Customer Reviews

Death Calls the Tune

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The writing, and plot are, as always with MD Lake, quite good. In this novel, however, I was constantly jarred by the barbs thrown at the U and the professoriate. I found myself wondering if Lake is so disaffected with his former colleagues or if he lacks respect for the intelligence of the mystery reader. Given that Peggy is viciously attacked with a tree branch, and a character chokes on a carrot while chortling "What's Up Doc?" and that Lake writes this without any sense of irony or humor-fully expecting us to swallow it-I'm afraid it might be a bit of the former and a whole lot of the latter. I liked the earlier Peggy character and would like to see her come out of the shadow of whatever is troubling her (or her author) and become entertaining again.

I've read all of the Peggy O'Neill books and, while I like "Midsummer Malice" the best, I think this one is almost as good. Although I'm married with children myself, I enjoy the fact that Peggy is so adamant--or is she just defensive?--about not wanting to get married or have children. In spite of the fact that she doesn't want children herself, in this book she falls for a child and sets out to solve a murder pretty much for the child's sake. M.D. Lake is wonderful in the way she creates children, young people, and old people too. I recommend the series highly and think "Death Calls the Tune" would be a good place to start for anybody who hasn't read any of her books.

These are fun books to read. I'm glad Peggy finally moved from "a large midwestern university with a river running through it" to Minnesota. That change allowed the inclusion of actual names of cities and other features. The featuring of Lake Superior's North Shore as the opening part of the book clearly puts the story in Minnesota. Peggy's character has expanded with each book. The inclusion of a few other recurring characters helps to move the story along although I'd like to see a few of the other characters such as Lawrence and Paula. Another good book in the series and keeps me looking forward to the next one. (I hope Peggy finds another romance soon. Gary and Al haven't been right for her.) As usual, the story is a good one and keeps the reader interested. Surprising ending, but keeping with some of his other books.

One of the music professors from the University is found dead in Lake Superior, having presumably jumped from the overhanging cliffs. His grandmother, a wealthy patron of the music school, thinks that her grandson is the victim of foul play. Having been impressed by campus cop Peggy O'Neill's ability to solve an earlier crime, the grandmother asks Peggy to do some investigating. At the time of the investigation, there is a burglary at the music school and Peggy thinks the two events may be connected. Through her thorough sleuthing and interviewing of suspects, Peggy finally discovers the truth behind the death. This is another good "cozy" from author M.D. Lake.

I have enjoyed all of the Peggy O'Neill books, and this is no exception. Peggy is not a hard-boiled cop who looks for trouble--it just seems to find her. I enjoy the setting, and the insight into what goes on behind ivy covered walls. If you like cozy mysteries or just want a nice, fun read, then this author and this book are for you!

MD Lake has finally admitted that, yes, Peggy lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota and works as a campus cop at the UofM. Some local color: Music Professor character "Scott Hall" is named after the building formerly housing the UofM Music Department, the crumbling and decrepit Scott Hall on the East Bank of the UofM campus. Peggy is not her usual sparkling and spunky self in this latest Peggy O'Neill mystery. She seems a little depressed and subdued regarding the demise of her (never very interesting) relationship with her journalist boyfriend "Gary." And where is the handsome detective, Buck Hansen? He makes a cameo appearance only, which is a great disappointment. Peggy has finally joined the '90's and has a cell phone. Author M.D. Lake, however, makes an interesting little gaff regarding the tracking of cell phone numbers. See if you can find it.