Customer Reviews

Murder & Sullivan

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Perhaps the best of the Joan Spenser mysteries, Murder and Sullivan is soooo much fun! The main character is this ordinary music-loving lady, Joan, and she's always up to her neck in danger! I love all of Sara Hoskinson Frommer's books. They're fabulous reads if you like mysteries. A writer friend of mine says she thinks Frommer is the best mystery writer out there today..and she might be right, too.

Sara Hoskinson Frommer has taken all the best elements of a murder mystery. She gets you caring about the characters and wanting to find the killer, and when you find out whodunit, you say to yourself, "Of course, I should have seen that." I loved the Gilbert & Sullivan references at the beginning of each chapter, and what an ingenious, Gilbertian plot twist to murder a "ghost." The only problem is that I am a Gilbert & Sullivan performer, and I'm going to be afraid if I ever get cast in the role of Sir Roderic Murgatroyd.

Murder & Sullivan is another gem from Sara H. Frommer, a writer who understands music and real people. I'm not a professional book reviewer by any means, but I know what's good when I read it. I've read other books by this author and all of them are I think, wonderful.

A tornado has swept through Oliver, Indiana, badly damaging the home of widow Joan Spencer. When Joan is asked to play the viola in the local symphony orchestra's production of Gilbert and Sullivan's Ruddigore, she reluctantly agrees though she knows that she needs to work on her home repairs. ......However, the operetta does not go off smoothly as Judge David Putnam is murdered on stage. Joan begins to question several associates of the deceased. Soon she and police officer Fred Lundquist (officially assigned to the case) learn that the judge had numerous enemies all of who would not be the least bit perturbed with the death of David. Many of the suspects have means, motives, and opportunities. Still Joan and Fred continue their probe hoping to uncover the identity of a killer, who has a real ax to grind. ...... This novel opens like a whirlwind and closes in high suspense. However, most of the novel reads more like a midwest cozy. In her third outing, Joan Spencer continues to be an interesting amateur detective, even though her relationship with Fred needs to pick up a bit more steam. Fans of an American cozy (especially set in the midwest) will enjoy MURDER & SULLIVAN; those who enjoy non-stop action need to pass. .....Harriet Klausner

"Murder & Sullivan" is the perfect mystery to discover this Indiana author. A crime and search for justice takes place in a small town in Indiana. The local judge is killed, stabbed in the back, on-stage at the performance, right in front of Detective Fred, Judge Putham's children, the orchestra, and a full host of the community. Plenty of witnesses, right? No. Not one. Nobody saw a thing, including the attending local police, and Joan Spencer, busy with her stringed instrument in the orchestra pit. But a tornado, and neighbor (Uncle of the victim) puts Joan nearer to the core of the case than is safe.

The perfect murder. The story unfolds chapter by chapter. The character's lives and personalities unfold even as evidence is attempted to be gathered. The weaving of individuals' histories and local past events becomes a tapestry that has to be completed before the final thread of "who did it" gets discovered and placed into the picture. In the mean time--the show must go on. You will not guess the killer until the end, when skilled author, Sara Hoskinson Frommer, decides to help you discover the final clues to the on-stage murder performance.

Did I mention that Detective Fred and Cellist Joan are both without spouse? How many twists of the curtain cord can Frommer get into one mystery? There are so many suspects, being the entire "Ruddigore" cast & crew, it is nice to find a list of the roles and performing cast at the beginning of the book. You might keep a tablet tucked into the pages to make your own investigative notes to keep all the clues and fact straight. IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SOLVE THE MURDER BEFORE FRED AND JOAN DOES.

You may want to read this again, immediately, just to savor the complexity of the case. But then, there are so many Frommer books, and so little time. Enjoy this murder mystery.

murder & Sullivan

Enjoy the author so try to read all written.

Delivery good.

Hope to buy again as I have been using Amazon for a long time.

Joan Spencer is walking through the park on her way home from work when a tornado hits. She spots a small girl crying and runs to rescue her. They both survive and Joan receives much gratitude from the girls family. The father of the little girl is Judge David Putnam and is acting in a musical while Joan is playing her viola in the Symphony. Judge Putnam is murdered on stage the 1st night of the performance. Joan and her policeman fiancee Fred are on the hunt for the culprit. Another great cast of characters and what can go on in a small Indiana town where you least expect it. Enjoy!