Customer Reviews

Corpse de Ballet: A Nine Muses Mystery: Terpsichore

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Corpse de Ballet is an excellent book. Its mystery elements are a bit weak, but that does not matter. The book's virtue lies in the fact that it is both extremely well written and a remarkable portrait of the world of ballet. One rarely gets any trip behind the scenes of a ballet production, let alone the vivid excursion this book involves. So well-written is this portrait that the reader cannot tell whether the author loves ballet for its art and beauty or hates it for the terrible physical and emotional tolls it imposes on its practitioners. One must surely call into question the value of any art form that requires that its adherents be both anorexic and cut-throat and that ultimately physically and emotionally destroys those who choose dance as a career.

Another aspect of this book worthy of note is the relationship between the two detectives. I will enjoy watching what is clearly an incipient romance develop. Ellen Pall is clearly experienced in the art of creating a convincing romance. Indeed, so well-written. .... .... ....

I'm torn on this book. On one hand, the author has written some of the few Regency romances since Heyer's death that did not assume the reader was a higher brain function deficient as Fiona Hill. This book is well written-- Pall turns a very neat sentence-- and the world of professional ballet is entertaining. (I admit to not being a balletomane. I like modern dance, but would probably gouge my eyes out if I had to sit though another classical ballet.) On the other hand, the mystery lacks urgency and the conclusion is almost anticlimactic.

Some good things about the book: Pall's portrayal of a regency romance writer at work (or tryng not to work as the case maybe.) She breaks with the tradition of a lot of romance writers as portraying their profession as filled with sexually frustrated spinsters. I also liked the relationship between Ms Bodine and her friend Ruth Renswick. It's nice to see such an imperfect but clearly affectionate relationship between mature women. As I said, Pall writes beautifully and sensually about the professional dancers. They are not caricatures and there is almost a voyeuristic pleasure in watching them interact with one another.

On the downside, the romantic interest is not particularly interesting and, as I mentioned, the resolution lacks punch.

Oh, to be an author of Regency Romance novels even half as successful as Juliet Bodine, otherwise known as Angelica Kestrel-Haven! But then, dreams are always wonderful to have, regardless. Even as successful as A K-H is in her work, the very real Juliet still finds boredom a steady visitor, and is always eager to do almost anything other than write.

When her college friend, Ruth Renswick, a choreographer for the Jansch Ballet in Manhatten, asks for help with her new venture, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Juliet is drawn in like flies to honey. And the readers are drawn in by the very realistic descriptions of life in and around a ballet troupe. This is the first of a new series on the nine muses; this one, of course, is in honor of Terpsichore, goddess of dance.

Unfortunately, the lead male dancer soon turns up dead, and another college friend turns up as the investigating detective. Murray Landis is also a sculptor who plays a wicked game of softball on the side. The two of them--Juliet and Murray--dance their own pas de deux while sorting out the clues that lead everywhere but to the proper conclusion.

If you've ever read any Regency novels by Fiona Hill, you'll be prepared for the excellent writing of Ellen Pall, her alter ego. If not, you'll have a wonderful treat with this very witty, very literate, very enjoyable mystery novel that doesn't believe in rushing around, working up a sweat, looking here, there and everywhere for clues. The dancers do enough of that, thank you, but you will also, no doubt, enjoy the vicarious pleasure of visiting Juliet's upper West-Side apartment. It's to die for!

So pull up a cozy rocking chair, and settle in for some of the best word-play to be found in recent years. And don't be in such a big hurry that you'll miss any of the enticing and tantalizing hints of things to come. This was the first of a series; I'm really looking forward to book two! Which muse will it be this time?

Ellen Pall is an experienced writer (her literary novel, Among the Ginzburgs, is well worth reading), and it shows. Her characters are real enough to sit down and have a cup of coffee with; the plot is tightly-knit as well as informative about the way a choreographer interacts with the dancers to create a complete ballet. Juliet Bodine, the protagonist, has a great Upper West Side apartment, complete with Hudson river views and the wry Manhattan view of life to go with it. This is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading the future books inspired by the remaining eight muses.

Juliet Bodine will do almost anything to avoid having to write her overdue regency romance so, when her friend Ruth calls for help with her choreographing a ballet of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Juliet jumps at the chance. She helps her friend with the story but can't stop investigating the strange 'accidents' that seem to be happening. Or are they really accidents.

Although even her romantically interested NYPD detective doesn't believe her, Juliet believes that she is on the trail of murder.

Author Ellen Pall has created a wonderful story. Its depiction of the ballet industry, with its narcissistic dancers, petty (and not so petty) intrigue, and constant sexual tension is completely believable. Its depiction of the life of a romance author is also wonderful although unfortunately few regency authors earn enough to enjoy the lifestyle that Juliet does. Pall does a fabulous job with her characters, making each come to life.

I highly recommend this excellent novel.

In Corpse de Ballet, the first installment in the Nine Muses Mystery series by Ellen Pall, historical romance novelist Juliet Bodine is called on to act as muse herself. When an old college friend, choreographer Ruth Renswick, asks for Juliet's advice on the staging of a ballet of Great Expectations, the former professor of English literature finds herself a regular observer of the Jansch Repertory Ballet Troupe's rehearsals--and an observer as well of the rivalries and romances that animate the dancers. But an accident involving the hyper-sexual dancer playing Pip leads Juliet to suspect that someone is out to sabotage her friend's production by injuring, or worse, its male lead.

While lovers of dance will enjoy amateur sleuth Juliet Bodine's immersion in the world of professional dance, others may find the lengthy descriptions of the choreography of Great Expectations slow going. The book's plot is likewise on the slow side (as if often true of cozies), its character and culture intended to carry the book forward rather than any thrills. By the end of the book Juliet has become likeable enough, a character whom some readers may want to revisit in further episodes, but I was not immediately drawn to her. (I would have been happier, too, without as intimate a knowledge of her pudendal maladies: "On the minus side, however, she was--was she?--a bit raw about the netherbones. On Monday morning, she was definitely itchy. Yeast infection, she diagnosed. She ate a container of yogurt for breakfast and another for lunch, then crossed her fingers. And her legs.") My chief problem, however, was with the character of Ruth Renswick. I found it difficult to believe that this successful, driven choreographer would require Juliet's hand-holding so pathetically and for so long a period, especially considering that the help Juliet provided over the course of weeks of attendance at the rehearsals was minimal.

Reviewed by Debra Hamel, author of Trying Neaira: The True Story of a Courtesan's Scandalous Life in Ancient Greece

Ruth is having trouble choreographing her latest ballet, Great Expectations, and begs her friend Juliet to provide moral support and advice. Since Juliet Bodine will do anything to avoid working on her latest Regency novel she agrees to help. Soon she becomes facinated with the glamorous world of ballet where of jealousy and intrigue are common. When one of the principle dancers is murdered, Juliet feels compelled to investigate. Corpse de Ballet provides carefully drawn characters with real flaws, a glimpse into the exotic world of ballet and even a whiff of romance. I highly recommend Corpse de Ballet and hope to see another mystery featuring Juliet Bodine.

Corpse de Ballet is a superb mystery. It is extremely well written. The mystery aspect is a trifle weak, but that does not matter: the characterizations and non-mystery content give this book its excellence. The world of ballet is a fascinating one, and the author is so subtle that the reader cannot tell if she loves it for its artistic aspects or hates it for the truly terrible emotional and physical crippling it inflicts on its disciples. Football players have it easy by comparison.

I enjoyed this book so much, and it was so well written, that I instantly headed for Amazon to try to obtain some of the romances that Ellen Pall wrote under the name Fiona Hill. Imagine my consternation when I found out that they are ALL out of print. Some publisher out there needs to wake up and smell the sales!

Juliet Cherry, known to her fans as Miss Angelica Kestrel-Haven, is a very popular Regency romance writer. She has her own web site, a fan club, and is a consistent guest speaker on the Regency era. Juliet is a close friend with Ruth Renwick, who is choreographing a new ballet, Great Ex, a rendition of Great Expectations, for the Jansch Ballet Troupe of New York.

Ruth asks Juliet to provide an opinion on the work in progress because her whole career rides on the success of this show. Juliet provides advice as to how to tighten the production. When Anton Mohr slips, Juliet's superior sense of smell catches a whiff of talc mixed in with the rosin normally used to wipe floors. When Anton dies from an overdose of Ecstasy, Juliet feels a homicide occurred. As she continues to observe the rehearsals, Juliet watches everyone to insure that a killer doesn't walk away from his crimes.

CORPSE DE BALLET gives readers an insider's look at a ballet company from the corps d'esprit to the petty jealousies and all the hard work needed for success. The intrepid heroine uses her olfactory sense to alert the audience that the game is afoot. Her interaction with Ruth adds an extra dimension especially since they also fuss and fight. Ellen Pall has written a delightful mystery.

Harriet Klausner

I am a former ballet dancer and now a teacher. I read Corpse De Ballet because of its ballet theme, and becuase I enjoy reading mysteries. Ellen Pall, through her protagonist, Juliet Bodine, has captured life in a large ballet company very acurately. I had forgotten many aspects of this life styly 'til Juliet commented on it as an outsider looking in. The heat of the studio, the smell, the drive for perfection, the physical apprence of the dancers were all very accurate.
This is also just a well written book. I think any lover of mysteries will enjoy reading it, even if they are not involved in the world of ballet.
My big complaint though is why does Ellen Pall, spend so much time on Juliet's yeast infection? It has absolutely no relevence to the plot. I am surprised that her editor did not delete these passages of the story.
Read and enjoy!