Death on the High C's [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Robert Barnard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1992

Opera singers are often described as being larger than life, and certainly this is true of Gaylene Ffrench. Her appetites – for men, for booze, for attention – are gargantuan, and her ability to irritate is similarly outsized. So when someone electrocutes the bombastic Australian contralto, few tears are shed at the Northern Opera Company (though it’s a pity her understudy’s so lousy). In fact, most of the company members are dancing a jig, and it falls on Superintendent Nichols to determine which of them might have helped Gaylene along to her just reward. The black tenor tired of being the butt of Gaylene’s bigotry? The soprano weary of jealous whispers in her ears? Gaylene’s many bedroom conquests, all anxious to avoid a repeat performance? With so many potential suspects, Nichols has his hands full, but Barnard and his readers have a deliciously malicious good time.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"One of the deftest stylists in the field . . .goes about it with a quietly malicious sense of humor." --New York Times

"The wryest wit and most scathing satire in today's mystery" --Chicago Sun-Times

"With an eye for the hypocrisy and self-delusion in us all, Barnard's mysteries are funny and acutely observant." --Boston Globe --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

About the Author

Barnard has won nearly every mystery award on offer, including an Anthony, an Agatha, a Macavity, a Dagger In the Library, the Golden Handcuffs, and Britain's prestigious Cartier Diamond Dagger for lifetime achievement in mystery fiction; he has also been nominated for a record eight Edgar Awards. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Magna Large Print Books (June 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750503416
• ISBN-13: 978-0750503419
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,903,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun!, October 15, 2005

By 

M. Frank "Picky Reader" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death on the High C's (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries) (Paperback)

Sure the action gets a bit silly. But what fun.

No need to be an opera fan. Only an appreciation of the difficulties likely to crop up among high-strung, theatrical characters is required. Sit back, enjoy the story and have a good time. Expect a few giggles. Excellent vacation reading.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Suspense plus spoof of the opera world!, January 4, 2002

By 

David Hildner (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Death on the High C's (Mass Market Paperback)

Robert Barnard once again mixes an intriguing mystery with gently satirical portrait of a budding Manchester opera company with its "prime donne", dictatorial director, even a ex-military stage-door keeper! Highly recommended for those who love (or hate) opera. Even the detective is knowledgeable on the subject. And Barnard works his plot in nicely with production of "Rigoletto" that the company is rehearsing.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 6 stars if you like opera, 7 if you know Rigoletto, January 2, 2006

By 

L. Francos (Valley Stream, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Death on the High C's (Felony & Mayhem Mysteries) (Paperback)

Robert Barnard is amazing in the way he takes social commentary, disguises it as page-turning fiction, then adds a murder mystery to give it a little extra zing. He's done it in every one of his books that I've read.

Death on the High C's is a sly look at the workings of a provincial opera company preparing to stage Rigoletto while a murder investigation takes place in their midst, but you don't have to be an opera buff to enjoy the shenanigans.

Familiarity with the subject of any story will, of course, enhance your enjoyment of it, but Death on the High C's works, as is usual with Barnard, as flavorful social commentary spiced with murder mystery.