What an in intensely wonderful book! Kept me turning pages late into the night. A mother and wife who plays violin buys a mysterious piece of music while in Italy. When she plays the music, her daughter seems transformed. The story goes back and forth between this young mother and the composer of the music who lived in Italy in the early 40's. It's a very haunting tale about fascist Italy, but the ending was good and the book is historically accurate.
I'm a huge fan of Tess Gerritsen's sharp, clever writing style and PLAYING WITH FIRE does not disappoint in that regard. The opening chapter is especially gripping!
I enjoyed the musical theme of this story, the Venetian setting, past and present, and the way the dual narratives bridged over the composition and mystery surrounding the beautiful piece, Incendio.
The mystery of what was going on with Julia in the present-day and Lorenzo during the haunting days of WW2, kept the pages turning and I finished in no time. There were also a few teary moments with what happened to the Jews in Venice.
And while I did find the ending plot twist a little bit far-fetched, it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. I would recommend this if you're looking for a well researched and above average mash up of psychological thriller + historical dual narrative!
I enjoyed the musical theme of this story, the Venetian setting, past and present, and the way the dual narratives bridged over the composition and mystery surrounding the beautiful piece, Incendio.
The mystery of what was going on with Julia in the present-day and Lorenzo during the haunting days of WW2, kept the pages turning and I finished in no time. There were also a few teary moments with what happened to the Jews in Venice.
And while I did find the ending plot twist a little bit far-fetched, it didn't affect my enjoyment of the story. I would recommend this if you're looking for a well researched and above average mash up of psychological thriller + historical dual narrative!
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Book Description
A gripping standalone thriller by the New York Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series
INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS AWARD FINALIST NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LOS ANGELES TIMES AND SUSPENSE MAGAZINE
In a shadowy antiques shop in Rome, violinist Julia Ansdell happens upon a curious piece of music--the Incendio waltz--and is immediately entranced by its unusual composition. Full of passion, torment, and chilling beauty, and seemingly unknown to the world, the waltz, its mournful minor key, its feverish arpeggios, appear to dance with a strange life of their own. Julia is determined to master the complex work and make its melody heard.
Back home in Boston, from the moment Julia's bow moves across the strings, drawing the waltz's fiery notes into the air, something strange is stirred--and Julia's world comes under threat. The music has a terrifying and inexplicable effect on her young daughter, who seems violently transformed. Convinced that the hypnotic strains of Incendio are weaving a malevolent spell, Julia sets out to discover the man and the meaning behind the score.
Her quest beckons Julia to the ancient city of Venice, where she uncovers a dark, decades-old secret involving a dangerously powerful family that will stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light.
My Review
I found this book to be very engaging. A single piece of music and it's connection from the past to the present and it's affect on the characters was a very interesting storyline. Traveling back in time to the city of Venice and what happened to the Jews in Italy at the end of WWII was a history lesson in itself. Learning about Lorenzo who wrote the music and what happens personally to him made the story even more tragic. I enjoyed Tess Gerritsen's writing very much and found her characters to be well-developed. There were lots of twists and turns which kept the pages turning fast. I would highly recommend this book to those who like a good mystery mixed with history from the past. I look forward to reading more of Gerritsen's books in the future.
Book Description
A gripping standalone thriller by the New York Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series
INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS AWARD FINALIST NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LOS ANGELES TIMES AND SUSPENSE MAGAZINE
In a shadowy antiques shop in Rome, violinist Julia Ansdell happens upon a curious piece of music--the Incendio waltz--and is immediately entranced by its unusual composition. Full of passion, torment, and chilling beauty, and seemingly unknown to the world, the waltz, its mournful minor key, its feverish arpeggios, appear to dance with a strange life of their own. Julia is determined to master the complex work and make its melody heard.
Back home in Boston, from the moment Julia's bow moves across the strings, drawing the waltz's fiery notes into the air, something strange is stirred--and Julia's world comes under threat. The music has a terrifying and inexplicable effect on her young daughter, who seems violently transformed. Convinced that the hypnotic strains of Incendio are weaving a malevolent spell, Julia sets out to discover the man and the meaning behind the score.
Her quest beckons Julia to the ancient city of Venice, where she uncovers a dark, decades-old secret involving a dangerously powerful family that will stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light.
My Review
I found this book to be very engaging. A single piece of music and it's connection from the past to the present and it's affect on the characters was a very interesting storyline. Traveling back in time to the city of Venice and what happened to the Jews in Italy at the end of WWII was a history lesson in itself. Learning about Lorenzo who wrote the music and what happens personally to him made the story even more tragic. I enjoyed Tess Gerritsen's writing very much and found her characters to be well-developed. There were lots of twists and turns which kept the pages turning fast. I would highly recommend this book to those who like a good mystery mixed with history from the past. I look forward to reading more of Gerritsen's books in the future.
