Customer Reviews

Devil's Trill (Daniel Jacobus Mystery)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

What a wonderfully balance, well-written book!

Author Gerald Elias (who also happens to be a major orchestra conductor in his own right) has fashioned an interesting mystery involving the upper crust of the New York classical music community and the belligerence of Daniel Jacobus, a blind virtuoso with the common sense of Sherlock Holmes.

Elias does a splendid job of creating his characters and presenting them with the virtues (and non-virtues) one envisions from the fabulously rich and inclusive. His use of tidbits of musical trivia helps to keep the tale on track while providing interesting information to the experienced and the novice music buff. He explains, for instance, that the Devil's Trill is a composition considered so difficult that to be able just to play it indicates you have given your soul to the devil. In Elias' book, many have given their soul to the devil.

His coupe, however is the presentation of Jacobus as a rascal with a heart. Jacobus is first defined as an embittered, disliked teacher who neither seeks nor suffers idiots. He shows his distaste for the affluent, for instance, by wearing worn and frayed flannel shirts at black-tie events. His instructional skills and classical training, however, are envied by all as much as he is disdained for this direct and caustic manner. As the book progresses, however, we discover more about him and ultimately recognize him as a character destined for future mysteries.

The Devil's Trill is a book to be read and savored. It has a smooth, lingering flavor...enough mystery to have you change your mind several times as to "who done it"... sufficient classical music background to satisfy those of a historical persuasion, and characters who will leave you wanting to go right on to the next tale.

Whether you are a classical music aficionado or not, I think you will enjoy this mystery.

I'm not normally a mystery reader but I enjoyed this novel for the terrific dialogues about music - the exchanges between violin teacher and student are priceless - and the wonderfully crusty old protagonist, Daniel Jacobus. Also, the author depicts the ruthless and backstabbing world of classical musicians very convincingly

Gerald Elias's first novel is an serviceable contemporary Christie-story. Just short of the 'murder in a locked room,' trope, this book will entertain but lacks emotional investment. No one's cold, hungry or desperate-- just board, as I was most of the way through.

I never feared for anyone in the book and while I didn't hate Daniel Jacobus, (in fact I found him an interesting, if not compelling protagonist) I didn't cleave to him as I would a Parker, McGarrity, or even a Sandford character. And there-in lies the problem. For me, a good character can lift a mediocre story but a great story with a mediocre character is at best a one read-through on the plane or worst, a skim-through to appease a friend who recommended it.

Don't get me wrong, this is (I'm sure) a fun party for someone else. It's just not my kind of party.

Whether you know a lot about classical music, or don't recognize anything other than the Lone Ranger theme, I think you will be fascinated by the way the author weaves the history and even the sound of classical music into this complex but page-turner of a whodunit. The misanthropic central character is a blind violin teacher, and all the 21st Century crime scene technology, real and imagined, can't match the way his heightened senses produce clues -- to crime and to human character. Not only did I enjoy the intricate plot, I had the self-inflated sense that along the way "Jake" had turned me into a classical music maven.

Every thirteen years the Grimsley Competition is held for prodigies under thirteen years of age at Carnegie Hall. The winner receives money, appearances with the New York Symphonic and use of the renowned seventeenth century Piccolino valued at $8 million for a Carnegie Hall performance.

Blind Daniel Jacobus was once a losing participant, but since feels strongly that the competition and similar music venues destroy the gifted young. Child prodigy Kamryn Vander is this year's winner, but to the shock of the members if the Music Arts Project responsible for the gala, someone stole the revered Piccolino, the only known three-quarter-size Stradivarius. The police blame Daniel, who was at the scene of the crime when the locked door was opened and found empty and has voiced a loud motive to end the competition by breaking the violin. Encouraged by insurance investigator friend Nathanial, grumpy Daniel accompanied by his current student Yumi, whose green eyes are his vision, searches for the missing Piccolino. Murder has the almost maestro and his protégé fleeing to Japan before they become the second act of the killer.

This is a super amateur sleuth tale with a musical twist as Daniel with the help of Yumi tries to track down the missing Piccolino. Fans will enjoy the blind teacher turned detective as the almost famous but now infamous Daniel understands the irony of his predicament; he wanted to end the competition that he feels harms children yet now must find the instrument that is the prize of the contest if he is to prove his innocence. Fans will enjoy his profound cantankerous view of the state of classical music in this engaging mystery.

Harriet Klausner

As an amateur musician who performs with community orchestras and concert bands, it is
especially enjoyable to read a mystery involving musicians and a musical setting. Gerald Elias has created a wonderful protagonist in Daniel Jacobus. You can hear the music through Mr. Elias' words. I am looking forward to reading more about the adventures of Daniel Jacobus.

This is a first for me to review a book for Amazon though I am a stalwart reader. I read about Gerald Elias' Devil's Trill in a book review in the Sunday edition of the Denver Post and thought well I love a good mystery and I love classical music so why not give it a try. What a delightful time I have had devouring this book. Beautfully written, great plot and what I think best of all is the musical education given throughout the the whole book. Not only how to get an insightful teaching on what a violinist faces in their training and what makes a superior performer. The background on what can happen to the violinist competing in the treacherous world of musical competitions.
Mr. Elias' characters are fascinating from the curmudgeon blind musical detective,Jacobus and his sidekicks, Nathaniel and Yumi. And ther is the fun of how the author goes about unraveling of the mysteries that surround the Piccolino violin. Now I am looking forward to reading Danse Macabre and hoping his second book is as magnificent.

The story the Devil's Trill was excellent. The author did an outstanding job introducing the characters and building the suspence, which made several characters suspects throughout the book. Ths book was a fun read and held my attention to the point I did not want to put it down once I started. It took a few chapters to get in to the flow of the story and the ending was an unexpected surprise.

I read this book for a book club. I know nothing about classical music or violins. I thoroughly enjoyed every page. The author does such an amazing job with his explanations and descriptions that even a music novice as myself can enjoy the ride. One of the women in my group, an acquaintance of the author, got Gerald to attend our book group. He is such a great person it made my enjoyment of the book even greater. I can't wait to read his second novel and also look forward to books #3 and #4 yet to be published.

I was intrigued with the problem of the contest. I never realized it could be a problem to even the winners. I couyld understand what it might do to the losers, but I felt it was a reak plus for the winners. Me Elias came to our book group and was great at answering questions. I don't remember his answer to wsy he maid Jacobus blind, but in some manner I guess this made him an "all seeing" character. Mr. Elias played a bit of Devil's Trill for us, but the time was short and we would have loved mor time for his music. I especially like the fact that he made it possible for us to hear the mucic he talked about.