Description:
Just after his Carnegie Hall swansong beloved violinist and humanitarian Rene Allard is brutally murdered with a mysterious weapon. His young African American rival, BTower, is spotted at the scene of the crime hovering over the body of Allard with blood on his hands. In short order the aloof and arrogant BTower is convicted and sentenced to death, in part the result of the testimony of blind and curmudgeonly violin pedagogue Daniel Jacobus. Justice has been served...or has it? Jacobus is dragged back into the case kicking and screaming, and reluctantly follows a trail of broken violins and broken lives as it leads inexorably to the truth, and to his own mortal peril.
Brief description: Gerald Elias leads a double life as a world-class musician and critically acclaimed author. Devil's Trill, the debut novel of his award-winning Daniel Jacobus mystery series that takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world, was a Barnes & Noble Discover: Great New Writers selection. In 2020 he penned The Beethoven Sequence, a chilling psycho-political thriller. Elias's prize-winning essay, "War & Peace. And Music," excerpted from his memoir, Symphonies & Scorpions, was the subject of his TEDxSaltLakeCity2019 presentation. His short stories and essays have appeared in prestigious journals ranging from Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine to The Strad. A former violinist with the Boston Symphony and associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony, Elias has performed on five continents and has been the conductor of Salt Lake City's popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series since 2004. He maintains a vibrant concert career while continuing to expand his literary horizons.
Review Quotes:
"A musical feast for mystery and music lovers." -Library Journal (starred review)
"The refreshingly caustic Jacobus, a cast of superbly drawn supporting characters, an interesting classical music milieu accessible to aficionados and neophytes alike, an unexpected twist or two, and a unique murder method combine for an engrossing read." -Publishers Weekly
"There are riveting insights into violin bowing, maestros' mannerisms and the interpretation of musical scores." -Kirkus Reviews
"...the twists and turns of his plotting will keep readers guessing. The real hook here, however, is the insider's view of the musical world; Elias is a well-known violinist and professor of music." -Booklist
"Attention music and mystery lovers: If you love mysteries, suspense thrillers, whodunits and catch-me-if-you can capers, with crusty hardboiled characters - and - if you're a classical music lover with a passion for the lore of rare violins crafted by the likes of Stradivarius and Guarneri - you'll be right in your element with the just-published Danse Macabre. My highest recommendation." -Music Monthly
"[Elias] makes his story sing with brilliant plotting-including one of the most ingenious and gruesome murders in the genre's history. To that imaginative plot, he adds a wealth of musical lore. A big "bravo" to a talented author." -Richmond Times-Dispatch
"The Jacobus stories are finding a niche among readers who like amateur sleuth mysteries and enjoy glimpsing the dedication and passion of classical musicians. Drawing upon that subject authority is one of Elias' greatest strengths as a writer." -Salt Lake Tribune