What do You think about Murder At The Opera (2007)?
It has been a while since I read one of Margaret Truman's mysteries. I enjoyed trying to find errors in her descriptions of DC and moving around it. The terrorist angle thrown in about half way through was a waste. Simplistically written, way too much effort describing food and wine and a murderer who was soooo obvious, it was painful to see it take so long to finally solve it. Not one of her best.
—Donna
Years ago I read all of the books in the Capital Crimes series, and I've let it slack lately. So, when I saw that the Casey Public Library had this one in, I had to check it out.[return][return]I forgot how formulaic some mystery series are. But, hey, I guess that's why they are popular. I was kinda bored to tears, but I liked the subjects--mystery and opera. I learned a little bit about Tosca, which I'd love to see someday. Basically Mac Smith and his wife get involved in the murder of a young Asian-Canadian opera star and help solve it. Add in an overweight cop who has a crush on his petite partner and an ex-detective who knows too much about the arts and you've got a novel. To sum it up, this is a typical mystery and didn't surprise me. I don't think I'll be listening or reading any more of Truman's works unless I hear of something by her that's new and different.
—Sarah
I haven't read any of Margaret Truman's mysteries for a long time and was pleasantly surprised at this one. I picked it out because I am studying opera with my 10 year old granddaughter whom I homeschool and I was looking for something that would give a feel for how an opera was staged.This book deals with a young soprano who is killed in the first chapter and it veers off to a terrorist cell and an 8 year murder in which a manuscript disappeared. The manuscript was alleged to be a composition in which Mozart an Handel corroborated. The various threads do come together and the mystery is summed up in the last chapter.I enjoyed the background on the Opera and the Opera Ball and what has to happen when the President appears at a social function. It was fascinating to see what goes on behind a simple appearance at a ball or a trip to a restaurant entails.
—Anne Hawn Smith
