Spring Break

Daniel Jacobus Mystery #6

by Gerald Elias

When reclusive, blind violin pedagogue Daniel Jacobus is invited to speak at a seemingly innocuous symposium on Baroque music at a prestigious music conservatory, he has no idea he is about to become enmeshed in an entrenched culture of sexual harassment and its cover-up at the highest levels.

And when a renowned faculty member dies of apparent natural causes, only the curious behaviour of a violin student at Jacobus’s master class is an indication to him that something may be terribly amiss.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published October 1, 2018

About the author

For decades, Gerald Elias has brought joy to countless mystery fans and concertgoers alike.

His dozen novels include the critically acclaimed Daniel Jacobus mystery series, set in the dark corners of the classical music world. An audiobook of Murder at Royal Albert, the eighth installment of the series, features musical excerpts by the Boston Symphony and Elias himself, and was declared “an altogether delightful experience” by AudioFile Magazine. His standalone Western mystery, Roundtree Days, was a 2023 Killer Nashville Silver Falchion finalist. (Look for the sequel in 2026!)

Elias’s many short stories have appeared in such prestigious magazines and anthologies as Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine and Coolest American Stories 2023, and in his own short story collection, It’s a Crime! Coming up are two all-new collections of lighthearted short crime fiction, Murder on Vacation and Murder Goes Abroad, both featuring a new hero, retired NYPD Police Chief Maury Gross and his perspicacious wife, Bobbi.

A former violinist with the Boston Symphony, Elias has performed and taught on five continents. He has also been music director of Salt Lake City’s popular Vivaldi by Candlelight chamber orchestra series for over 20 years.

Elias currently divides his time between the shores of the Puget Sound in Seattle and the Berkshire Hills of western Massachusetts, where he continues to expand his literary and musical horizons while enjoying the outdoors, travel, coffee, sports, cooking, and most of all, being a devoted grandpa.

Reviews

[Shiela · Rating 3 out of 5]

So much happening in this one - but what kind of ending is that??? Thank goodness I know that there is a next.

[C.C. Yager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again Daniel Jacobus, the blind, curmudgeonly violinist, finds himself intrigued by certain details that he notices when he attends a symposium at a conservatory in upstate New York in Spring Break. Like a terrier, he just cannot let them go, either. Then one of the faculty is found dead in a practice room and Jacobus' suspicions go into overdrive. This mystery was a bit more complex than others in this series that I've read, and it took me longer to figure out who did it and even then I wasn't sure about the motive. So I enjoyed the journey of this mystery a bit more than the others. I also enjoyed reading Jacobus' increased vulnerability in this story, with an ending that will certainly make for interesting conversation among friends who've read it.

Mushrooms figure prominently in this mystery, and I found that especially interesting. Elias kept the twists coming, but there was an undercurrent of fatigue that revealed Jacobus' sense of mortality. Only one piece of music figured prominently in this story -- Vivaldi's "Spring" from The Four Seasons -- but Jacobus continues to teach about the love of music and about critical thinking. I've not attended a music conservatory but have been a student in a music department at a college and can attest to the veracity of the crazy soap opera stuff that can occur in higher education.

I'd recommend this novel to mystery lovers, music lovers, and anyone who enjoys a crotchety main character.

[Jay Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fellow professional musician and teacher, I find his scenarios to be so true to my world that almost I am almost unable enjoy reading about it sometimes! Not the murders, of course, but the way he expresses the ongoing tensions between Administrators and the "peasants" they are forced to deal with--(the teachers)---was true of almost institution of 'higher learning' with which I was ever associated. His insight is penetratingly ingenious, his wonderful Daniel Jacobus character delightfully disrespectful, and the plot dauntingly twisted, as usual. You do not need to be a musician to enjoy his books, but it does add another dimension when you have suffered through the same kinds of situations. Jacobus' retorts to administrative pomposity are laugh aloud insights and I have enjoyed all of the previous books as well. I find Mr. Elias's books to be exceptionally fascinating and I plan to re-read them--which is something I have done only twice in over 50 years.

[Ruth Fowler · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Hmmmm.... The writing is good and the story is convoluted enough to keep it interesting. For being the sixth in a series, I'm surprised that I wasn't totally lost, since enough of Jacobus's backstory was included. I enjoyed the mushroom bit and classical music lovers and musicians will enjoy it. However, there were several things that irritated me. It was unclear when it took place. There were cell phones but a reliance on tape cassettes. Jacobus is meant to be a curmudgeon, but I couldn't help but think he is a reflection of the author. Referring to camping as "something hippie like," referring to the female students as "honey" and "sweetheart," and being anti-technology rankled. The author's note at the end about sexual harassment atoned for some of that, but still...

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Spring Break is a bit drier and more academic than the other books in the series I've read. Also, characters I really enjoy such as Yumi and Nathaniel play very minor roles in this novel, and I miss them. Jacobus doesn't really do much actual sleuthing, either; he mainly theorizes about what could have happened and whodunit. The book does end on a very perilous cliffhanger, though, so I will have to read the next book.

[D.M.S. Fick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'll be reading more books in this series. It's a good mystery infused with the train of thought of an accomplished musician. An enjoyable "family" of characters. Good humor. Plenty o' intrigue. I reecommend starting with an earlier book in the series, although I had no issues with knowing what was going on or why. I loved the location and characters.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Gerald Elias’ mysteries feature Daniel Jacubus an aging, blind violinist with a very wry sense of humor. I recommend all, especially if you like music.