by Kathleen Costa

This week we are reviewing the latest Daniel Jacobus Mystery by Gerald Elias along with an interesting interview with Gerald. We also have a mystery short story by Gerald in this issue! Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win a copy of the book, and a link to purchase it from Amazon.

Murder at the Royal Albert: A Daniel Jacobus Mystery by Gerald Elias
Review by Kathleen Costa

What a unique and riveting mystery earning 5/5 Classic Violins!

Gerald Elias’ eighth book in his Daniel Jacobus Mystery series takes readers into the world of symphonies, violinists, Mahler’s Sixth, murder, and more. Well-written with engaging wit, Elias presents a complex murder mystery with a fascinating, yet complicated character in Daniel Jacobus whose unique set of skills are heightened by the fact he’s blind. He knows the concert community well since he himself is a violinist, so his insights, knowledge, and other four senses are invaluable to the newest investigation.

Natasha Conrad is experiencing many milestones in her young career as a concert violinist. She’s in England for the first time ready to enjoy its sights, sounds, and pubs, and performing in her first concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall with Harmonium, a respected symphony orchestra known worldwide. Her parents bought her a seventeenth century Italian violin, a gift strongly suggested by her former teacher, now colleague Ms. Yumi Shinagawa. It was expensive and it’s providence was unknown, but it is a marvelous instrument. But this whirlwind start to her certain to be stunning career is ended on the third strike. With a full stage of musicians and a crowd of captivated fans, Natasha Conrad is shot, dead, at the third stroke of Gustav Mahler’s hammer.

The murder mystery is a fascinating journey filled with twist, false leads, and an ensemble of well-developed characters to manage it all. I love the edgy side of Jacobus, the wit of DCI Matthews, and determination of Yumi along with a eclectic bunch that brought their own skills and quirks to the journey. Interspersed throughout are interesting tidbits about life as a concert musician, various symphonies, and varied historical details that inspired me to google more. Be sure to listen to Mahler’s Sixth Symphony, look at photos of Albert Hall, and check out a few violins; it sets a nice tone. This was my first Daniel Jacobus Mystery, and I didn’t feel “off key” for starting so late in the series, but I must admit that there were a few parts that held the “longest note” (too much), but the overall story had a steady pace and a satisfying resolution. Nice entertaining read!

Kathleen Costa is a long-time resident of the Central Valley, and although born in Idaho, she considers herself a “California Girl.” Graduating from CSU-Sacramento, she is 35+ year veteran teacher having taught in grades 1-8 in schools from Sacramento to Los Angeles to Stockton to Lodi. Currently Kathleen is enjoying year 2 of retirement revitalizing hobbies along with exploring writing, reading for pleasure, and spending 24/7 with her husband of 26+ years.

Interview with author Gerald Elias:

KRL: How long have you been writing?

Gerald: In second grade I wrote a cartoon strip of an exercising horse, seemingly exhausted, saying “So this is President Kennedy’s Physical Fitness Program?” Maybe that doesn’t count, but it was a start. Over the years, I honed my skills writing occasional short stories, many letters to the editor, and, as chair of the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s musicians’ negotiating committee, I had a hand in writing the precise terms of our collective bargaining agreements.

However, I never expected to become a professional author until my first mystery, Devil’s Trill, was accepted by St. Martin’s Press for publication.

KRL: When did your first novel come out, what was it called, and would you tell us a little about it?

Gerald: I’ve had a long and ongoing career as a professional violinist and have been blessed by having had the opportunity to teach all around the world. In doing so, I observed that violin students – whether in Japan, Australia, Peru, or here at home – encounter similar challenges, not only with the technical aspects of how to play the violin, but also how to prepare for auditions and competitions, how to find the right teacher and instrument, how to deal with performance anxiety, how to memorize and sight read, how to avoid injury, how to practice… The list goes on and on.

Gerald Elias

My first book was originally intended to address these problems, and to make it interesting, I wove a story about a priceless Stradivarius violin stolen from Carnegie Hall with the unlikely hero a curmudgeonly, reclusive, and blind violin teacher named Daniel Jacobus being the only one able to solve the mystery.

Over the course of twelve years, from 1997, when I started writing the book, until 2009, when it was finally on bookstore shelves, the manuscript of Devil’s Trill underwent a dozen substantial rewrites, ending up as a traditional whodunnit with, of course, a murder as well as a stolen fiddle. Though the book takes place in the dark corners of the classical music world – of which there are surprisingly many – one needn’t know anything at all about music to be entertained by this murder mystery, which was a Barnes & Noble: Discover Great New Writers selection.

KRL: Have you mostly written mysteries/suspense and if not, what else have you written?

Gerald: As a published author, mysteries and suspense have topped the list. My Daniel Jacobus series has eight installments, all with totally separate stories. I’ve also written a taut political thriller called The Beethoven Sequence, a rollicking contemporary Western mystery, Roundtree Days but more about that later. I have written a self-published collection of short mysteries called It’s a Crime! which includes “The Audition,” which is being featured in your magazine, and, in the near future, another collection of light-hearted short crime fiction called Murder on Vacation, featuring the retired Jewish NYPD police chief, Maury Gross.

At the same time, I haven’t neglected my “serious” nonfiction side. Primarily, I’ve self-published a kind of memoir-history-travelogue called Symphonies & Scorpions, which chronicles my surprisingly adventurous life as a member of the Boston Symphony, set against its two history-making concert tours to China, the first in 1979 and the second in 2014. I was one of the few musicians who performed in both! I’ve also written any number of essays and reviews for prestigious journals ranging from The Strand to Opera to Publishers Weekly. I can’t say I’ve had much luck with poetry.

KRL: What brought you to choose the setting and characters in your latest book/series?

Gerald: The old axiom is “write what you know about.” That made the setting easy. All the stories within my mysteries are based upon experiences I’ve had, and the characters are based upon musicians I’ve known and worked with. For example, my protagonist, the blind cantankerous Daniel Jacobus, is a composite of several musicians I’ve known, primarily the famous violinist and pedagogue, Alexander Schneider, for his passion and dedication to compelling music-making, and dear friend and amateur violinist, Myra Ross, who has continued to perform in orchestras and string quartets even though she is blind.

You’d be surprised how many settings there are – from the concert stage to the violin dealer’s shop – where musicians might be inclined to kill each other. I might have stretched things a bit to make actual murders take place, but there’s nothing “inauthentic” in my stories.

KRL: Do you write to entertain or is there something more you want the readers to experience from your work?

Gerald: That is a great question! Entertaining the readers is a key if you want them to appreciate the “something more,” i.e what’s below the surface. In my books, I want the readers, especially the ones who have no background in classical music, to get a taste of what goes on behind the scenes. Good mystery writers have the ability to welcome readers into unfamiliar worlds and make them feel as if they’re part of them.

My most issues-oriented book is Spring Break. At the time I was writing it, there was a rash of well-publicized sexual misconduct scandals in various music conservatories and universities around the country. As an author and as a music educator myself, I felt a special necessity to confront that disgusting trend head-on, which I did. A good mystery, by its very nature, delves into the vagaries of human nature and how the world turns in a way that gives the readers much to reflect upon.

KRL: Do you have a schedule for your writing or just work whenever you can?

Gerald: The latter. Having spent decades with crazy orchestra rehearsal and concert schedules, practicing my instrument, teaching when time permitted, and raising two kids, it was impossible to have a set schedule to write. Though I admire those authors who are able to set aside the same few hours every day to write, I could never do that, nor do I think I’d want to because my brain doesn’t work that way.

KRL: What is your ideal time to write?

Gerald: Whenever I have an idea that I believe is worth writing.

KRL: Do you outline? If not, do you have some other interesting way that you keep track of what’s going on, or what needs to happen in your book when you are writing it?

Gerald: Several years ago, I attended a major mystery writers’ convention. There was a panel led by very well-known authors that discussed this very subject. One of the authors proclaimed that it was impossible to write a successful mystery without beforehand outlining every chapter in detail. Another author on the panel said that every morning she started writing whatever came into her head at the moment, having no idea where it might lead. I guess the moral of the story is, there’s no right way or wrong way. It’s whatever works for you.

I start with a general idea in my head of where a story is going to start and finish, and a little of what’s going to connect them, and of who’s going to get murdered and why. The harder part is figuring out how the murder is going to get solved, what the clues will be, etc. I might write out a broad outline, and then as things get more complex, more characters enter and more subplots develop, I’ll start plotting out individual chapters. Chances are, at some point the chapters will get rearranged, the ending might change three or four times. Seemingly insignificant characters will end up becoming major players. It’s all very fluid.

KRL: Did you find it difficult to get published in the beginning?

Gerald: It took 12 years! There were two reasons for that. Firstly, the book started out as a “How To” guide for aspiring young musicians called Violin Lessons and turned into something totally different, a traditional whodunnit entitled Devil’s Trill. Second, I had absolutely no idea how to get something published. At first, I sent my manuscript to random agents and publishers. Those few agents that responded said that they didn’t represent anyone who was not already published, and those few publishers who responded said they didn’t publish anyone who didn’t have an agent. Catch 22!

It required a lot of trial and error of getting knowledgeable people to read my manuscript, some serendipitous and invaluable networking, finally finding an agent and then a second one who was able, after numerous rejections, to get Devil’s Trill published. In the process, I had rewritten the book a dozen times. Quite the learning curve! Each book thereafter took a year to a year-and-a-half.

KRL: Do you have a great rejection/critique or acceptance story you’d like to share?

Gerald: I’ve kept all my rejection letters as a reminder of how difficult it is to become a published author and as a reminder to help all aspiring authors as best I can. But now that everything is email, I just delete them after a quick read. Water under the bridge.

The acceptance story for Devil’s Trill is memorable. As I mentioned, it took twelve years from first draft to publication. When my agent, Josh Getzler, HG Literary, called me with the good news that St. Martin’s Press wanted my book, there was a second part to the call that was a total surprise, because in all the years that it took to write Devil’s Trill I hadn’t once considered the possibility of writing anything else. “St. Martin’s was wondering if you might want to consider a two-book deal as part of a Daniel Jacobus series,” Josh said. “Let me know after you’ve had a chance to think about it.” I thought for approximately one second. “Yes,” I said.

KRL: Most interesting book signing story-in a bookstore or other venue?

Gerald: Years ago, I did a book event, it was either in Tucson or Albuquerque, and as usual, I introduced Jacobus as a curmudgeonly, reclusive, blind violin teacher. The bookstore manager interrupted my spiel by saying, “So, Jerry, does that mean the book is autobiographical?” Much laughter among the crowd, but before I had a chance to reply, he added, “Of course not…you’re not blind.” What can I say?

KRL: What are your future writing goals?

Gerald: I’ve got a curious answer for you. I’ve never had writing goals. I just like to write, and when I think I’ve written something good, I try to get it published. Sometimes that has meant self-publishing when traditional publishers don’t share my humble opinion, but one way or another, the satisfaction of creating, whether it’s music, writing, or even cooking a nice dinner, is all the goal I need.

KRL: Who are your writing heroes?

Gerald: Have I spent a lifetime learning the ins and outs of steeplechase racing at English tracks? No, but Dick Francis, a consummate mystery craftsman, makes me ready to place my next bet. Am I an African American who grew up in post-WWII Los Angeles? No, but credit Walter Mosely and his Easy Rawlins series for making me part of that neighborhood, outsider though I might be.

Am I an Italian or, more precisely, a Venetian who bemoans the notoriously inefficient bureaucracy of modern-day Italy? No, but Donna Leon’s Inspector Brunetti series has opened my eyes to Venice’s decline, and, thankfully, also to its delights. Am I an MI6 spy? No, but John LeCarre has slithered me into the shadowy netherworld of backdoor international relations with piercing insight into human nature. I’ve tried to emulate their professionalism as writers, even on occasion to have come perilously close to unconsciously trying to mimic their writing style. Because of that, I have a policy to avoid reading great mysteries until after I finish writing mine!

KRL: What kind of research do you do?

Gerald: I have a confession to make. For my first few mysteries I did very little research at all. That was because the stories were based on stuff I already knew. When I’ve done outside research, it has mainly consisted of contacting people in whatever field I need detail about. For example, in Danse Macabre, an antique elevator plays an important role, so I wrote to the archivist of Otis Elevators. For Spring Break, I needed to know more about autopsies and the exhumation of bodies from graves, so I contacted a state medical examiner. For The Beethoven Sequence, I needed to learn about extradition treaties, so I contacted a lawyer in that field. More often than not, though, I’ve found just about everything I need from internet searches. I’ll finish answering your question by saying, it’s good to be accurate, but if I really need to, I make stuff up. It’s fiction, after all.

KRL: What do you like to read?

Gerald: Good amateur sleuth or police procedural mysteries. I don’t like thrillers with a lot of gore or minutiae about weapons of mass destruction or “forty-seven seconds until the earth explodes.” I also enjoy biographies about interesting – not necessarily famous – people, and social histories.

KRL: What are your favorite TV shows or movies?

Gerald: Since Covid hit in 2020, my wife and I have watched almost every mystery series on Netflix, Amazon Prime, Britbox, and Acorn. I think the Brits win hands down, with series like Shetland, Line of Duty, Prime Witness, and Lewis. We’ve also enjoyed watching every one of a hundred-plus episodes of Monk, and almost as many of Castle.

KRL: I agree with you on all of that! Have you any advice for aspiring or beginning writers?

Gerald: Have a paying job! That way, you can write what you want without the stress and anxiety of having to make a living from it. Don’t be in a rush to get your book published. Have people whose opinions you respect read and critique it, and have it professionally proofread even before submitting to prospective agents. First impressions are really important. Agents and publishers will read the first page of your book and decide whether it’s worth turning to Page 2.

A lot of writers self-publish these days, and there’s a lot to be said for that, but the promotion, marketing, and distribution are then all on your shoulders. If you’re good at that, more power to you, but there’s a lot of competition out there.

KRL: What is something people would be surprised to know about you?

Gerald: Even though I’ve been playing the violin since I was seven and have had a long career in music, my childhood ambition was to play first base for the New York Yankees, my hometown team. Sadly, my modest Little League talent wasn’t recognized. To this day, I’m an ardent fan of just about all sports, even when the Yankees are not winning. I’m loving the Women’s World Cup and, except for our amazing US team, generally root for the underdog.

KRL: Do you have any pets?

Gerald: My wife and I are both dog and cat lovers, and over the years we’ve had several of each that were the best companions imaginable. But at the moment we have neither, as we travel quite a bit, and feel it wouldn’t be fair (or easy) to leave our pets in the lurch.

KRL: Is there anything you would like to add?

Gerald: Two things! Firstly, perhaps my most entertaining mystery, Roundtree Days, has just been named one of three finalists for the 2023 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award! Even though it’s generally a lighthearted Western mystery described as “hilarious” in Publisher’s Weekly’s starred review, it confronts some serious issues, like climate change and the conflicts caused by the changing political, economic, and cultural landscape of the West. The winner of the award will be announced on August 19, so I’ve got my fingers crossed until then.

Second, my most recent Daniel Jacobus mystery, Murder at the Royal Albert, is currently being made into an audiobook by Alison Larkin Presents. What’s unique about this audiobook is that all the music that’s integral to the story is going to be ingeniously woven into the reading, so it will be as if the listener is right there with the characters. What’s more, much of the music will be from performances in which I’ve played a part, either as a violinist or conductor. We’re hoping for a holiday season release, so keep your eyes open for it!

KRL: Website? Twitter? Facebook? Instagram?

Gerald: Website: geraldeliasmanofmystery.wordpress.com
Facebook: facebook.com/gerald.elias
Facebook: facebook.com/EliasBooks
Instagram: instagram.com/geraldelias504

Enter to win a copy of It’s a Crime!, Murder at the Royal Albert, or Roundtree Days (Winner’s Choice-please state which one you want), or simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “royal,” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen August 12, 2023. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. If entering via email please include your mailing address in case you win. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

Check out other mystery articles, reviews, book giveaways & mystery short stories in our mystery section. And join our mystery Facebook group to keep up with everything mystery we post, and have a chance at some extra giveaways. Also listen to our new mystery podcast where mystery short stories and first chapters are read by actors! They are also available on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Spotify. A new episode goes up next month.

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