Customer Reviews

The Iron Tongue of Midnight

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One of the more bizarre murder instruments plays a role in three murders in the fourth novel in the Baroque Mystery series--a grandfather clock. In two of them, the pendulum bashes in the skull of the victim, while the hour hand is used to penetrate the throat of the third. It all takes place at a villa during the year1740 where Tito Amato and a group of singers are invited to rehearse a new opera.

Accompanied by his brother-in-law and sidekick in solving mysteries, Gussie Rumbolt, who is asked to paint scenes of the estate, Tito arrives, expecting a pleasant stay. Soon, however, the first victim is discovered with the clock indicating it stopped at midnight. And each time a body is discovered, the clock indicates midnight.

Having not read the preceding three novels in the series, a comparison can't be offered. But judging from this effort, it can be presumed by the plotting, dialogue and writing, that the novels are all of high quality. After a slow start, this reader became engrossed in the story and was pleasantly surprised. A good read, and recommended.

In 1740, German composer Karl Johann Weber invites renowned singer Tito Amato to play the lead in a new opera he is producing. Tito is euphoric although his brother in law Gussie Rumbolt points out the role of Tamerlano the lusty Mongol conqueror seems off note for a castrato, but Tito insists the exorbitant fee will cover any shortcomings.

Gussie, who also has been hired to paint scenes, accompanies Tito to the isolated Venetian Villa Dolfini where Weber is leading rehearsals in stark secrecy. That night as Gussie and Tito share a room in the villa, soprano Carmela Costa screams. The bloodcurdling screech wakes everyone up. Lying at her ankle is a corpse apparently beaten to death with a nearby clock pendulum. No one can identify the victim and a check of his pockets does not help as they are totally empty. They send for the High Constable Captain Forti, but he is away. As other midnight killings follow, Tito investigates not knowing when he made that decision his inquiries will turn introspectively personal.

The latest Baroque Mystery (see INTERRUPTED ARIA, PAINTED VEIL, and CRUEL MUSIC) is an excellent historical whodunit that uses an eighteenth century villa to serve as a sort of locked room. Tito is terrific as an amateur sleuth struggling with a case in which motive seems impossible to find since the first deceased is unknown. Besides an entertaining mystery, the story line brings to life the musical side of Venice and to a lesser degree Constantinople through the writings of Tito's brother Alessandro. Readers will sing the praise of Beverle Graves Myers who makes a night at the opera fun.

Harriet Klausner

In the fourth book of the Tito Amato series, set in 18thC Italy, we have an intriguing country-house murder mystery. The socially ambitious wife of the estate-owner has found a composer to sponsor and gathers together musicians to produce his opera in hopes of eventually bringing it to Venice.

Now, a country estate is no very appealing place for established castrato, Tito Amato, who can find better venues and parts elsewhere, but the money is good and his friend and brother-in-law, Gussie Rumbolt, has also been hired to do some paintings. When a man no one knows is found dead one night in the middle of the villa, the mystery begins.

While there are intrigues and tensions and secrets amongst the guests and the household, nothing seems to point to a particular murderer or motive. But of course, the mystery continues to deepen, as does the body-count.

Even at a pleasant country retreat, events of the wide world intrude. From distant Russia to Constantinople and to the varied pasts of the cosmopolitan musicians from all over Europe, nothing is simple. And Tito's own past also plays a large part in the tale.

I very much enjoyed the mystery and the complexity of the characters. I'm greatly looking forward to reading more in this exciting series.

This Tito Amato mystery will find an audience with any who enjoy historical mysteries. In 1740 singer Tito Amato receives an invitation from Weber, rehearsing a new opera at an isolated villa, accepts a mysterious lead role, and finds a notorious figure from his past coincides with a murder. It's up to Tito to pursue leads and answers in this riveting mystery.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

THE IRON TONGUE OF MIDNIGHT (His. Myst.-Tito Amato-Italy-1740) - Ex
Myers, Beverle Graves - 4th in series
Poisoned Pen Press, 2008, US Hardcover - ISBN: 9781590582329

First Sentence: My eyes smoldered.

Castrato Tito Amato has been invited to a villa on the Venetian mainland to sing in a new opera. Accompanied by his brother-in-law, painter Gussie Rumbolt they travel to a bucolic autumn country setting.

Murder comes to the house, as well as Tito's sister who has been missing for several years. Her story of what happened to her differs, however, from the one their brother Alessandro has been sending in letters to Tito as he as been following her trail trying to find her. Is his sister all she seems and who is responsible for now more than one killing?

Ms. Myers has put her own, unique spin on the classic country house murder with the use of letters from afar. The story starts a bit slowly but builds momentum as it progresses to a dramatic and tragic ending.

Ms. Graves paints wonderfully descriptive pictures of the time and place in which her books are set. In this one, she even kindly gave us a cast of characters, although I had no difficulty in keeping track of the characters as they are each well defined.

I particularly appreciate that each book in the series has a different feel to it and doesn't fall into any formula. This was another excellent book from Ms. Myers.