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ladydoubtless's review against another edition
3.0
I received this as an ARC and this review is completely my own and has not been influenced by the publisher.
This is an intriguing book, in that it begins as one type of book and the plot twist is essentially that it develops into another type and passes through a third.. (There's the hint of paranormal, then of Gilman's "Yellow Wallpaper," and finally of a medical thriller) That's the contemporary story line. The historical story line stays in one genre and and presents a side of the events leading up to WWII that isn't always explored.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It wasn't a "I can't put this down" read. I found myself putting the book down and reading other books before I picked it up again. As such, it doesn't work as a thriller, which is sort of what my expectations were. The plot twist felt a bit misleading to me. I was intrigued with the darker more troubling set up and a bit disappointed when all that was explained away.
This is an intriguing book, in that it begins as one type of book and the plot twist is essentially that it develops into another type and passes through a third.. (There's the hint of paranormal, then of Gilman's "Yellow Wallpaper," and finally of a medical thriller) That's the contemporary story line. The historical story line stays in one genre and and presents a side of the events leading up to WWII that isn't always explored.
I wanted to like this book more than I did. It wasn't a "I can't put this down" read. I found myself putting the book down and reading other books before I picked it up again. As such, it doesn't work as a thriller, which is sort of what my expectations were. The plot twist felt a bit misleading to me. I was intrigued with the darker more troubling set up and a bit disappointed when all that was explained away.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
PLAYING WITH FIRE
Written by Tess Gerritsen
2015; Ballantine Books (250 Pages)
Genre: mystery, suspense, historical, standalone
RATING: ★★★
I have been a fan of author, Tess Gerritsen since I read her novel, The Surgeon (The first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series). Diabolical villains added with heart pounding suspense mixed in with great heroines has made her a must-read author for me. I even enjoyed a previous standalone novel that encompassed the elements above so was happy to see another of her books coming out.
Julia Ansdell, a violinist, picks up The Incendio Waltz that will be a challenge for her to play. Every time she plays the piece her daughter commits some act of violence towards her. She thinks her daughter might be ill or may have evil tendencies. Her aunt and husband think she is the one who may be ill. Interweaved with this story is one from the past, 1930s, of a composer and his family. The two stories come together to reveal a great secret.
The novel has me hooked for the first few chapters but then just fell apart. I loved the idea of the story but wish it just went another way. I think if it would have been more horror and paranormal I would have been intrigued to the end. I mostly kept reading out of respect for Ms. Gerritsen as the "mystery" unraveled before it should have. I would not recommend this for first time readers of Gerritsen. I would suggest reading The Surgeon or standalone, Bone Garden.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
Written by Tess Gerritsen
2015; Ballantine Books (250 Pages)
Genre: mystery, suspense, historical, standalone
RATING: ★★★
I have been a fan of author, Tess Gerritsen since I read her novel, The Surgeon (The first book in the Rizzoli and Isles series). Diabolical villains added with heart pounding suspense mixed in with great heroines has made her a must-read author for me. I even enjoyed a previous standalone novel that encompassed the elements above so was happy to see another of her books coming out.
Julia Ansdell, a violinist, picks up The Incendio Waltz that will be a challenge for her to play. Every time she plays the piece her daughter commits some act of violence towards her. She thinks her daughter might be ill or may have evil tendencies. Her aunt and husband think she is the one who may be ill. Interweaved with this story is one from the past, 1930s, of a composer and his family. The two stories come together to reveal a great secret.
The novel has me hooked for the first few chapters but then just fell apart. I loved the idea of the story but wish it just went another way. I think if it would have been more horror and paranormal I would have been intrigued to the end. I mostly kept reading out of respect for Ms. Gerritsen as the "mystery" unraveled before it should have. I would not recommend this for first time readers of Gerritsen. I would suggest reading The Surgeon or standalone, Bone Garden.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
3.0
In Tess Gerritsen's latest standalone mystery novel, a concert violinist buys an old book of sheet music from an antique store in Italy, and when she gets home and plays it, her three-year-old daughter goes nuts and starts stabbing things. Let's just say it does not end well for the family cat.
Possessed sheet music!!!
You see why I couldn't resist this book, yes?
I played violin from sixth to ninth grades, and I was juuuuust good enough that if I practiced really hard, I could swing last chair in the first violin section. I set the instrument aside after freshman year to make room in my class schedule for more choir classes, because in teenage logic, an activity at which you are mediocre and requires the wearing of a bow tie probably isn't something worth pursuing. Still, I have an affection for string players and stories about them.
Especially if those stories involve Exorcist-style theatrics from a child. Why do I love the “bad seed” archetype so much? Most of the small children I've met in my real life are perfectly pleasant, and none qualify as evil, even if they do lose their shit when denied dessert. Somehow, it's super fascinating to me to think about someone of your own flesh and blood, 50% of your DNA, turning out to be a person you don't recognize and can't fathom. Freaky!
To explain who wrote the apparently evil waltz and how it came to be that way, Gerritsen introduces alternating chapters that flash back to Italy just prior to World War II. I don't want to say too much about those sections in order to avoid spoilers, but also because I wasn't as interested in them. They tell an important story, but they border on sweet at times, and I wasn't in the mood for sweet. I wanted to get back to the stab-happy three-year-old. (Too much honesty?)
Gerritsen is an experienced thriller writer, and it shows in how clean this book is. Not clean as in unobjectionable or G-rated—clean, as in neat and tidy. There are no wasted details or wordy passages. The writing is extremely tight. The resolution clears everything up with no questions left hanging and all right angles square. If you like getting lost in twisty, brambly mysteries, it might frustrate you a bit, but if you're the kind of person who can't deal without closure, you'll be golden.
With regards to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale today, October 27!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Possessed sheet music!!!
You see why I couldn't resist this book, yes?
I played violin from sixth to ninth grades, and I was juuuuust good enough that if I practiced really hard, I could swing last chair in the first violin section. I set the instrument aside after freshman year to make room in my class schedule for more choir classes, because in teenage logic, an activity at which you are mediocre and requires the wearing of a bow tie probably isn't something worth pursuing. Still, I have an affection for string players and stories about them.
Especially if those stories involve Exorcist-style theatrics from a child. Why do I love the “bad seed” archetype so much? Most of the small children I've met in my real life are perfectly pleasant, and none qualify as evil, even if they do lose their shit when denied dessert. Somehow, it's super fascinating to me to think about someone of your own flesh and blood, 50% of your DNA, turning out to be a person you don't recognize and can't fathom. Freaky!
To explain who wrote the apparently evil waltz and how it came to be that way, Gerritsen introduces alternating chapters that flash back to Italy just prior to World War II. I don't want to say too much about those sections in order to avoid spoilers, but also because I wasn't as interested in them. They tell an important story, but they border on sweet at times, and I wasn't in the mood for sweet. I wanted to get back to the stab-happy three-year-old. (Too much honesty?)
Gerritsen is an experienced thriller writer, and it shows in how clean this book is. Not clean as in unobjectionable or G-rated—clean, as in neat and tidy. There are no wasted details or wordy passages. The writing is extremely tight. The resolution clears everything up with no questions left hanging and all right angles square. If you like getting lost in twisty, brambly mysteries, it might frustrate you a bit, but if you're the kind of person who can't deal without closure, you'll be golden.
With regards to Ballantine Books and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale today, October 27!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
dancemaster's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
queathy12's review against another edition
4.0
This wasn't her normal crazy serial killer book, which saddened me at first. The novel is woven out of threads from present day and the past and a piece of music ties the two together. As I got into the novel (and got over my feelings of remorse regarding the lack of crazed murderer) the story drew me in. It helped that it was a short read, which made the storyline move along. The ending was a surprise, which was lovely.
kruemelgizmo's review against another edition
5.0
Die Violinistin Julia bringt von ihrer Italienreise ein altes Notenbuch als Souvenir mit. Darin entdeckt sie auf einem losen Blatt eine handgeschriebene und völlig unbekannte Walzerkomposition. Als sie das schwierige und aufwühlende Stück spielt, geschehen sehr merkwürdige Dinge. Der Walzer scheint etwas Böses auszustrahlen, was das Wesen von Julias dreijährige Tochter zu verändern scheint. Weil niemand ihr glaubt, reist Julia heimlich nach Italien, um nach der Herkunft des Musikstückes zu suchen…
Totenlied ist das neuste Thriller aus der Feder der Autorin Tess Gerritsen.
Totenlied wird in zwei Erzählsträngen erzählt, die in zwei verschiedenen Zeitebenen spielen. In der ersten Zeitebene begleitet man Julia, eine Violinistin, die aus ihrem Italienurlaub ein altes Notenheft mitbringt in dem sie dann ein altes handschriftlich beschriebenes Notenblatt findet. Als sie das Stück nachspielt, scheint sich das Verhalten ihrer kleinen Tochter zu verändern. Julia entdeckt erschreckende aggressive Züge an ihrer kleinen Tochter, aber weder ihr Mann noch die Ärzte, die sie konsultiert können oder wollen ihren Schilderungen glauben schenken. Julia fühlt sich mit der Situation völlig allein gelassen und verzweifelt fast daran, dass sie ihre eigene Tochter nicht mehr wieder zu erkennen glaubt. Als ihr Mann dann auch noch vermutet, dass sie diejenige ist, die psychische Probleme hat, entgleitet ihr immer mehr ihr altes Leben. Sie sieht nur eine Lösung, sie muss den ehemaligen Besitzer des alten Notenheftes in Italien ausfindig machen, um mehr über mysteriösen Musikstück zu erfahren. Der zweite Erzählstrang, der für mich persönlich den eigentliche Haupterzählstrang bildete spielt kurz vor dem zweiten Weltkrieg in Italien. Der junge jüdische Geiger Lorenzo hat hohe musikalische Ambitionen, aber durch die immer schärferen Rassegesetze des Mussolini-Regimes wird dem ein Ende gesetzt.
Während im ersten Erzählstrang vor allem die psychologischen Aspekt mit den inneren Konflikten von Julia für mich im Vordergrund standen, und damit den Reiz dieses Teils der Geschichte ausmachte, konzentriert sich für mich der zweite Teil mit Lorenzo auf die immer düster werdende Stimmung im faschistischen Italien. Lorenzos Geschichte war auch der Teil, der mich wirklich in seinen Bann zog und mich emotional berühren konnte und dafür sorgte, dass ich das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte.
Mit den beiden Protagonisten hat die Autorin zwei sehr unterschiedliche Charaktere erschaffen. Während Julia eine junge, starke und emanzipierte Mutter darstellt, verkörpert Lorenzo eher den schüchternen und zurückhaltenden Typus. Beide Charaktere waren für mich sehr glaubhaft in ihren Gefühlen und Erleben dargestellt, das ich häufig mitfühlen konnte.
Die Vereinigung der beiden Erzählstränge gelingt der Autorin auf eine sehr schöne und emotionale Weise. Totenlied ist für mich kein Thriller, aber wer sich davon frei machen kann wie ich, kann eine wirklich wunderbare und fesselnde Geschichte erleben.
Mein Fazit:
Ein fesselndes und berührendes Buch, das ich nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte, und zu einem meiner persönlichen Lesehighlights in diesem Jahr wurde. Daher eine klare Leseempfehlung von meiner Seite aus!
Totenlied ist das neuste Thriller aus der Feder der Autorin Tess Gerritsen.
Totenlied wird in zwei Erzählsträngen erzählt, die in zwei verschiedenen Zeitebenen spielen. In der ersten Zeitebene begleitet man Julia, eine Violinistin, die aus ihrem Italienurlaub ein altes Notenheft mitbringt in dem sie dann ein altes handschriftlich beschriebenes Notenblatt findet. Als sie das Stück nachspielt, scheint sich das Verhalten ihrer kleinen Tochter zu verändern. Julia entdeckt erschreckende aggressive Züge an ihrer kleinen Tochter, aber weder ihr Mann noch die Ärzte, die sie konsultiert können oder wollen ihren Schilderungen glauben schenken. Julia fühlt sich mit der Situation völlig allein gelassen und verzweifelt fast daran, dass sie ihre eigene Tochter nicht mehr wieder zu erkennen glaubt. Als ihr Mann dann auch noch vermutet, dass sie diejenige ist, die psychische Probleme hat, entgleitet ihr immer mehr ihr altes Leben. Sie sieht nur eine Lösung, sie muss den ehemaligen Besitzer des alten Notenheftes in Italien ausfindig machen, um mehr über mysteriösen Musikstück zu erfahren. Der zweite Erzählstrang, der für mich persönlich den eigentliche Haupterzählstrang bildete spielt kurz vor dem zweiten Weltkrieg in Italien. Der junge jüdische Geiger Lorenzo hat hohe musikalische Ambitionen, aber durch die immer schärferen Rassegesetze des Mussolini-Regimes wird dem ein Ende gesetzt.
Während im ersten Erzählstrang vor allem die psychologischen Aspekt mit den inneren Konflikten von Julia für mich im Vordergrund standen, und damit den Reiz dieses Teils der Geschichte ausmachte, konzentriert sich für mich der zweite Teil mit Lorenzo auf die immer düster werdende Stimmung im faschistischen Italien. Lorenzos Geschichte war auch der Teil, der mich wirklich in seinen Bann zog und mich emotional berühren konnte und dafür sorgte, dass ich das Buch nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte.
Mit den beiden Protagonisten hat die Autorin zwei sehr unterschiedliche Charaktere erschaffen. Während Julia eine junge, starke und emanzipierte Mutter darstellt, verkörpert Lorenzo eher den schüchternen und zurückhaltenden Typus. Beide Charaktere waren für mich sehr glaubhaft in ihren Gefühlen und Erleben dargestellt, das ich häufig mitfühlen konnte.
Die Vereinigung der beiden Erzählstränge gelingt der Autorin auf eine sehr schöne und emotionale Weise. Totenlied ist für mich kein Thriller, aber wer sich davon frei machen kann wie ich, kann eine wirklich wunderbare und fesselnde Geschichte erleben.
Mein Fazit:
Ein fesselndes und berührendes Buch, das ich nicht mehr aus der Hand legen konnte, und zu einem meiner persönlichen Lesehighlights in diesem Jahr wurde. Daher eine klare Leseempfehlung von meiner Seite aus!
sonyaf77's review against another edition
5.0
I received a free copy of this book through a give away.
I loved the book! It was a quick read, wished it was longer. I will seek out my novels by this author.
I loved the book! It was a quick read, wished it was longer. I will seek out my novels by this author.
havingsaidthat's review against another edition
1.0
Absolutely awful book, doesn’t even deserve one star. It’s the first one I read in Dutch, though, and for that purpose (practising the language) it was presumably just the right thing. Cliched characters, simplistic story line, short sentences… but oh my… what a waste of paper.
kim_ng's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
Definitely not the thriller I was expecting; I feel like the blurb is kind of misleading.
The plot twist / the explanation for Lily's aggressive behaviour is something I would have expected to be more "thrilling" for a thriller. However, if we move away from the idea of this book being a thriller and see it as what I think it rather is, historical mystery fiction, the ending is perfectly appropriate.
The book is very well written and, although not easy to read due to its dark subject matter, very interesting and captivating to read.
I also highly recommend listening to the musical piece "Incendio" composed by Tess Gerritsen herself which is featured in this novel.
The plot twist / the explanation for Lily's aggressive behaviour is something I would have expected to be more "thrilling" for a thriller. However, if we move away from the idea of this book being a thriller and see it as what I think it rather is, historical mystery fiction, the ending is perfectly appropriate.
The book is very well written and, although not easy to read due to its dark subject matter, very interesting and captivating to read.
I also highly recommend listening to the musical piece "Incendio" composed by Tess Gerritsen herself which is featured in this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Deportation, and Antisemitism
Moderate: Animal cruelty
Minor: Fire/Fire injury