Strange Music: A Felix Breit Novel

The uneventful second installment in the Dower House Trilogy (after The Dower House) follows the lives of a community of Holocaust survivors after they've settled into a "capitalist kibbutz" on the series' titular historic English estate. The residents represent a "powerhouse" of elite architects, artists, authors, and musicians, all of whom are looking to usher Britain into a new state of post-WWII prosperity. Unfortunately, Macdonald's promising set-up fails to pan out. Though touted as a Felix Breit novel, the narrative is populated by far too many protagonists, none of whom receive sufficient developmental attention, and a surprising lack of drama permeates the story like dead air in a long-abandoned manse. Additionally, Macdonald has a tendency to forgo action, privileging instead page after page of repartee. Overall, the book feels more like an artifact of the times than a proper novel. Fans of the series who are curious to see how Felix and company have fared since the last book may appreciate the author's latest, but Macdonald's bland music will likely repel more newcomers than it attracts. (June)