Customer Reviews

Interrupted Aria (Baroque Mystery)

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

 

 

I enjoyed Beverle Graves Myers' debut mystery novel immensely -- lush, vivid and very, very absorbing, "Interrupted Aria" turned out to be the kind of mystery novel that both intrigued and entertained, and that was very good read.

In eighteenth century Europe, the castrati (male singers who, for the sake of their beautiful voices, were castrated as boys) occupy contradictory positions in society: on the one hand they are much sought after and feted; but on the other hand they are also, privately, often viewed with disgust and embarrassment by the very ones who prize their talents. For Tito Amato, a young castrato, having to cope with both the scorn and the adulation is taxing and confusing -- for while he enjoys singing and the effect that his amazing voice has on his listeners, he also loathes the fact that it was this mutilation to his manhood that has made him so sought after. Which makes his return to Venice all the more bittersweet. How will his family greet him? Will they embrace after so many years of separation, or will they, too like others, be repulsed and embarrassed by his condition? And on top of it all there are his suspicions about the so-called accident that resulted in his castration...

But most of this fades into the background as Tito finds himself emersed in the goings on at the Teatro San Stefano -- the strange accidents that are plaguing the company and the rivalry between the company's likable and talented star, Adelina Belluna (who also happens to be the mistress of the company's patron, Domenico Viviani), and Caterina Testi, her testy rival. And when on opening night, the Adelina keels over and dies just before the second act, everyone suspects poison. Was Adelina poisoned by enemies the rich and powerful Domenico Viviani, or by her jealous rival, Caterina? And when Tito's friend, a fellow castrati who disliked Adelina immensely, is arrested for the crime, Tito realizes that it will be up to him to discover who killed Adelina and why. Will Tito be able to uncover the truth in time to prevent the execution of an innocent man? Or will more powerful and corrupt forces put a halt to his investigations?

Smoothly paced and told in an engaging and vividly descriptive narrative style, "Interrupted Aria" was a treat to read. The authour's depth of knowledge and love for her subject matter was readily apparent, and made reading this mystery novel all the more fun. Also adding to the complexity of the novel is the private anguish and bitterness that Tito feels about being a castrato, and his fear that his castration didn't come about because of an accident, but because of something more venal. So that while the mystery at hand was not all that suspenseful (very few plot twists), all the intrigue and complex relationships that the characters had with each other, made "Interrupted Aria" a very compelling and engrossing read indeed. All in all, an excellent 4 star read.

Filled with lush description of Venice during Carnivale, its political and social structure, the inner workings of the opera company and Tito's relationships with his family, friends, colleagues and himself, this is a rich, wonderful book. I also found it a good mystery with a couple of twists and some good suspense. This is a series I shall definitely follow.

Interrupted Aria concerns a Venetian castrato struggling to solve a murder mystery while uncovering secrets about his own past. The story begins with Tito Amato returning to Venice after many years of training at a music conservatory. Felice, his friend who is agonizing over the loss of his voice, tags along. Before the close of Tito's opera debut, a prima donna is murdered and Felice is arrested. There are several red herrings in this densely plotted mystery, and it won't give anything away to say that, in the detecting phase of the story, all Tito's sinister family secrets come tumbling out of the closet. This book is based on a piece of history that is seldom mentioned, but the characters, especially Tito are so intriguing that it all comes beautifully alive. I look forward to a sequel.

Interrupted Aria by Beverle Graves Myers is a page turner. Mystery buffs who like exotic settings will find themselves immersed in the seedy decadence and grand opulence of 18th century Venice. Myers does an excellent job of "setting the stage" with well defined characters and vivid literary descriptions of the early lore of opera without the history lessons. I love anything opera related, so when I saw this book, I thought it would be worth reading. Little did I know, that once started, I could not put this book down.
It all begins with Tito Amato, a castrato soprano, who has returned to his city of Venice to sing at the San Stefano Opera House. Shortly after he arrives, one friend is murdered while another stands accused. Time quickly ticks away as Tito searches for the identity of the true killer before his friend is put to death. Meanwhile, with each passing hour, the pressure intensifies as Tito tries to avoid encounters with the murky associates of those who would like to see him fail for their own nefarious purposes.
In addition to a well written mystery, I was pleasantly surprised to find there were so many other levels to this book. Myers is quite empathetic in describing Tito, who as a castrato is revered for his voice while at the same time reviled because he is not seen as a whole man.
Whether you are a mystery fan, opera fan, or both, this book is a must read. It is well developed throughout with enough plots and twists to keep you guessing until the end. I hope to read more by Myers in the near future.

The world of opera in past centuries sometimes seems odd in this age, but think pop star, think crowds of adoring fans, think Michael Jackson. Well, maybe not.

Tito is a castrato, a young man surgically altered to create a voice that entertains the crowds of opera fans of the Baroque era. He finds himself embroiled in mystery when a singer at the opera is murdered and his best friend is accused of the crime.

The history is excellent. I was immediately pulled into Tito's world, recalling my teen years when Mary Stewart, Marion Zimmer Bradley, and Norah Lofts did the same for me, to the point that my parents sometimes lost patience when I too often had my "nose stuck in a book."

The setting is lush and well-rounded, the characters become real to the reader despite being long-dead, and the mystery is both compelling in its progression and satisfying at the end. I found that for the first time in many months, I was willing to put aside other concerns in my desire to find out how it ended. And isn't the goal of all mystery writers to create that feeling in the reader?

Most first books in this genre (Dorothy Sayers, Ellis Peters, Patrick O'Brian) are disappointing, but not this one. The book reaches out and hooks you from the start and keeps you reading with interest. I liked it so much that I went and got the second in the series and kept on going through the next four books. Myers doesn't get tangled up much in her research. Novel first; history second. There is an admirable flow to the narrative -- which seems to be the hardest thing for new writers to achieve. I have to say that I already like historicals and I like opera, so this may well have helped, but I don't think I'm overstating how neatly this book is done. One really good thing this writer does is write for the senses: she is always appealing to how things sound, feel, smell, taste -- briefly and tangily. It gives a lot of a her work a vivid quality which is what I most enjoy about reading her stuff.

Others have summarized the story quite well, so I won't do so. My husband and I both enjoyed the book because of the introduction to cultural life in 18th century Venice, especially among the opera society--both performers and viewers from all social strata, including the upper classes to the gondoliers. The author painted an indepth view into the life of the times, and of the city itself.My husband this past year has gotten very interested in opera, attending 3, listening to many, and reading a lot about the art, and the author enriched his knowledge. The mystery is good, not great. The pace is comfortable, not too slow or too fast. There is a very surprising ending. The author does introduce a lot of characters and describes them, especially the family members, and it was clear to me she did so, in part, because this was just the first book of the series. Neither my husband nor I read mysteries just for the mystery itself. We do enjoy historical mysteries that also educate us on the time, and this book definitely does so.

Mystery, intrigue, drama, the world of castrati--all within the context of 18th-century Venetian culture and society. What could be better? Beverly Graves Myers has spun an absorbing tale of murder and deception that will keep you glued to every page.

The rich detail and fast pace of this novel make it a fascinating yet easy read. The story will draw you into the dark, enticing world of Venetian opera and leave you wanting more. Guaranteed!

Sarah Bruce Kelly
Author of THE RED PRIEST'S ANNINA

A quite respectable trash book.

Forgot the title after two days, but, due to the author's heavy use of clichéd ideas, did not forget the plot. Set in Venice (what isn't?), it includes the usual moth-eaten, self-conscious references to "social questions" regarding musici; as well as the several painfully obvious "secrets" that the poor witless characters finally manage to unravel after several decades of emoting. That to "flavor" the tired old brew of murder, wrongful imprisonment, and chase scenes. Finished, of course, by a cute little ending.

Fortunately (or maybe unfortunately, if you're looking for a laugh), the characters are too wooden to allow for excessive melodrama. And there are a few vaguely intriguing points: Tito's sister has an interesting medical condition, and his pal ends up mysteriously trotting away with a priest in the last paragraph (is he off to enter the order or just looking for a free meal?).

Beyond that, the book is like whipping cream without the pie. A perfect, lightweight pick-me-up after a Sam Shepherd marathon, or a nasty week at work, or eight hours of final exams, etc, etc.

Let's hope she writes more of the same.