Customer Reviews (4)

Great Fun!
This book is a great diversion!There are times that I don't care to have a learning experience, I just want to escape and be entertained.For that purpose, this is a delightful story.

It is fiction based on real people from a very real era; the golden age of opera!Even if you don't care for opera or have any knowledge of the personalities in this story, you will still find this an engaging piece.
After all; everybody loves a good mystery!

Well Researched, Factual Background For An Intriguing Fiction
This book is the first in a series of stories set in and about the Metropolitan Opera of the early 20th Century. Although the murder mystery itself is fictitious, as are therefore the parts played in it by actual, famous personalities, the real people portrayed here emerge very vividly. Caruso, Toscanini, Destinn and Puccini all seem true to life as entertainingly and carefully drawn by Ms Paul.

It is a pity that these attractive stories seem to be available now only as second hand books. As one reviewer has suggested reissues probably would be welcomed by many potential readers. The three stories of Ms Paul of the team of Met detectives, led by Caruso, indeed seem likely to provide a basis for a most entertaining television mini series, or perhaps even for feature films.

Delightful
Only one review of this marvelous little book?Perhaps because it is out of print. If you are not overly familiar with the "Golden Age of Opera," as I wasn't when I first read the book, you will find the discovery of whodonnit challenging, but much delight is found just in the reading.The characters, from what I have since learned, appear to be very well drawn, and the writing is of the quality you would expect from Barbara Paul.Her second foray into this genre, "A Chorus of Detectives," follows Caruso with some additional characters as they solve another mystery.Just great fun. (And, if you are familiar with the opera world of the early 20th century, you may enjoy the story even more!) Try to track down a copy of either book.

hilarious
The book deals with Enrico Caruso, yes the most famous opera tenor, looking for a murderer. Ok, it is not really the Caruso you think of, when you hear him singing or you read his biographies. May be it has even nothing to do with the real Caruso beside that he loved to play pranks. But it is hilarious and the story funny. Caruso actually looking for a murderer and finding him more by chance than by combination. It is not as thrilling as a 007 and also not as sophisicated as Sherlock Holmes - it's just a funny crime story set in the opera world. Enjoy.... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Another Barbara Paul winner
An ailing Caruso, with the aid of several other stars of the Metropolitan Opera House, tries to track down a killer who has a nasty habit of doing away with the chorus members.

Anyone who enjoys a neat murder plot, set against a carefully researched background, will find this book well worth reading.

Ms Paul has crafted another interesting mystery, and more: she has brought her historical characters back to vivid life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Discover the Amazing Barbara!
Barbara Paul is one of the great "unknowns" in the mystery field. Although her amazing, witty, funny, suspenseful, brilliantly crafted (enough adjectives?) novels have been keeping fans enthralled for years, she has never been accorded the due that is her... er... uh... due! GKS is as good a place as any to start. It really doesn't matter, in a way, because wherever you start, you're going to want, nay NEED, to read 'em all! As for titles, good as this is, wait 'til you meet "Liars, and Tyrants, and People Who Turn Blue"! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Meddling, merriment, murder and mayhem at the Met
Paul had to do a lot of research to put this delightful story together and she has done a superb job of portraying historic opera stars in a fictional situation. Geraldine Ferrar is the heroine; Enrico Caruso and Arturo Toscanino share the action with fictional characters in this romp through murder at the Metropolitan Opera.

Phillippe Duchon is an annoying, egotistical personality and everyone at the Met has just about had all they can take of him. Suddenly someone replaces his throat spray with ammonia. His vocal chords and his life are finished.

"Rico" Caruso is hard on the trail of the killer but Police Lt. O'Halloran of the NYPD threatens to lock him up if he doesn't quit meddling. Geraldine Ferrar takes over for Rico and the fearless and gorgeous divathrows caution to the wind to find the killer.

This is lightweight entertainment, sheer delight with every turn of the page. Prepare to laugh out loud -- you'll dread finishing it.

a hysterical historical musical romp
This mystery is a follow on to the Cadenza for Caruso mystery. Caruso has been forbidden to interfere in a murder investigation by the police, so he convinces Geraldine Farrar, a soprano at the Met opera, to investigate for him. Narrated in the first person by Geraldine, the novel provides amusing portraits of many famous Met singers and the life they led in WWI New York City. Ms. Paul's portrait of Geraldine is apparently fairly close to the real thing -- a passionate, intelligent, witty, talented, and beautiful woman. Though not a big fan of opera (but a big fan of NYC), I enjoyed this humorous mystery tremendously. I liked it so much, that if I were not an honest woman, I'd have told the public library I lost the book and paid the fine.Hello, publishers! This is one of many vintage mystery novels that deserve to be back in print so a new generation can enjoy them! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Nice variety
I was impressed by the variety in these stories. Some of them are only meant to be light entertainment, but others like "Jack Be Quick" and "The Favor" really get to you.I especially liked"Scat" -- which uses the title word in four different meanings.

A good collection
These are superior stories, and they're all different.She can make you laugh in one story and give you chills in the next.The title novella is a fantastic piece of writing. ... Read more