Title:Ding Dong The Diva’s Dead
Author:Cat Melodia
Publisher:Camel Press
Release Date:January 30, 2011
Pages:246
Source:publisher|My FTC Disclaimer
Purchase: Kindle|Nook|Smashwords
Rating:4/5 Books
About the Book:
Deborah de Lille is an opera singer—in the least grand sense. Debbie doesn’t foresee a future beyond Handel Messiahs and low-budget tours … until her agent finagles her a minor role with a small-town company. The artists assembled for this production of Offenbach’s spooky opera, Tales of Hoffmann, have more than opera on their minds. Their games of love are not for the faint of heart, and the cutthroat atmosphere may have become literal. How far are they willing to go to advance their careers and even the score? The singer Debbie replaced died under suspicious circumstances, and after another minor player bows out suddenly, she is also given her role. Now she has two small roles that no one in their right mind would kill for. So, either someone isn’t in their right mind, or the close calls threatening Debbie’s safety are all unlucky coincidences. Add to the mix three preening tenors, a sexy lesbian director, a vengeful conductor, an obscenely rich and Hollywood-handsome general director, a fading Italian pop star, a trio of bitchy leading sopranos, an ambitious understudy, countless attention-starved underlings, an anti-opera terrorist group, a resident ghost, and Debbie’s kooky and dysfunctional friends and family, and you have an opening night that promises to genuinely thrill and chill.
About the Author:
Cat Melodia is the nom de plume of a Seattle-based mezzo soprano and voice teacher. Like her heroine, she often wears the pants on stage. Three of her opera adaptations/translations have been performed at community colleges. She has a Bachelor’s Degree cum laude in German Literature from Princeton and a Master’s in Music.
“I don’t think the general public realizes how unglamorous the lives of opera singers can be—at least those of the 99.9 percent who don’t hit the big time,” Melodia says. “The world of operatic also-rans is a goldmine of humor, peopled as it is with larger-than-life characters whose insecurity, desperation and envy make them unusually good murder suspects. Most of what happens in my book is unlikely in the extreme, but there is more truth to it than you might suppose.”
My Review:
So, let’s be honest here. I didn’t like the cover of the book….at first. I saw it, had the opportunity to sign up for a blog tour on this book and ALMOST turned it down. I mean, the cover really didn’t jump out and grab my eye. Now, that being said, I am pleased to say that I totally enjoyed this novel! A new form of cozy mystery for the mystery lovers AND the music lovers.
Cat Melodia has got mad talent. Yep. I loved the way she was able to instantly grip me despite the fact that I didn’t like the cover at first. I absolutely LOVED the characters she created, both main and secondary. Each one had their own personality and complimented those around them. There were some characters who just couldn’t like, but you HAD to like them because they were PERFECT for their roles. Debbie de Lille is a character to reckon with that’s for sure! She’s witty, lovable and really drew me into her character’s role.
I’m not a big opera fan, but after reading this awesome story, I just may enjoy it now! With the murder mystery, and the pranks that fall upon Debbie, the reader is always ready to turn the page, and anxious to read what happens next. Of course, you need not read this in public, for if you do, you WILL get curious stares for the laugh out loud moments (trust me…I did!). With lots of great twists and never ending fun, you are in for a whopper of an ending with this story!
If you love fun, fast reads, and lots of mystery, then this is a fantastic 4 Book worthy story for you. Cat Melodia’s talent speaks loudly and clearly as she hooks from page one and keeps you on the ride for the long haul. Don’t miss it! Get your copy NOW!
