cover image Death at the Opera

Death at the Opera

John Gano. St. Martin's Press, $20.95 (0pp) ISBN 978-0-312-13961-2

Gano (Inspector Proby in Court) hits his share of false notes in this tale of the misadventures of an opera touring company led by music director George Sinclair. The troupe, whose members indulge in the expected display of lust, squabbling and whining, are inflicting their rendition of Don Giovanni on an audience at a private house in Cornwall when--halfway through the book--wealthy businessman and audience member Clay Hammerson is found in the ladies' rest room, run through by a prop broadsword. Vamped but then abandoned by cast member Isabelle Morny, Clay, whose hobby was accumulating information on others, had stormed the dressing room at intermission, spouting threats of ruin to several troupe members. As police putter ineffectually, two more people are murdered and Isabelle sets herself up as the killer's next target. Gano's flat attempts at humor fail to lift this tale into the outrageous; instead it remains merely unbelievable. (Jan.)