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Fugue & Fable #1
The Mussorgsky Riddle
Psychic Mira Tejedor possesses unique talents that enable her to find anything and anyone, but now she must find a comatose boy wandering lost inside the labyrinth of his own mind. Thirteen-year-old Anthony Faircloth hasn’t spoken a word in almost a month and with each passing day, his near catatonic state worsens. No doctor, test, or scan can tell Anthony’s distraught mother what has happened to her already troubled son. In desperation, she turns to Mira for answers, hoping her unique abilities might succeed where science has failed.
At their first encounter, Mira is pulled into Anthony’s mind and finds the child’s psyche shattered into the various movements of Modest Mussorgsky’s classical music suite, Pictures at an Exhibition. As she navigates this magical dreamscape drawn from Anthony’s twin loves of Russian composers and classical mythology, Mira must contend with gnomes, troubadours, and witches in her search for the truth behind Anthony’s mysterious malady.
The real world, however, holds its own dangers. The onset of Anthony’s condition coincides with the disappearance of his older brother’s girlfriend, a missing persons case that threatens to tear the city apart. Mira discovers that in order to save Anthony, she will have to catch a murderer who will stop at nothing to keep the secrets contained in Anthony’s unique mind from ever seeing the light.
At their first encounter, Mira is pulled into Anthony’s mind and finds the child’s psyche shattered into the various movements of Modest Mussorgsky’s classical music suite, Pictures at an Exhibition. As she navigates this magical dreamscape drawn from Anthony’s twin loves of Russian composers and classical mythology, Mira must contend with gnomes, troubadours, and witches in her search for the truth behind Anthony’s mysterious malady.
The real world, however, holds its own dangers. The onset of Anthony’s condition coincides with the disappearance of his older brother’s girlfriend, a missing persons case that threatens to tear the city apart. Mira discovers that in order to save Anthony, she will have to catch a murderer who will stop at nothing to keep the secrets contained in Anthony’s unique mind from ever seeing the light.
350 pages, Paperback
Published January 12, 2015
About the author
Darin Kennedy
39 books78 followersDarin Kennedy, born and raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, is a graduate of Wake Forest University and Bowman Gray School of Medicine. After completing family medicine residency in the mountains of Virginia, he served eight years as a United States Army physician and wrote his first novel in 2003 in the sands of northern Iraq. His debut novel, The Mussorgsky Riddle, was born from a fusion of two of his lifelong loves—classical music and world mythology— and is slated for publication by Curiosity Quills Press in Fall/Winter 2014. His short stories can be found in various publications, as well as two short story compilations available on Amazon, and he is currently hard at work on his next novel. Doctor by day and novelist by night, he writes and practices medicine in Charlotte, North Carolina. When not engaged in either of the above activities, he has been known strum the guitar, enjoy a bite of sushi, and rumor has it he even sleeps on occasion. He is represented by Stacey Donaghy at Donaghy Literary Group. Find him online at darinkennedy.com.
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February 8, 2015Dear Goodreaders!
Just leaving a quick message for all of you. Hope you enjoy the book! Would love to hear from you or see you out an event sometime.
By the way, I highly recommend putting on Pictures at an Exhibition for background music when reading The Mussorgsky Riddle. Will likely put you in the right "state of mind."
All best,
Darin
Just leaving a quick message for all of you. Hope you enjoy the book! Would love to hear from you or see you out an event sometime.
By the way, I highly recommend putting on Pictures at an Exhibition for background music when reading The Mussorgsky Riddle. Will likely put you in the right "state of mind."
All best,
Darin
January 5, 2015
First, a toast to the author for a thoroughly fantastic read.
This book is a fresh concept and intelligently written. Mira Tejador is brought to use her special gifts to figure out why 13-year-old Anthony has suddenly withdrawn so much into himself that he is no longer eating, responding to anyone, or caring for himself. Upon working with him, she is unexpectedly pulled into his mind world. It has a castle-like museum with paintings in separate alcoves.
All the while, majestic frescoes above her vacillates, and music plays around her. The music is from the Anthony’s favorite symphony by Mussorgsky in the late 1800’s. Mira concurrently finds herself drawn into a local missing girl case and starts to find connections between both of her “cases”. Anthony is very intelligent but also autistic. When he interacts with Mira inside his mind, she tries to figure out the mystery as to why he has withdrawn into himself and created this world. The mind world can be quite harrowing and suspenseful. Mira has to approach the mystery somewhat like a spiral – getting closer and closer to the truth with each session without spooking him.
Mira encounters the characters within each piece of artwork: a gnome,
the lone inhabitant of a castle, children, two old men, women in a market, ballet dancers, and a freaky-as-hell Baba Yaga.
She herself is represented as beautiful Scheherazade.
The original symphony (which I referenced online and listened to frequently) was written to bring the listener on a journey through an art exhibit - which is what Mira finds in Anthony's world. The listener gets to enjoy varied music for each of the ten different drawings/paintings.
Mira Tejador (Mira “to watch” and Tejador “weaver”) is a three dimensional character and I love her. The author has done an amazing job writing a strong female perspective. She is a mother, has ex-husband baggage, is strong in some ways and weak in others, good with some boundaries and terrible with others, smart yet at times naive, tough-willed, and compassionate. She makes mistakes and takes missteps at times, but works to resolve them. She is introspective and tries to figure her own issues out (like so many of us do). There was an instance in the book where Mira encounters someone objectifying her. When someone tells her that the guy is “harmless”, she stands her ground to let them know that is never acceptable behavior. There is no insta-love, but there is a bit of the beginnings of a romance in the book. I love that it takes a back-seat but is another way the author rounds out Mira’s character.
The writing is intelligent and imaginative. The author uses words like a skilled painter. At times the description is flowing and elegant (and not in a distracting way at all), and other times it is short, vivid, and punctuated. He creates his own work of art through the words, evoking images, sensations, and memories. A few examples (since this is an Advance Reader Copy, the final quotes may differ from what is written below) :
While the vernacular inside Anthony’s mind is advanced, I believed it was possible initially. Toward the middle, it seemed to become even more advanced and I started to wonder how even an intelligent boy would use the adult verbiage found in his mind world. Just as that started to cross my mind, the issue was addressed, so don’t get too hung up on that issue when you read.
The book gave a brief nod to other wonderful stories such as the Princess Bride, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz. Toward the end, I started to see some themes similar to The Neverending Story that had me feeling reminiscent.
The author became a physician and then served as an Army physician for eight years. His "About the Author" says he wrote this novel while in Iraq. He loves music and mythology and still works as a physician. I love that he seems to be as remarkable as his novel.
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a fresh concept and intelligently written. Mira Tejador is brought to use her special gifts to figure out why 13-year-old Anthony has suddenly withdrawn so much into himself that he is no longer eating, responding to anyone, or caring for himself. Upon working with him, she is unexpectedly pulled into his mind world. It has a castle-like museum with paintings in separate alcoves.
All the while, majestic frescoes above her vacillates, and music plays around her. The music is from the Anthony’s favorite symphony by Mussorgsky in the late 1800’s. Mira concurrently finds herself drawn into a local missing girl case and starts to find connections between both of her “cases”. Anthony is very intelligent but also autistic. When he interacts with Mira inside his mind, she tries to figure out the mystery as to why he has withdrawn into himself and created this world. The mind world can be quite harrowing and suspenseful. Mira has to approach the mystery somewhat like a spiral – getting closer and closer to the truth with each session without spooking him.
Mira encounters the characters within each piece of artwork: a gnome,
the lone inhabitant of a castle, children, two old men, women in a market, ballet dancers, and a freaky-as-hell Baba Yaga.
She herself is represented as beautiful Scheherazade.
The original symphony (which I referenced online and listened to frequently) was written to bring the listener on a journey through an art exhibit - which is what Mira finds in Anthony's world. The listener gets to enjoy varied music for each of the ten different drawings/paintings.
Mira Tejador (Mira “to watch” and Tejador “weaver”) is a three dimensional character and I love her. The author has done an amazing job writing a strong female perspective. She is a mother, has ex-husband baggage, is strong in some ways and weak in others, good with some boundaries and terrible with others, smart yet at times naive, tough-willed, and compassionate. She makes mistakes and takes missteps at times, but works to resolve them. She is introspective and tries to figure her own issues out (like so many of us do). There was an instance in the book where Mira encounters someone objectifying her. When someone tells her that the guy is “harmless”, she stands her ground to let them know that is never acceptable behavior. There is no insta-love, but there is a bit of the beginnings of a romance in the book. I love that it takes a back-seat but is another way the author rounds out Mira’s character.
The writing is intelligent and imaginative. The author uses words like a skilled painter. At times the description is flowing and elegant (and not in a distracting way at all), and other times it is short, vivid, and punctuated. He creates his own work of art through the words, evoking images, sensations, and memories. A few examples (since this is an Advance Reader Copy, the final quotes may differ from what is written below) :
“The dozens of watercolor children wandering the garden all stop and turn to face me. Their eyes, glowing with the same golden phosphorescence as their teacher’s, pierce me with their cold cruelty. As one, they rush me, their little faces turned up in snarls like rabid animals, their teeth gleaming in the light cast from each other’s radiant gazes.”
“Funny how all high schools look the same. The dilapidated lockers. The scuffed floors that never seem to come clean. The ubiquitous water stained ceiling tiles at every turn.”
“…as my mind continues to wander, the strange connections between the boy and me begin to pop up like dandelions in the front yard.”
“Water drips down on my head from above, each chilling rivulet like a dead man’s finger tracing the line of my scalp.”
While the vernacular inside Anthony’s mind is advanced, I believed it was possible initially. Toward the middle, it seemed to become even more advanced and I started to wonder how even an intelligent boy would use the adult verbiage found in his mind world. Just as that started to cross my mind, the issue was addressed, so don’t get too hung up on that issue when you read.
The book gave a brief nod to other wonderful stories such as the Princess Bride, Alice in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz. Toward the end, I started to see some themes similar to The Neverending Story that had me feeling reminiscent.
The author became a physician and then served as an Army physician for eight years. His "About the Author" says he wrote this novel while in Iraq. He loves music and mythology and still works as a physician. I love that he seems to be as remarkable as his novel.
I received a free digital copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 14, 2014
REVIEW THE MUSSORGSKY RIDDLE
What an enchanting story!! Educational, absorbing, paranormal, classical, mythical--with soul-stirring, soul-consuming depths, THE MUSSORGSKY RIDDLE Is lyrical, empathetic, literary; and because of it, I developed an affinity for the classical music at its heart--specifically Mussorgsky' s PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION, and its contemporary reprisal, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer' s version of it, also Mussorgsky' s NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN. (Next, Grieg' s IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING.)
Empath Mira Tejador is summoned to Charlotte NC to psychically examine an adolescent named Anthony, a boy who possesses very high intelligence--and Asperger' s--but lately has retreated completely into his mind, refusing food or touch. Similar to Agent Pendergast' s "Memory Palace," Anthony s mind has constructed an art exhibition, initially based on Mussorgsky' s musical composition. But now Anthony is trapped within--and someone or something else is in control.
What an enchanting story!! Educational, absorbing, paranormal, classical, mythical--with soul-stirring, soul-consuming depths, THE MUSSORGSKY RIDDLE Is lyrical, empathetic, literary; and because of it, I developed an affinity for the classical music at its heart--specifically Mussorgsky' s PICTURES AT AN EXHIBITION, and its contemporary reprisal, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer' s version of it, also Mussorgsky' s NIGHT ON BALD MOUNTAIN. (Next, Grieg' s IN THE HALL OF THE MOUNTAIN KING.)
Empath Mira Tejador is summoned to Charlotte NC to psychically examine an adolescent named Anthony, a boy who possesses very high intelligence--and Asperger' s--but lately has retreated completely into his mind, refusing food or touch. Similar to Agent Pendergast' s "Memory Palace," Anthony s mind has constructed an art exhibition, initially based on Mussorgsky' s musical composition. But now Anthony is trapped within--and someone or something else is in control.
December 16, 2014
After working a disturbing and emotional missing person’s case that destroys her marriage, psychic Mira Tejedor is relieved to be asked to help with a boy who has stopped talking. Anthony Faircloth has not spoken in over a month, and doctors can find nothing wrong with him but his condition is worsening. Anthony’s mother decides that maybe Mira can help where doctors have failed. On her first meeting with Anthony, Mira finds herself actually inside Anthony’s mind, something that has never happened to her before.
The world inside Anthony’s mind seems to be built around Modest Mussorgsky’s classical music suite, Pictures at an Exhibition. The characters that Mira meet all seem to be people who are important to Anthony, and Mira herself is cast as the storyteller, Scheherazade, from The Arabian Nights. While many of the characters welcome Mira and her attempts to unlock the secrets that are troubling Anthony, there is one character who does not want her there. The witch makes it clear to Mira that she is not welcome.
In Anthony’s real life, Mira encounters an eerily similar situation to the one that nearly destroyed her before. Anthony’s brother’s ex-girlfriend is missing and her disappearance strangely coincides with Anthony’s catatonic state. Mira will have to figure out what this girl’s disappearance has to do with Anthony in order to help him before the person who wants Anthony’s secrets to stay hidden figures out exactly what Mira can do.
Darin Kennedy is a literary genius. The Mussorgsky Riddle is truly like nothing that I have ever read before. Mr. Kennedy describes the fantasy world inside Anthony’s mind so vividly that it leaps off the page. The fast-paced story grabs ahold of you and does not let go until you have turned the very last page.
I must admit that I did figure out who the villain was before it was actually revealed, but that in no way takes away from the brilliance of this book. The characters are well-developed and realistic. There is even a touch of romance. Mira Tejedor is a fascinating protagonist and I sincerely hope that Mr. Kennedy has more adventures planned for her.
Originally reviewed on Bitten by Books by Lori. Read the original review here:http://bittenbybooks.com/the-mussorgs...
Darin Kennedy
The world inside Anthony’s mind seems to be built around Modest Mussorgsky’s classical music suite, Pictures at an Exhibition. The characters that Mira meet all seem to be people who are important to Anthony, and Mira herself is cast as the storyteller, Scheherazade, from The Arabian Nights. While many of the characters welcome Mira and her attempts to unlock the secrets that are troubling Anthony, there is one character who does not want her there. The witch makes it clear to Mira that she is not welcome.
In Anthony’s real life, Mira encounters an eerily similar situation to the one that nearly destroyed her before. Anthony’s brother’s ex-girlfriend is missing and her disappearance strangely coincides with Anthony’s catatonic state. Mira will have to figure out what this girl’s disappearance has to do with Anthony in order to help him before the person who wants Anthony’s secrets to stay hidden figures out exactly what Mira can do.
Darin Kennedy is a literary genius. The Mussorgsky Riddle is truly like nothing that I have ever read before. Mr. Kennedy describes the fantasy world inside Anthony’s mind so vividly that it leaps off the page. The fast-paced story grabs ahold of you and does not let go until you have turned the very last page.
I must admit that I did figure out who the villain was before it was actually revealed, but that in no way takes away from the brilliance of this book. The characters are well-developed and realistic. There is even a touch of romance. Mira Tejedor is a fascinating protagonist and I sincerely hope that Mr. Kennedy has more adventures planned for her.
Originally reviewed on Bitten by Books by Lori. Read the original review here:http://bittenbybooks.com/the-mussorgs...
Darin Kennedy
March 25, 2015
Read all my reviews on http://urlphantomhive.booklikes.com
On GoodReads Darin Kennedy, author of The Mussorgsky Riddle suggested to listen to Pictures at an Exhibition whilst reading the book and I can only second that. It plays an immense role in the story and also it's a beautiful piece of music.
Mira, a psychic, is called to Anthony. Anthony has been suffering from autism his whole life but has now been even more secluded, not talking to anyone any more and he seems to be lost in his own mind. Mira gets send in to see if she can helped. She then appears as Scheherazade, the famous story teller, in the labyrinth that Anthony has created for himself. He's accompanied by the pieces of Pictures at an Exhibition, the music piece by Mussorgsky. As she travels between the different frames she tries to unravel what's keeping Anthony there. And what has this local missing girl to do with it?
It was definitely a unique read. I don't think I've read anything like it before. At the first level it is kind of a mystery, but the use of the music and all the fantasies that arose from it were truly different from the usual book. It was a very interesting read. I don't want to say too much to prevent spoilers, but I would recommend it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
On GoodReads Darin Kennedy, author of The Mussorgsky Riddle suggested to listen to Pictures at an Exhibition whilst reading the book and I can only second that. It plays an immense role in the story and also it's a beautiful piece of music.
Mira, a psychic, is called to Anthony. Anthony has been suffering from autism his whole life but has now been even more secluded, not talking to anyone any more and he seems to be lost in his own mind. Mira gets send in to see if she can helped. She then appears as Scheherazade, the famous story teller, in the labyrinth that Anthony has created for himself. He's accompanied by the pieces of Pictures at an Exhibition, the music piece by Mussorgsky. As she travels between the different frames she tries to unravel what's keeping Anthony there. And what has this local missing girl to do with it?
It was definitely a unique read. I don't think I've read anything like it before. At the first level it is kind of a mystery, but the use of the music and all the fantasies that arose from it were truly different from the usual book. It was a very interesting read. I don't want to say too much to prevent spoilers, but I would recommend it.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
February 8, 2015
What a debut novel this is. It's wildly imaginative, an enjoyable read, and truly keeps you guessing. Or at least me since I'm rubbish when it comes to solving mysteries of any kind.
The story centers around Mira Tejedor, a psychic brought to Charlotte, NC by the Faircloth family after 13-year-old Anthony suddenly falls into a near comatose state. Neither his mother nor the boy's therapist can figure out what caused this state so they take a chance that based on Mira's reputation. Naturally the boy's therapist is skeptical until Mina's first session with the boy. Quickly Mira becomes determined to help Anthony as soon as possible in an effort to cure or retrieve Anthony, the real Anthony, trapped inside his own mind.
To say Mira falls through the rabbit hole or crashes through the looking glass is a huge understatement. Anthony's mind has been so fractured by whatever trauma he witnessed that as a coping mechanism he recreates composer Modesto Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" *INSERT LINK* a multi-movement masterpiece based upon the artwork of Viktor Hartmann, a close friend of Mussorgsky who died unexpectedly. Each picture in Anthony's mind represents either a part of Anthony or someone in his life whom he's close to like his older brother, younger sister, etc.
The further Mira explores Anthony's mind, the more their two worlds mesh. At one point he essentially calls to her from across the city and parts of her mind spill into his world. As a psychic, a gift she inherited from her mother & grandmother, Mira sees a similar gift in both Anthony and his younger sister.
Quite by accident the situation switches from being retrieving Anthony to solving the disappearance, and mostly likely death, of one of the students at Anthony's school who happens to be the ex-girlfriend of his older brother. She's reluctant to pursue this as it brings back memories of the missing person's case she is most well-known for. But it becomes apparent to her that Anthony's state and the disappearance of Julianna Wagner are connected and she must solve the case to help the boy. Only by solving the riddle will both Anthony and Mira be free.
The Mussorgsky Riddle is clever and inventive with cheeky name references of characters related to not only their ability, Mira is very close to the Spanish verb for 'to see', as well as last names of Wagner and Holst just to name a few. When we get inside Anthony's mind, all the characters take on names reflective of their particular piece of art. Kennedy does a wonderful job bringing in all five senses into the prose. In addition to Mira being a psychic and empathetic, she also smells emotions except for when she's inside Anthony's head. I loved how it married music and art with the modern world creating a magical realism quality. All the characters are fleshed out and I appreciate how gray the characters are. The flow of the story is excellent with tight, emotional storytelling.
This is a book that even if you don't read a lot of fantasy or haven't considered heading fantasy, it is a book you can appreciate. For those of us who do enjoy fantasy, this book, while set in modern times, will satisfy.
The story centers around Mira Tejedor, a psychic brought to Charlotte, NC by the Faircloth family after 13-year-old Anthony suddenly falls into a near comatose state. Neither his mother nor the boy's therapist can figure out what caused this state so they take a chance that based on Mira's reputation. Naturally the boy's therapist is skeptical until Mina's first session with the boy. Quickly Mira becomes determined to help Anthony as soon as possible in an effort to cure or retrieve Anthony, the real Anthony, trapped inside his own mind.
To say Mira falls through the rabbit hole or crashes through the looking glass is a huge understatement. Anthony's mind has been so fractured by whatever trauma he witnessed that as a coping mechanism he recreates composer Modesto Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" *INSERT LINK* a multi-movement masterpiece based upon the artwork of Viktor Hartmann, a close friend of Mussorgsky who died unexpectedly. Each picture in Anthony's mind represents either a part of Anthony or someone in his life whom he's close to like his older brother, younger sister, etc.
The further Mira explores Anthony's mind, the more their two worlds mesh. At one point he essentially calls to her from across the city and parts of her mind spill into his world. As a psychic, a gift she inherited from her mother & grandmother, Mira sees a similar gift in both Anthony and his younger sister.
Quite by accident the situation switches from being retrieving Anthony to solving the disappearance, and mostly likely death, of one of the students at Anthony's school who happens to be the ex-girlfriend of his older brother. She's reluctant to pursue this as it brings back memories of the missing person's case she is most well-known for. But it becomes apparent to her that Anthony's state and the disappearance of Julianna Wagner are connected and she must solve the case to help the boy. Only by solving the riddle will both Anthony and Mira be free.
The Mussorgsky Riddle is clever and inventive with cheeky name references of characters related to not only their ability, Mira is very close to the Spanish verb for 'to see', as well as last names of Wagner and Holst just to name a few. When we get inside Anthony's mind, all the characters take on names reflective of their particular piece of art. Kennedy does a wonderful job bringing in all five senses into the prose. In addition to Mira being a psychic and empathetic, she also smells emotions except for when she's inside Anthony's head. I loved how it married music and art with the modern world creating a magical realism quality. All the characters are fleshed out and I appreciate how gray the characters are. The flow of the story is excellent with tight, emotional storytelling.
This is a book that even if you don't read a lot of fantasy or haven't considered heading fantasy, it is a book you can appreciate. For those of us who do enjoy fantasy, this book, while set in modern times, will satisfy.
January 20, 2015
It has taken me about an hour to compose myself after finishing the last few pages of this book. Having heard good things about this book prior to reading it, I was expecting it to be good. It exceeded those expectations.
I was more than a little excited that music inspired this story but admittedly had no idea it would be the very core of it. Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky was a new piece for me. I listened through it several times before opening the book and it succeeded in furthering my excitement. As it turned out, I would need it throughout the book.
The main character, a psychic, Mira drew me in right away. Her sensitivity to people’s emotions manifests in smells filling the book loads of great imagery. Mira encounters all of the other characters at some point in the story making for comical exchanges (and also intense drama) exactly where they are needed. As a superfan and geeky gal I appreciated all the nods to classic geektastic things like Star Wars, Doctor Who, Classic Rock, etc. The dance between what happens between reality and the psychic plane was beautifully done.
Mira comes to Charlotte, NC (as a fellow local, it was pretty cool to read places I actually recognized) to help the Faircloth family, Anthony in particular. He has withdrawn into himself and can no longer be reached via normal avenues (as his psychologist Dr. Archer can attest to). With skepticism all around her Mira intuitively eases herself into what she would later find to be the brightest and most creative mind she has come into contact with.
Set to the melodies of Pictures at an Exhibition itself, Mira must walk the halls of Anthony’s mind, wherein lies wonder, beauty, mystery and suspense. The Mussorgsky Riddle is a tale like nothing I have ever read and if had not had to be a responsible adult (and work), I could have easily let it take me away in one sitting. I highly recommend it to those who have the ability to let their imaginations and curiosity take them to new heights (and depths).
** Listening to Mussorgsky’s work enhanced the story in such a way that it came off the pages. When I listen to each movement from now on, I will fondly revisit Anthony’s mindpalace and all the characters to be met there…Especially Tunny, the loveable gnome who reminded me of Hoggle from Labyrinth ;)**
Do yourself a favor and go read it today!!
I was more than a little excited that music inspired this story but admittedly had no idea it would be the very core of it. Pictures at an Exhibition by Modest Mussorgsky was a new piece for me. I listened through it several times before opening the book and it succeeded in furthering my excitement. As it turned out, I would need it throughout the book.
The main character, a psychic, Mira drew me in right away. Her sensitivity to people’s emotions manifests in smells filling the book loads of great imagery. Mira encounters all of the other characters at some point in the story making for comical exchanges (and also intense drama) exactly where they are needed. As a superfan and geeky gal I appreciated all the nods to classic geektastic things like Star Wars, Doctor Who, Classic Rock, etc. The dance between what happens between reality and the psychic plane was beautifully done.
Mira comes to Charlotte, NC (as a fellow local, it was pretty cool to read places I actually recognized) to help the Faircloth family, Anthony in particular. He has withdrawn into himself and can no longer be reached via normal avenues (as his psychologist Dr. Archer can attest to). With skepticism all around her Mira intuitively eases herself into what she would later find to be the brightest and most creative mind she has come into contact with.
Set to the melodies of Pictures at an Exhibition itself, Mira must walk the halls of Anthony’s mind, wherein lies wonder, beauty, mystery and suspense. The Mussorgsky Riddle is a tale like nothing I have ever read and if had not had to be a responsible adult (and work), I could have easily let it take me away in one sitting. I highly recommend it to those who have the ability to let their imaginations and curiosity take them to new heights (and depths).
** Listening to Mussorgsky’s work enhanced the story in such a way that it came off the pages. When I listen to each movement from now on, I will fondly revisit Anthony’s mindpalace and all the characters to be met there…Especially Tunny, the loveable gnome who reminded me of Hoggle from Labyrinth ;)**
Do yourself a favor and go read it today!!
January 5, 2015
"The Mussorgsky Riddle" is by Darin Kennedy and this is his debut mystery novel. It was a very unusual, intricate mystery centered around a thirteen year old autistic boy who needs rescuing. Mira Tejedor, a psychic who senses other's emotions and uses her abilities to find things is the only one who can help Anthony Faircloth in his time of need.
Something traumatic has happened to Anthony in the last month and his way of dealing with it is to retreat into his own mind. Mira is summoned by Anthony's mother after the doctors tests and the boy's psychologist can find no answers to what has caused his near catatonic state. Mira enters the child's fractured psyche hoping to help sort out his tormented mind.
At the same time, there is also a missing high school girl who Anthony's older brother used to date. Mira is pulled into the investigation and endeavors to help the police find out what happened in the girl's disappearance. As the book progresses, Mira suspects that Anthony's condition is somehow connected to the missing girl and to save Anthony she must solve a case that is ripping a city apart.
The book started out strongly with many details that kept the reader interested and willing to suspend their disbelief in psychic phenomenon Unfortunately as the book progresses, there are so many riddles, twists and turns that the reader gets tired. I found myself muttering at my Kindle for the author to "just get on with it already!". It really was an interesting read though so I'm hesitant to give it only three stars. If I could I'd hedge my bets and give it an extra half star for sure but one cannot do that with the scoring used for books.
I will certainly keep Darin Kennedy on my radar as he is a good writer. I just think with this, his first mystery, he put a little too many details about musical scores and mythical creatures in the book. In the end I just wanted to get some information that was concrete to help me figure out what the heck happened to Anthony and the missing girl. It's not a bad read and in the end I was sorely tempted to give it four stars as the ending is as good as the beginning. I just wish the second half of the book had been a little shorter, with the clues coming a little less "few and far between".
Something traumatic has happened to Anthony in the last month and his way of dealing with it is to retreat into his own mind. Mira is summoned by Anthony's mother after the doctors tests and the boy's psychologist can find no answers to what has caused his near catatonic state. Mira enters the child's fractured psyche hoping to help sort out his tormented mind.
At the same time, there is also a missing high school girl who Anthony's older brother used to date. Mira is pulled into the investigation and endeavors to help the police find out what happened in the girl's disappearance. As the book progresses, Mira suspects that Anthony's condition is somehow connected to the missing girl and to save Anthony she must solve a case that is ripping a city apart.
The book started out strongly with many details that kept the reader interested and willing to suspend their disbelief in psychic phenomenon Unfortunately as the book progresses, there are so many riddles, twists and turns that the reader gets tired. I found myself muttering at my Kindle for the author to "just get on with it already!". It really was an interesting read though so I'm hesitant to give it only three stars. If I could I'd hedge my bets and give it an extra half star for sure but one cannot do that with the scoring used for books.
I will certainly keep Darin Kennedy on my radar as he is a good writer. I just think with this, his first mystery, he put a little too many details about musical scores and mythical creatures in the book. In the end I just wanted to get some information that was concrete to help me figure out what the heck happened to Anthony and the missing girl. It's not a bad read and in the end I was sorely tempted to give it four stars as the ending is as good as the beginning. I just wish the second half of the book had been a little shorter, with the clues coming a little less "few and far between".
April 1, 2016
The Mussorgsky Riddle is a really interesting book about how Psychic Mira Tejedo was able to make a breakthrough with regards to the case of a withdrawn autistic boy called Anthony, who was trapped in his own mind. I was as skeptical as the boy's therapist initially about her abilities but she slowly grew on me and I found myself craving to know what happened next.
I like that the main character is not perfect--she has her own problems besides the cases going on. I also liked how the author used the Exhibition to represent Anthony's mind with interesting characters in there whom Mira has to interact with in order to solve the mystery behind Anthony's withdrawal. The twists that happened in the story do that me by surprise and that made the story even more interesting.
The whole story is easy to read and follow, with a full cast of well-developed characters to liven up the story. I must confess that it took me quite a while to get past the front part of the book but I'm totally hooked beyond that.
If you enjoy reading mystery with a hint of paranormal, The Mussorgsky Riddle is the book for you. In addition, this book is also suitable for young adults.
**Disclosure: I receive an ecopy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I like that the main character is not perfect--she has her own problems besides the cases going on. I also liked how the author used the Exhibition to represent Anthony's mind with interesting characters in there whom Mira has to interact with in order to solve the mystery behind Anthony's withdrawal. The twists that happened in the story do that me by surprise and that made the story even more interesting.
The whole story is easy to read and follow, with a full cast of well-developed characters to liven up the story. I must confess that it took me quite a while to get past the front part of the book but I'm totally hooked beyond that.
If you enjoy reading mystery with a hint of paranormal, The Mussorgsky Riddle is the book for you. In addition, this book is also suitable for young adults.
**Disclosure: I receive an ecopy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review**
August 29, 2015
This one was pleasant to read. In its core, it is like a CSI "episode" with a psychic detective. However, the book never gets too lost in these tropes, an instead they are used as devices to explore a wonderful fantasy world based on a Modest Mussorgsky music suite, "Pictures at an Exhibition".
It is one of the favorite pieces of Anthony, a boy who gets into a catatonic state after a traumatic event, and the only way he can communicate with the world is by "bringing" Mira into his mind, a psychic who is helping the family. And this is where the book truly shines, when Mira is exploring the Exhibition Anthony has created in his mind, trying to discovered what caused such trauma in the boy.
One thing to note, music is always present in the book. The way the author mixes it with the story is rare, and something I really enjoyed. It was always making me want to see a movie version of the book! Also, the author does a competent job alternating between what happens outside and in the mental world.
It is one of the favorite pieces of Anthony, a boy who gets into a catatonic state after a traumatic event, and the only way he can communicate with the world is by "bringing" Mira into his mind, a psychic who is helping the family. And this is where the book truly shines, when Mira is exploring the Exhibition Anthony has created in his mind, trying to discovered what caused such trauma in the boy.
One thing to note, music is always present in the book. The way the author mixes it with the story is rare, and something I really enjoyed. It was always making me want to see a movie version of the book! Also, the author does a competent job alternating between what happens outside and in the mental world.
January 19, 2015
Exquisitely crafted and flawlessly rendered...this is nothing short of a masterpiece of modern fiction. If you have not read this book, buy it and begin to read. You know how we all want to be drawn into another world? To be swept away with a masterfully created story?
This is that book. This is a book that will become an instant classic in your mind and library. I have recommended it to everyone I know, professionally and socially.
The interwoven tale blends classical music, an autistic child that no one can reach, a murder mystery, and misunderstood psychic. I refuse to say much more as the book is meant to be savored like a fine wine. I actually slowed down in reading it, knowing the sadness my heart would feel when there were no more pages to read.
Thank you Dr. Kennedy for the best book I've read in years, one that can be held up to all the old classics and proudly displayed as their equal.
This is that book. This is a book that will become an instant classic in your mind and library. I have recommended it to everyone I know, professionally and socially.
The interwoven tale blends classical music, an autistic child that no one can reach, a murder mystery, and misunderstood psychic. I refuse to say much more as the book is meant to be savored like a fine wine. I actually slowed down in reading it, knowing the sadness my heart would feel when there were no more pages to read.
Thank you Dr. Kennedy for the best book I've read in years, one that can be held up to all the old classics and proudly displayed as their equal.
March 4, 2015
A fantastic adventure to dazzle the senses and imagination. I've never read a story that incorporated such an amazing piece of music into the very backbone of the action. It's beautifully written and a joy to read.
January 5, 2018
Greetings from the Ghost of Sick Kitties. I just got done eating people who did not get clothing for Christmas (actually, I just feel sorry for them. I prefer to go after people who bully other people around Christmas).
And the reviewer is too busy fretting over her Boss cat to be able to review this really good book she read. You know how good the book is? I use the Cat Butt Feel scale for Kindles: the hotter, the better! Cat Butt feel: 10 out of 10 on the heat scale. I mean, I had to fight the cat so old she
has arthritis (she is, of course, perfectly healthy) to be able to feel the book. She took this book to the bathroom with her. She did not allow herself to eat because it would distract her from the plot.
I'm saying the book is entertaining by human standards. I personally feel that it (like all books) really could use more main cat characters. And maybe a decent hunt scene or three. But I'm a cat.
What is it about? The main investigator is named Mira. Imagine being capable of doing what all cats can do--walk in dreams and actually help people. I used to walk into this reviewer's nightmares and rescue her from those dastardly demonic beings that tried to give her a hard
time. We spent a lot of time running. I got some major pouncing done. Did you know cats can grow to the size of ligers in dreams? Neither did those nightmare beings! Heh, heh, heh.
Our main chgracter, Mira, is a psychic who can walk into other people's dreams. She needs to save a llittle boy who has "one of those diseases--Aspbergers or Autism or something like that" (quote of a character in a novel). He has been in a comatose state ever since a very pretty girl named Julianne went missing (obviously she did not know the Ghost of Sick Kitties. Just saying).
And that kid? He's a genius who loves music. He created an entire world in his head based off of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. And in one of those paintings at the exhibition there mysteriously happens to be the dead body of the missing Julianne...
Yeah, buy this book and read it as fast as you can. I have a sad woman to comfort. (I raised her for 21 years and am still hanging around. You humans are addictive, you know that?)
And the reviewer is too busy fretting over her Boss cat to be able to review this really good book she read. You know how good the book is? I use the Cat Butt Feel scale for Kindles: the hotter, the better! Cat Butt feel: 10 out of 10 on the heat scale. I mean, I had to fight the cat so old she
has arthritis (she is, of course, perfectly healthy) to be able to feel the book. She took this book to the bathroom with her. She did not allow herself to eat because it would distract her from the plot.
I'm saying the book is entertaining by human standards. I personally feel that it (like all books) really could use more main cat characters. And maybe a decent hunt scene or three. But I'm a cat.
What is it about? The main investigator is named Mira. Imagine being capable of doing what all cats can do--walk in dreams and actually help people. I used to walk into this reviewer's nightmares and rescue her from those dastardly demonic beings that tried to give her a hard
time. We spent a lot of time running. I got some major pouncing done. Did you know cats can grow to the size of ligers in dreams? Neither did those nightmare beings! Heh, heh, heh.
Our main chgracter, Mira, is a psychic who can walk into other people's dreams. She needs to save a llittle boy who has "one of those diseases--Aspbergers or Autism or something like that" (quote of a character in a novel). He has been in a comatose state ever since a very pretty girl named Julianne went missing (obviously she did not know the Ghost of Sick Kitties. Just saying).
And that kid? He's a genius who loves music. He created an entire world in his head based off of Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. And in one of those paintings at the exhibition there mysteriously happens to be the dead body of the missing Julianne...
Yeah, buy this book and read it as fast as you can. I have a sad woman to comfort. (I raised her for 21 years and am still hanging around. You humans are addictive, you know that?)
December 9, 2022
One of the most interesting concepts for a story I've read in a very long time. The pacing was excellent and I never felt like any section of "the real world" or the Exhibition dragged for too long or went to fast. I felt genuinely interested in each character's individual stories and they all had satisfying ends in my eyes. Truly a read that makes it difficult to put the book down at all and I'd 100% recommend it to anyone who enjoys any type of mystery mixed with whimsical elements. Not even to mention the fact that it basically comes with its own soundtrack you can listen to as you read lol
March 14, 2021
A fantastic journey into a child’s mind as told through the combined voices of art and classical music, The Mussorgsky Riddle is modern mystery which dances across the fine line between reality and the paranormal. References to Charlotte (which are immediately recognizable to those who have lived in the city), ground the story firmly in our world, while the fanatical inner universe built of music and art provides a beautiful contrast to said reality. Kennedy’s humor is evident in places, as are his intelligence and philosophical ideas. His female characters feel refreshingly real and are incredibly well written.
I devoured this book in a single day, stopping only to eat.
I devoured this book in a single day, stopping only to eat.
August 1, 2015
Filled with the looming horror, comedy, hope, gritty images, and soaring possibilities of its inspiration, Kennedy has created a novel that encompasses several genres without sacrificing the depth of any.
Mira Tejedor makes her career as a psychic, finding people and objects when others can’t. Compared to the harrowing images of a kidnapping case, the request to help a psychologist find the cause of a thirteen-year-old boy’s semi-catatonia seems like the rest she needs. She quickly discovers Anthony Faircloth’s psyche is shattered into pieces matching the movements of Pictures at an Exhibition. At first, the greatest danger seems to be failing to gain Anthony’s trust, but the further Mira travels into the suite, the more she discovers the trauma that broke Anthony’s mind might not be over, or targeting Anthony alone.
While many stories are inspired by pieces of music, keeping the music visible throughout another without the sense that the plot is subservient to the musical references is hard. It is therefore fitting that Kennedy has managed it with a piece of music itself inspired by an art exhibition.
Intertwining the stylised images and transitions of Mira’s journey into Anthony’s mind with the highly realistic investigation of a missing teenager, the novel compares and contrasts physical truth with emotional meaning. Then undermines the reader’s certainties by bleeding one into the other.
It is this blending that might – while it is not objectively a weakness – be the area that makes it least engaging to some readers. In successfully making it both a gritty crime thriller and an exploration of psychic powers, Kennedy risks both being accused of not being realistic enough and not having enough fantasy.
Mira is a well-crafted protagonist. Burdened by the weight of seeing what others don’t, she is constantly torn between those who believes that she can (and so should) solve anything, and those who want nothing more than to punish her for being a fraud. However, Kennedy does not define her by her psychic powers: she is also torn between her need to help others and the strain it places on her relationship with her young daughter.
The supporting cast is equally well written. As the story progresses, each of them struggles with the question of faith vs logic: both over Mira’s potential powers and over trusting things will be for the best. This development is especially skilled in the movements of Mussorgsky’s suite. The first entrance of each movement has the defined, almost stereotypical, form of a ballad or fairytale; but each return reveals greater depth behind the surface.
While each aspect of the book holds its own, it is – as with a suite of music – the gestalt of them that truly raises it above the average. Like a cheerful refrain becoming unnerving with a slight change in tempo, recurring elements move the reader between looming dread and budding hope without denying the reader a growing experience of the world.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to particularly to readers seeking either character-focused fantasy or an engaging psychological thriller.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
Mira Tejedor makes her career as a psychic, finding people and objects when others can’t. Compared to the harrowing images of a kidnapping case, the request to help a psychologist find the cause of a thirteen-year-old boy’s semi-catatonia seems like the rest she needs. She quickly discovers Anthony Faircloth’s psyche is shattered into pieces matching the movements of Pictures at an Exhibition. At first, the greatest danger seems to be failing to gain Anthony’s trust, but the further Mira travels into the suite, the more she discovers the trauma that broke Anthony’s mind might not be over, or targeting Anthony alone.
While many stories are inspired by pieces of music, keeping the music visible throughout another without the sense that the plot is subservient to the musical references is hard. It is therefore fitting that Kennedy has managed it with a piece of music itself inspired by an art exhibition.
Intertwining the stylised images and transitions of Mira’s journey into Anthony’s mind with the highly realistic investigation of a missing teenager, the novel compares and contrasts physical truth with emotional meaning. Then undermines the reader’s certainties by bleeding one into the other.
It is this blending that might – while it is not objectively a weakness – be the area that makes it least engaging to some readers. In successfully making it both a gritty crime thriller and an exploration of psychic powers, Kennedy risks both being accused of not being realistic enough and not having enough fantasy.
Mira is a well-crafted protagonist. Burdened by the weight of seeing what others don’t, she is constantly torn between those who believes that she can (and so should) solve anything, and those who want nothing more than to punish her for being a fraud. However, Kennedy does not define her by her psychic powers: she is also torn between her need to help others and the strain it places on her relationship with her young daughter.
The supporting cast is equally well written. As the story progresses, each of them struggles with the question of faith vs logic: both over Mira’s potential powers and over trusting things will be for the best. This development is especially skilled in the movements of Mussorgsky’s suite. The first entrance of each movement has the defined, almost stereotypical, form of a ballad or fairytale; but each return reveals greater depth behind the surface.
While each aspect of the book holds its own, it is – as with a suite of music – the gestalt of them that truly raises it above the average. Like a cheerful refrain becoming unnerving with a slight change in tempo, recurring elements move the reader between looming dread and budding hope without denying the reader a growing experience of the world.
Overall, I enjoyed this novel greatly. I recommend it to particularly to readers seeking either character-focused fantasy or an engaging psychological thriller.
I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for a fair review.
December 26, 2015
I very much enjoyed The Mussorgsky Riddle (henceforth TMR), Darin Kennedy's debut novel. I enjoyed the characters and some of the dialogue too, but my favorite aspect was the construction of the Exhibition itself. This was a framework upon which the entire book rises or falls, and it quite cleverly constructed. While the structure is completely different than a Russian Matroshka doll, his creation of Anthony's Exhibition reminds me a lot of a Matroshka in how cleverly it all fits together.
Thirteen-year-old Anthony Faircloth is in a catatonic state--he hasn't spoken in a month and the only thing anyone can get out of him are a few notes of his favorite piece of music, "Pictures at an Exhibition" by the Russian composer Modeste Mussorgsky. His mother has tried to reach him with a conventionally-gifted psychologist, but when that fails she engages the services of psychic Mira Tejedor, the hero of TMR. Mira's not a slick-talking palm reader--if anything she's a sardonic realist who is world weary after dealing with skeptics and her ex-husband for the past few years. The thing is, she can pick up emotions from people as olfactory smells - a whiff of cayenne is frustration, a scent of pepper is skepticism, and she uses these ESP scents to help her read people in the same way that Counselor Troi does in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Soon, Mira learns that she can travel into Anthony's mind, where she finds an exhibition with several paintings, all of which contain new worlds and new characters that seem very similar to people in the life of young Anthony. As she follows clues both in the Exhibition and within the real world of Charlotte, NC, Mira gets closer and closer to finding out what secret was enough to drive young Anthony into a coma.
There's a lot to like here - I like all of the allusions of Greek and Roman mythology, and all the detail about Mussorgsky's Magnum Opus. After I finished the novel, I listened to the entire piece several times both as a whole and in listening to each section individually to compare the music to the character it inspired. It's not all roses - some of the dialogue could use fleshing out and I didn't really care for the quickly-forgotten attempt at a love triangle, but for a debut novel it is quite riveting. I'm a sucker for unique systems of magic, and Mira's psychic scents was a nice twist on what can be a tired cliche of the psychic investigator.
I am looking forward to Mr. Kennedy's future works and recommend that you check out TMR if you find the premise intriguing. While you're reading it go listen to the original piano version of 'Pictures at an Exhibition" and when you're done then sit down and listen to the orchestrated version by Maurice Ravel.
http://dgalloway.com/review-the-musso...
Thirteen-year-old Anthony Faircloth is in a catatonic state--he hasn't spoken in a month and the only thing anyone can get out of him are a few notes of his favorite piece of music, "Pictures at an Exhibition" by the Russian composer Modeste Mussorgsky. His mother has tried to reach him with a conventionally-gifted psychologist, but when that fails she engages the services of psychic Mira Tejedor, the hero of TMR. Mira's not a slick-talking palm reader--if anything she's a sardonic realist who is world weary after dealing with skeptics and her ex-husband for the past few years. The thing is, she can pick up emotions from people as olfactory smells - a whiff of cayenne is frustration, a scent of pepper is skepticism, and she uses these ESP scents to help her read people in the same way that Counselor Troi does in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Soon, Mira learns that she can travel into Anthony's mind, where she finds an exhibition with several paintings, all of which contain new worlds and new characters that seem very similar to people in the life of young Anthony. As she follows clues both in the Exhibition and within the real world of Charlotte, NC, Mira gets closer and closer to finding out what secret was enough to drive young Anthony into a coma.
There's a lot to like here - I like all of the allusions of Greek and Roman mythology, and all the detail about Mussorgsky's Magnum Opus. After I finished the novel, I listened to the entire piece several times both as a whole and in listening to each section individually to compare the music to the character it inspired. It's not all roses - some of the dialogue could use fleshing out and I didn't really care for the quickly-forgotten attempt at a love triangle, but for a debut novel it is quite riveting. I'm a sucker for unique systems of magic, and Mira's psychic scents was a nice twist on what can be a tired cliche of the psychic investigator.
I am looking forward to Mr. Kennedy's future works and recommend that you check out TMR if you find the premise intriguing. While you're reading it go listen to the original piano version of 'Pictures at an Exhibition" and when you're done then sit down and listen to the orchestrated version by Maurice Ravel.
http://dgalloway.com/review-the-musso...
January 25, 2015
Clear your schedule, put on comfy pants, and turn off the phone! Once you pick up The Mussorgsky Riddle you won't be going anywhere for awhile. If you fancy an imaginative, expertly crafted, unpredictable mystery, prepare to spend some quality time with a witty psychic, an autistic catatonic boy, and witches and trolls that reside in paintings.
Mira Tejedor processes unique psychic abilities and a desire to help lost children. The combination of her psychic instincts and the aromas that translates a person's emotions enable her to solve cases others have not been able to. To her, happiness smells like apple pie and skepticism smells like black pepper. Brought in to help a despondent thirteen-year-old autistic boy, Mira navigates Anthony's mind to the crescendo of classical music and encounters characters living inside paintings. Mira slowly pieces parts of the puzzle together, encountering danger inside and outside of Anthony's mind. All the while Mira's own mother and young daughter are waiting patiently for her to solve the case and come home. Preferably alive.
To follow this fantasy adventure you don't have to be an aficionado of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's classical music or previously be aware of the paintings and drawings by his friend Victor Hartmann, that inspired the famous Pictures from an Exhibition. Darin Kennedy elaborately describes the exhibition inside Anthony's mind and you feel like you are there right beside Mira, experiencing her angst and desperation as she tries to figure out what caused him to retreat so deeply into his own mind.
Kennedy weaves a contemporary mystery steeped in 1800's classical music with fairy tale elements that provides non-stop action leaving you feeling exhausted yet compelled to read it again. There are no scents of black pepper or vinegar here, only the faint aroma of roses and fresh-baked apple pie.
Mira Tejedor processes unique psychic abilities and a desire to help lost children. The combination of her psychic instincts and the aromas that translates a person's emotions enable her to solve cases others have not been able to. To her, happiness smells like apple pie and skepticism smells like black pepper. Brought in to help a despondent thirteen-year-old autistic boy, Mira navigates Anthony's mind to the crescendo of classical music and encounters characters living inside paintings. Mira slowly pieces parts of the puzzle together, encountering danger inside and outside of Anthony's mind. All the while Mira's own mother and young daughter are waiting patiently for her to solve the case and come home. Preferably alive.
To follow this fantasy adventure you don't have to be an aficionado of Russian composer Modest Mussorgsky's classical music or previously be aware of the paintings and drawings by his friend Victor Hartmann, that inspired the famous Pictures from an Exhibition. Darin Kennedy elaborately describes the exhibition inside Anthony's mind and you feel like you are there right beside Mira, experiencing her angst and desperation as she tries to figure out what caused him to retreat so deeply into his own mind.
Kennedy weaves a contemporary mystery steeped in 1800's classical music with fairy tale elements that provides non-stop action leaving you feeling exhausted yet compelled to read it again. There are no scents of black pepper or vinegar here, only the faint aroma of roses and fresh-baked apple pie.
September 28, 2015
I’ll admit I’ve never heard of the Russian composer Mussorgsky until I read this book. In doing a little research, I learned it was only ever a musical composition. It was never turned into a play or anything along those lines. However, as I listened to it, I could only see the images Mr. Kennedy had created in his book. The scenes were incredibly clear and so well written, I could easily pair them with the different movements of the music.
Mira is a wonderful character. Obviously, her psychic gift was a burden, yet she reached out and helped others as much as she can, even though it put a crimp in her own life. However, she knew she couldn’t leave Anthony as he was. He was only going to get worse. In only wanting to help the young boy, she got dragged into a missing person’s investigation, something she never wanted again.
I loved this book. It was different and unique. The entire story was held in suspense until the end, with Mira and Anthony in the center of it all. I loved the imagery and the story that went with the music, even music I’d never heard before. All in all, it was a delightful experience and I can’t wait to see what Mr. Kennedy will write next.
Mira is a wonderful character. Obviously, her psychic gift was a burden, yet she reached out and helped others as much as she can, even though it put a crimp in her own life. However, she knew she couldn’t leave Anthony as he was. He was only going to get worse. In only wanting to help the young boy, she got dragged into a missing person’s investigation, something she never wanted again.
I loved this book. It was different and unique. The entire story was held in suspense until the end, with Mira and Anthony in the center of it all. I loved the imagery and the story that went with the music, even music I’d never heard before. All in all, it was a delightful experience and I can’t wait to see what Mr. Kennedy will write next.
June 2, 2015
I do not give 5 stars lightly, and anyone who has read my 5 star reviews know I am a world-building whore. LOVE IT. I want a world as layered as an orchestral movement, as nuanced as a master painting, one that twists and turns and takes you away from the here and now to another world. One you can touch, hear, smell, feel. The Mussorgsky Riddle is one of these books.
Falling into the imprecise category of Urban Fantasy or maybe Paranormal Suspense, the story follows a psychic as she journeys through the mind of a boy trying to find the identity of a killer. But is so much more than that.
The complicated parallel Mr. Kennedy made between Pictures at an Exhibition, both the music and the original inspiring paintings is amazing. And this was just his Debut Novel; if his next is half as good, he has a reader for life.
Falling into the imprecise category of Urban Fantasy or maybe Paranormal Suspense, the story follows a psychic as she journeys through the mind of a boy trying to find the identity of a killer. But is so much more than that.
The complicated parallel Mr. Kennedy made between Pictures at an Exhibition, both the music and the original inspiring paintings is amazing. And this was just his Debut Novel; if his next is half as good, he has a reader for life.
August 25, 2015
Readers who like mystery and psychological intrigue are going to love this book! When psychic Mira Tejedor is called in to help a non-communicative boy, she has no idea what she's in for. His mind is an intricate landscape based around his love for Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. If that wasn't strange enough, there's the question of what happened to a missing teenage girl and how that case connects with that of the silent boy. Kennedy weaves the various storylines and interior and exterior landscapes seamlessly to provide quite a thrilling ride for his readers.
January 19, 2015
I found this book to original and captivating. I love the premise - a psychic explores a boy's mind and finds herself in a gallery of art and music - Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. It's not music I'm familiar with, but that's not necessary to have you swept away in the story. (I do want to explore the music & art now). This book is a treat. I highly recommend it!
January 18, 2025
The author had a talent for writing these types of stories. I have not read a book quite like this before and I'm extremely glad that I had the chance to read it. The writing and story is musical and surreal and is coupled with a few mysteries to make the reader think, which I loved. The writing is tight, concise, and is well written and edited.
This book has a wonderful, lyrical tone in its prose. Darin Kennedy has a way with words so that I could easily imagine the music and sights as I read. I found myself easily diving into the world and I was instantly intrigued by the story line and characters. The main character, Mira is older than I expected, she is a mother of a young daughter but she is easily relatable and I found myself agreeing with her choices during the story.
I especially loved the way how Mira's abilities take form through smells. It's unusual but extremely effective in this story. I just wish there had been more background on her abilities or more about her family. The abilities are mentioned but briefly covered and her family are minor subplots in the story. I would have liked it to be a more major plot line to help add more suspense in the story for Mira's personal/internal conflict.
The beginning had me hooked and carried me easily through the rest of the story. The story is consistent and moves at a decent pace that I found myself turning the pages even though I needed to do something else. I think about 1/2 way through I was wondering if we were going to get more solid evidence about the mysteries but we didn't until 3/4 of the way. While I had to break up my reading into several days because I was busy but I never had a problem diving right back in to the story.
I don't want to write too much about it in fear that I will give away too much but it's a story that will keep you on your toes and its twists will keep you reading. The ending is abrupt but it did surprise me. I think you will enjoy this book if you like surreal ideas, mysteries, and suspense.
3.8 out of 5 rating for me.
(An ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.)
This book has a wonderful, lyrical tone in its prose. Darin Kennedy has a way with words so that I could easily imagine the music and sights as I read. I found myself easily diving into the world and I was instantly intrigued by the story line and characters. The main character, Mira is older than I expected, she is a mother of a young daughter but she is easily relatable and I found myself agreeing with her choices during the story.
I especially loved the way how Mira's abilities take form through smells. It's unusual but extremely effective in this story. I just wish there had been more background on her abilities or more about her family. The abilities are mentioned but briefly covered and her family are minor subplots in the story. I would have liked it to be a more major plot line to help add more suspense in the story for Mira's personal/internal conflict.
The beginning had me hooked and carried me easily through the rest of the story. The story is consistent and moves at a decent pace that I found myself turning the pages even though I needed to do something else. I think about 1/2 way through I was wondering if we were going to get more solid evidence about the mysteries but we didn't until 3/4 of the way. While I had to break up my reading into several days because I was busy but I never had a problem diving right back in to the story.
I don't want to write too much about it in fear that I will give away too much but it's a story that will keep you on your toes and its twists will keep you reading. The ending is abrupt but it did surprise me. I think you will enjoy this book if you like surreal ideas, mysteries, and suspense.
3.8 out of 5 rating for me.
(An ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review. I was not compensated in any other way.)
January 1, 2018
I picked up this book due to it using the suite, Pictures at an Exhibition, by Modeste Mussorgsky as a framework for the story. One of my teachers in junior high taught a section on Mussorgsky using the same music suite.
Each movement of the suite was inspired by a series of paintings done by Viktor Hartmann. The teacher told a unique story about each painting that related the visual work with the music written by Mussorgsky. As an example, the fourth movement is entitled "Cattle". The movement features a steady deep bass and percussion beat that mirrors the imagined feet of the ox pulling a cart. The music crescendos just as the oxcart reaches the center of the painting with a bit of a crash before slowly fading as the oxcart goes off into the distance.
The teacher suggested that the crescendo as the oxcart reaches the middle of the painting coincided with the oxcart running over the legs of the man that was sitting against a hut by the side of the road. I guess he should have pulled in those legs.
So now Darin Kennedy decided to use the same musical work as the basis for his book. In this case, an abused boy is experiencing episodes where he travels into an imaginary world described by Hartmann's and Mussorgsky's works. An investigator and spiritually "sensitive" person is hired to help solve the riddle of the boy's episodes. The story was interesting, but a little muddled.
It had a detective style murder mystery. It had some sort of mystical world traveling. It had some sort of spirituality. It tried to have some sort of "science". It has witchcraft.
But all of the elements are rather loosely connected. The resolution was decidedly unfulfilling. The protagonist was successful largely because she emoted enough.
If you have an attachment to any of the features above, then you will have a pleasant time with this book.
Each movement of the suite was inspired by a series of paintings done by Viktor Hartmann. The teacher told a unique story about each painting that related the visual work with the music written by Mussorgsky. As an example, the fourth movement is entitled "Cattle". The movement features a steady deep bass and percussion beat that mirrors the imagined feet of the ox pulling a cart. The music crescendos just as the oxcart reaches the center of the painting with a bit of a crash before slowly fading as the oxcart goes off into the distance.
The teacher suggested that the crescendo as the oxcart reaches the middle of the painting coincided with the oxcart running over the legs of the man that was sitting against a hut by the side of the road. I guess he should have pulled in those legs.
So now Darin Kennedy decided to use the same musical work as the basis for his book. In this case, an abused boy is experiencing episodes where he travels into an imaginary world described by Hartmann's and Mussorgsky's works. An investigator and spiritually "sensitive" person is hired to help solve the riddle of the boy's episodes. The story was interesting, but a little muddled.
It had a detective style murder mystery. It had some sort of mystical world traveling. It had some sort of spirituality. It tried to have some sort of "science". It has witchcraft.
But all of the elements are rather loosely connected. The resolution was decidedly unfulfilling. The protagonist was successful largely because she emoted enough.
If you have an attachment to any of the features above, then you will have a pleasant time with this book.
June 18, 2021
Meant this as a partial review before I'd finished the book a day or so ago but it got set as a comment :/
Incredibly clever idea of tying the storyline of a child on the spectrum to a piece of music that links classical music and works of art in a museum! I know the music really well so I'm hearing the music in my head every time each picture is mentioned in the story!
I did enjoy it, on the whole, it was well written, although I'm constantly amazed by the sheer number of people whom the writer (and other writers too) credit with having a hand its production. Whilst I appreciate there's a need for accuracy when citing musical, geological, historical, medical, etc., premises, it almost seems as if writers need a team of people to 'tweak' their text before a publisher will deign to print a book? Now I know I may sound a little critical but he starts off giving credit to a discussion at the earliest incarnation of the story's embryonal first chapter - fair enough, he has this idea for a storyline and throws it out to more experienced people asking, will this work?
He goes on to praise someone for 'taking my words and making them look so wonderful on the page'; followed by 'many thanks for all your hard work in editing this beast and whipping it into shape...'; which is then followed by '...thanks for your diligence in finding the last few weeks ....in my word garden'. I understand the need for proofreading and editing (that's the editor's responsibility isn't it?) but, to me, once so many people have had a hand in it, it's a collaborative work inspired by the author. Many of us are wordsmiths, unpublished or published. I think that, if I were to write anything for publication, whilst I would, of course, expect it to have a onceover for typos and to catch storyline inaccuracies I would not anticipate a hoard of people adding their take on my writing.
Incredibly clever idea of tying the storyline of a child on the spectrum to a piece of music that links classical music and works of art in a museum! I know the music really well so I'm hearing the music in my head every time each picture is mentioned in the story!
I did enjoy it, on the whole, it was well written, although I'm constantly amazed by the sheer number of people whom the writer (and other writers too) credit with having a hand its production. Whilst I appreciate there's a need for accuracy when citing musical, geological, historical, medical, etc., premises, it almost seems as if writers need a team of people to 'tweak' their text before a publisher will deign to print a book? Now I know I may sound a little critical but he starts off giving credit to a discussion at the earliest incarnation of the story's embryonal first chapter - fair enough, he has this idea for a storyline and throws it out to more experienced people asking, will this work?
He goes on to praise someone for 'taking my words and making them look so wonderful on the page'; followed by 'many thanks for all your hard work in editing this beast and whipping it into shape...'; which is then followed by '...thanks for your diligence in finding the last few weeks ....in my word garden'. I understand the need for proofreading and editing (that's the editor's responsibility isn't it?) but, to me, once so many people have had a hand in it, it's a collaborative work inspired by the author. Many of us are wordsmiths, unpublished or published. I think that, if I were to write anything for publication, whilst I would, of course, expect it to have a onceover for typos and to catch storyline inaccuracies I would not anticipate a hoard of people adding their take on my writing.
November 22, 2023
Read like a Fairytale in a painting
This honestly has been one of the most amazingly detailed and rich stories that I have read in a long time. Intricate to the point of feeling/seeing/smelling/hearing the events of this story, it literally was a feast for my senses. I can't gush enough how much I enjoyed the way the author crafted this story and the words and descriptions he chose to use throughout. The storyline itself is a great one...I enjoyed it and the twist at the end I didn't quite see coming because of how distracted I was by the world of the Exhibition and the characters who populated it. If there is one slightly negative thing I could mention, is that I so enjoyed being inside the exhibition and learning about the characters there and getting to know their traits and personalities so much, that the real world storyline paled in comparison and had me almost to the point of skimming so I could get back to this place of wonder. Another thing I wanted to mention that I found myself to be absolutely fascinated by, was the main characters associations of specific smells with emotions. I absolutely loved reading these parts of the stories and looked forward to them throughout.
My review is rambled because I just finished and literally am still processing the gorgeous story I just completed. I'm a speed reader usually but for this one I found myself taking my time and simply enjoying small bites here and there. I can not stress enough how much I loved this book.
This honestly has been one of the most amazingly detailed and rich stories that I have read in a long time. Intricate to the point of feeling/seeing/smelling/hearing the events of this story, it literally was a feast for my senses. I can't gush enough how much I enjoyed the way the author crafted this story and the words and descriptions he chose to use throughout. The storyline itself is a great one...I enjoyed it and the twist at the end I didn't quite see coming because of how distracted I was by the world of the Exhibition and the characters who populated it. If there is one slightly negative thing I could mention, is that I so enjoyed being inside the exhibition and learning about the characters there and getting to know their traits and personalities so much, that the real world storyline paled in comparison and had me almost to the point of skimming so I could get back to this place of wonder. Another thing I wanted to mention that I found myself to be absolutely fascinated by, was the main characters associations of specific smells with emotions. I absolutely loved reading these parts of the stories and looked forward to them throughout.
My review is rambled because I just finished and literally am still processing the gorgeous story I just completed. I'm a speed reader usually but for this one I found myself taking my time and simply enjoying small bites here and there. I can not stress enough how much I loved this book.
March 5, 2023
Mira Tejedor is a psychic who often uses her talents consulting for those who need her help. Sometimes it is to locate a missing person, but this time it is to help a young boy who has withdrawn so far within himself that he is almost comatose. But what happened to send him into such a state? Mira has been hired to try and reach the boy, hopefully helping to bring him back to himself and his family.
This was the first book in the Fugue and Fable series. And I enjoyed reading it a great deal. The author did a wonderful job of describing the internal world that Anthony had created in order to protect himself, and watching the tale unfold as it was accompanied by pieces of classical music was a very imaginative way to tie the whole story together. The ending of this book almost came as a complete surprise to me, having not noticed some of the clues hidden throughout the story. (And that made the whole thing that much more enjoyable for me, as often I find that I've spotted a big clue to the ending of a book well before the book ended. But this one I almost didn't see coming at all.)
If you enjoy mysteries with a hint of the fantastical, stories where music and art play a large role, or are just looking for something a little different, give this book a try. I think you'll be enjoying it as much as I did. And I'll be keeping my eyes open for book two in this series. I really want to know what adventure is next in store for Mira.
This was the first book in the Fugue and Fable series. And I enjoyed reading it a great deal. The author did a wonderful job of describing the internal world that Anthony had created in order to protect himself, and watching the tale unfold as it was accompanied by pieces of classical music was a very imaginative way to tie the whole story together. The ending of this book almost came as a complete surprise to me, having not noticed some of the clues hidden throughout the story. (And that made the whole thing that much more enjoyable for me, as often I find that I've spotted a big clue to the ending of a book well before the book ended. But this one I almost didn't see coming at all.)
If you enjoy mysteries with a hint of the fantastical, stories where music and art play a large role, or are just looking for something a little different, give this book a try. I think you'll be enjoying it as much as I did. And I'll be keeping my eyes open for book two in this series. I really want to know what adventure is next in store for Mira.
February 7, 2018
Admittedly, this book took longer to read than I anticipated - but not because it lacked the usual attention-pulling elements.
I generally try to stay away from murder mysteries. They tend to leave me feeling disturbed at best, anxious and overwhelmed at worst. I dove into this series, however, because of two elements: The paranomal/psychic and the classical composer element.
This mystery is less about the murder of a teenage girl, and is far more about the psychic's journey through herself as she tries to help a young boy unlock his mental prison that he's exiled himself to as a measure of coping with emotional trauma.
Larger than the mystery of the missing girl, is the mystery of why young Anthony mentally locked himself up and how Mira can so easily walk in his mental-scape.
This book sucks the reader in, both with the unusual use of clairalliance by Mira (clairalliance being a gathering of psychic knowing through scent) and the trip through Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
This story doesn't end on a cliffhanger by any means, (other than some romantic prospects that are secondary to the main plot), but I just finished the book and had to race out to my laptop to write the review, so I could start on book 2 of the series, The Stravinsky Intrigue.
For an added twist, listen to the classical piece that serves as Mira's guide through Anthony's mind. It serves as an excellent backdrop to the vivid imagery that Kennedy supplies in his writing.
Definitely a meandering, suspenseful read worth its weight in time.
I generally try to stay away from murder mysteries. They tend to leave me feeling disturbed at best, anxious and overwhelmed at worst. I dove into this series, however, because of two elements: The paranomal/psychic and the classical composer element.
This mystery is less about the murder of a teenage girl, and is far more about the psychic's journey through herself as she tries to help a young boy unlock his mental prison that he's exiled himself to as a measure of coping with emotional trauma.
Larger than the mystery of the missing girl, is the mystery of why young Anthony mentally locked himself up and how Mira can so easily walk in his mental-scape.
This book sucks the reader in, both with the unusual use of clairalliance by Mira (clairalliance being a gathering of psychic knowing through scent) and the trip through Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
This story doesn't end on a cliffhanger by any means, (other than some romantic prospects that are secondary to the main plot), but I just finished the book and had to race out to my laptop to write the review, so I could start on book 2 of the series, The Stravinsky Intrigue.
For an added twist, listen to the classical piece that serves as Mira's guide through Anthony's mind. It serves as an excellent backdrop to the vivid imagery that Kennedy supplies in his writing.
Definitely a meandering, suspenseful read worth its weight in time.
June 5, 2025
Wow! What a fantastic story. I couldn't stop listening. Anthony is a 13 year old, probably autistic boy. When he goes into a near catatonic state his mom calls psychic Mira for help. Mira finds that Anthony has retreated into his mind to a world he created based on his favorite piece of classical music, Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition. The exhibition is populated with people from Anthony's life. As Mira continues to explore Anthony's mind his story intersects with a real life murder mystery.
Author Darin Kennedy has crafted an intricate and original psychological thriller. It is full of twists and turns. I thought I had it figured at several points in the story but then a twist would occur and I was off in a new direction. When the final twist occured I was trying to figure out all of the plot points until the end. Kennedy did a great job pulling the reader (or listener in my case) into the tension of the story. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of this author's work.
I listened to the audiobook. Narrator Elizabeth Evans did a great job bringing the story to life. I recommend this version to anyone preferring audio.
Author Darin Kennedy has crafted an intricate and original psychological thriller. It is full of twists and turns. I thought I had it figured at several points in the story but then a twist would occur and I was off in a new direction. When the final twist occured I was trying to figure out all of the plot points until the end. Kennedy did a great job pulling the reader (or listener in my case) into the tension of the story. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of this author's work.
I listened to the audiobook. Narrator Elizabeth Evans did a great job bringing the story to life. I recommend this version to anyone preferring audio.
August 21, 2023
3.5* It requires a slight learning curve, at the beginning, for the reader
Is this Fantasy &/ or SciFi ? I wasn't sure at the beginning. It is set in the present and contains recognizable social, cultural, and environmental characteristics. The author is a skilled storyteller who weaves Dreams / Fugues as healing tools. This is based on the current emerging understanding of science not totally defined. The technology to define the science of telepathy has become an interest by many.
The story of a teen whose mind is locked into a piece of Classical Music becomes the bridge for an outside Pyschic restoring order. The author drops hints in the teen's fantasy musical world of a local missing teen. This was a great opportunity to listen to the Classical Music and view Materpiece Frescos and Paintings, while unraveling the mystery.
This is 'different' and undulgent at the same time. I would recommend this to a wide audience, who like to slip into another world.
Thank you Goodreads for recommendation and Darin Kennedy for writing Book 2 in this series.
Is this Fantasy &/ or SciFi ? I wasn't sure at the beginning. It is set in the present and contains recognizable social, cultural, and environmental characteristics. The author is a skilled storyteller who weaves Dreams / Fugues as healing tools. This is based on the current emerging understanding of science not totally defined. The technology to define the science of telepathy has become an interest by many.
The story of a teen whose mind is locked into a piece of Classical Music becomes the bridge for an outside Pyschic restoring order. The author drops hints in the teen's fantasy musical world of a local missing teen. This was a great opportunity to listen to the Classical Music and view Materpiece Frescos and Paintings, while unraveling the mystery.
This is 'different' and undulgent at the same time. I would recommend this to a wide audience, who like to slip into another world.
Thank you Goodreads for recommendation and Darin Kennedy for writing Book 2 in this series.
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