Cruel Music

Beverle Graves Myers
Poisoned Pen Press (2006)
ISBN 1590582306
Reviewed by Paige Lovitt for Reader Views (8/06)

“Cruel Music” is the third mystery in a series written by this author.  Castrati, Tito Amato, is planning on relaxing at home with his family upon his return from an operatic tour.  His plans are cut short when his brother is arrested on false charges.  Tito is blackmailed into going to Rome to sing for a cardinal who has great influence on the next election for the pope. Tito is supposed to spy on the cardinal and find out where his interests lean.  Along the way there is a murder of a young woman who is assigned to care for the cardinal’s insane mother.  Tito is implicated in her death.  In addition to needing to save his brother, he now has to find out who the real killer is to save himself. 

This is an excellent mystery written in the Baroque era.  Graves easily portrays the richness of the culture of the era to the reader.  I really felt like I was back in this time.  In addition to enjoying the mystery and the suspense that goes with Tito’s experiences, I also enjoyed the way she writes about the corruption of the church.   

The plot is excellent and the characters are well developed.  It was really interesting to see how paganism and the study of science were both not accepted by the church, yet still practiced by some of the people.  Paganism was pretty much on its way out and science was working its way in.

This book stood well on its own, but because I enjoyed it so much, I plan to go back and read the first two in the series.  It would be a great book for a reader’s group to discuss and also for fans of music of the Baroque era. 

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