By By Dane Roberts Wans On Bookreview
SECRETS ABOUND BUT THAT IS OK FOR our sleuth, Amy Johnson.
“On Monday, I uncovered a drug ring in South Minneapolis. On Tuesday, I spotted a felony theft at a country club in Edina. On Wednesday, I overheard plans for industrial espionage while staking out the back room of a work shop in St. Paul.
“On Thursday, my daughter blew all my cases out of the water.
“No, my daughter isn’t a defense attorney; she’s a hopeless practical girl with no imagination.”
Her daughter, “ had no passionate music ambitions, but I’d insisted she study piano. She was fairly proficient, now that I’d found her a teacher other than myself.” But she has ideas for herself, as any 15 year old would. Her present dream is to be a cheerleader.
Mom’s dream is to be part of the Minneapolis Symphony. “Music was my world. It owned me. And I was a grateful servant.”
Can a mystery loving flute player save the Minneapolis Symphony from closing because of unexplained mishaps? Can she also start a relationship with the new conductor at the same time she acts as an amateur sleuth?
The title of this book refers to the many layers of secrets that the main character holds. She is a single mother with a teenage daughter. She has never explained to her daughter about her father.
Also there is the secret of who is trying to sabotage the orchestra. Soon after a new conductor for the symphony orchestra comes, music performance starts to suffer.
“The shocking sound of David’s wrong notes carried through the orchestra.”
Stefan’s instrument gets tampered with. He develops a reaction to his violin.
Another time his violin strings are cut just enough that they snap during a performance. Will the symphony get its’ grant to continue or is this the last season?
Suspense is kept at a manageable level. Amy has her own problems. Her 15-year-old daughter is getting curious about her dad whom she has never met. How can Amy explain he didn’t want to stay around after finding out Amy was pregnant? And now her daughter is developing an interest in cheerleading, not at all a choice a mother would make for a girl who could be an average to good piano player if she just practiced more.
The premise of this delightful light hearted mystery romance is facing life’s many secrets. The story is told from the first-person viewpoint. Sharon Hinck handles both comedy and mystery in a suspenseful manner. It is a delightful read.
The publisher of this book is Bethany House. Anytime you see that imprint on a book you can be assured of a wholesome story and it doesn’t fail to deliver.
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Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 23, 2008. Read the original PDF.