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Stockwell Park Orchestra Series #1
Life, Death and Cellos
Classical music can be a dangerous pastime…
What with love affairs, their conductor dropping dead, a stolen cello and no money, Stockwell Park Orchestra is having a fraught season.
After Mrs Ford-Hughes is squashed and injured by a dying guest conductor mid-concert, she and her husband withdraw their generous financial backing, leaving the orchestra broke and unsure of its future..
Cellist Erin suggests a recovery plan, but since it involves their unreliable leader, Fenella, playing a priceless Stradivari cello which then goes missing, it’s not a fool-proof one. Joshua, the regular conductor, can’t decide which affair to commit to, while manager David’s nervous tic returns at every doom-laden report from the orchestra’s treasurer.
There is one way to survive, but is letting a tone-deaf diva sing Strauss too high a price to pay? And will Stockwell Park Orchestra live to play another season?
What people are saying about Life, Death and Cellos:
"a very enjoyable read" Marian Keyes"Life, Death and Cellos is a witty and irreverent musical romp, full of characters I’d love to go for a pint with. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Stockwell Park Orchestra and can't wait for the next book in the series." Claire King, author of The Night Rainbow
"Life, Death and Cellos is that rare thing – a funny music book. Rogers knows the world intimately, and portrays it with warmth, accuracy and a poetic turn of phrase. Sharp, witty and richly entertaining." Lev Parikian, author of Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?
What with love affairs, their conductor dropping dead, a stolen cello and no money, Stockwell Park Orchestra is having a fraught season.
After Mrs Ford-Hughes is squashed and injured by a dying guest conductor mid-concert, she and her husband withdraw their generous financial backing, leaving the orchestra broke and unsure of its future..
Cellist Erin suggests a recovery plan, but since it involves their unreliable leader, Fenella, playing a priceless Stradivari cello which then goes missing, it’s not a fool-proof one. Joshua, the regular conductor, can’t decide which affair to commit to, while manager David’s nervous tic returns at every doom-laden report from the orchestra’s treasurer.
There is one way to survive, but is letting a tone-deaf diva sing Strauss too high a price to pay? And will Stockwell Park Orchestra live to play another season?
What people are saying about Life, Death and Cellos:
"a very enjoyable read" Marian Keyes"Life, Death and Cellos is a witty and irreverent musical romp, full of characters I’d love to go for a pint with. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the Stockwell Park Orchestra and can't wait for the next book in the series." Claire King, author of The Night Rainbow
"Life, Death and Cellos is that rare thing – a funny music book. Rogers knows the world intimately, and portrays it with warmth, accuracy and a poetic turn of phrase. Sharp, witty and richly entertaining." Lev Parikian, author of Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear?
“With its retro humour bordering on farce, this novel offers an escape into the turbulent (and bonkers) world of the orchestra.” Isabel Costello, author of Paris Mon Amour
“Dodgy post-rehearsal curries, friendly insults between musicians, sacrosanct coffee-and-biscuit breaks, tedious committee meetings: welcome to the world of the amateur orchestra. Throw in a stolen Stradivarius, an unexpected fatality and the odd illicit affair and you have Life, Death and Cellos, the first in a new series by Isabel
306 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 24, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
January 23, 2019
See my full review here: http://swiftcoffee.blog/2019/01/24/li...
First of all, I have to make something clear: when I got this book the description and genre of the book, even the cover stated that it was a mystery. That was part of why I was attracted to it, and I would be dishonest if I said that this in no way influenced my opinion. Why, would you ask?
Because this book is everything but a mystery. I don't say it as something bad, it's merely a stating of a fact. And it wouldn't be a problem, even for me (a huge mystery fan) - but the initial concept clearly claimed that it was one, thus turning my expectations that way. Now, I get that this all happened before the publication, and it has been corrected by the time it comes out (now), which is absolutely alright, so I try to focus on which readers should read it, who might find it interesting - instead of criticizing the lacking mystery part.
To be honest, I'm not even sure how I would categorize this book. If I must say something, I'd say it's a contemporary general fiction... dealing with musicians. Or musician's lives. (BTW I totally get how hard it might make the marketing for this...) It's currently marked as 'humor', but I'm not sure that fits that well, either. There are humorous situations, and it's a light read, but I don't think that's the most characteristic attribute to the book. There's the so-called mystery of the stolen cello, but that only happens around the half, and doesn't really keep going more than a couple of chapters - and nobody seems to care who took it, it just gets found, and that's it. So, it's definitely not a mystery, either. The main character is a young woman, finding herself in the music and in the life of the orchestra, but there are many other, almost equally important characters of different ages and gender, and we get to see many of their POVs as well, so I neither can say it's women's fiction, nor new adult... It's so hard to grab and put in an exact category! I give up trying...
Anyways: the point is, this was an entertaining story about the life of an orchestra, though it was predictable, too. What I enjoyed the most, and I think the strength of this book is how their life, the life of amateur musicians and singers is described. It's very well described, in small, numerous details, which sometimes takes the reader's attention from the actual story - but I didn't mind this at all, because I honestly think this was the best about the book! It's very well captured, even the tiniest details, and - I say this from experience - so very accurate! So, dear reader, if you go through the pages of this book, know that every single thing about these orchestras and choirs are really happening this way. This is how it goes. I loved these descriptions!
I also liked the characters, though I feel like I would've liked to know a bit more about them. See a bit more. They were good enough to be interested in, but I didn't feel it was enough. Fortunately, this is only the first book of a series, so I really hope I get to know them in the sequel more! This is probably also the reason why some minor arcs in the book weren't closed by the end: the author was thinking in larger arcs, in a series, not in a standalone book. Regarding only this book, I must say that the members of the orchestra were just as spot on as the description about their life: the "types" of amateur musicians were all very well described and represented. Since there are many equally important characters, there weren't enough time for all of them to be wholly introduced and thus some of them didn't seem to have as much depth as others, but I think that can be okay if the sequel gives a bit more "screentime" for them. Erin was likable, I loved Ann, and I would be so up to see way more of Charlie!
I would recommend this book to people interested in music and in the everyday life and habits of amateur musicians. I think you'd be especially entertained with this one if you yourself are one! I found many observations funny and right on spot! This book is also a good choice if you'd like to just lightly read something that manages to keep your interest, but not making you feel so anxious and worked up so it just adds to your daily stress. It calmed and switched off my mind a bit.
Just for heaven's sake, don't expect it to be a mystery!
First of all, I have to make something clear: when I got this book the description and genre of the book, even the cover stated that it was a mystery. That was part of why I was attracted to it, and I would be dishonest if I said that this in no way influenced my opinion. Why, would you ask?
Because this book is everything but a mystery. I don't say it as something bad, it's merely a stating of a fact. And it wouldn't be a problem, even for me (a huge mystery fan) - but the initial concept clearly claimed that it was one, thus turning my expectations that way. Now, I get that this all happened before the publication, and it has been corrected by the time it comes out (now), which is absolutely alright, so I try to focus on which readers should read it, who might find it interesting - instead of criticizing the lacking mystery part.
To be honest, I'm not even sure how I would categorize this book. If I must say something, I'd say it's a contemporary general fiction... dealing with musicians. Or musician's lives. (BTW I totally get how hard it might make the marketing for this...) It's currently marked as 'humor', but I'm not sure that fits that well, either. There are humorous situations, and it's a light read, but I don't think that's the most characteristic attribute to the book. There's the so-called mystery of the stolen cello, but that only happens around the half, and doesn't really keep going more than a couple of chapters - and nobody seems to care who took it, it just gets found, and that's it. So, it's definitely not a mystery, either. The main character is a young woman, finding herself in the music and in the life of the orchestra, but there are many other, almost equally important characters of different ages and gender, and we get to see many of their POVs as well, so I neither can say it's women's fiction, nor new adult... It's so hard to grab and put in an exact category! I give up trying...
Anyways: the point is, this was an entertaining story about the life of an orchestra, though it was predictable, too. What I enjoyed the most, and I think the strength of this book is how their life, the life of amateur musicians and singers is described. It's very well described, in small, numerous details, which sometimes takes the reader's attention from the actual story - but I didn't mind this at all, because I honestly think this was the best about the book! It's very well captured, even the tiniest details, and - I say this from experience - so very accurate! So, dear reader, if you go through the pages of this book, know that every single thing about these orchestras and choirs are really happening this way. This is how it goes. I loved these descriptions!
I also liked the characters, though I feel like I would've liked to know a bit more about them. See a bit more. They were good enough to be interested in, but I didn't feel it was enough. Fortunately, this is only the first book of a series, so I really hope I get to know them in the sequel more! This is probably also the reason why some minor arcs in the book weren't closed by the end: the author was thinking in larger arcs, in a series, not in a standalone book. Regarding only this book, I must say that the members of the orchestra were just as spot on as the description about their life: the "types" of amateur musicians were all very well described and represented. Since there are many equally important characters, there weren't enough time for all of them to be wholly introduced and thus some of them didn't seem to have as much depth as others, but I think that can be okay if the sequel gives a bit more "screentime" for them. Erin was likable, I loved Ann, and I would be so up to see way more of Charlie!
I would recommend this book to people interested in music and in the everyday life and habits of amateur musicians. I think you'd be especially entertained with this one if you yourself are one! I found many observations funny and right on spot! This book is also a good choice if you'd like to just lightly read something that manages to keep your interest, but not making you feel so anxious and worked up so it just adds to your daily stress. It calmed and switched off my mind a bit.
Just for heaven's sake, don't expect it to be a mystery!
January 11, 2019
There are things I liked about Life, Death and Cellos, but overall I found it disappointing.
I was looking forward to this because classical music is a real interest of mine, and I’m pleased to say that the book’s real strength is the musical background. Isabel Rogers plainly knows a great deal about the music and about playing the cello, all of which she brings to life wonderfully – and I speak with all the authority of a dreadfully bad teenage cellist who hasn’t touched the instrument for many years. :o) I thoroughly enjoyed the passages dealing with the structure of various pieces, the technicalities of playing the cello, the workings and personalities of an orchestra and even the background history of Stradivari instruments. Sadly, the other aspects of the book didn’t work nearly so well for me.
Part of the problem for me is that the book isn’t the “mystery” it is billed as; it’s more sort of chick-lit-with-classical-music as we follow Erin, a twenty-something amateur cellist, through her relationship problems, her problems at work, discovering her talent as a cellist...you get the idea. Frankly, the story felt pretty stale and dull to me, it’s blindingly obvious where it’s heading from quite early on and it plods from one unlikely but entirely predictable event to the next as things fall inevitably into place. The dialogue creaks rather and Rogers is forever explaining the meaning of conversations rather than writing good enough dialogue simply to show it convincingly. We get far too many points of view from slightly thinly-painted characters (several of whom are wholly irrelevant and are just a distraction), the humour is often pretty clunky and there’s an awful lot of filler like this, as a character gets into the back seat of a car:
“‘Shift forward Erin,’ he said, as he tried to fit his knees into the car. ‘I have real men’s legs. They are longer than you think.’
Erin obligingly slid her seat forward and felt the car’s suspension dip as Charlie’s weight fell in.”
It’s just a bloke getting into a car, for heavens’ sake! Or a couple of pages of wholly irrelevant faffing about not looking at a mobile phone immediately before the sender of the crucial text walks in and imparts the news anyway. Wading through a lot of this stuff became a real trial.
So, despite the good musical aspects, I can’t recommend Life, Death and Cellos. It may be for others but it wasn’t for me.
(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)
I was looking forward to this because classical music is a real interest of mine, and I’m pleased to say that the book’s real strength is the musical background. Isabel Rogers plainly knows a great deal about the music and about playing the cello, all of which she brings to life wonderfully – and I speak with all the authority of a dreadfully bad teenage cellist who hasn’t touched the instrument for many years. :o) I thoroughly enjoyed the passages dealing with the structure of various pieces, the technicalities of playing the cello, the workings and personalities of an orchestra and even the background history of Stradivari instruments. Sadly, the other aspects of the book didn’t work nearly so well for me.
Part of the problem for me is that the book isn’t the “mystery” it is billed as; it’s more sort of chick-lit-with-classical-music as we follow Erin, a twenty-something amateur cellist, through her relationship problems, her problems at work, discovering her talent as a cellist...you get the idea. Frankly, the story felt pretty stale and dull to me, it’s blindingly obvious where it’s heading from quite early on and it plods from one unlikely but entirely predictable event to the next as things fall inevitably into place. The dialogue creaks rather and Rogers is forever explaining the meaning of conversations rather than writing good enough dialogue simply to show it convincingly. We get far too many points of view from slightly thinly-painted characters (several of whom are wholly irrelevant and are just a distraction), the humour is often pretty clunky and there’s an awful lot of filler like this, as a character gets into the back seat of a car:
“‘Shift forward Erin,’ he said, as he tried to fit his knees into the car. ‘I have real men’s legs. They are longer than you think.’
Erin obligingly slid her seat forward and felt the car’s suspension dip as Charlie’s weight fell in.”
It’s just a bloke getting into a car, for heavens’ sake! Or a couple of pages of wholly irrelevant faffing about not looking at a mobile phone immediately before the sender of the crucial text walks in and imparts the news anyway. Wading through a lot of this stuff became a real trial.
So, despite the good musical aspects, I can’t recommend Life, Death and Cellos. It may be for others but it wasn’t for me.
(My thanks to Farrago for an ARC via NetGalley.)
January 24, 2019
We join the members’ of the orchestra during there rehearsal. They have a stand-in conductor who sadly has an epic departure from the world that has heinous consequences on the orchestra. We enjoy snippets from some of the members’ live’s and the secrets and lies that they hold close to their chest or cello case in this instance are revealed throughout the novel.
This debut novel from Isabel Rogers really caught me by surprise. From the cover and the description, I was expecting a cosy crime fiction read. Which it is miles and miles away from. It is so very hard to label the genre of the book. It’s literary fiction mixed with women’s fiction with a hint of comedy and threaded through is a slither of crime. A pick n mix if you like of varying genres.
It is apparent that Ms Rogers has a love and expertise in music. There are quite a few parts of the book that is technical heavy. At first, I enjoyed reading a little bit of who was playing what and how but after a while it became a little heavy for me. I know the author is passionate and that’s apparent but as a reader, it was a little too much. What made the book a five star read for me personally was the characters, those chapters were the most exciting and engaging for me. Beautifully written with heart and I really would have loved much more about them and less about how the Orchestra plays etc.
As I read I started to listen to the music on my Alexa gadget that they were playing/practising in the book. It made for a lovely added extra to my reading experience. Plus I enjoyed discovering some gorgeous music to add to my background playlist.
The cover is beautiful and I really cannot wait to find out what happens to the characters in this series. Overall it was a really enjoyable and creative read. A massive five stars from me. This book was written with so much love it bursts from the pages.
Bravo Ms Rogers!
This debut novel from Isabel Rogers really caught me by surprise. From the cover and the description, I was expecting a cosy crime fiction read. Which it is miles and miles away from. It is so very hard to label the genre of the book. It’s literary fiction mixed with women’s fiction with a hint of comedy and threaded through is a slither of crime. A pick n mix if you like of varying genres.
It is apparent that Ms Rogers has a love and expertise in music. There are quite a few parts of the book that is technical heavy. At first, I enjoyed reading a little bit of who was playing what and how but after a while it became a little heavy for me. I know the author is passionate and that’s apparent but as a reader, it was a little too much. What made the book a five star read for me personally was the characters, those chapters were the most exciting and engaging for me. Beautifully written with heart and I really would have loved much more about them and less about how the Orchestra plays etc.
As I read I started to listen to the music on my Alexa gadget that they were playing/practising in the book. It made for a lovely added extra to my reading experience. Plus I enjoyed discovering some gorgeous music to add to my background playlist.
The cover is beautiful and I really cannot wait to find out what happens to the characters in this series. Overall it was a really enjoyable and creative read. A massive five stars from me. This book was written with so much love it bursts from the pages.
Bravo Ms Rogers!
February 21, 2019
I really appreciated reading Isabel Rogers’ debut novel, “Life, Death and Cellos.” Sadly, I am no musician, however, I was still able to relish the orchestral elements that were so much a part of this hilarious novel.
I loved the highly original story of Stockwell Park Orchestra, which is having a difficult time, complete with a dead conductor, love affairs, a stolen cello and no money. Can Stockwell Park Orchestra possibly beat the odds to play another season?
For me, Isabel Rogers has written a wonderful and highly amusing masterpiece, complete with a brilliant, fast-paced plot and delightfully engaging characters. I loved the straightforward and easy to read writing style - can't wait to see what happens in book two!
“Life, Death and Cellos” is an ideal read for some great laughs, a bit of escapism and a touch of mystery.
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Farrago for my free ARC, in exchange for my voluntary review, and my full applause to the author.
I loved the highly original story of Stockwell Park Orchestra, which is having a difficult time, complete with a dead conductor, love affairs, a stolen cello and no money. Can Stockwell Park Orchestra possibly beat the odds to play another season?
For me, Isabel Rogers has written a wonderful and highly amusing masterpiece, complete with a brilliant, fast-paced plot and delightfully engaging characters. I loved the straightforward and easy to read writing style - can't wait to see what happens in book two!
“Life, Death and Cellos” is an ideal read for some great laughs, a bit of escapism and a touch of mystery.
My heartfelt thanks to NetGalley and Farrago for my free ARC, in exchange for my voluntary review, and my full applause to the author.
February 2, 2019
3 stars
You can read all of my book reviews on my blog at https://NerdGirlLovesBooks.wordpress.com
This was a cute book about musicians in a small community orchestra. The conductor is a philanderer who is not afraid to use seduction to further his career. When he gets food poisoning after a date with one of the cello players and misses the concert, a guest conductor is brought in. The guest conductor drops dead in the middle of the performance, landing on one of the orchestra's most generous benefactors, injuring her. The benefactor withdrawals her financial backing from the orchestra, leaving it broke and desperate.
Cellist Erin suggests a plan to recover the lost finances, but the plan has a lot of moving parts and is risky. Part of the plan hinges on a less than talented cello player who inherits a Stradivari cello and the diva benefactor whose vocal skills are questionable.
The story is kind of all over the place. The book delves into the life of musicians in a small orchestra. It has a variety of characters, but we don't learn much about them other than superficial generalities and stereotypes. The story also includes a small story arc about the Stradivari cello being stolen and recovered. This storyline was odd and out of place and I'm not sure why it was included, unless it was to set something up for the next book in the series.
Overall the book was a light, fun read. It is well-written, but isn't a book that I will think twice about now that it's read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
You can read all of my book reviews on my blog at https://NerdGirlLovesBooks.wordpress.com
This was a cute book about musicians in a small community orchestra. The conductor is a philanderer who is not afraid to use seduction to further his career. When he gets food poisoning after a date with one of the cello players and misses the concert, a guest conductor is brought in. The guest conductor drops dead in the middle of the performance, landing on one of the orchestra's most generous benefactors, injuring her. The benefactor withdrawals her financial backing from the orchestra, leaving it broke and desperate.
Cellist Erin suggests a plan to recover the lost finances, but the plan has a lot of moving parts and is risky. Part of the plan hinges on a less than talented cello player who inherits a Stradivari cello and the diva benefactor whose vocal skills are questionable.
The story is kind of all over the place. The book delves into the life of musicians in a small orchestra. It has a variety of characters, but we don't learn much about them other than superficial generalities and stereotypes. The story also includes a small story arc about the Stradivari cello being stolen and recovered. This storyline was odd and out of place and I'm not sure why it was included, unless it was to set something up for the next book in the series.
Overall the book was a light, fun read. It is well-written, but isn't a book that I will think twice about now that it's read.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 16, 2024
"Murder" is mentioned on page 1, but there are no murders in this delightful confection, first in a series about an amateur orchestra in London. When the conductor calls in with the flu, the group gets a temporary replacement for their concert, who turns out to be really temporary, as he dies of a heart attack while conducting. This leads to a valuable inheritance going to one of the cellists, who is then mugged. Efficient police work gets it back, but poor Fenella won't be playing for a while while her injuries heal, giving more talented, but less confident Erin a chance to shine. And will the orchestra survive a soprano performance by their sometimes-generous benefactor, who does not really have the skills to perform Strauss's "Last Songs"?
March 18, 2019
The book made me smile all the way through to the last page, it was like spending an afternoon watching a group of mismatched friends come together in some chaotic performance. There's a character for everyone, and I found myself thinking who would play them in a production - I had Dawn French playing Pearl, Keira Knightley playing Fenella, Benedict Cumberbatch as Joshua and Patricia Routledge (of Keeping Up Appearances) playing Mrs Ford-Hughes - well, she had to really!
There is so much to smile about in this book - Isabel's knowledge of music takes you with her through the performances, the pieces and the anxieties of putting a performance together when your orchestra is at risk of collapse. You might not know the meaning of some of the words, but somehow it doesn't matter, because she frames it in such a way that you kinda know what she wants to say, anyway.
The book is full of silly humour - in the first few pages we have 2 cases of food poisoning, hilariously described, contracted by Erin and Joshua, who are having a hush hush affair - king prawn karma?
When poor Oscar departs this earthly realm, crushing Mrs Ford-Hughes, even the orchestra can't stifle a joke - 'murdering music, now that we do on a weekly basis' - 'we haven't actually killed anyone before'... then there's talk of Oscar's 'last earthly fart' when he's placed in the morgue.. the humour is quite slapstick but it's welcome.
The orchestra is plunged into chaos, at risk of ruin with an impending law suit by the Ford-Hughes family following Oscar's crushing performance. However! Oscar leaves posh Fenella a priceless cello, a piece by Antonio Stradivari... and of course, Fenella is keen to show it off. But then, inevitably, it goes missing... silly Fenella.
Will they find the cello? Will Erin and Joshua stay together, or will quiet Charlie, watching closely, make a move? And will Mrs Pearl ever run out of biscuits? Will the orchestra be saved and get to play again?
Anything further and I would spoiling the rest of the story for you, but needless to say there's plenty of laughs, more questions, and I loved getting to know this collection of characters, and I look forward to hearing more about them!
I spent a couple of enjoyable afternoons tucked up with this merry band, and I can highly recommend it for a bit of chucklesome escapism!
There is so much to smile about in this book - Isabel's knowledge of music takes you with her through the performances, the pieces and the anxieties of putting a performance together when your orchestra is at risk of collapse. You might not know the meaning of some of the words, but somehow it doesn't matter, because she frames it in such a way that you kinda know what she wants to say, anyway.
The book is full of silly humour - in the first few pages we have 2 cases of food poisoning, hilariously described, contracted by Erin and Joshua, who are having a hush hush affair - king prawn karma?
When poor Oscar departs this earthly realm, crushing Mrs Ford-Hughes, even the orchestra can't stifle a joke - 'murdering music, now that we do on a weekly basis' - 'we haven't actually killed anyone before'... then there's talk of Oscar's 'last earthly fart' when he's placed in the morgue.. the humour is quite slapstick but it's welcome.
The orchestra is plunged into chaos, at risk of ruin with an impending law suit by the Ford-Hughes family following Oscar's crushing performance. However! Oscar leaves posh Fenella a priceless cello, a piece by Antonio Stradivari... and of course, Fenella is keen to show it off. But then, inevitably, it goes missing... silly Fenella.
Will they find the cello? Will Erin and Joshua stay together, or will quiet Charlie, watching closely, make a move? And will Mrs Pearl ever run out of biscuits? Will the orchestra be saved and get to play again?
Anything further and I would spoiling the rest of the story for you, but needless to say there's plenty of laughs, more questions, and I loved getting to know this collection of characters, and I look forward to hearing more about them!
I spent a couple of enjoyable afternoons tucked up with this merry band, and I can highly recommend it for a bit of chucklesome escapism!
March 25, 2019
Tour de Farce
A warm, witty, wickedly funny Tour de Farce; a skewering of musicians and a love affair with music. If you've ever played an instrument or sung in a group you will instantly recognize the various stereotypes. Delicious! Okay, couldn't resist sharing a few of the bon mots:
"Why play in an amateur orchestra? The answer is usually either to have sex, gossip about who else is having sex, have a crush on the conductor, pretend to read Proust in the trombone or timpani rests or wait for the pint after the rehearsal. There are those who join for a love of music or a desire to expand their cultural knowledge, but frankly they are usually at the back of the violas and nobody talks to them much."
"Mendelssohn has that dubious honour of being popular without ever quite being admired . . ."
"Class interaction in Britain is as vibrantly layered as it has ever been."
And that last is to remind us that this is a British novel, full of biscuits and flats and lorries to charm you as you hold your sides laughing uproariously.
A warm, witty, wickedly funny Tour de Farce; a skewering of musicians and a love affair with music. If you've ever played an instrument or sung in a group you will instantly recognize the various stereotypes. Delicious! Okay, couldn't resist sharing a few of the bon mots:
"Why play in an amateur orchestra? The answer is usually either to have sex, gossip about who else is having sex, have a crush on the conductor, pretend to read Proust in the trombone or timpani rests or wait for the pint after the rehearsal. There are those who join for a love of music or a desire to expand their cultural knowledge, but frankly they are usually at the back of the violas and nobody talks to them much."
"Mendelssohn has that dubious honour of being popular without ever quite being admired . . ."
"Class interaction in Britain is as vibrantly layered as it has ever been."
And that last is to remind us that this is a British novel, full of biscuits and flats and lorries to charm you as you hold your sides laughing uproariously.
February 28, 2019
A delightful and funny story about a struggling south London amateur orchestra. Although essentially the story of Erin, a cellist becoming the star of the orchestra, it shows the humour, bitchiness and general mayhem that goes on when the said orchestra is both trying to prepare for a concert and raise funds to survive. Every character has their place, and the story feels very true to life.
I am not a musician by any means, so a lot of the music information was beyond my understanding, but the story still flowed along nicely. I am sure we have all met prima donna’s like Fenella, Mrs Ford-Hughes and Joshua, as well as characters like Ann, who has seen it all before, and injects just the right amount of cynicism and encouragement into the story. Well worth reading, a great start to a series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am delighted to write an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
I am not a musician by any means, so a lot of the music information was beyond my understanding, but the story still flowed along nicely. I am sure we have all met prima donna’s like Fenella, Mrs Ford-Hughes and Joshua, as well as characters like Ann, who has seen it all before, and injects just the right amount of cynicism and encouragement into the story. Well worth reading, a great start to a series.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am delighted to write an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
March 7, 2019
This story did not immediately grab me. I kept reading for a bit and became totally engrossed in the story. The characters were well drawn and believable.
The story revolves around a planned concert, the first after a guest conductor dies mid-concert. There is the typical in-fighting/rivalry between musicians - that is very true to most community orchestras and choirs.
The addition of a Stradivarius cello coming into the possession of one of the less talented musicians adds a great jolt of energy to the story. The story is complex enough to be compelling, yet not so overdone as to feel you need a scorecard. Having been in a few choirs and being an amateur musician, I enjoyed the descriptions of the music as well as the musicians.
The surprises toward the end of the story will bring a smile to your face.
The story revolves around a planned concert, the first after a guest conductor dies mid-concert. There is the typical in-fighting/rivalry between musicians - that is very true to most community orchestras and choirs.
The addition of a Stradivarius cello coming into the possession of one of the less talented musicians adds a great jolt of energy to the story. The story is complex enough to be compelling, yet not so overdone as to feel you need a scorecard. Having been in a few choirs and being an amateur musician, I enjoyed the descriptions of the music as well as the musicians.
The surprises toward the end of the story will bring a smile to your face.
February 25, 2019
It had potential, but I found it quite a frustrating read at times. This is not a mystery by any means, there is pretty much no detective work involved. It's more of a light hearted book about an orchestra.
I think the most frustrating thing is the sheer amount of exposition about pieces of music and orchestras and choirs. It's obvious that the author knows a great deal about it, but at times this really slows the story down. The characters are okay but other than Erin, don't really develop or have personalities, I think perhaps this was due to the number of people to service and all that exposition. The author never seems to show when telling is available.
I didn't hate it, I'd probably pick it up as a Kindle Unlimited and I did think the author had promise.
I think the most frustrating thing is the sheer amount of exposition about pieces of music and orchestras and choirs. It's obvious that the author knows a great deal about it, but at times this really slows the story down. The characters are okay but other than Erin, don't really develop or have personalities, I think perhaps this was due to the number of people to service and all that exposition. The author never seems to show when telling is available.
I didn't hate it, I'd probably pick it up as a Kindle Unlimited and I did think the author had promise.
February 25, 2019
This is exactly the right read when you feel like you should read something that will be entertaining but that will also give you a glimpse into something new.
Isabel Rogers is one of my favorite poets, and I was really excited to find out that she also writes comic novels. This one is exactly as you might expect a poet would write a comic novel—sharp and witty, but peppered with really nice turns of phrase.
I like the characters here and am thrilled that this is to be a series! I’m looking forward to the next one already.
(Somewhere in my brain is an Adam Dalgliesh comparison, but it’s not fully formed enough for me to make it.)
Isabel Rogers is one of my favorite poets, and I was really excited to find out that she also writes comic novels. This one is exactly as you might expect a poet would write a comic novel—sharp and witty, but peppered with really nice turns of phrase.
I like the characters here and am thrilled that this is to be a series! I’m looking forward to the next one already.
(Somewhere in my brain is an Adam Dalgliesh comparison, but it’s not fully formed enough for me to make it.)
May 26, 2020
The dramas of the amateur Stockwell Park Orchestra begin in this novel. When the conductor at a concert keels over dead and injures one of the biggest patrons of the orchestra, they subsequently withdraw funding leading to a financial crisis. When Erin, a cellist in the orchestra comes up with a remarkable plan of a guest soloist and the debut of a priceless Stradivarius cello at a special concert. But this is the Stockwell Park Orchestra and not everything runs smooth in amateur orchestras.
An entertaining debut of this series, I enjoyed the humour and the drama. I look forward to the rest of the series.
An entertaining debut of this series, I enjoyed the humour and the drama. I look forward to the rest of the series.
October 29, 2020
It’s a long time since I played in an orchestra, but that was the reason I was drawn to this book. Unfortunately it was spoiled for me by too many flowery descriptions about the music being played, an evident carry over from the author’s poetry. It would probably suit readers who are very familiar with or have played the pieces concerned. There were typos and missing punctuation marks, and Nora Roberts fans won’t appreciate her being called Norma!
I enjoyed the humour and the portrayal of the various quirks of orchestras and choirs, but just didn’t feel the characters were developed well enough to hold the storyline.
I enjoyed the humour and the portrayal of the various quirks of orchestras and choirs, but just didn’t feel the characters were developed well enough to hold the storyline.
July 25, 2019
This is not a mystery. It’s billed as the “Stockwell Park Orchestra Myster #1”, but there is no mystery. There’s one death at the beginning from natural causes. One theft part way in, but the object is recovered almost ridiculously easily and quickly. It’s 80% super in depth how orchestras work and musicians feel/think, 15% affairs and human relationships, and 5% theft.
That said - if you want to more than you could ever have guessed about orchestras and amateur players, and like reading an easy fiction piece... this is decent. Just don’t expect a mystery or whodunnit, and you’ll be happy.
That said - if you want to more than you could ever have guessed about orchestras and amateur players, and like reading an easy fiction piece... this is decent. Just don’t expect a mystery or whodunnit, and you’ll be happy.
April 13, 2019
I actually thought this was a murder mystery in the English style. Not.
However, it was enjoyable up to a point. I adore anything written across the pone. Well almost anything. This was a LOT like a soap opera, even though there was a stolen cello -- and what a cello!
The characters are very British, quite deliciously staid and a little stiff -- but not all of them. If you like character driven stories that are well written, you'll like this book.
However, it was enjoyable up to a point. I adore anything written across the pone. Well almost anything. This was a LOT like a soap opera, even though there was a stolen cello -- and what a cello!
The characters are very British, quite deliciously staid and a little stiff -- but not all of them. If you like character driven stories that are well written, you'll like this book.
June 30, 2019
Loved it. Being a band geek as a young student (from 5th Grade) to a professional music geek after college, I’ve been involved in many amateur/community ensembles. And I really miss the social part of that specialized little world. Life, Death and Cellos is well-written, very funny and authentic. Reading it brought back many fond memories to me. A wonderfully humorous and sweet story about the Little Community Orchestra That Could.
December 16, 2019
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading ‘Bold as Brass’.
As an amateur cellist, and lifelong chorister, I particularly related to the characters and the subject matter. But most people would enjoy this style of writing - it’s natural, comfortable and quite poetic. And the story is a fun one. Great light entertainment.
As an amateur cellist, and lifelong chorister, I particularly related to the characters and the subject matter. But most people would enjoy this style of writing - it’s natural, comfortable and quite poetic. And the story is a fun one. Great light entertainment.
February 21, 2021
Absolutely delightful! Full of well drawn and quirky personalities and the joys of hanging out with the members of an amateur orchestra, many with ambitions to be professional artists. The good humor, camaraderie and competitiveness all come
Through. There are two more books in the series which I look forward to reading!
Through. There are two more books in the series which I look forward to reading!
May 9, 2022
What a lovely book for those of us who love classical music and are musicians. The descriptions of the music and of practicing and preparing for performance are spot on. I’m not a cellist, so perhaps I’ve missed something there, but I really loved it. I hope this author will write another book in this vein.
August 8, 2023
Such a lovely book! It's a love letter to cello, but also a look into orchestra's and choir's life. It's calm and flowing slowly, very relaxing... I had hard time remembering the guys names for some reason and distinguishing them :D but overall it was really nice :) Since I just recently started to learn to play on cello, this was really amazing and fun to read.
August 19, 2020
Must read - hilarious and very human
It's brilliant and accurate, very funny, and you must read it. Seriously. If you've played in an amateur orchestra or choir,familiarity will make you laugh even harder. A plus plus plus plus plus and many more!
It's brilliant and accurate, very funny, and you must read it. Seriously. If you've played in an amateur orchestra or choir,familiarity will make you laugh even harder. A plus plus plus plus plus and many more!
December 5, 2021
DNF at 25% - really not one for me.
I felt that the knowledge of classical music and the orchestra was poured into the writing at the expense of the story.
It’s rare that I don’t finish, but it really was not one that I could carry on with this time…
I felt that the knowledge of classical music and the orchestra was poured into the writing at the expense of the story.
It’s rare that I don’t finish, but it really was not one that I could carry on with this time…
April 21, 2022
Excellent. Outstanding. A delight to read. But…the only mystery is why this book is described as a mystery. But that is beside the point. Maybe I can appreciate the musician humor because I play in a community band. I don’t think so. I think it is deserving of five stars because it is JUST. THAT. GOOD. I have never felt the desire to highlight passages before in an ebook. This book is an exception. I started highlighting after several failed attempts to recollect humorous remarks several chapters later. I look forward to reading more in this series.
August 19, 2024
3.5 stars
For some reason I thought this was a mystery, but it's actually a humorous novel about a community orchestra in London. Because of my experience with musical organizations I found it enjoyable light reading.
Quite suspenseless, but pleasant.
Back to mysteries for me.
For some reason I thought this was a mystery, but it's actually a humorous novel about a community orchestra in London. Because of my experience with musical organizations I found it enjoyable light reading.
Quite suspenseless, but pleasant.
Back to mysteries for me.
March 29, 2025
An entertaining drama about love-life (and a death) filled with sharp and acerbic observations on life in the world of amateur music. The characters (even the cello) have an rich life and are worth getting to know.
January 16, 2019
On a general level this book is quite funny but unfortunately the "mystery" part is lacking.
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC
Not my cup of tea.
Many thanks to Farrago and Netgalley for this ARC
April 29, 2019
Loved it - such fun! Seriously, well-paced, great characters and the inner workings of an orchestra were fascinating and funny.
May 15, 2019
A great romp and fascinating insight into the world of an orchestra. Hugely entertaining. A must read.
September 12, 2019
If you're the right audience (community orchestra player, cellist), you're going to laugh the whole way through this book. It's a riot. Spot on.
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