Kindle Price: $6.99

Save $8.96 (56%)

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions

Buy for others

Give as a gift or purchase for a team or group.
Learn more

Buying and sending eBooks to others

  1. Select quantity
  2. Buy and send eBooks
  3. Recipients can read on any device

These ebooks can only be redeemed by recipients in the US. Redemption links and eBooks cannot be resold.
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs

Follow the author

Nupur Tustin
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Murder Backstage: Joseph Haydn Historical Murder Mystery (Joseph Haydn Mystery Series Book 4) Kindle Edition

by Nupur Tustin (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 12 ratings
See all formats and editions

When murder propels him backstage, Haydn is forced to confront a deadly killer. . .

When the Burgtheater’s impresario unexpectedly meets his maker, Joseph Haydn is relieved to learn no one expects him to look into the matter. The impresario was murdered—and the Salzburger believed to be the killer is already behind bars.

But the impresario’s untimely death is not without consequences. Haydn’s employer insists he take over the dead man’s duties. Handling the tedious technical details of putting on an opera is bad enough. Confronting the suspicious behavior backstage is even worse.

Is an innocent man being sent to the gallows? Haydn is plagued by the question when his brother Michael confirms his worst fears. The Salzburger arrested for the murder is none other than Leopold Mozart—father of the well-known child prodigy currently in Vienna.

Now, egged on by Michael—a close friend of the Mozarts—Haydn must prove Leopold innocent. Or risk his brother’s ire forever!

Praise for the Joseph Haydn Mysteries:
“Tustin orchestrates a concerto of intrigue and deception . . .”
– Anna Lee Huber, Lady Darby Mysteries

“A standout in the genre of historical mysteries . . .”
– Midwest Book Reviews

Previous page
  1. Book 4 of 5
    Joseph Haydn Mystery Series
  2. Print length
    348 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    July 6, 2022
  6. File size
    2891 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
Next page
Add a debit or credit card to save time when you check out
Convenient and secure with 2 clicks. Add your card
Next 2 for you in this series See full series
Total Price: $13.98
By clicking on the above button, you agree to Amazon's Kindle Store Terms of Use

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B34548N5
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Foiled Plots Press; 1st edition (July 6, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ July 6, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2891 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 348 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 12 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Nupur Tustin

Nupur Tustin

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

A former journalist, Nupur Tustin relies upon a Ph.D. in Communication and an M.A. in English to orchestrate fictional mayhem. The Haydn mysteries are a result of her life-long passion for classical music and its history. Childhood piano lessons and a 1903 Weber Upright share equal blame for her original compositions, available on ntustin.musicaneo.com.

Her writing includes work for Reuters and CNBC, short stories and freelance articles, and research published in peer-reviewed academic journals. She lives in Southern California with her husband, three rambunctious children, and a pit bull.

For details on the Haydn series and monthly blog posts on the great composer, visit the official Haydn Mystery web site: NTUSTIN.COM.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
12 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

NekoLisa
4.0 out of 5 stars Very well-done Historical Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2024
This very well-done Historical Mystery is the fourth book in a series and even though it can be read without the previous books, I think reading them in order adds to the reader's enjoyment. As with the other books in this series, Murder Backstage is full of wonderful descriptions that will transport your mind to the City of Vienna in the 1700’s where a murder has taken place and is in need of solving.

I was given a copy of this book by Hidden Gems Books and have read and reviewed it voluntarily.
Helpful
 Report
Kathleen C.
5.0 out of 5 stars Murder Backstage Earns 5/5 Theatrical Traps…Engaging & Clever!
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2022
Kepelmeister Joseph Haydn is essentially the composer to the stars, but he has also shown himself to be a virtuoso at detecting. So, when Prince Nikolaus Esterházy, his employer, rushes to tell him of the murder of the impresario of Burgtheater, he expects to be entangled in another investigation. Instead, however, he is told he’ll take over the impresario’s duties. The show must go on! On top of bringing to the stage his own opera, he has other productions to monitor and ensure payment to the singers, the musicians, and the theater’s crew. It gets more complicated when his brother arrives imploring Haydn to look into the crime since the man arrested is a close friend…Leopold Mozart (yes, father of that Mozart). Despite being the last to see the victim alive and one involved in a public argument with the victim, he’s sure his friend is innocent. Since Haydn rarely says “no” to his brother, the investigation is on!

Nurpur Tustin has composed an intriguing mystery deep in the eighteenth-century music community and rich with a complex plot and entertaining characters that include some historical figures (Be sure to read Author’s Note). This fourth book is well written introducing the crime early making the investigation the major focus, adding plenty of red herrings and a few close calls, and ending with a bit of subterfuge to make an arrest. The engaging drama explores the inner workings of the Burgtheater highlighting personality conflicts, suspicious behavior, and cutthroat attitudes. It also brings into question the quality of the victim’s management skill, the theater’s finances and contracts, and what if any of this is known by royalty, bank managers, and an Archduke or two. Treading lightly is a must, but whether political or personal, it is an exciting journey not without a bit of peril. I truly enjoyed the two maids who have found themselves in the middle of the drama in previous books. Greta is a bit emotional while Rosalie is introspective, but they’re both relied on to provide support, covert attention, and a bit of play acting. Nurpur’s writing style is very entertaining and descriptive with a cadence in the narrative and dialogue that along with a fascinating level of research envelopes one in the late 1700s. This series is definitely a contender for Top Reads for 2022!

Disclosure: I received an ARC from the author. My review is voluntary with honest insights and comments.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Geraldine Cosentino
4.0 out of 5 stars Running an opera company isn't easy!
Reviewed in the United States on July 21, 2022
In Murder Backstage, the impresario of the BurgTheater is found dead in his office. He was involved in many shady doings, particularly involving finances. Among the cast of characters is a soprano who can't sing very well but is a favorite of the Emperor, the assistant to the impresario who seems to be running things backstage, a trio of maids who comment on everything and everybody, and Franz Joseph Hayden, rehearsing his new opera. An arrest is made. It's Leopold Mozart, who was there trying to get an opera by his son, young Wolfgang, produced.
Haydn and his brother Michael don't believe Leopold did it. Haydn's entire family has input, with various ideas about the possible killer and the motives. Although Haydn has taken on the impresario's duties, producing the season's operas, he somehow manages to piece together the overabundant clues to the murder and expose the culprit.
We learn how operas were staged, about costumes and scenery, acting and singing techniques; interesting details of backstage life in the 18th century. Many singers couldn't read music and learned their parts by ear. Although there were too many plots, characters, and reasons for the murder, If you are a fan of opera you'll find something to enjoy, if not, not.
I received an ARC of the book and these are my thoughts.
Helpful
 Report
Jessica Robbins
4.0 out of 5 stars An Enjoyable Cozy Mystery
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2022
A solid addition to a highly enjoyable historical cozy mystery series. Joseph is hearing up to an opera performance. Things are going good until the man in charge is murdered. Joseph is asked to take over his duties because you know the show must go on. As if he is not busy enough his brother then pops up asking him to look into things. Well of course he cannot say no. What follows is a well laid out mystery full of important people from history, plenty of clues, and a few twists to keep you guessing all the way until the end. Makes for quite the fun read sure to be enjoyed by fans of the genre. I really liked it so I give it 4/5 stars.
Helpful
 Report
Catsinacradle
5.0 out of 5 stars Backstabbing Backstage
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2022
I love historical mysteries. This is my first encounter with musician/composer Joseph Hadyn. He’s trying to work with a not very talented soprano who’s the subject of numerous complaints. The impresario is found murdered in his private office which forces Joseph to temporarily assume his duties. Now that seems to include finding his killer when Leopold Mozart, father of Wolfgang, is arrested for the murder. With an interfering archbishop, indifferent Chief of Police & Michael Hadyn, his brother, insisting he get Leopold free, how will Joseph find time to put on the opera summer season let alone find a murderer?
With a wealth of details on the workings of the theatre and the thin line Joesph walks between the rich, influential people and singers/actors that was the opera world then, this is not a quick read but a very satisfying one.
Helpful
 Report
bookwrm39
4.0 out of 5 stars Famous person as an amateur detective
Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2022
There seems to be a trend in cozy mysteries these days where a famous person is thrust into becoming a detective. I have read them with Annie Oakley, Edith Head and now Joseph Haydn. This trend is entertaining, but I find myself checking some of the details and it can get distracting.
In this novel in the series, the father of Wolfgang Mozart is accused of murder and Haydn and the palace maids work to free him. The mystery itself is gentle and the solution fairly obvious as the clues are HUGE. The book was slow to start but picked up quickly. A pleasant read.
Helpful
 Report
Report an issue

Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report