writing to be his form of "cheap therapy." Feel free to network with him on Facebook or his website; he loves to connect with readers!
Visit his website at www.lazarbooks.com.
more about the author:
Aaron Paul Lazar wasn’t always a mystery writer. It wasn’t until eight members of his family and friends died within five years that the urge to write became overwhelming. “When my father died, I lost it. I needed an outlet, and writing provided the kind of solace I couldn’t find elsewhere.”
Lazar created the Gus LeGarde mystery series, with the founding novel, DOUBLE FORTÉ (2004), a chilling winter mystery set in the Genesee Valley of upstate New York. Like Lazar’s father, protagonist Gus LeGarde is a classical music professor. Gus, a grandfather, gardener, chef, and nature lover, plays Chopin etudes to feed his soul and thinks of himself as a “Renaissance man caught in the 21st century.”
The creation of the series lent Lazar the comfort he sought, yet in the process, a new passion was unleashed. Obsessed with his parallel universe, he now lives, breathes, and dreams about his characters, and has written eleven LeGarde mysteries.
One day while rototilling his gardens, Lazar unearthed a green cat’s eye marble, which prompted the new paranormal mystery series featuring Sam Moore, retired country doctor and zealous gardener. The green marble, a powerful talisman, connects all three of the books in the series, whisking Sam back in time to uncover his brother’s dreadful fate fifty years earlier. (THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLY MOORE; TERROR COMES KNOCKING, and FOR KEEPS) Lazar intends to continue both series, in addition to three contemporary new series including Tall Pines Mysteries, set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, Paines Creek love stories series, set on Cape Cod, and Bittersweet Hollow romantic suspense series, set in Vermont.
Lazar’s books feature breathless chase scenes, nasty villains, and taut suspense, but are also intensely human stories, replete with kids, dogs, horses, food, romance, and humor. The author calls them, “country mysteries,” although reviewers have dubbed them “literary mysteries.”
“It seems as though every image ever impressed upon my brain finds its way into my work. Whether it’s the light dancing through stained-glass windows in a Parisian chapel, curly slate-green lichen covering a boulder at the edge of a pond in Maine, or hoarfrost dangling from a cherry tree branch in mid-winter, these images burrow into my memory cells. In time they bubble back, persistently itching, until they are poured out on the page.”
Lazar lives on a ridge overlooking the Genesee Valley in upstate New York with his wife, mother-in-law, beloved Cavi-poo, Balto, Cavi-bichon, Amber, and four cats. He and his wife, Dale, now have seven grandchildren to spoil and they enjoy every second of it!
Visit his website at www.lazarbooks.com.
more about the author:
Aaron Paul Lazar wasn’t always a mystery writer. It wasn’t until eight members of his family and friends died within five years that the urge to write became overwhelming. “When my father died, I lost it. I needed an outlet, and writing provided the kind of solace I couldn’t find elsewhere.”
Lazar created the Gus LeGarde mystery series, with the founding novel, DOUBLE FORTÉ (2004), a chilling winter mystery set in the Genesee Valley of upstate New York. Like Lazar’s father, protagonist Gus LeGarde is a classical music professor. Gus, a grandfather, gardener, chef, and nature lover, plays Chopin etudes to feed his soul and thinks of himself as a “Renaissance man caught in the 21st century.”
The creation of the series lent Lazar the comfort he sought, yet in the process, a new passion was unleashed. Obsessed with his parallel universe, he now lives, breathes, and dreams about his characters, and has written eleven LeGarde mysteries.
One day while rototilling his gardens, Lazar unearthed a green cat’s eye marble, which prompted the new paranormal mystery series featuring Sam Moore, retired country doctor and zealous gardener. The green marble, a powerful talisman, connects all three of the books in the series, whisking Sam back in time to uncover his brother’s dreadful fate fifty years earlier. (THE DISAPPEARANCE OF BILLY MOORE; TERROR COMES KNOCKING, and FOR KEEPS) Lazar intends to continue both series, in addition to three contemporary new series including Tall Pines Mysteries, set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, Paines Creek love stories series, set on Cape Cod, and Bittersweet Hollow romantic suspense series, set in Vermont.
Lazar’s books feature breathless chase scenes, nasty villains, and taut suspense, but are also intensely human stories, replete with kids, dogs, horses, food, romance, and humor. The author calls them, “country mysteries,” although reviewers have dubbed them “literary mysteries.”
“It seems as though every image ever impressed upon my brain finds its way into my work. Whether it’s the light dancing through stained-glass windows in a Parisian chapel, curly slate-green lichen covering a boulder at the edge of a pond in Maine, or hoarfrost dangling from a cherry tree branch in mid-winter, these images burrow into my memory cells. In time they bubble back, persistently itching, until they are poured out on the page.”
Lazar lives on a ridge overlooking the Genesee Valley in upstate New York with his wife, mother-in-law, beloved Cavi-poo, Balto, Cavi-bichon, Amber, and four cats. He and his wife, Dale, now have seven grandchildren to spoil and they enjoy every second of it!
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
March 16, 2011
I’d heard of Aaron Lazar’s Gus LeGarde mysteries, but hadn’t read any yet, so I had slightly mixed feelings when I got the chance to read the fourth in the series before trying the others. On the one hand, Mazurka starts in Paris, the location of some especially fond memories for me, so that was certainly an attraction. But on the other hand I was nervous that I might feel I was playing catch-up, chasing after characters that other readers already knew and loved.
I needn’t have worried. Gus, Camille and Siegfried rapidly became real to me, as did the scenes they inhabited. Soon I was smelling and hearing Paris all around me as I sank into the story…
And tasting it!
The author’s ability to evoke the flavor of a city, and a meal, is truly amazing. I frequently felt like I was sitting at the next table in a street-café. I could feel the texture as a French loaf was torn apart, and taste the crumbs on my tongue. I could see the flowers and hear the birds. And in a heartbeat, I was part of the confusion and fear all around as events transformed LeGarde’s beautiful haven to a terror zone.
The author’s wide-ranging skills are equally apparent in love scenes, in evocative passages filled with memories, and in death-defying action. His protagonists are at once believable and just plain nice, leaving the reader pleased to have met them and eager to spend more time in their company. And the enemy in Mazurka is one that has indeed been on the rise, in Europe and beyond. Lazar’s handling of local history and the global nature of evil was very nicely done.
Then of course, there’s that delightful thread of music through the tale, as befits the book’s title, and a fascinating depiction of the world of long ago.
This was truly an enjoyable book, and an excellent introduction to a series that I’ll hope to read more of. Many thanks for the invitation and the opportunity Mr. Lazar.
I needn’t have worried. Gus, Camille and Siegfried rapidly became real to me, as did the scenes they inhabited. Soon I was smelling and hearing Paris all around me as I sank into the story…
And tasting it!
The author’s ability to evoke the flavor of a city, and a meal, is truly amazing. I frequently felt like I was sitting at the next table in a street-café. I could feel the texture as a French loaf was torn apart, and taste the crumbs on my tongue. I could see the flowers and hear the birds. And in a heartbeat, I was part of the confusion and fear all around as events transformed LeGarde’s beautiful haven to a terror zone.
The author’s wide-ranging skills are equally apparent in love scenes, in evocative passages filled with memories, and in death-defying action. His protagonists are at once believable and just plain nice, leaving the reader pleased to have met them and eager to spend more time in their company. And the enemy in Mazurka is one that has indeed been on the rise, in Europe and beyond. Lazar’s handling of local history and the global nature of evil was very nicely done.
Then of course, there’s that delightful thread of music through the tale, as befits the book’s title, and a fascinating depiction of the world of long ago.
This was truly an enjoyable book, and an excellent introduction to a series that I’ll hope to read more of. Many thanks for the invitation and the opportunity Mr. Lazar.
June 21, 2014
MAZURKA AARON PAUL LAZAR
Finally Gus and Camille have married and are on vacation in Paris with their friend Sigfreid when caught up in a Neo-Nazi demonstration. They make some enemies after a tragic event occurs and are on the run from some very determined and violent people. While hiding in Germany the trio discovers a family secret involving an ancestor.
This book takes the reader through a mini tour of Europe and the plot is spell binding as they run for their lives. This is a page turner and once again I had a hard time putting it down. Mr. Lazar has done a top-notch job of making the reader really hate the villains and root for our heroes as they get themselves out of continual danger.
One more example of a 5 star piece of writing.
Finally Gus and Camille have married and are on vacation in Paris with their friend Sigfreid when caught up in a Neo-Nazi demonstration. They make some enemies after a tragic event occurs and are on the run from some very determined and violent people. While hiding in Germany the trio discovers a family secret involving an ancestor.
This book takes the reader through a mini tour of Europe and the plot is spell binding as they run for their lives. This is a page turner and once again I had a hard time putting it down. Mr. Lazar has done a top-notch job of making the reader really hate the villains and root for our heroes as they get themselves out of continual danger.
One more example of a 5 star piece of writing.
May 20, 2014
Mazurka by Aaron Paul Lazar is an amazing addition to the Gus LeGarde mysteries. I am so infatuated with these characters and the story lines developed by Lazar, that I am able to place myself comfortably within the situations. This particular addition to the series deals with the difficult subject of prejudice and unmitigated hatred, while still surrounding the characters in unconditional love. Lazar addresses this subject with the expertise of all of his books. The scenes are descriptive and beautiful. Chapter 40 nearly destroyed me, emotionally ripping a hole in my heart. But Lazar continued and painstakenly rebuilt it for me. This book transported me, and I am forever changed.
February 16, 2014
Gus and Camille are on their honeymoon, taking Sigfried with them, and get involved in more than they bargained for. You will need to stretch your imagination a bit to believe what they learn about a favorite composer's past, but it provides an intriguing sub-plot to the all-too-believable encounter with some young neo-Nazis. I always find it interesting when an author takes a character out of his or her home setting. How will that person act? How much is the hero's personality tied into the normal surroundings? Perhaps the biggest surprise in this book is delivered by Sigfried!
December 17, 2011
The way Aaron writes and his discriptions of places he is taking you, or the food his characters are eating or how Gus LeGarde discribes the music he loves and plays,makes this reader feel like I am right there with them all. It is truy amazing.
September 1, 2019
Having had the great fortune to recently devour MAZURKA: A Gus LeGarde Mystery, penned by the talented Aaron Paul Lazar, I’d first like to share I’m totally in awe by this author’s great gift for storytelling.
The book begins with newlyweds Gus LeGarde and Camille (his new bride and second wife), who’re traveling to Paris for their honeymoon with Siegfried, Gus’s first wife’s brother, and a man’s who’s survived a terrible accident with residual issues, but still possessing a loving demeanor.
Their flight is trapped directly in the middle of a horrendous thunderstorm, and the way the author describes the terror these passengers feel as the plane zigzags through turbulence and dives made me feel like I was sitting in the same row as Gus and his wife, as they wonder if they’re going to survive.
Personally, this kind of plane ride is every traveler’s nightmare, but that’s just the beginning of this thrilling novel. Once Mr. Lazar has the reader safely grounded, along with his characters, the action begins anew, and upends the reader for another zinger starting with the very next chapter.
And the next, and so on…I could hardly breathe.
Mr. Lazar’s tale is historically based on the worst crimes committed by Adolf Hitler in WWII, namely the Holocaust, and he weaves the story line around descendants of those who’ve perished in concentration camps, and ultimately, what has now become a new terrorist group of neo Nazi villains.
Too bad Gus, his bride and brother-in-law have inadvertently become entangled with one of the worst plots in recent times to murder peace loving Germans…but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Every chapter in MAZURKA screams plot twists, passionate interludes, danger, and an unexpected secret revealed from the distant past from the mid 1800’s. I almost fell off the sofa – Did NOT see that one coming at all.
Gus LeGarde is also a gifted pianist, a gardener, a dad and Pop-Pop, AND a new husband – he has so much to live for – When danger strikes, how will he maintain his position as the beloved family matriarch?
Enough with the spoilers - I most enthusiastically and highly recommend this novel – Both my heart and soul were captivated in each and every part of this clever, well thought out narration.
Every. Single. Scene.
Bravo, Aaron Paul Lazar – you are a masterful storyteller. Five stars for keeping this reader enthralled - again.
The book begins with newlyweds Gus LeGarde and Camille (his new bride and second wife), who’re traveling to Paris for their honeymoon with Siegfried, Gus’s first wife’s brother, and a man’s who’s survived a terrible accident with residual issues, but still possessing a loving demeanor.
Their flight is trapped directly in the middle of a horrendous thunderstorm, and the way the author describes the terror these passengers feel as the plane zigzags through turbulence and dives made me feel like I was sitting in the same row as Gus and his wife, as they wonder if they’re going to survive.
Personally, this kind of plane ride is every traveler’s nightmare, but that’s just the beginning of this thrilling novel. Once Mr. Lazar has the reader safely grounded, along with his characters, the action begins anew, and upends the reader for another zinger starting with the very next chapter.
And the next, and so on…I could hardly breathe.
Mr. Lazar’s tale is historically based on the worst crimes committed by Adolf Hitler in WWII, namely the Holocaust, and he weaves the story line around descendants of those who’ve perished in concentration camps, and ultimately, what has now become a new terrorist group of neo Nazi villains.
Too bad Gus, his bride and brother-in-law have inadvertently become entangled with one of the worst plots in recent times to murder peace loving Germans…but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Every chapter in MAZURKA screams plot twists, passionate interludes, danger, and an unexpected secret revealed from the distant past from the mid 1800’s. I almost fell off the sofa – Did NOT see that one coming at all.
Gus LeGarde is also a gifted pianist, a gardener, a dad and Pop-Pop, AND a new husband – he has so much to live for – When danger strikes, how will he maintain his position as the beloved family matriarch?
Enough with the spoilers - I most enthusiastically and highly recommend this novel – Both my heart and soul were captivated in each and every part of this clever, well thought out narration.
Every. Single. Scene.
Bravo, Aaron Paul Lazar – you are a masterful storyteller. Five stars for keeping this reader enthralled - again.
October 21, 2019
***** A Power House of a Book!
What made this book so memorable for me was not just a great plot and touching characters, but also the author’s ability to combine some fine, descriptive, and literary language along with power-packed action scenes and a sense of danger lurking throughout. A danger that kept me wondering––and dreading. And turning pages. Opening with a detailed and harrowing depiction of a tremendously rocky airplane flight heading toward Paris, we meet newlyweds, Gus LeGarde and Camille, his new wife, who are accompanied by Siegfried, Gus’ German childhood companion, mentally disabled by an accident years before.
On the plane, the three of them notice a skinhead with a Swastika tattoo. Disgusted, as soon as they land––safe after all––they think nothing more about him and move on. Imagine their surprise when they run into the same Neo Nazi and his cronies on a boat ride. Soon, these same young men are staging a New World Delegates demonstration, honoring their leader, Kirk Müller, and all with an eager CNN team nearby, filming everything.
Then things go horribly wrong. While Camille is off shopping, Müller and the half Jewish Siegfried get into a fight and Müller is accidentally killed by his own men’s friendly fire. But CNN states it all wrong and now Siegfried is a major target. And so starts the nonstop, frightening, cat-and-mouse journey of these three main characters being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terrific read!
What made this book so memorable for me was not just a great plot and touching characters, but also the author’s ability to combine some fine, descriptive, and literary language along with power-packed action scenes and a sense of danger lurking throughout. A danger that kept me wondering––and dreading. And turning pages. Opening with a detailed and harrowing depiction of a tremendously rocky airplane flight heading toward Paris, we meet newlyweds, Gus LeGarde and Camille, his new wife, who are accompanied by Siegfried, Gus’ German childhood companion, mentally disabled by an accident years before.
On the plane, the three of them notice a skinhead with a Swastika tattoo. Disgusted, as soon as they land––safe after all––they think nothing more about him and move on. Imagine their surprise when they run into the same Neo Nazi and his cronies on a boat ride. Soon, these same young men are staging a New World Delegates demonstration, honoring their leader, Kirk Müller, and all with an eager CNN team nearby, filming everything.
Then things go horribly wrong. While Camille is off shopping, Müller and the half Jewish Siegfried get into a fight and Müller is accidentally killed by his own men’s friendly fire. But CNN states it all wrong and now Siegfried is a major target. And so starts the nonstop, frightening, cat-and-mouse journey of these three main characters being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Terrific read!
October 1, 2019
Read one of Aaron Paul Lazar’s stories and you’ll want more.
I am not one to give a synopsis when I leave a review. That’s sufficiently done by the author. Instead, I prefer to give a vivid picture of the style, characters, storyline, and whatever intrigues me — or not — about the author’s work. In this story, Aaron Paul Lazar wove an action-packed thriller, taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride through Europe in MAZURKA: A Gus LeGarde Mystery.
I’ve come to love this author. He has plenty of books to choose from, but I haven’t had the opportunity to read other books in this series. Fortunately, that wasn’t a problem as Mazurka absolutely stands on its own. Lazar’s gift for storytelling keeps me wanting to read more.
One of my favorite things about this author is his description and writing style. I’m very visual and can literally see the characters come to life in my mind as I read Lazar’s work. I held my breath with the newlyweds—Gus LeGarde and Camille, his new bride and second wife— when their flight dropped in altitude and they prepared for a crash… and as they fought for their lives, lost in tunnels underneath a landmark.
I fell in love with Siegfried, Gus’s first wife’s brother, and a gentle giant. I rooted for him through his entanglement with the neo-Nazis and felt the emotion after the incident in Germany.
The thrills never stopped, except to give the reader a sigh of relief and a quick breath before moving onto the next tense situation. The author’s authenticity from music to scenery added to his historical knowledge of World War II and understanding of Neo-Nazis gives his tale a realistic storyline and setting.
As each chapter unfolds, new twists and turns abound with nail-biting suspense and passionate moments. But it wasn’t until the very end that I actually understood why the author chose the title Mazurka.
I highly recommend this enthralling story. One thing is for sure… You’ll want more.
I am not one to give a synopsis when I leave a review. That’s sufficiently done by the author. Instead, I prefer to give a vivid picture of the style, characters, storyline, and whatever intrigues me — or not — about the author’s work. In this story, Aaron Paul Lazar wove an action-packed thriller, taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride through Europe in MAZURKA: A Gus LeGarde Mystery.
I’ve come to love this author. He has plenty of books to choose from, but I haven’t had the opportunity to read other books in this series. Fortunately, that wasn’t a problem as Mazurka absolutely stands on its own. Lazar’s gift for storytelling keeps me wanting to read more.
One of my favorite things about this author is his description and writing style. I’m very visual and can literally see the characters come to life in my mind as I read Lazar’s work. I held my breath with the newlyweds—Gus LeGarde and Camille, his new bride and second wife— when their flight dropped in altitude and they prepared for a crash… and as they fought for their lives, lost in tunnels underneath a landmark.
I fell in love with Siegfried, Gus’s first wife’s brother, and a gentle giant. I rooted for him through his entanglement with the neo-Nazis and felt the emotion after the incident in Germany.
The thrills never stopped, except to give the reader a sigh of relief and a quick breath before moving onto the next tense situation. The author’s authenticity from music to scenery added to his historical knowledge of World War II and understanding of Neo-Nazis gives his tale a realistic storyline and setting.
As each chapter unfolds, new twists and turns abound with nail-biting suspense and passionate moments. But it wasn’t until the very end that I actually understood why the author chose the title Mazurka.
I highly recommend this enthralling story. One thing is for sure… You’ll want more.
November 26, 2020
Wow! Aaron Paul Lazar takes Gus Legarde, Camille, and Siegfried on their most harrowing, suspenseful trip yet. Now that we fans of the series are familiar with the recurring cast of Gus's family and friends, Lazar spends less time setting the table and serves up course after course of a very action-packed feast.
Lazar's signature social/political subtext is especially strong in this book. And he never neglects his characters and their relationships. One of my favorite moments was the release of the prisoner in the last cell. :)
The Chopin subplot was a nifty thread woven into the story, too.
A-Plus.
Lazar's signature social/political subtext is especially strong in this book. And he never neglects his characters and their relationships. One of my favorite moments was the release of the prisoner in the last cell. :)
The Chopin subplot was a nifty thread woven into the story, too.
A-Plus.
June 13, 2020
Another great story in this series, dealing with neo nazis, bloony street fights, and his new brother in law who is challenged is targeted, by a news reporter err. Gus and Camille are on their honeymoon, and get caught in the circumstances of what is going on around them. The leader of the group is out for revenge against them now. Well written and enjoyed the narration bringing out the tension this was causing. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion
September 15, 2023
Great addition to the series, I had to keep realising when this was written as I am only now listening to it in 2023 so there are some references which did resonate based on the information at the time. It was good to move the series out of America and learn more about the German routes.
As always the descriptions of food came to the fore, I also learnt a lot about the family secret (do not want to give that away)
As always the descriptions of food came to the fore, I also learnt a lot about the family secret (do not want to give that away)
February 20, 2021
3.5. A little wordy in places but fun traveling in Paris and Austria
February 8, 2025
Another fantastic read.
Same main characters, totally different storyline. Loving every story I've read from Aaron Paul Lazar. On to the next one!
Same main characters, totally different storyline. Loving every story I've read from Aaron Paul Lazar. On to the next one!
December 5, 2016
This review is for the audiobook edition.
Mazurka is a thrilling story that weaves family, suspense and romance threads together, only to bring forth the essence hiding underneath. As the title suggests, that essence, to me, is music. Gus, a music professor, states at the beginning, “Most days I played Chopin’s mazurkas, nocturnes, waltzes… My soul was being cleansed as my fingers danced over the ivories.” His late wife, Elsworth: had a passion for his music, too, instilled in her since childhood, so their love used to resonate on that note, as well.
On a honeymoon trip with his new wife, Camille, who has a history of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Gus is so gentle, so patient with her. Right from the start, this trip does not go as planned. “Hope glinted momentarily behind her long lashes util the plane quaked again.” The love scene is delicately described. Later, they visit places near and dear to his heart. “This is where he composed his last Mazurka, Camille.” And on second thought, he realizes, “I realized that when I sat at home in front of my old Mason and Hamlin piano and lost myself in one of Chopin’s melancholy nocturnes, I was closer to his genius than when I stood in front of this old building in Paris.”
But even in this romantic location, which is so vividly captured in this book, trouble is brewing, when they are faced, time and again, with members of a neo-nazi group. “There is a great deal of fear out there now, fear of those fanatics organizing and gaining some political momentum.” There are chase and escape scenes that will leave you hanging by your nails… Until, in the end, a revelation that harkens back to the musical theme, when they discover a precious, never before published manuscript by Chopin, for the woman in his life. Thus, love and music are woven together once more, even in the face of fear and mishaps. “My hand trembled as I held the precious manuscript under the light.”
The audiobook narrator, Lou Hecker, did justice to the writing, giving voice to Gus, giving a hesitant, soft voice to Camille, and endowing the other characters with different accents and intonations. I enjoyed his performance.
Highly recommended. Five stars.
This audiobook was sent to me gratis for an unbiased review.
Mazurka is a thrilling story that weaves family, suspense and romance threads together, only to bring forth the essence hiding underneath. As the title suggests, that essence, to me, is music. Gus, a music professor, states at the beginning, “Most days I played Chopin’s mazurkas, nocturnes, waltzes… My soul was being cleansed as my fingers danced over the ivories.” His late wife, Elsworth: had a passion for his music, too, instilled in her since childhood, so their love used to resonate on that note, as well.
On a honeymoon trip with his new wife, Camille, who has a history of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Gus is so gentle, so patient with her. Right from the start, this trip does not go as planned. “Hope glinted momentarily behind her long lashes util the plane quaked again.” The love scene is delicately described. Later, they visit places near and dear to his heart. “This is where he composed his last Mazurka, Camille.” And on second thought, he realizes, “I realized that when I sat at home in front of my old Mason and Hamlin piano and lost myself in one of Chopin’s melancholy nocturnes, I was closer to his genius than when I stood in front of this old building in Paris.”
But even in this romantic location, which is so vividly captured in this book, trouble is brewing, when they are faced, time and again, with members of a neo-nazi group. “There is a great deal of fear out there now, fear of those fanatics organizing and gaining some political momentum.” There are chase and escape scenes that will leave you hanging by your nails… Until, in the end, a revelation that harkens back to the musical theme, when they discover a precious, never before published manuscript by Chopin, for the woman in his life. Thus, love and music are woven together once more, even in the face of fear and mishaps. “My hand trembled as I held the precious manuscript under the light.”
The audiobook narrator, Lou Hecker, did justice to the writing, giving voice to Gus, giving a hesitant, soft voice to Camille, and endowing the other characters with different accents and intonations. I enjoyed his performance.
Highly recommended. Five stars.
This audiobook was sent to me gratis for an unbiased review.
December 1, 2020
This book in the Gus LeGarde Series was a lot more intense than the previous books I've read. Having said that, it was a thought provoking book. I don't know how I would have reacted had any Germans crossed my path; I was not born during WWII nor did I know any Germans during my childhood. I do remember my mother being very negative about the "Japs" when I was small, years after the war, though I think it was a general dislike because one of her best friends was a Japanese lady. I can understand the feelings of people who lost family members in the war. This story really brought to light that we need to be aware that this kind of thing is still going on with groups in our country at present, with many of them still promoting such plans and ideas the same as the Nazis. The story also offers a lot of positive thoughts about the people who work to stop the actions of these groups.
The story of family history is very interesting. Knowing that the personal family side is fiction, the historical information is fascinating. I am a true music lover and Chopin is one of my favorite composers. I've spent many hours at the piano playing his music. Also from the family perspective, the story is wonderful. It illustrates the true meaning and importance of family and family heritage.
I am definitely ready for more of this series! I should mention that the narrators that work with Mr. Lazar have been top notch!
As I listened to this book I was reminded that there will always be people in the world that want only their own views and goals to be accepted by others. They are willing to do anything and go to any lengths to eliminate those who are different or disagree with them. Philosophies such as those have started wars, killed millions and are slow to fade away. This story was a good example of that and though it was fiction it was a good illustration of what happens even today. I was reminded of what is going on in our country even now in 2020. May God protect us from repeating history!
I requested this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed and have voluntarily left this review.
The story of family history is very interesting. Knowing that the personal family side is fiction, the historical information is fascinating. I am a true music lover and Chopin is one of my favorite composers. I've spent many hours at the piano playing his music. Also from the family perspective, the story is wonderful. It illustrates the true meaning and importance of family and family heritage.
I am definitely ready for more of this series! I should mention that the narrators that work with Mr. Lazar have been top notch!
As I listened to this book I was reminded that there will always be people in the world that want only their own views and goals to be accepted by others. They are willing to do anything and go to any lengths to eliminate those who are different or disagree with them. Philosophies such as those have started wars, killed millions and are slow to fade away. This story was a good example of that and though it was fiction it was a good illustration of what happens even today. I was reminded of what is going on in our country even now in 2020. May God protect us from repeating history!
I requested this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed and have voluntarily left this review.
October 31, 2016
( Format : Audiobook )
""Let's treat ourselves to a taxi, O.K?""
I did enjoy this Audiobook with it's journey through three parts of Europe and some interesting adventure action. But it would have been so much more had the two main protagonists been more credible.in their personal responses. From the very beginnings, with the couple deciding to spend the first part of their honeymoon escorting their friend to visit his expiring relative in journey as well as combining the time with researching for a book on Chopin, to their continuing to act the innocent tourists after their friend has already been hospitalised after a brutal attack and their own personal near death experiences, it all seemed far too contrived. Even the teenage strength of inrushing hormones in a previously abstemious man now in his second half century and the equal response in a woman sexually traumatised by earlier experiences, especially given the physical conditions both must have been suffering after various scrapes, seemed forced and inappropriate. But most of all, the zig zagging from terrified hysteria to contented continuation with a trip dogged by terror and vicious attention, seemed not only unlikely but downright stupid. Anyone with half a brain cell would have headed home for safety at the earliest opportunity.
However, some of the situations in which this foolish couple found themselves were suspenseful and entertaining. The basic ideas were good. The narrator's voice was pleasant to hear although his accents and place pronunciations left a lot to be desired and his text reading was occasionally punctuated by misplaced brief pauses which interrupted the flow, but, overall, a reasonable rendering.
Mazurka is the third book in a series and the story stands alone. But possibly my reaction to the main characters would have been kinder had I known them from the earlier books.. My thanks to the right's holder who gifted me this book, via Audiobook Boom
""Let's treat ourselves to a taxi, O.K?""
I did enjoy this Audiobook with it's journey through three parts of Europe and some interesting adventure action. But it would have been so much more had the two main protagonists been more credible.in their personal responses. From the very beginnings, with the couple deciding to spend the first part of their honeymoon escorting their friend to visit his expiring relative in journey as well as combining the time with researching for a book on Chopin, to their continuing to act the innocent tourists after their friend has already been hospitalised after a brutal attack and their own personal near death experiences, it all seemed far too contrived. Even the teenage strength of inrushing hormones in a previously abstemious man now in his second half century and the equal response in a woman sexually traumatised by earlier experiences, especially given the physical conditions both must have been suffering after various scrapes, seemed forced and inappropriate. But most of all, the zig zagging from terrified hysteria to contented continuation with a trip dogged by terror and vicious attention, seemed not only unlikely but downright stupid. Anyone with half a brain cell would have headed home for safety at the earliest opportunity.
However, some of the situations in which this foolish couple found themselves were suspenseful and entertaining. The basic ideas were good. The narrator's voice was pleasant to hear although his accents and place pronunciations left a lot to be desired and his text reading was occasionally punctuated by misplaced brief pauses which interrupted the flow, but, overall, a reasonable rendering.
Mazurka is the third book in a series and the story stands alone. But possibly my reaction to the main characters would have been kinder had I known them from the earlier books.. My thanks to the right's holder who gifted me this book, via Audiobook Boom
October 22, 2016
A Mystery Thriller..
This book had just about everything, honeymooning couples, a band of skinheads, with
several twists and turns.
The setting takes place in Paris and Germany and the author's descriptions were very vivid.
Overall, this book was an entertaining read.
Lou Hecker did well with the narration.
Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."
January 1, 2017
This is another installment in the Gus Legarde series.I love these books,but I am glad this is fiction!lol Lou Hacker is the perfect narrator.I was given this book free by the author,narrator or publisher.
December 5, 2016
Another winner
That Professor LaGarde certainly gets himself into a lot of scary adventures. Really interesting book and mystery around every corner.
That Professor LaGarde certainly gets himself into a lot of scary adventures. Really interesting book and mystery around every corner.
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