Kindle Edition
Download to your Nook (eBook)
Download from Apple iTunes (eBook)
Amazon
Cynthia E. Hurst Mysteries
Category:
Mystery/Suspense
Publisher: Lilax Books
Type: Fiction
Pages: 217
Copyright: April 18, 2024
ISBN-13: 9798323256297
Price: $3.99 (eBook)
The quartet brought an evening of cultural enrichment to the town. Unfortunately, they also brought a killer.
The Maximus Quartet of Oxford had been invited to provide an evening of cultural entertainment to the residents of a small Cotswold market town. It all went well until the interval, when the audience was shocked to learn that the second half of the performance would not take place, due to the unexpected death of one of the musicians. Motives appear, evidence disappears and accusations fly as clock repairer Jacob Silver and his wife Sarah join the town's police to discover why someone has decided the quartet would be better off as a trio.
Excerpt
Jacob took a chair facing Evangeline Martyn, wondering why Cooper hadn’t made an immediate excuse to leave, as he usually did when forced to be polite to a Jewish tradesman. He guessed he had accidentally intruded on a private conversation, which was confirmed when Cooper said, “We will discuss this further at a later time, Aunt Evangeline. I do hope you will see my point of view.”
“We shall certainly discuss it further,” Mrs Martyn said, “but I see no reason why we cannot do so now. After all, Jacob is a representative of the class you were hoping to exclude.”
Jacob raised his eyebrows slightly, puzzled as to what he might be excluded from this time. As the only Jew in the town, he was used to being treated as an oddity, but after more than ten years, he was also generally accepted as being a useful member of society. However, Mrs Martyn’s comment indicated he was not the only person involved.
“I should explain,” she said, while Cooper looked even more irritated. “Franklin is arranging an event, a chamber music performance, to be held in the Corn Exchange. An attempt, as I understand, to provide entertainment and raise the level of culture in Witney. As you may know, the central hall of the building can accommodate a hundred or so persons, which would allow for quite a large audience. Franklin wishes to restrict admission to those he deems to be socially acceptable. I disagree, since anyone can appreciate well-played music, and members of the working class would not normally have an opportunity to do so.”
“Certainly,” Jacob said, wondering if that was the reason he had been summoned. His own experience of concert-going was extremely limited, but an evening spent listening to professional musicians sounded like something to be savored.
“So you and Sarah would attend such an event?”
Jacob kept his face straight. “If invited, we would be delighted to attend.”
“I thought you would do. Yes, Franklin, we will discuss this at another time. I am sure there is something at the factory which demands your attention at present.”
|
