I started this book and found that it was not for me. I didn't want to rate a book that I wasn't able to finish.

I love how this is set in 1881 San Francisco and it's a mystery/thriller. I love Historical Fiction with a twist, and I always love a good murder to solve!

"Mortal Music" could definitely be read as a standalone. A decent historical mystery with a great, engrossing plot.
I am normally not a fan of western story but the series doesn't bother me because of its well written and researched content. The Silver Rush series is definitely a great series to those who enjoy western literature.

The cover art of this new installment is definitely a lot more attractive than those on the previous books.

Will continue look forward for new books by the author. 3.75/5 stars.

Chaos At Christmastime....
Book seven in the Silver Rush mystery series finds pianist Inez on the trail of a murderer. Not exactly the Christmastime she wished for. Twists and turns aplenty, well drawn characters and an engrossing and fully entertaining plot with a well researched and delightful setting. Excellent reading.

I've never read any of Ann Parker's books so I was excited to read this one. I haven't read many historical western books that I can remember so this was like a new genre for me. It had an interesting plot with somewhat interesting characters, but the book seemed really long and slow in places and then picked up again. I liked the music portions of the book as they were very descriptive and rich.

It was an o.k. book but I don't think it is my preferred choice, but that's not the author's fault.

Thank you to Netgalley for this advanced reader's copy in return for my honest review..

Book 7 in the series.

This is the first book I've read in the series, but it absolutely is a stand alone story.

Ann Parker is an author I've always enjoyed. This book had some very good points; historical accuracy, the setting, etc. Unfortunately, a technical glitch caused all my notes to disappear, so I am unable to write an accurate review. One criticism I do have is the length. The murder didn't occur until 51% through the book. Had the first half of the book been significantly compressed, the story would have been more suspenseful and effective. Even so, I would recommend it and give it a rating of G+.

My rating: 3 of 5 stars, I liked it.

Book 7 in the series.

This is the first book I've read in the series, but it absolutely is a stand alone story. It's also not really a cozy mystery, but more of a historical mystery.

I'm a huge western history buff, so this was right up my alley. Yes, it's historical fiction, but Ms. Parker has obviously done her research on the area and time period.

Her main character is interesting and likable, intelligent and strong. The plot was full of twists and turns and now I really want to go back and read the previous books in the series!

Exciting Cozy Mystery in 1881 San Francisco
This is an exceptionally good mystery. Mentally traveling along with the sleuths while 'we' discover hidden secrets made this a real page-turner. More than that, as a historian dedicated to American history, especially of the history of the West, I was thrilled with this book. Usually, I find issues to get picky about with historical fiction, not so with this book. It is written in such rich detail it was if a movie was playing in my mind. I can't believe that I have just now found this series. I am going get all of the books in this series and binge read until I'm giddy. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Mortal Music is the seventh book in the A Silver Rush Mystery series.

Inez Stannert has been asked by Theia Carrington Drake to her new accompanist, to replace Rubio, who she has fired after hearing Stannert play. Theia and her husband have recently moved to San Francisco where Mr. Drake owns a newspaper, while Theia is a trained singer and will be giving performances through New Year’s Day.

The next morning after hiring Inez, Theia finds that her pet bird has been killed and her favorite dress has been cut to shreds. Mr. Drake hires Private Investigator de Bruijn to determine who did these despicable deeds. Inez and de Bruijn happen to meet at Drake’s suite, he to search where the damage was done and Inez to rehearse with Theia. Before long Theia’s understudy dies and her companion, Yvonne goes missing. Inez and de Bruijn decide that it is best to work together to solve this mystery.

Another compelling addition to this exciting series. The story is well-told and written with an interesting cast of characters. The author did an excellent job of providing what seems to be a very accurate depiction of the time. There were plenty of red herrings that kept me guessing until the end.

I will be watching for the next book in this series.

Ann Parker's historical Silver Rush mysteries have been a joy to read from the very first book, Silver Lies. Inez Stannert is a strong, intelligent, unconventional woman readers first met as an owner of a popular saloon in mining boomtown Leadville, Colorado. She's divorced her unfaithful conman husband and been forced to give her infant son to a family member to raise. Looking for a fresh start, she's moved to San Francisco with her young ward Antonia and opened a music store.

Readers always learn things when they pick up a Silver Rush mystery. In this year of 1881, Parker seamlessly weaves in facts about local San Francisco landmarks, music, the Comstock Lode, and the plights of African-Americans as well as dressmakers and other businesswomen.

As Mortal Music opens, Inez's young (and extremely headstrong) ward Antonia is bundled off to spend the holidays with the co-owner of the music store. I wondered about that because the give-and-take between these two strong-minded and independent souls often leads to laughter and plenty of headshaking on my part. However, it didn't take me long to realize why Antonia was shuffled off stage left. There's no way in the world Inez could deal with Antonia AND Theia Carrington Drake at the same time. She would've been driven berserk.

The private investigator de Bruijn adds quite a bit to the story. His ability to investigate things Inez isn't able to is important, but even more important is the dynamic between the two. There's a growing attraction there even though de Bruijn is having a difficult time dealing with Inez's personality. She's just not the usual sort of woman he runs across. She's more liable to pull out her revolver and shoot someone assaulting her instead of screaming for help.

Mortal Music is slow-paced and probably could have used a bit more editing to tighten up the story, and I found whodunit to be rather easy to deduce, but I didn't much care. There's just something about Inez Stannert and the world that Ann Parker creates that gives me so much pleasure that I'm willing to overlook a small bump or two along my reading road. If you enjoy historical mysteries and haven't read a Silver Rush book, I highly recommend the series and suggest that you begin with the first book, Silver Lies. If you're already a fan, be prepared to sink into this story with a happy sigh of anticipation.

Mortal Music is the 7th Silver Rush historical mystery by Ann Parker. Due out 27th Jan 2020 from Poisoned Pen Press, it's 448 pages and will be available in hardcover, paperback, and ebook formats.

Although shelved as a cozy mystery, this is quite a bit darker and more graphic/ambiguous than most of the genre. It's December 1881 in San Francisco and protagonist Inez Stannert is drawn unwillingly into the orbit of a world famous opera singer on her last tour before she retires. When the diva hears music shop owner Inez play the piano she's delivered for the opera performances, she fires her accompanist and insists on hiring Inez for her few remaining appearances.

There are murders, mistaken identity, betrayals, theft, double-crosses, and more skullduggery. The buildup and resolution/denouement were pretty significant downers. I found the plotting slow in places and some of the dialogue was both anachronistic (modern) and stiff. I really wanted to smack Inez's sometime partner/sidekick De Bruijn at several points in the narrative. I found the killing of the diva's pet over the top and unpleasant.

All around, not a very upbeat read, although it is admittedly well written and the author is adept at storytelling. Despite being the 7th book in the series, it works well enough as a standalone. Fans of the series who have already formed a connection to the protagonists will likely find this volume more enjoyable.

Three and a half stars.

An excellent historical mystery with a strong female MC and a vivid and well researched historical background.
I liked the engrossing and well crafted plot, the solid mystery and the fleshed out cast of characters.
It's the first book I read in this series and won't surely be the last.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Mortal Music is the seventh book in the Silver Rush series that features Inez Stannert, formerly of the Silver Queen Saloon in Leadville, Colorado. It’s 1881 and she has been hired as the accompanist to Theia Carrington, a world-famous opera singer who is performing her final concerts in San Francisco as the year winds to a close. Something is amiss among Theia and her entourage, though, as the very night Inez is hired, Theia’s pet bird is strangled and the gown she was wearing was torn to shreds. Theia’s husband Graham Drake hires local detective Wolter Roeland de Bruijn to solve the mystery. Inez agrees to be eyes and ears on the inside for de Bruijn.

This is a historical novel with a lot of details about San Francisco of the 1880s. Inez is a talentd pianist and a self-confident woman who knows her worth, someone not willing to be obeisant to Theia’s whims and abuse. She is observant and smart and is aware there are many hidden motives and connections at play. When it turns deadly, she is more than ready to fight for justice.



My reaction to Mortal Music shifted during my reading, I liked it a lot at the beginning and then drifted into boredom in the all-too-long middle and liked it again at the end. I though Ann Parker did a good job of creating the place of 1880s San Francisco. I was less convinced by her characters who other than the Inez and de Bruijn seem fairly flat. Theia is a stereotype and so is her husband. Most of the characters are. I nearly quit a few times during the long, long center of the book. A good quarter of the book could be cut without loss of any central portion of the mystery and it might be a more dynamic book. I am glad, though, I stuck it out to the end, even though the guilty party for the avicide was obvious from the start. I do appreciate the moral quandary at the end in terms of seeking justice. It’s a bold writer who doesn’t feel the need to have an all’s well that ends well ending.

Mortal Music will be released January 27th. I received an e-galley from the publisher through NetGalley.

Mortal Music at Poisoned Pen Press
Ann Parker author site

Parker does an excellent job of bringing 1880s San Francisco to life in this very satisfying mystery. Inez Stannert is a strong protagonist who straddles the worlds of the “haves” and the “have-nots” when she’s hired to accompany a famous singer for the last performances of her farewell tour. In joining the diva’s entourage, she finds herself surrounded by intrigue, betrayal, and ultimately murder. There are plenty of twists to keep you guessing and social issues that may make you wonder if we’ve advanced at all in the last 140 years. This is the seventh book in the series, but the first I’ve read. I enjoyed it as a stand-alone and now I’m eager to read the earlier entries. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy.

When I received this book from Netgalley for my honest opinion, I was unaware it was pretty of a series of books. However it stands well as a standalone book. As a classical singer myself the character of Theia and the setting of various concert halls intrigued me. I thought it was a great read and one that kept me guessing throughout.
I shall definitely be reading the rest of the books from the series.

Fans of historical mysteries with strong female leads should try this series for a taste of, in this latest, 1881 San Francisco. Inez Stannert, a pianist, is also an ace investigator who has been running into trouble for years- starting in Leadville, Colorado. San Francisco, where she owns a music store, is meant to be an easier life but it's not- it's just differently difficult. She's excited when she's asked to accompany Thea Carrington Drake, an important vocalist, but then bad things start to happen. Lots of bad things, including murder. This has a good cast of quirky characters, good atmospherics, and a twisty enough plot to keep you guessing, Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This will be fine as a standalone and a nice addition for those who have read the earlier ones.

I didn't realized when asked to read this book,it was a series!I read so much of it and stopped cause I guess it's just me,it's not fair to the book and author to review the book not knowing all the background! I'm sure it could be a stand along story but I just want the whole story not just this book! I will return and review this bum when all others are read!! Not going to mark this as read yet!! Received this through Net Gallery,going to see if the other books are on here first before going to Amazon!!!

1881, San Francisco Grand Opera House.
A simple crime starts off a bigger mystery to be solved over the course of the Christmas holidays.
An entertaining well written story, placed in a beautiful musical environment, filled with believable characters.

Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC.

This is the 7th book in a series and I hadn't read the previous books which I will do now, I found it hard to get into the plot there is a lot going on but I do recommend the book but read the previous books first