Customer Reviews

Mazurka (A Gus LeGarde Mystery)

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

 

 

I first read Lazar's Cry of the Loon for free, so I thought I'd buy one to read. It's an interesting story, but most of all I enjoy Lazar's word pictures; he'a great descriptive writer. Though, sometimes the reader (and I fear Lazar, as well) get lost in the descriptive prose. The plot of this book was interesting, and had a couple of decent plot twists, and a satisfactory (if not somewhat drawn out) ending. I'll likely read another.

I'd heard of Aaron Lazar's Gus LeGarde mysteries, but hadn't read any yet, so I had slightly mixed feelings when I got the chance to read the fourth in the series before trying the others. On the one hand, Mazurka starts in Paris, the location of some especially fond memories for me, so that was certainly an attraction. But on the other hand I was nervous that I might feel I was playing catch-up, chasing after characters that other readers already knew and loved.

I needn't have worried. Gus, Camille and Siegfried rapidly became real to me, as did the scenes they inhabited. Soon I was smelling and hearing Paris all around me as I sank into the story...

And tasting it!

The author's ability to evoke the flavor of a city, and a meal, is truly amazing. I frequently felt like I was sitting at the next table in a street-café. I could feel the texture as a French loaf was torn apart, and taste the crumbs on my tongue. I could see the flowers and hear the birds. And in a heartbeat, I was part of the confusion and fear all around as events transformed LeGarde's beautiful haven to a terror zone.

The author's wide-ranging skills are equally apparent in love scenes, in evocative passages filled with memories, and in death-defying action. His protagonists are at once believable and just plain nice, leaving the reader pleased to have met them and eager to spend more time in their company. And the enemy in Mazurka is one that has indeed been on the rise, in Europe and beyond. Lazar's handling of local history and the global nature of evil was very nicely done.

Then of course, there's that delightful thread of music through the tale, as befits the book's title, and a fascinating depiction of the world of long ago.

This was truly an enjoyable book, and an excellent introduction to a series that I'll hope to read more of. Many thanks for the invitation and the opportunity Mr. Lazar.

A treat in store for the reader! Gus LeGarde returns in an adventure that will have you biting your nails as you read.

A honeymoon trip begins with their plane caught in a horrific storm. Was this a preview of things to come? How could Seigfried end up in a hospital, the victim of a street attack? How do Gus and Camille end up lost under the streets of Paris? Is someone after them? Who?

This tale combines loads of action, romance, description that takes you there, and suspense. Danger seems to dog the trio from the minute they step off the plane. As innocent tourists how did they draw down the wrath of a group of discontented demonstrators?

You'll love all the characters in this tale, so well are they drawn. The villains are the kind you'll love to hate as they are so completely opposite the world Gus and family normally inhabit. This is a tale that gives the reader food for thought. The menace feels real.

I'm happy to recommend this tale by talented author Aaron Paul Lazar as one that will keep you reading and leave you satisfied that it was time well spent. The complex plot is a skillful combination of subplots driven by the motives and actions of well-drawn characters. You'll be looking for other books by this imaginative author and enjoy every one of them. Enjoy. I certainly did.

Mazurka promises a bumpy ride from the first sentence, and the turbulance abates only briefly throughout the novel. The first chapters kept me reading until the wee hours of the morning, and awake even longer. Interspersed among the many suspenseful scenes are intervals of beautifully described vistas of the European landscape. In spite of all the goings-on in this story, the author was able to incorporate a beautiful love story, an endearing heart-felt friendship, and finally unraveled a fascinating family secret.
Mazurka, the book, is fast-paced and exciting, much like its musical title. If you like intrigue, believable characterization, as well as a good love story, MAZURKA will fill the bill.

I also read his book, TREMELO, and enjoyed it very much; however, I believe Aaron has outdone himself with this release.

An enjoyable mystery/thriller, MAZURKA takes place in Paris, in a small town in Germany, in Vienna, and the Austrian countryside. Idyllic? Far from it. A honeymooning couple and their friend are targeted and pursued by a relentless band of skinhead Neo-Nazis through a harrowing series of life-threatening encounters. Their only hope of escape is an ambiguous protective arrangement with agents of Interpol. Author Lazar is skillful at creating suspense and a sense of foreboding that terrible things are going to happen. His novel is an exciting read and contains many startling surprises.