When I got the book, “Murder Mezzo Forte,” Rick volunteered to read it for the review. He like mysteries! So here is what he had to say about it.
The title of Donn Taylor's
new novel, “Murder Mezzo Forte,” is a poor pun based on the name
of the dead physics professor, Mitra Fortier. But don't blame Mr
Taylor; puns, some great, some poor, are a specialty of history
professor / reluctant investigator Preston Barclay, who narrates the
tale. Along with fellow professor Mara Thorn, Barclay discovers the
body. The two soon find themselves involved in a mystery that gets
more and more puzzling and dangerous.
Barclay is not the typical
street-fighting hard-boiled super-sleuth. But he is a bit more
courageous and a bit better judge of character than the average
person. He is also highly motivated to identify Fortier's killer –
for reasons he does not understand, his teaching position, his
reputation, and eventually his life are in jeopardy.
As puzzling as the mystery
is, much of the fun of “Murder Mezzo Forte” is in the wordplay as
Barclay shares his often cynical comments and puns. He must be very,
very good at his job to retain it, given all the disrespectful
remarks he makes to and about the administrators of Overton
University.
This book reminds me of
Robert Parker's Spenser novels, without the profanity and steamier,
seamier scenes.
Taylor's supporting
characters are presented as people with enough personal details to
make the story seem very realistic despite some rather unusual
developments. I got the feeling that the reader was being dared to
guess which “minor” details were important clues.
To give you an example of
the book's enjoyably quirky style, here's a sample:
“Robert Sun Lee was as
Americanized as a child of immigrants can get. His parents said
they'd named him Robert, after the revered Confederate general, to
emphasize how American they wanted him to become. I once asked Mr.
Lee why he chose Sun as Robert's middle name. He said it was because
Robert was not a daughter. I asked no more questions.”
If you enjoy this kind of
light-hearted trivia [or is it a clue of some sort?] mixed with
mystery and suspense, try “Murder Mezzo Forte.” If you don't
like it, try the novel anyway and give Taylor a chance to change your
mind.
About the book:
He is a reclusive history professor with musical hallucinations. . . .
She a headstrong professor of religion, a converted Wiccan. Earlier, they solved a campus murder, but now police say they formed two-thirds of an illicit love triangle with a newly-murdered female colleague and they're probably guilty of her murder. A leak of the alleged scandal to the college administration threatens their jobs.
Their desperate attempt to prove themselves innocent of the triangle and the murder plunges them into a tangle of unsavory corporate relationships among college trustees. And it puts their lives in danger from a mysterious criminal organization that seems to have tentacles everywhere.
Can this ill-matched pair's stumbling efforts succeed against the entrenched forces of the police, the college's incompetent administration, and that powerful but unseen criminal organization? If not, they may end up unemployed, in prison, or suffering a fate much worse.
Purchase a copy HERE!
About the author:
Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterwards, he earned a PhD in Renaissance literature and taught literature at two liberal arts colleges. His publications include three suspense novels, one historical novel, and a book of poetry. He lives near Houston, TX, where he writes fiction, poetry, and essays on current topics. Website | Facebook | Twitter
She a headstrong professor of religion, a converted Wiccan. Earlier, they solved a campus murder, but now police say they formed two-thirds of an illicit love triangle with a newly-murdered female colleague and they're probably guilty of her murder. A leak of the alleged scandal to the college administration threatens their jobs.
Their desperate attempt to prove themselves innocent of the triangle and the murder plunges them into a tangle of unsavory corporate relationships among college trustees. And it puts their lives in danger from a mysterious criminal organization that seems to have tentacles everywhere.
Can this ill-matched pair's stumbling efforts succeed against the entrenched forces of the police, the college's incompetent administration, and that powerful but unseen criminal organization? If not, they may end up unemployed, in prison, or suffering a fate much worse.
Purchase a copy HERE!
About the author:Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterwards, he earned a PhD in Renaissance literature and taught literature at two liberal arts colleges. His publications include three suspense novels, one historical novel, and a book of poetry. He lives near Houston, TX, where he writes fiction, poetry, and essays on current topics. Website | Facebook | Twitter
This reviewer received the
product free or at a discounted price in order to bring you an honest
review. No other form of compensation was given. All opinions are
those of the reviewer.
