Murder Duet: A Musical Case

by Batya Gur and Batya Gour

Book Overview

With tension as taut as strings on a cello, the fourth Michael Ohayon mystery from "Israel's Agatha Christie," in which the police officer must solve the murder of two musicians, is "pure reading pleasure" (New York Times).

After his cellist friend's father and brother--who are also well-known musicians--are brutally murdered, Chief Superintendent Michael Ohayon, a classical music afficionado, sets out to solve the crime...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060932988
• ISBN13: 9780060932985
• Release Date: December 2020
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks
• Length: 448 Pages
• Weight: 1.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

A New Batya Gur Reader

Unlike the other reviewers here, this is the first Batya Gur mystery I have read. So, I didn't have the expectation of an inside look at Jerusalem and Israeli society that the other readers here seem to have had. I loved this book from the first page where the author used the first chord of the Brahms Symphony to evoke an immediate sense of mood. Anyone who knows the symphony will immediately here the chord in their head. This is very inventive - sound imagery! The principal character is genuinely complex - he does things that he doesn't understand. Compared to the formulaic murder mysteries coming out of contemporary English writers, this book is a gem. We are a family of classical musicians. I gave the book to my father to read, and from the minute he heard the chord on the first page, he was hooked. Is there a rule that says an Israeli writer must always include local color and mood in their writing? Since this book focuses on a family of classical musicians, who are often oblivious to their surroundings and the goings-on in the "outside" world, the lack of specific references to the setting didn't bother me much at all. I am now on my third Batya Gur and hope to read them all.

Second Only to P.D. James---

Batya Gur never disappoints. Second only to P.D. James she combines the mystery genre with high literature. I've read all her books and Murder Duet is up there with the others. Do not agree that she is not up to par here; she is great, engaging, giving readers a full portrait of her characters as great novelists do while keeping us turning pages to see how the story ends. Excellent. Highly recommended. 5 stars.

wonderful book for music lovers and suspense fans

This book was given to me by a friend with whom I share an ongoing discussion about classical music. We also both love suspense. This book is extremely interesting and satisfying in both regards. The story grabs you immediately, in part because of the sympathetic protagonist Michael Ohayon of the Jerusalem police, who is trying to listen to Brahm's first symphony. Gur's description of his emotions as he listens to the music is so fascinating, I had to revisit this piece of music immediately after I finally achieved to put the book down. The story continues its unusual path and we get introduced to a bunch of very interesting off-the wall characters. Although I was able to figure out who did it, the conclusion was most intriguing because the motive remains a mystery to the very end

Wonderful blend of music, emotion, and murder

This was one of the best mystery books I've read this year.(And I read many). I loved all the information about classical and Baroque music, and the idea of Vivaldi writing a Requiem was fascinating. Titles of the chapters were even wonderful, The Way of the World Makes Sense, You Don't Find Babies in the Street and Torso. I'm going to read all the books Batya Gur has written.

Probably Gur's best Inspector Ohayon detective book

As usual with Batya Gur's inspector Ohayon's books, the murder mystery and its solution are connected to a specific world - this time professional classical musicians, and the argument between "authentic" and "modern" playing practices. Highly entertaining and intelligent, full of empathy to the characters and their occupation, and for sure - Ms. Gur is in love with her hero. Beautiful and highly recommended.