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Alexis Brooks #1
Concerto
"I see you."
Three simple words from her telephone in the dead of night send violinist Chrispen Marnett’s life spiraling in directions she never imagined. The chance to work with the greatest violinist alive drew her to Newton, but nothing could have prepared her for what she found there. Terror lurks in innocent places–a ringing phone, a late-night rehearsal, unexpected flowers.
And what could have prepared her for Alexis Brooks: symphony concertmaster, international superstar, and accused murderer? Withdrawn and moody, Alexis is cut off from everyone around him; his colleagues in the symphony, his fans, even his own father. Everyone from her mother to the Newton Police has warned Chrispen against Alexis, but as her own danger increases, he may be her only ally.
Join Chrispen on the journey of a lifetime as she fights for her sanity, her happiness, and her life. To survive, she must unravel the layers of the past and learn the secrets the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra hides.
Three simple words from her telephone in the dead of night send violinist Chrispen Marnett’s life spiraling in directions she never imagined. The chance to work with the greatest violinist alive drew her to Newton, but nothing could have prepared her for what she found there. Terror lurks in innocent places–a ringing phone, a late-night rehearsal, unexpected flowers.
And what could have prepared her for Alexis Brooks: symphony concertmaster, international superstar, and accused murderer? Withdrawn and moody, Alexis is cut off from everyone around him; his colleagues in the symphony, his fans, even his own father. Everyone from her mother to the Newton Police has warned Chrispen against Alexis, but as her own danger increases, he may be her only ally.
Join Chrispen on the journey of a lifetime as she fights for her sanity, her happiness, and her life. To survive, she must unravel the layers of the past and learn the secrets the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra hides.
288 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2010
1 person is currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Miller
11 books10 followersSandra Miller is an author. She's that girl you knew in school who always had a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other, and spent every spare second experimenting with ways to put them together.
She's also a violinist who has performed with the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, and played in the band for a Kenny Rogers show. She's done productions of Oklahoma!, Le Nozze di Figaro, Madame Butterfly, and too many others to list. She's been playing and teaching music for nearly thirty years.
Her fiction works have previously appeared in Alienskin Magazine, Long Story Short, and Bewildering Stories.
Her poetry has appeared at Storyhouse, and one of her poems won the Grand Prize in the FictionAddiction 2002 poetry contest.
Her non-fiction articles have appeared in Writer's Journal, Music for the Love of It, Antiques & Collecting Magazine, Writing World, Vision for Writers, and Writer's Forum, a Writer's Digest publication.
She can be found on the web at www.sandra-miller.com
She's also a violinist who has performed with the Las Vegas Symphony Orchestra, the UNLV Symphony Orchestra, and played in the band for a Kenny Rogers show. She's done productions of Oklahoma!, Le Nozze di Figaro, Madame Butterfly, and too many others to list. She's been playing and teaching music for nearly thirty years.
Her fiction works have previously appeared in Alienskin Magazine, Long Story Short, and Bewildering Stories.
Her poetry has appeared at Storyhouse, and one of her poems won the Grand Prize in the FictionAddiction 2002 poetry contest.
Her non-fiction articles have appeared in Writer's Journal, Music for the Love of It, Antiques & Collecting Magazine, Writing World, Vision for Writers, and Writer's Forum, a Writer's Digest publication.
She can be found on the web at www.sandra-miller.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 5, 2011
What would you do if you found yourself being stalked by a mad man who leaves pages with the words 'I see you' on your fax and strewn all over your lawn, who sends you pictures of yourself with the head cut off, who drugs your iced tea? Well, I know what I wouldn't do - I wouldn't destroy all of the evidence and I sure as hell wouldn't get all lovey dovey with a guy everybody else, including the police and my mother, thinks is a murderer. But that's just me. Not so, Crispin, the heroine of the story. And why is she so convinced, against all evidence, that he's not a murderer - because, well, he plays the violin so beautifully, a sure sign of an innocent man.
It was hard for me to review this book. I loved the way it started. In the first few pages, author Sandra Miller, does a great job of building suspense. The whole creepy stalker thing sent chills down my spine. However, the story soon devolves into a rather tepid romance with occasional glimpses of the original excitement and, by the end of the first couple of chapters, I knew who the real murderer was - not much of a mystery here.
So, I was faced with the question - do I give the book another star because it showed such potential for being a straight up suspense novel or do I drop it down a star for wasting this potential. Finally, I decided to compromise. I have to admit that, despite my frustration with the heroine, I rather enjoyed the story. It is a fast, easy read, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. So three stars it is because this is a fun book as long as you don't expect too much.
It was hard for me to review this book. I loved the way it started. In the first few pages, author Sandra Miller, does a great job of building suspense. The whole creepy stalker thing sent chills down my spine. However, the story soon devolves into a rather tepid romance with occasional glimpses of the original excitement and, by the end of the first couple of chapters, I knew who the real murderer was - not much of a mystery here.
So, I was faced with the question - do I give the book another star because it showed such potential for being a straight up suspense novel or do I drop it down a star for wasting this potential. Finally, I decided to compromise. I have to admit that, despite my frustration with the heroine, I rather enjoyed the story. It is a fast, easy read, perfect for a lazy summer afternoon. So three stars it is because this is a fun book as long as you don't expect too much.
July 29, 2016
Rating: 6 out of 10
Pages: 281
First Line: “The dream was always the same.”
Summary: Everything was going for Chrispen. She was fresh out of Julliard and is now the assistant concertmaster at the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under her idol, Alexis Brooks. Then she starts getting creepy messages from a violent stalker. The police can’t seem to help her other than telling her to stay away from Alexis, who was accused, but not proven to be the murderer of his first wife. She must guard herself and her friends from the stalker while solving the mystery behind the murder. The farther she finds herself in this mess the more it seems that these two problems are closely related and that history may be repeating itself. And if it is, then Chrispen is in the same situation as Madeleine, Alexis’ late wife.
Review: To tell you the truth, I was not expecting such a good storyline and characters from this book. I won it online and I had entered the giveaway because the cover looked interesting (yes, I do judge books by their covers, but I’ll discuss that another time). Yet when I received the book, the synopsis on the back cover did not promise much. After finally starting the book, I read it in a few hours I was so engrossed. I had not been prepared for the raw emotion I encountered so quickly in the book.
It had a very good plot with a few twists that added a lot to the mystery. I thought it was well planned out and was intricate enough to remain interesting. The duel conflicts kept me guessing and eliminated many of the lulls you might find in a book with a single struggle.
My trouble with the story was the predictability of the culprit(s) of the crimes. Maybe I have read so many mysteries (especially Nancy Drew novels) that I am extremely perceptive with these sorts of things, but I doubt it. Almost immediately after the background details and introductions I knew who killed Madeleine and who the stalker was. Luckily there were enough other tidbits and unfinished pieces I kept reading to see how everything played out. But when I got to the end of the book I found that I had been exactly right on both accounts.
*SPOILER ALERT* Also, I thought the bit about Madeleine the violin could have been better explained and that it kind of came out of nowhere. I understand that it was Chris’ grandmother’s violin and I liked how that came back up, but why did Dwight have it? Did he see Madeleine’s name on it in the window of a pawn shop? Furthermore why did he buy it? Was he that obsessed with Madeleine to such an extent that he bought a violin for the singular reason that her name was inscribed on it? I would be a bit more satisfied if these questions were somehow answered in the epilogue.
Overall, this novel was a very exciting and partially nerve-racking mystery. I was happily surprised with the development the relationship between Alexis and Chrispen. I appreciated how Ms. Miller described music and how it affected Chrispen. The story was entrancing and it kept me on edge, yet there was enough comic relief that I wasn’t stressed out by the intensity of it all.
Recommended: Yes, especially to those who are interested in music, though you do not need to know your way around classical music if you want to read this.
Similar: Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, Red is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz
Pages: 281
First Line: “The dream was always the same.”
Summary: Everything was going for Chrispen. She was fresh out of Julliard and is now the assistant concertmaster at the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra under her idol, Alexis Brooks. Then she starts getting creepy messages from a violent stalker. The police can’t seem to help her other than telling her to stay away from Alexis, who was accused, but not proven to be the murderer of his first wife. She must guard herself and her friends from the stalker while solving the mystery behind the murder. The farther she finds herself in this mess the more it seems that these two problems are closely related and that history may be repeating itself. And if it is, then Chrispen is in the same situation as Madeleine, Alexis’ late wife.
Review: To tell you the truth, I was not expecting such a good storyline and characters from this book. I won it online and I had entered the giveaway because the cover looked interesting (yes, I do judge books by their covers, but I’ll discuss that another time). Yet when I received the book, the synopsis on the back cover did not promise much. After finally starting the book, I read it in a few hours I was so engrossed. I had not been prepared for the raw emotion I encountered so quickly in the book.
It had a very good plot with a few twists that added a lot to the mystery. I thought it was well planned out and was intricate enough to remain interesting. The duel conflicts kept me guessing and eliminated many of the lulls you might find in a book with a single struggle.
My trouble with the story was the predictability of the culprit(s) of the crimes. Maybe I have read so many mysteries (especially Nancy Drew novels) that I am extremely perceptive with these sorts of things, but I doubt it. Almost immediately after the background details and introductions I knew who killed Madeleine and who the stalker was. Luckily there were enough other tidbits and unfinished pieces I kept reading to see how everything played out. But when I got to the end of the book I found that I had been exactly right on both accounts.
*SPOILER ALERT* Also, I thought the bit about Madeleine the violin could have been better explained and that it kind of came out of nowhere. I understand that it was Chris’ grandmother’s violin and I liked how that came back up, but why did Dwight have it? Did he see Madeleine’s name on it in the window of a pawn shop? Furthermore why did he buy it? Was he that obsessed with Madeleine to such an extent that he bought a violin for the singular reason that her name was inscribed on it? I would be a bit more satisfied if these questions were somehow answered in the epilogue.
Overall, this novel was a very exciting and partially nerve-racking mystery. I was happily surprised with the development the relationship between Alexis and Chrispen. I appreciated how Ms. Miller described music and how it affected Chrispen. The story was entrancing and it kept me on edge, yet there was enough comic relief that I wasn’t stressed out by the intensity of it all.
Recommended: Yes, especially to those who are interested in music, though you do not need to know your way around classical music if you want to read this.
Similar: Blue is for Nightmares, White is for Magic, Silver is for Secrets, Red is for Remembrance by Laurie Faria Stolarz
July 9, 2011
This is a
Reading Good Books
review.
The premise was really interesting. The whole stalker part was scary and I thought it was very effective. I am a bit familiar with classical music so I liked those parts too. The book started out well – clear explanations of what an orchestra is all about, good character introduction and development, and the stalker issue was creepy. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode. But unlike Criminal Minds and similar crime drama shows where they preserve evidence, Chrispen Marnett chose to get rid of it. Yes.
I wanted to like it, I really do. But the story was all over the place. Chrispen, orchestra, Alexis, stalker, murder, Kolbi, crushes, reunions, Mendelssohn, family issues, Dwight, jobs. It had so many goings on. Eventually, it got confusing and tiring. The plot, albeit had promise, was inconsistent. It had good moments here and there. The author could have used the orchestra more as a device to further the story rather than just a setting where often irrelevant and tedious stuff happened. It was kind of hard to read; I found myself re-reading some paragraphs over and over because I would get totally lost. And oh, I never thought I would see the word “fangirl” in a novel.
This is also the first time where the author gave away who the suspect was somewhere in the middle of the story. I mean, I knew who it was from the start anyway. It was not enough that it was obvious, the author had to point him out. I was so close to giving up after that but I soldiered on. I think the author tried to put doubt on who it really was when it was mentioned that Chrispen’s best friend’s hobby was lock-picking. REALLY NOW? How convenient. Come to think of it, it would’ve made for a better ending if it really was her best friend who threatened her.
The characters were poorly written, in my opinion. Like the story, they were all over the place. Chrispen was so frustrating. As the heroine of the story, she was so naive and it became irritating. Why would you destroy evidence of creepy, stalkerish behavior? To forget about it? Maybe it’s just me but I would preserve that and submit it to the police. Why would I keep the police out of it? I didn’t get it at all. The whole romance with Alexis Brooks started out nice but I… okay, would you get engaged to someone you barely know personally? Everything came out of nowhere and I thought it was nothing but filler. Also, was Chrispen psychic? Eh, whatever.
The other characters were confusing too. Except Kolbi Edwards. I liked her. The others were just so impossible and shallow. The ending tried to redeem the whole piece but fell short. It all came together in a nice red bow as all happily ever afters do. Eh.
I dislike giving low marks to books. I appreciate the effort the author put in to it. But I just could not wait for this book to be over. I probably won’t read it again.
Rating: 2/5.
Recommendation: If you are familiar with orchestras and classical music, you’ll find a couple of familiar names in this book.
The premise was really interesting. The whole stalker part was scary and I thought it was very effective. I am a bit familiar with classical music so I liked those parts too. The book started out well – clear explanations of what an orchestra is all about, good character introduction and development, and the stalker issue was creepy. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode. But unlike Criminal Minds and similar crime drama shows where they preserve evidence, Chrispen Marnett chose to get rid of it. Yes.
I wanted to like it, I really do. But the story was all over the place. Chrispen, orchestra, Alexis, stalker, murder, Kolbi, crushes, reunions, Mendelssohn, family issues, Dwight, jobs. It had so many goings on. Eventually, it got confusing and tiring. The plot, albeit had promise, was inconsistent. It had good moments here and there. The author could have used the orchestra more as a device to further the story rather than just a setting where often irrelevant and tedious stuff happened. It was kind of hard to read; I found myself re-reading some paragraphs over and over because I would get totally lost. And oh, I never thought I would see the word “fangirl” in a novel.
This is also the first time where the author gave away who the suspect was somewhere in the middle of the story. I mean, I knew who it was from the start anyway. It was not enough that it was obvious, the author had to point him out. I was so close to giving up after that but I soldiered on. I think the author tried to put doubt on who it really was when it was mentioned that Chrispen’s best friend’s hobby was lock-picking. REALLY NOW? How convenient. Come to think of it, it would’ve made for a better ending if it really was her best friend who threatened her.
The characters were poorly written, in my opinion. Like the story, they were all over the place. Chrispen was so frustrating. As the heroine of the story, she was so naive and it became irritating. Why would you destroy evidence of creepy, stalkerish behavior? To forget about it? Maybe it’s just me but I would preserve that and submit it to the police. Why would I keep the police out of it? I didn’t get it at all. The whole romance with Alexis Brooks started out nice but I… okay, would you get engaged to someone you barely know personally? Everything came out of nowhere and I thought it was nothing but filler. Also, was Chrispen psychic? Eh, whatever.
The other characters were confusing too. Except Kolbi Edwards. I liked her. The others were just so impossible and shallow. The ending tried to redeem the whole piece but fell short. It all came together in a nice red bow as all happily ever afters do. Eh.
I dislike giving low marks to books. I appreciate the effort the author put in to it. But I just could not wait for this book to be over. I probably won’t read it again.
Rating: 2/5.
Recommendation: If you are familiar with orchestras and classical music, you’ll find a couple of familiar names in this book.
September 10, 2011
A Good Book Alert Review (http://goodbookalert.blogspot.com)
4 Stars for Concerto
Concerto
Author: Sandra Miller
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4 Stars
Summary:
At the same time an unknown stalker begins threatening violinist Chrispen Marnett, she finds herself drawn to the brilliant concertmaster Alexis Brooks, a man whose wife was brutally murdered under suspicious circumstances five years earlier. With passion and suspicion colliding, Chrispen must investigate the past to protect her own future.
Review:
Rationality and emotion are often opposing forces. The protagonist, Chrispen Marnett, finds the struggle between her trusting emotional side and rational side a continuing challenge throughout Concerto. At the beginning of the book, she's self-admitted fan of her concertmaster, the talented Alexis Brooks, a man many think murdered his own wife. Despite the warnings of various friends, local authorities, and even Alexis's own father she involves herself with the man while also trying to deal with harassing phone calls, faxes, and e-mails that may be also be coming from him.
While the orchestra isn't integral to the plot, it does provide a somewhat unusual background that provides an extra bit of setting flavor. The author's own background as a violinist brings complete verisimilitude to the musical and orchestral elements. She does a good job of communicating many subtle aspects of orchestral culture.
Chrispen, Alexis, and various other characters are developed well. Not every character seemed all that necessary, but it wasn't a huge issue. Chrispen came off more than a little naive but given her feelings and interactions with others, it didn't seem unrealistic. Depending on one's taste in heroines though, a reader may find her frustrating.
Indeed, though I enjoyed Concerto overall, at times I found some of Chrispen's choices rather odd. It should be noted, however, that she is a violinist, not a private detective or police officer, so a few missteps in investigating the bad guys are expected.
Given that certain fundamental mysteries are resolved surprisingly early, it's less uncertainty over the identity of the criminal than than dealing directly with the antagonist that drives the plot, particularly in the second half of the story. Though there are some efforts to obfuscate the identity of the antagonist, I didn't find them particularly convincing. That being said, the cloud of risk that hangs over Chrispen is more than enough to sustain the dramatic tension until the end of the story.
There's good pacing throughout. The author does a good job of alternating between the character development and mystery portions smoothly.
Disclaimer:
This review was based on a free review copy.
It is the policy of Good Book Alert to only review books that can earn at least 3 to 5 stars.
4 Stars for Concerto
Concerto
Author: Sandra Miller
Genre: Suspense
Rating: 4 Stars
Summary:
At the same time an unknown stalker begins threatening violinist Chrispen Marnett, she finds herself drawn to the brilliant concertmaster Alexis Brooks, a man whose wife was brutally murdered under suspicious circumstances five years earlier. With passion and suspicion colliding, Chrispen must investigate the past to protect her own future.
Review:
Rationality and emotion are often opposing forces. The protagonist, Chrispen Marnett, finds the struggle between her trusting emotional side and rational side a continuing challenge throughout Concerto. At the beginning of the book, she's self-admitted fan of her concertmaster, the talented Alexis Brooks, a man many think murdered his own wife. Despite the warnings of various friends, local authorities, and even Alexis's own father she involves herself with the man while also trying to deal with harassing phone calls, faxes, and e-mails that may be also be coming from him.
While the orchestra isn't integral to the plot, it does provide a somewhat unusual background that provides an extra bit of setting flavor. The author's own background as a violinist brings complete verisimilitude to the musical and orchestral elements. She does a good job of communicating many subtle aspects of orchestral culture.
Chrispen, Alexis, and various other characters are developed well. Not every character seemed all that necessary, but it wasn't a huge issue. Chrispen came off more than a little naive but given her feelings and interactions with others, it didn't seem unrealistic. Depending on one's taste in heroines though, a reader may find her frustrating.
Indeed, though I enjoyed Concerto overall, at times I found some of Chrispen's choices rather odd. It should be noted, however, that she is a violinist, not a private detective or police officer, so a few missteps in investigating the bad guys are expected.
Given that certain fundamental mysteries are resolved surprisingly early, it's less uncertainty over the identity of the criminal than than dealing directly with the antagonist that drives the plot, particularly in the second half of the story. Though there are some efforts to obfuscate the identity of the antagonist, I didn't find them particularly convincing. That being said, the cloud of risk that hangs over Chrispen is more than enough to sustain the dramatic tension until the end of the story.
There's good pacing throughout. The author does a good job of alternating between the character development and mystery portions smoothly.
Disclaimer:
This review was based on a free review copy.
It is the policy of Good Book Alert to only review books that can earn at least 3 to 5 stars.
December 5, 2011
Concerto by Sandra Miller is a fairly well written suspense novel. It follows Chrispen as she deals with what starts out as a fairly normal life. Chrispen is a violinist in the Newton Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. She is there because Alexis Brooks plays there. Alexis is a world renown violin player who also happens to be the main suspect in the brutal murder of his wife. Chrispen doesn't believe the allegations and nurses a pretty heavy duty crush on him despite being told he is a danger to her.
When Chrispen receives a message her life begins to change radically. The message is a simple one I see you.
I thought the book had a lot of good thing going for it, but there were a few drawbacks as well. Chrispen was a little bit of both. I actually liked her character for the most part, but she did a lot of stupid things with the evidence of her stalker. I'm not sure if Sandra intended for her to be a frustrating character (if she did she did an amazing job!) or if it just turned out that way, but it took me out of the story a bit. Also the villain wasn't terribly hard to figure out and is actually revealed about two thirds of the way through the book. The level of suspense is kept at a pretty good level through trying to figure out what is going to happen next, but knowing who the bad guy is takes a little away as well. I have to say that the while the stalker remained mysterious he was exceedingly creepy and that part was done extraordinarily well.
The characters Chrispen, Dwight, Kolbi, and Alexis were are done well inspiring the emotions that I felt Sandra wanted felt about them. There were even some little humorous parts injected with Alexis telling orchestra jokes. The flow of the story moved fairly well with only one or two places that slowed down a bit.
Overall once I got into the story I didn't want to stop reading until I finished. I believe it took two or three sittings to go through the whole book. If you are a fan of suspense novels this one is definitely one to check out.
Review copy provided by the author.
When Chrispen receives a message her life begins to change radically. The message is a simple one I see you.
I thought the book had a lot of good thing going for it, but there were a few drawbacks as well. Chrispen was a little bit of both. I actually liked her character for the most part, but she did a lot of stupid things with the evidence of her stalker. I'm not sure if Sandra intended for her to be a frustrating character (if she did she did an amazing job!) or if it just turned out that way, but it took me out of the story a bit. Also the villain wasn't terribly hard to figure out and is actually revealed about two thirds of the way through the book. The level of suspense is kept at a pretty good level through trying to figure out what is going to happen next, but knowing who the bad guy is takes a little away as well. I have to say that the while the stalker remained mysterious he was exceedingly creepy and that part was done extraordinarily well.
The characters Chrispen, Dwight, Kolbi, and Alexis were are done well inspiring the emotions that I felt Sandra wanted felt about them. There were even some little humorous parts injected with Alexis telling orchestra jokes. The flow of the story moved fairly well with only one or two places that slowed down a bit.
Overall once I got into the story I didn't want to stop reading until I finished. I believe it took two or three sittings to go through the whole book. If you are a fan of suspense novels this one is definitely one to check out.
Review copy provided by the author.
July 10, 2011
I was excited to read this novel as I've been know to stare dreamily at violins contemplating (yet again) trying to learn how to play. With this novel, CONCERTO, I was lulled in by the musical writing and complex plot arrangements, and enthralled as the tempo increased to a fevered climax. Part romance, part mystery/thriller, this novel blends everything harmonically and with finesse.
I loved almost everything about this novel, from getting to see the inner-workings of a symphony orchestra, to the almost paranormal foreshadowing. The only, very minor complaint I have is that the budding romance moved a little too fast for my tastes, emotionally. But I quickly got over that as the story pulled me in and kept me up reading well past my bed time. One thing I do want to mention is that Miller balances the technical aspects regarding music terminology will the lightest touch. For the not-musically-inclined, like myself, the use of musical terms and ideas was neither too much or too little. This allows the reader to fully delve into the story without getting overwhelmed by things they don't understand.
Overall, a fantastic book written by a pitch-perfect author. I do hope to read more of Sandra Miller's work in the future!
I loved almost everything about this novel, from getting to see the inner-workings of a symphony orchestra, to the almost paranormal foreshadowing. The only, very minor complaint I have is that the budding romance moved a little too fast for my tastes, emotionally. But I quickly got over that as the story pulled me in and kept me up reading well past my bed time. One thing I do want to mention is that Miller balances the technical aspects regarding music terminology will the lightest touch. For the not-musically-inclined, like myself, the use of musical terms and ideas was neither too much or too little. This allows the reader to fully delve into the story without getting overwhelmed by things they don't understand.
Overall, a fantastic book written by a pitch-perfect author. I do hope to read more of Sandra Miller's work in the future!
July 14, 2011
I liked it and did not want to stop still I finshed it. I was involved in the story so much that I was crying in part of it.
Chris is a violinist in the Newton Philharmonic Symphony. She joined 6 months ago to work with Alexis Brooks who was the best in world right now. five years ago he was tried for killing his wife and got off on a tech. Most people think he got away with murder including his own father.
Chris does not believe he did it. Even with police,dr.. everyone trying to warn her.
Dwight is very jealous of Alexis scince high school. He keeps asking Chris out but she keeps saying no. He is second chair and was more involved while Alexis was not around.
Someone is terroring Chris. first with wierd phone calls than lots of faxes than paper all over front yard. drugged her tea which if she was not on phone at time she passed out would of died by allergic reaction. Takes pictures of her everywhere, emails,damaging house. Police belive its Alexis.
So Chris believes she needs to solve Alexis wife murder to stop her attacker.
Chris makes some stupid mistakes, but keeps trying to fight back. It shows a lot of how symphony works.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review
Chris is a violinist in the Newton Philharmonic Symphony. She joined 6 months ago to work with Alexis Brooks who was the best in world right now. five years ago he was tried for killing his wife and got off on a tech. Most people think he got away with murder including his own father.
Chris does not believe he did it. Even with police,dr.. everyone trying to warn her.
Dwight is very jealous of Alexis scince high school. He keeps asking Chris out but she keeps saying no. He is second chair and was more involved while Alexis was not around.
Someone is terroring Chris. first with wierd phone calls than lots of faxes than paper all over front yard. drugged her tea which if she was not on phone at time she passed out would of died by allergic reaction. Takes pictures of her everywhere, emails,damaging house. Police belive its Alexis.
So Chris believes she needs to solve Alexis wife murder to stop her attacker.
Chris makes some stupid mistakes, but keeps trying to fight back. It shows a lot of how symphony works.
I was given this ebook in exchange for honest review
January 11, 2012
Concerto combined the best of mystery, romance, intrigue, and suspense and wove into a story that I just couldn't put down. From the first page, the story drew you in and just wouldn't let you go. Chrispen is a violinist with the local symphony and is looking at a chance to play with one of the greatest violinist. But instead of a rosy future, her life spins out of control as the mystery, fear, and suspense begin.
This was a fantastic book that kept me up far too late because I just HAD to finish it. Chrispen was a delightful lead in the book, a fully "real" character that has the reader rooting for her. Alexis was one of those characters that, for most of the story, you just couldn't decide if you were supposed to love him or hate him. That added so much richness to the suspense and mystery of the plot. All of the characters, rather main or supporting, were richly created and capable of drawing you into their stories. As fabulous as the plot was in and of itself, the characters were what drew me in and kept me there!
Next up in the series is The Lost Concerto, which I will most definitely be reading!
This was a fantastic book that kept me up far too late because I just HAD to finish it. Chrispen was a delightful lead in the book, a fully "real" character that has the reader rooting for her. Alexis was one of those characters that, for most of the story, you just couldn't decide if you were supposed to love him or hate him. That added so much richness to the suspense and mystery of the plot. All of the characters, rather main or supporting, were richly created and capable of drawing you into their stories. As fabulous as the plot was in and of itself, the characters were what drew me in and kept me there!
Next up in the series is The Lost Concerto, which I will most definitely be reading!
July 28, 2011
This book is about musicians in a symphony orchestra. The parts of the book are named after the parts of a concerto. Chrispen is drawn to Newton with the chance to work with the greatest violinist alive. Alexis is under suspicion after the death of his wife and his release from prison on a technicality. When Chrispen starts to receive spooky messages and threats when she starts to see more of Alexis. She also helps Alexis in rebuilding his relationship with his father while investigating who is sending her the mysterious messages and who had killed Alexis’s wife. She is surprised to find out about her friend Dwight’s past with Alexis and his late wife Madeline. This is a good book with a lot of suspense in it that will keep you wondering if Chrispen will be alive at the end of the book and the culprit who is stalking her will be caught.
November 13, 2010
I was very excited to read this book as I won it as a first-read on Good-reads! I am not very learned when it comes to classical music but I feel I learned a lot of interesting things about orchestras in this book. And despite not being a symphony kind of person I enjoyed the plot and the two main characters however there were a number of grammatical problems that made the read less enjoyable and therefore I gave it only 3 stars. There were several times when a word would be used twice or the wrong word was inserted. I find these kinds of things annoying. There were other times when the author assumed we knew what was going on and I feel that a few more sentences or words would have made the entire situation clearer. This book could have greatly benefited from better editing.
February 6, 2012
Nice romantic thriller. Violinist Chrispen Marnet has been a fan of Alexis Brooks as long as she can remember. The reason she joined this particular orchestra was because she would be playing along with the world famous virtuoso. As she becomes closer to Alexis she realises that there is a large cloud of suspicion hanging over him for his wife's murder. Chrispen knows Alexis had nothing to do with it and sets out to prove it not realizing the real killer is stalking her.
August 8, 2011
Couldn't put it down! Yes, Chrispen made me crazy with how she dealt..or didn't deal..with certain things. I was already so interested in her and others I still needed to know how she worked it out. Even if you feel you know what will happen, you have to keep going to find out if you're right or wrong! It's a really fun easy book to read..a fun little getaway!
July 3, 2016
Music in integral to violinist Crispen but nightmares are threatening her sanity and livelihood unless harpist Kolbi and concertmaster Alexis can save her from a murderous situation. The plot includes a very good description of how orchestra work and practice. The characters actions were underdeveloped but it prevents the plot from becoming blogged down in details and dialogue.
July 15, 2023
This book has a lot of twists and turns. Just when you think you have figured it out it just turns again. I really enjoyed it and was glad there was a love story thrown in. I really enjoyed this book!
February 23, 2011
What great fun this mystery/thriller is! I thoroughly enjoyed its pace and concise prose! The classical music angle gave it yet another element.
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