What do you think?
Rate this book
Daniel Jacobus Mystery #6
Spring Break
When reclusive, blind violin pedagogue Daniel Jacobus is invited to speak at a seemingly innocuous symposium on Baroque music at a prestigious music conservatory, he has no idea he is about to become enmeshed in an entrenched culture of sexual harassment and its cover-up at the highest levels.
And when a renowned faculty member dies of apparent natural causes, only the curious behaviour of a violin student at Jacobus's master class is an indication to him that something may be terribly amiss.
And when a renowned faculty member dies of apparent natural causes, only the curious behaviour of a violin student at Jacobus's master class is an indication to him that something may be terribly amiss.
212 pages, Hardcover
Published August 1, 2017
13 people are currently reading
303 people want to read
About the author
Gerald Elias
37Ìýbooks43ÌýfollowersShhh! I'll let you in on a little secret. I've been leading a double life. My award-winning Daniel Jacobus mystery series is set in the dark corners of the classical music world, of which I am intimately familiar as a former violinist with the Boston Symphony, associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony and as a conductor, composer, and teacher. The first novel in the series, “Devil’s Trill,â€� was a Barnes & Noble Discover: Great New Writers selection, and has been followed by six more, most recently "Cloudy With a Chance of Murder," in 2021. "Combining the deductive reasoning of Sherlock Holmes with the rhetorical finesse of Don Rickles," is what Kirkus Review wrote about the series.
But I've branched out from there. My eclectic short stories and essays have graced prestigious journals and magazines on a variety of platforms. In addition, I've written a psychological-political thriller, "The Beethoven Sequence," an anthology of short stories, a musical memoir, "Symphonies & Scorpions," and a children's book, "Maestro, the Potbellied Pig," about a young harpist who finds true love in an unusual, rambunctious pet. The first two installments of the Jacobus series, "Devil's Trill" and "Danse Macabre," are also available in unique audio books, in which I perform the music that provides clues to the listener.
I continue to my horizons as a musician, as music director of the Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series in Salt Lake City, and as a recording artist of a first-ever recording of the sonatas of the Baroque violinist-composer, Pietro Castrucci. On we go!
But I've branched out from there. My eclectic short stories and essays have graced prestigious journals and magazines on a variety of platforms. In addition, I've written a psychological-political thriller, "The Beethoven Sequence," an anthology of short stories, a musical memoir, "Symphonies & Scorpions," and a children's book, "Maestro, the Potbellied Pig," about a young harpist who finds true love in an unusual, rambunctious pet. The first two installments of the Jacobus series, "Devil's Trill" and "Danse Macabre," are also available in unique audio books, in which I perform the music that provides clues to the listener.
I continue to my horizons as a musician, as music director of the Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series in Salt Lake City, and as a recording artist of a first-ever recording of the sonatas of the Baroque violinist-composer, Pietro Castrucci. On we go!
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 13, 2017
Once again Daniel Jacobus, the blind, curmudgeonly violinist, finds himself intrigued by certain details that he notices when he attends a symposium at a conservatory in upstate New York in Spring Break. Like a terrier, he just cannot let them go, either. Then one of the faculty is found dead in a practice room and Jacobus' suspicions go into overdrive. This mystery was a bit more complex than others in this series that I've read, and it took me longer to figure out who did it and even then I wasn't sure about the motive. So I enjoyed the journey of this mystery a bit more than the others. I also enjoyed reading Jacobus' increased vulnerability in this story, with an ending that will certainly make for interesting conversation among friends who've read it.
Mushrooms figure prominently in this mystery, and I found that especially interesting. Elias kept the twists coming, but there was an undercurrent of fatigue that revealed Jacobus' sense of mortality. Only one piece of music figured prominently in this story -- Vivaldi's "Spring" from The Four Seasons -- but Jacobus continues to teach about the love of music and about critical thinking. I've not attended a music conservatory but have been a student in a music department at a college and can attest to the veracity of the crazy soap opera stuff that can occur in higher education.
I'd recommend this novel to mystery lovers, music lovers, and anyone who enjoys a crotchety main character.
Mushrooms figure prominently in this mystery, and I found that especially interesting. Elias kept the twists coming, but there was an undercurrent of fatigue that revealed Jacobus' sense of mortality. Only one piece of music figured prominently in this story -- Vivaldi's "Spring" from The Four Seasons -- but Jacobus continues to teach about the love of music and about critical thinking. I've not attended a music conservatory but have been a student in a music department at a college and can attest to the veracity of the crazy soap opera stuff that can occur in higher education.
I'd recommend this novel to mystery lovers, music lovers, and anyone who enjoys a crotchety main character.
April 9, 2021
As a fellow professional musician and teacher, I find his scenarios to be so true to my world that almost I am almost unable enjoy reading about it sometimes! Not the murders, of course, but the way he expresses the ongoing tensions between Administrators and the "peasants" they are forced to deal with--(the teachers)---was true of almost institution of 'higher learning' with which I was ever associated. His insight is penetratingly ingenious, his wonderful Daniel Jacobus character delightfully disrespectful, and the plot dauntingly twisted, as usual. You do not need to be a musician to enjoy his books, but it does add another dimension when you have suffered through the same kinds of situations. Jacobus' retorts to administrative pomposity are laugh aloud insights and I have enjoyed all of the previous books as well. I find Mr. Elias's books to be exceptionally fascinating and I plan to re-read them--which is something I have done only twice in over 50 years.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 17, 2020
I'll be reading more books in this series. It's a good mystery infused with the train of thought of an accomplished musician. An enjoyable "family" of characters. Good humor. Plenty o' intrigue. I reecommend starting with an earlier book in the series, although I had no issues with knowing what was going on or why. I loved the location and characters.
December 27, 2018
All of Gerald Elias� mysteries feature Daniel Jacubus an aging, blind violinist with a very wry sense of humor. I recommend all, especially if you like music.
March 29, 2024
So much happening in this one - but what kind of ending is that??? Thank goodness I know that there is a next.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get help and learn more about the design.