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.
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There are 5 books in this series.
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