Murder in C Major

Murder in C Major
by Sara Hoskinson Frommer

Joan Spencer grew up in Oliver, Indiana. After her husband dies suddenly, she and her teenage son, Andrew, move back to her hometown to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Oliver has grown into a busy college town and Joan finds a few familiar faces and revives an old friendship. She lands a job as director of the senior center and she joins the Oliver Civic Symphony where she plays viola. Rehearsals go well until the obnoxious first oboist, George Petris, collapses during the big oboe solo in the Schubert. He is rushed to the hospital where he dies. Violinist, Yoichi Nakamura, is the first person to suggest that George's death may not have been natural because it reminds Yoichi of his uncle's death in Japan from fugu poisoning. An autopsy confirms that he was poisoned. Lieutenant Fred Lundquist determines that the deadly puffer fish may not be the only source of this poison. And he turns to Joan for guidance in the musical world. Frommer weaves her love of classical music into this well-crafted debut novel. [If you enjoy this, you may also wish to try the Benni Harper series by Earlene Fowler, the China Bayles series by Susan Wittig Albert and the Deborah Knott series by Margaret Maron.] -- recommended by Donna G. - Virtual Services Department

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