End Me a Tenor

Glee Club #2

by Joelle Charbonneau

Singing in a production of the Messiah and rehearsing her show choir for a holiday concert may be more than Paige can Handel. Not only does she have to contend with the overblown ego of world-renowned tenor David Richard, she now has to quickly revamp the show choir’s number, since not one but two other high schools are performing the same song for the quickly approaching competition season.

The tempestuous tenor may have a voice to die for, but when he drops dead during rehearsal after drinking poisoned water, Paige has to compose herself and once again solo as a sleuth to find a killer who’s no choirboy...

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Music, Mystery Thriller

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 2, 2013

About the author

I am a storyteller at heart. I have performed in a variety of operas, musical theatre and children's theatre productions across the Chicagoland area.

While I'm happy to perform for an audience, I am equally delighted to teach private voice lessons and use my experience from the stage to create compelling characters on the page. I am the author of the Rebecca Robbins mystery series (Minotaur Books), The Paige Marshall Glee Club mysteries (Berkley) and The Testing YA triology (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

Reviews

[❂ Murder by Death · Rating 4 out of 5]

First, let me say that I have zero interest in show choir, or singing, performing, etc. So I was wary about starting this series and let the first book languish on The Pile for quite some time. I was pleased enough with the story and the characters, as well as the mystery plot, when I finally did pick it up, to buy the next one, End me a Tenor (plus, great title! I love puns!) I found this second effort to be excellent! I'm really enjoying most of the characters and the scenes are written really well and vividly enough to 'see' the story unfold.

As to the murder plot - well it was, IMO just really, really well done! No really clear suspects where any one stood out from the others. No late entries that stood out and become obvious. And a nice surprise reveal at the end. The ending was totally implausible, but it's a cozy mystery - we're not drowning in verisimilitude in this genre. This is a fun, engaging read that entertains from beginning to end.

The only small bits of the story I didn't like were the love triangle, although I can kind of see that resolving itself in the next book - the groundwork was laid for the decision to be made. If I'm right, I'll be quite pleased. And lastly, what's rapidly becoming a pet peeve of mine - having the secondary characters telling the protagonist "you have to figure this out!" "you have to find out who did this!" etc. etc. While at the same time berating her for putting herself in dangerous situations. The whole device is such a cop out and such a massive turn off - at least for me.

But I'll be waiting eagerly for the next book release!

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, we need to discuss the fact that End Me a Tenor is quite possibly my favorite title for a book ever.

Joelle Charbonneau has managed to combine some of my favorite things ever - dance, show choir, music, and mystery - into a wacky series that is just so much fun to read. While I loved the first book in the series, Murder for Choir, I think Joelle Charbonneau has even written a stronger follow up. I was absolutely enchanted and fell back in love with the characters as soon as I started. I was grinning like a loon the entire time I was reading, never for an instance wanting to put it down.

This series has what I would consider one the best written love triangles - I love both guys and they are both just so dreamy. I love both guys in question for different reasons. There are scenes with both Devlyn and Mike that are absolutely adorable and my heart gets pulled one way and then the other.

Joelle Charbonneau is such a talented writer - I just love her prose. As soon as I started reading End Me a Tenor, I was completely sucked back into the world of Paige Marshall and loved seeing how things would play out.

While the mystery is very central to the plot, there are so many other subplots going on that just fascinate me. I particularly love everything that goes on with Aunt Miller - she is an absolute hoot. The characters are so well written.

End Me a Tenor is absolutely hilarious. I found myself smiling and chuckling alongside the characters in between grinning like mad the entire time. I had so much fun reading it and I cannot wait to see what is next for the gang.

Three cheers for Paige Marshall! I cannot wait to see where her story will lead next, since at the close of End Me a Tenor, things are looking pretty fabulous. There was so much growth for Paige throughout the book and I love watching that alongside a lot of the other characters growing as well.

End Me a Tenor is a must read for anyone looking for a good read. Regardless of your prior preference, End Me a Tenor is an excellent mystery with a good romance and extremely well written characters. With each book she writes, Joelle Charbonneau only further convinces me that she is one of the most talented writers out there. This one would get a standing ovation from me ;)

[Louise · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although a quick read, this cozy murder mystery was not my cup of tea. Kind of mundane. EVEN though I am a music/choral teacher this didn't do the trick for me. I must admit I didn't know the "killer" and had NO idea it was that person..... . Not enough clues at all....out of the blue.

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad, but a couple of things annoyed me about it. First, why doesn't the MC go to a class to learn how to stand up to her aunt's dog, rather than let it be the boss. Second, bored of love triangles.

[Gretchen Oates · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. Enjoying getting to know the characters more.

[Karin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable second book in this series. I liked that there was much more of the choir in this one.

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
#teammike

[Samantha Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was actually pleasantly surprised by this story! The story line kept me engaged and wanting more. I will definitely check out other books from this author.

[LORI CASWELL · Rating 5 out of 5]

High School Show Choir Coach Paige Marshall has her hands full. She has just learned that two other high schools are performing the same number as her choir in the upcoming competition season. She needs to quickly replace that song, complete with choreography, with another before they debut at the holiday concert in just a few days.

Paige has also been selected as one of the soloists in a production of the Messiah and is rehearsing daily to prepare. She is so excited, but the man singing the tenor part is world-renowned tenor David Richard and his overblown ego is hitting all the wrong notes. When the tempestuous tenor drops dead during rehearsal Paige finds herself investigating another murder and finds out the tenor was certainly no choirboy.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

What a wonderful encore to Murder for Choir. Charbonneau hits all the right notes!

The author combines mystery with a romantic triangle that reads like a marvelous melody. Should Paige be with Devlyn or Mike? The hunky detective or the talented teacher? Paige is extraordinary as she deals with keeping her current job while trying to further her singing career plus she is dealing with her love life, her students, and her boss Larry, and trying to catch a killer.

The story has layers and is full of humor. The characters just draw you right into their lives. It is easy to see the author is a performer but she is also a terrific storyteller. Her insight into the musical arena shines through this entire literary score.

As I said in my review of Murder for Choir…

Like Glee, you will love this book!

Like cozy mysteries, you won’t be able to put this one down!

I can’t wait for the next performance. It must almost be time for the Show Choir Competitions to begin.

[Sonia Reppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Look at the cover--it's so cute. I enjoyed this so much, the second in her trilogy of Chicago-based choir murders. Very cozy and fun. I knew this author when she was a grad student in voice at DePaul. So what I don't get is: why the inaccuracies about the Messiah production? (I know Joelle knows her stuff). Why do the characters refer to the Messiah as a "show," when it's a concert? And the performers wouldn't be referred to as "the cast" because it's not a show, like an opera or a musical. Also, the soloists (which includes the main character) would not have to be at all of those rehearsals for the choir and orchestra--just one rehearsal before the concert, to practice with the orchestra. It's not like a show where there is staging that needs a lot of rehearsals. And a stage manager for a large concert I can see, but an assistant stage manager too, for a concert that doesn't involve costumes or scenery or props? I'm guessing Joelle picked The Messiah to fit in with the Christmas theme of the book, but it seems like she wrote about an opera production and then switched it to The Messiah. (And the main character gets excited when the "show" sells out, but as this takes place in Chicago and is written as the big sing-along Messiah downtown, any Chicago singer will know that this is always sold-out).

I really like this series for the voice of the main character, and especially for the love interest element. She has two desirable guys in love with her. I wasn't planning on reading the third book, but now I think I will just to see who she ends up with.

[Suspense Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

“End Me a Tenor” is the second in the continuing adventures of Paige Marshall, gifted soprano on her way to becoming a star in the classical music world. While waiting for her big break, Paige is staying with her eccentric aunt Millie, Mary Kay salesperson extraordinaire, Millie’s live-in gentleman friend Aldo, and Millie’s snarly poodle, aptly named Killer, and working part-time at a local high school coaching the school’s glee club.
Paige is thrilled to be cast opposite world-renowned tenor David Richard in a holiday production of Handel’s Messiah. But things go terribly wrong at dress rehearsal when Richard keels over dead after drinking poisoned water.
Paige’s glee club is also participating in a big-time holiday choir competition, and the egos at work in that group are just as huge, and the rivalry just as intense, as the ones exhibited by the Messiah cast.
When David Richard’s death is ruled a murder and Paige realizes that the water bottle he drank from looks exactly like the one she had in her own hands just a few minutes before Richards keeled over in front of her, she decides to find out what’s going on. And discovers that there are more possible murder suspects than she ever imagined.
“End Me a Tenor” is a witty and fun read. A real Paige turner. (Oops. Sorry. Couldn’t resist.)
Reviewed by Susan Santangelo, author of “Class Reunions Can Be Murder” for Suspense Magazine

[Alannah Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

The second in the Glee Club Mystery series. I think I liked the first book, "Murder for Choir," just a little bit better, but I still love this one! Same lush characterization and fun dialogue as the first one. Amateur sleuth Paige Marshall continues to be likable. I also like the start of her dilemma between the two men in her life - drama teacher Devlyn (who wants everyone to believe he is gay, and therefore keeps his relationship with Paige under wraps) and cop Mike. I'm even dying to find out what happens between Aunt Millie and Aldo!

The story involves Paige trying to keep her job as show choir coach, while also getting what could possibly be her big break in the professional opera singing world. Then an egotistical, world-famous tenor in the professional show drops dead, and Paige once again finds herself tracking down a killer. I don't always get Paige's logic in persisting with her search when she could just as easily let the cops do it. Other than that, though, this is a smart and funny mystery.

I hope there will be a third book in the series. I'd love to catch up with Paige again!

[Connie N. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute. I liked this one a lot better than the first in the series, perhaps because we've gotten to know the main character a lot better and her personality has developed into a charming, talented teacher and soprano. Paige is fun as a wise-cracking and appealing show chorus teacher. I liked all the music-related discussion and her understanding of the music and her students as they prepare for their winter concert. She is in a mild love triangle between a fellow teacher and the cop who keeps getting involved in her sleuthing issues. I like her sense of humor and Charbonneau's humorous turn of a phrase, such as "...he didn't understand. I didn't either, and I was having it explained to me." or "...the tears in ???'s voice would have elicited my sympathy if not for the threatening-me-with-a-gun thing." Secondary characters are also entertaining, such as the silly but scarily efficient Aunt Millie and the piano-playing and cooking Aldo. I look forward to more in this enjoyable series.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I got this book from my friend and read the cover blurb, I was really worried about reading something that felt like a "Glee" episode, but I was pleasantly surprised to find a great deal more than that in this book. This is the first of this series that I have read, and although I don't usually like to start a series anywhere other than book one I didn't think it made a major impact on my enjoyment of this book (although there are some back-story questions that need answers).

I liked Paige - I think she is walking a line of self-discovery that feels a little familiar to me; the one between what you always dreamed of doing (opera singing, in her case) and what you're doing to pay the bills (teaching high school glee club). The supporting characters were interesting, and the amateur sleuthing didn't stretch the bounds of credibility any farther than in most cozy mysteries.

I did figure out WHO well before the end of the book, although I wasn't correct in my guess as to WHY. Still, an enjoyable read, and a series I plan to re-visit.

[Jeannie and Louis Rigod · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this 2nd book of the series, "A Glee Club Mystery," high school show choir coach, Paige Marshall is facing several personal challenges...cancellation of her contract if the school board doesn't 'love' the holiday performance, and a launch into her opera career with a solo performance of Handel's 'Messiah' next to famous Tenor, David Richard!

Both challenges become desperate when not only injuries and duplicate show numbers cause re-casting and new routines, but the shocking death of David Richard which might cancel the show. We follow Paige as she frantically deals with egos and understudies at the high school and tries to figure out who is killing the Opera cast and production crew...especially since she is now also targeted.

To add to the layers of this tale, Paige also finds she is interested in two men, a detective and a performer/teacher. The only thing you can be certain of is...Don't drink the water! It can kill you!

[Sallee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like Joelle Charbonneau's character Paige Marshall, aspiring opera singer and high school show choir coach. I read the first book and enjoyed that as well. The other characters are quirky. Her aunt, who she lives with is a dog lover and all her past pets have undergone taxidermy and are arranged in the house. Her current live dog, Killer, a large standard poodle does not like Paige and they move around each other carefully. Her love interests, a handsome teacher at school who lets everyone assume he is gay to avoid problems with the adolescent girls and a police officer who is wooing her make for some interesting situations. When a famous tenor drops dead at the Messiah rehearsal and is found to have been poisoned, Paige finds herself in the middle of the investigation and a potential victim.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Paige finally has a chance to advance her career as an opera singer by performing in the Messiah with some more famous singers--until the tenor drops dead during a rehearsal. And she's also come to realize that she rather likes her job teaching a high school show choir, which is in the throes of preparing for a holiday concert. She also is involved with two men, the brash police detective who investigated the last murder in her life, and the handsome theater teacher who pretends to be gay to protect himself from high school vamps. Paige isn't the brightest sleuth in fiction--she jumps to conclusions and doesn't figure out the culprit until she's in danger--but she's amusing and her Aunt Millie, the well-to-do Mary Kay dealer whose house she shares, is a hoot.

[Mark Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paige is thrilled when she lands the job of soprano soloist in a production of The Messiah along side world famous tenor David Richard. But at their first rehearsal together, he takes a sip of his water and dies. Meanwhile, she has to get her high school show choir into shape, including a new song, in just a few days or lose her day job.

There's lots going on here, and I did feel the mystery suffered a bit as a result. On the other hand, Paige is such a great character I couldn't help but root for her even when the show choir sub-plot was taking center stage.

Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.

[Nancy]

Singing in a production of the Messiah and rehearsing her show choir for a holiday concert may be more than Paige can Handel. Not only does she have to contend with the overblown ego of world-renowned tenor David Richard, she now has to quickly revamp the show choir’s number, since not one but two other high schools are performing the same song for the quickly approaching competition season.

The tempestuous tenor may have a voice to die for, but when he drops dead during rehearsal after drinking poisoned water, Paige has to compose herself and once again solo as a sleuth to find a killer who’s no choirboy .

The tenor is killed by one of the stars in the chorus, who is actually his son. The tenor won't acknowledge him, so he is killed.

[Melodie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the first in this series back in September and really liked it. While waiting for this book to come out I decided to give the author's Rebecca Robbins series a try and read all 3 of them in March! Suffice it to say that Ms. Charbonneau has quickly become a favorite of mine! This was a great mystery and the fact that all the characters are so likeable is just a bonus. Even if singing, show choirs, etc is not your thing (it's not mine!) give this series, and her other one, a try. I promise you won't be disappointed! (I have an ARC of the YA dystopian she has coming out in June at the top of The Pile and intend to get started on it by this weekend!) RECOMMEND!!

[Alma Gravel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying that I am an old singer - no show choirs in my day and age but I have followed the phenomenon with interest - when I read Joelle Charbonneau's first entry in this series "Murder for Choir" I was impressed by how well she captured the musical community. In this, her second of the series, she kills off the tenor (sometimes, in my experience, an enviable experience) - her description of how her choir coach feels when she is performing a soprano aria from "Messiah" is spot on - one of the best descriptions of the solo experience I have read - thanks Joelle.....

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book because it took place at Christmas time and I like to read Christmas books in December. I had not read the first book in the series, but I decided to go ahead and read this one anyway. I really enjoyed it. The main character is an opera singer who coaches a high school show choir. When someone poisons the tenor in the production of the Messiah that she is in, Paige gets involved in the investigation. I plan to go back and read the first one as soon as I can.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of a mix of interesting and irritating. And yet I will probably read the next book. Sick of the love triangle, also sick of the straight man playing gay to avoid female student attention. And like, if he showed up suddenly dating a woman, he's not caring more about the person than their sexuality, MAYBE THEY ARE BISEXUAL. IT IS A THING.

[Dancing Flamingo · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining read. I prefer if the protagonist doesn't have 2 men chasing after her; frankly it's such a cliche. Other than that the book is superb. I like Aldo and Aunt Millie - such eccentric characters!

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and author! All her books are great and this is another great series! Keeps you guessing till the very end!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clever cozy. Involves a high school show choir. Speedy read and you'll laugh aloud in parts as the narrator (choir dirctor) is a fun person

[Shelley Giusti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this book!!!

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really liking this series so far.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun, quick read, but I'm finding her juggling of the romantic elenent with the two competing suitors is getting a bit tedious.

[Lichen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not dazzled