Murder at the Royal Albert: A Daniel Jacobus Mystery

Elias’s sprightly eighth Daniel Jacobus mystery (after 2021’s Cloudy with a Chance of Murder) takes curmudgeonly violinist Jacobus from his home in the Berkshires to London, where he plans to see Yumi Shinagawa, his friend and concertmaster of the world-renowned symphony orchestra, Harmonium, and take in its performance of Mahler’s monumental sixth symphony at Royal Albert Hall. Speculation has run high among music lovers in the preceding days as to whether the conductor will include the third thunderous hammer stroke that supports the piece’s finale, as it is said to bring bad luck. Indeed, as the third stroke fades away in the jam-packed auditorium, violinist Natasha Conrad falls dead, a bullet hole in her right temple. Yumi, who feels morally responsible for the young woman’s death, enlists Jacobus and Nathaniel Williams, longtime “Yang to Jacobus’s Yin,” to investigate. The plot skates off in surprising directions and, as always, offers readers fascinating glimpses into the working life of a musician. One needn’t be a classical music aficionado to appreciate this clever, pacey entry. [em]Agent: Josh Getzler, HG Literary. (Jan.) [/em]