About the Book
Book: Rhapsody in Red
Author: Donn Taylor
Genre: Mystery
Release date: September 2018
Preston Barclay is a reclusive history professor with musical hallucinations. The feisty Mara Thorn is a newly arrived professor with a strong desire to be left alone. But finding the body of a murdered colleague shakes them out of their quiet lives. Worse yet, police accuse them of her murder, forcing the ill-matched pair into an uneasy alliance for their defense. However, that proves more perilous than they’d thought. To succeed, they have to outwit the police, avoid discipline by the college’s incompetent administration, and escape threats and attacks by the unseen and ruthless forces behind the murder. It’s a one-in-a-hundred chance, and if they fail, they’ll end up unemployed, behind bars, or worse . . .
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If you are looking for a Christian read, "Rhapsody in Red" by Donn Taylor isn't a book I would recommend. It is a clean read as for as no sex scenes or cursing. But it did start out with making me think it would have a different story line because the murder victim liked to touch people that didn't want to be touched. It does have church attenance a couple of times for a few of the characters . It has the main character thinking he needs to pray but doesn't. It does has the two main characters returning back to God at the end of the book. I am sorry if that was a spoiler alert but I don't think it is because that isn't the theme of this book.
I did like the mystery part of this story and yes I know the book is fiction, but as a Christian reader I find much to dislike about this book. I knows that on this blog tour the book is listed as a mystery but if you go to Amazon, you will see it is also listed in Christian Suspense. I really question that, yes I did mention a few things above that might make it so. But, here is my dilemma with this book
1 a Christian college that don't want crosses on it grounds
2. Hiring someone who is a Wiccan
3 Having board meeting about having Coed dorms.
I think the reason I"m not fond of this book 100% besides what I have already listed is because the main character has musical hallucinations from classical music and I didn't know what he was hearing and when I read I want to be able to feel at least some of what the characters feel and their emotions. The characters were quoting quotes from books that I have never read like Christopher Marlowe and quotes from Socrates. I realize this is no fault of the author but it is my honest thoughts.
If you want a Suspensful novel that really keeps you guessing to the end who the murderer is than "Rhapsody in Red" by Donn Taylor is one that I would recommend.
Even through this book isn't one of my favorites, I have to say I want to read the next in the series too see what happens between the two main characters.
About the Author
Donn Taylor led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterward, he earned a PhD in Renaissance literature and taught literature at two liberal arts colleges. His published works include six suspense novels and a book of poetry. He is a frequent speaker at writers’ conferences. He lives in the woods near Houston, TX, where he writes fiction, poetry, and essays on current topics.
More from Donn
About Rhapsody in Red: From teaching eighteen years in small denominational colleges, I knew that part of the academic world well. So when I came to write the Preston Barclay Mystery Series, that’s where I turned. What would happen if someone dropped a murder into that placid environment?
That was the basic question. But that part of the college world also has internal conflicts and tensions that even the best-intentioned people can’t avoid. That leads most faculty into being discreet. But what would happen if one professor kept saying openly what the rest of the faculty were only thinking? That’s why the series protagonist, Professor Preston Barclay, is always in trouble.
In writing the series I wanted to mainly to give readers an interesting story about a murder and the complications leading to its solution. But I also wanted them to enjoy the story’s interplay of strong and often quirky personalities navigating the varied conflicts of the small-college world.
Whether I’ve achieved those objectives will be decided by each individual reader. But CBA Retailers and Resources Magazinewrote that Rhapsody in Redis “peopled with academia’s most intriguing eccentrics and snobs,” and Christian Review of Bookswrote that it’s “a delightful change from the clichés of most novels.”
Readers who enjoy Rhapsody in Redmay want to look at its two sequels, Murder Mezzo Forteand Murder in Disguise.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 19
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, August 20 (Author Interview)
Daysong Reflections, August 20
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 21
For Him and My Family, August 22
deb’s Book Review, August 23
Inklings and notions, August 24
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 25
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 26
Texas Book-aholic, August 27
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 28
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 29
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 30
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31
Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 1 (Author Interview)
Blogging With Carol, September 1
Giveaway
To celebrate his tour, Donn is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card plus one paperback copy of Rhapsody in Red!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1141d/rhapsody-in-red-celebration-tour-giveaway
3 comments:
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, even though it wasn't your favorite. :)
I like mysteries and this sounds like a great read.
Thank you for sharing! This sounds amazing!
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