Young, prodigious Metropolitan Opera violinist Julia Kogan, having survived her entanglement in an investigation of her mentor’s murder, and a subsequent violent, life-threatening attack of a ruthless killer, is called upon for a key musical leadership position at the Santa Fe Opera. But at the spectacular outdoor theatre in the shadows of the mysterious New Mexican Sangre de Cristo Mountains, she witnesses yet other operatic murders, both onstage and off. Dark and painful secrets emerge as, ignoring warnings from her colleagues and from Larry, her significant other, Julia plunges into her own investigation of the killing. Ghostly apparitions combine with some of the most bloody and violent operas in the repertoire to make Julia question her own motives for searching for the killer. But this time the threat to her life originates from a source she never would have imagined.
Excerpt
Places, everyone. Now, Emilia—that is, Lulu...”
Emilia faced Salman with a disparaging look.
“You are Garbo, Dietrich, Louise Brooks. Your formidable
psychic force causes you to destroy everyone
in your path. Those who fall in love with you suffer or die. You have undone Dr. Schön, but you don’t know that Goran is Jack the
Ripper.”
Emilia remained silent.
Salman turned to Goran. “The so-called ‘Whitechapel Murderer’ cut his victims’
throats before he eviscerated them with medical precision, showing knowledge of
human anatomy.
Thus, the parallels
between Jack and his alter
ego, Dr. Schön.
Jack’s music is less harsh
than Schön’s but more
menacing. The man Lulu murders is the one who murders her. And still present
after his death.”
Matt leaned
over and whispered to Julia. “Kind
of like John Crosby, right?”
Julia shuddered.
“Marin,” Salman said,
“You must convey
the distressed attributes of the countess.
When you sing ‘Im Ewigkeit’ after Goran stabs you, it
is your Liebestod, your tragic love
death.”
Julia, elated to see her friend appear onstage, waved in Marin’s
direction.
“This music is difficult enough
without your being
distracted, Julia,” Stewart
snapped. Julia heard a soft chortle from behind her and snuck a
peek at Lenny, smiling crookedly.
Maybe Matt is right. I’d better watch out for this guy.
Emilia whispered to Goran. “She sings too loud. Always
tries to upstage
me.”
Marin frowned. “I heard that, Emilia. In case you’ve
forgotten, I’m your lesbian lover. Try to be a little
kinder, would you?”
Salman suppressed a groan. “Let’s
just sing, shall
we?”
“Das ist nich deine schwester,” Goran sang to Emilia. “Sie ist in dich verliebt.” [That’s
not your sister. She clearly is in love with you.]
“You could have fooled me,” Marin muttered
under her breath.
“What did you say?” Fuming,
Emilia turned to Salman. “You see? She is sabotaging me.” “Could we continue, please?” Salman begged. “Lulu and
Jack, offstage, final dialogue.” Emilia’s nostrils flared, but she allowed
Goran to shepherd her off into the wings.
“Nein, nein!” [No, no!] came Emilia’s bloodcurdling cry. “Lulu, mein engel!”
[Lulu, my angel!]
Marin rushed offstage, then returned, slowly
backing up, eyes wide in horror, as Goran stalked
onstage wielding an oversized stage knife, which he plunged into her.
Then he washed off the knife with wine from a bottle
on a table, wiped the knife on his coat, and sang: “I am just the damned luckiest
of men!”
Salman was ecstatic. “Excellent, excellent.”
Julia couldn’t
take her eyes off the action until
she caught Stewart’s disapproving glare.
Meanwhile,
Emilia had returned
to the stage. “Hours wasted
because of his terrible incompetence,” she shouted. “Murder must be onstage!”
Salman finally lost his patience.
“It’s the way John Crosby conceived it,” he growled.
“Take it up with
him.”
“But John Crosby is dead.” “Precisely,” said Salman.
“Oh!” cried Emilia. Fuming, she marched toward the wings,
where she ran into Magda. “How am I supposed
to stand in these shoes for three hours? They pinch my feet!” Emilia
shrieked at the costume
director. “Where are shoes you were supposed to order from Italy?”
“I am sorry,
Emilia. They still
have not arrived.
I will check with wardrobe
director.” Emilia gritted her teeth. “See that you do. Nézd meg.”
Julia was surprised
to hear the Italian soprano
speak Hungarian, but when she looked up at the podium,
she was mortified to see Stewart glaring at her.
“It seems you find the stage more interesting than your music,”
the conductor said. Julia heard a soft snicker behind her. Ignoring Lenny,
Julia kept on playing.
Salman was furious.
“Your attitude will make you even more enemies than you already
have, Emilia!” he shouted.
Turning on his heel, he stomped offstage in the opposite direction.
“Harold,” Stewart called out, “Tell Emilia if she shows up at the dress rehearsal less than thirty minutes
before downbeat, she will be replaced. Where is her understudy? Deborah!”
An attractive young woman sitting
a few rows back stood
up. “I am here, Maestro.” “Be ready to jump in in case
Emilia does anything else stupid.”
Deborah’s smile radiated
hope and anticipation. “Yes, Maestro.”
Harold stood rooted to the stage, his expression helpless.
My Review
Prelude to murder is the second Julia Kogan mystery. I haven't read the first one, but this does work as a standalone story. Julia has recently arrived in New Mexico to be part of the orchestra for an Opera company. She usually lives and works in New York, so this is quite a change for her.
I have to admit that my knowledge of opera is slim to non-existant, but I still enjoyed the reference to the various operas that the company performs over the course of the season to be interesting. Julia, a violin player, is key to the orchestra and to have this role seems to be quite an achievment.
The mystery itself is one that I completely failed to solve. There were numerous clues along the way, but somehow I missed them all and had no idea who was behind it all when it came time for the big reveal. I wasn't entirely convinced that the local police would have enlisted Julia's help. I also didn't really understand her boyfriend Larry's role or how their relationship worked. I think that might be simply because I haven't read the first book though.
Overall this was an engaging and interesting muder mystery and I'd be interested to read any future books in the series.
