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Cruel Music: A Baroque Mystery    by Beverle Graves Myers Amazon.com order for
Cruel Music
by Beverle Graves Myers
Order:  USA  Can
Poisoned Pen, 2006 (2006)
Hardcover
* *   Reviewed by Mary Ann Smyth

Tito Amato, castrated at a young age to create a much sought after operatic voice, is summoned from 1740 Venice to Rome to sing at the bedside of a music-loving cardinal who will control the upcoming papal election.

Just home from a successful tour, Tito simply wants to relax and rest. But the cardinal has a very persuasive argument. Tito's brother is unfairly jailed for smuggling salt, a capitol offense in those days, punishable by death. Spy for the cardinal while singing and his brother shall go free.

Cruel Music is the third in this baroque mysteries series – each one more captivating than the last. I found this one hard to put down. The location and time of this page-turning novel proves to be as much a character as the players. I could almost feel the waters of Venice's canals lapping at my feet. The streets of Rome come alive with the populace conducting their businesses. I've always been a history junkie and Cruel Music gives me my fix along with a very clever story line.

The plot then takes various turns as a young girl is murdered and Tito is implicated. The magnitude of electing a new pope almost takes a back seat to the intrigues which push this fast-paced, action-packed plot to its exciting ending.

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