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Content snapshot
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Violence
Barely any
A murder occurs; depicted without graphic detail in golden age tradition
Language
None
Clean period dialogue; no strong language
Sexual Content
None
No sexual content
Substance Use
None
Social drinking typical of the era
Emotional Intensity
Barely any
Mild whodunit suspense; suspects include sympathetic characters
What this book is about
The fourth Gervase Fen mystery takes the eccentric Oxford don backstage at an opera house production where a particularly unpleasant singer is found dead. Multiple cast members had reason to wish him gone, and Fen's investigations are complicated by the ongoing demands of the production. Crispin brings his characteristic blend of literary wit, comic invention, and genuine puzzle-plotting to an atmospheric theatrical setting. The novel is a love letter to opera as much as a detective story, full of musical knowledge and backstage intrigue.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
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