sonia_reppe 's review for:

End Me a Tenor by Joelle Charbonneau

4.0

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Look at the cover--it's so cute. I enjoyed this so much, the second in her trilogy of Chicago-based choir murders. Very cozy and fun. I knew this author when she was a grad student in voice at DePaul. So what I don't get is: why the inaccuracies about the Messiah production? (I know Joelle knows her stuff). Why do the characters refer to the Messiah as a "show," when it's a concert? And the performers wouldn't be referred to as "the cast" because it's not a show, like an opera or a musical. Also, the soloists (which includes the main character) would not have to be at all of those rehearsals for the choir and orchestra--just one rehearsal before the concert, to practice with the orchestra. It's not like a show where there is staging that needs a lot of rehearsals. And a stage manager for a large concert I can see, but an assistant stage manager too, for a concert that doesn't involve costumes or scenery or props? I'm guessing Joelle picked The Messiah to fit in with the Christmas theme of the book, but it seems like she wrote about an opera production and then switched it to The Messiah. (And the main character gets excited when the "show" sells out, but as this takes place in Chicago and is written as the big sing-along Messiah downtown, any Chicago singer will know that this is always sold-out).

I really like this series for the voice of the main character, and especially for the love interest element. She has two desirable guys in love with her. I wasn't planning on reading the third book, but now I think I will just to see who she ends up with.