Death on the High C's

by Robert Barnard

Opera singers are often described as being larger than life, and certainly this is true of Gaylene Ffrench. Her appetites—for men, for food, for attention—are gargantuan, and her ability to irritate is similarly outsized. So when someone electrocutes the bombastic Australian contralto, few tears are shed at the Northern Opera Company. In fact, most of the company members are dancing a jig, and it falls on Superintendent Nichols to determine which of them might have helped Gaylene along to her just reward. With so many potential suspects, Nichols has his hands full, but Barnard and his readers have a deliciously malicious good time.

Genres: Mystery, Procedural, Fiction

216 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

About the author

Aka Bernard Bastable.

Robert Barnard (born 23 November 1936) was an English crime writer, critic and lecturer.

Born in Essex, Barnard was educated at the Royal Grammar School in Colchester and at Balliol College in Oxford. His first crime novel, A Little Local Murder, was published in 1976. The novel was written while he was a lecturer at University of Tromsø in Norway. He has gone on to write more than 40 other books and numerous short stories.

Barnard has said that his favourite crime writer is Agatha Christie. In 1980 he published a critique of her work titled A Talent to Deceive: An Appreciation of Agatha Christie.

Barnard was awarded the Cartier Diamond Dagger in 2003 by the Crime Writers Association for a lifetime of achievement.

Under the pseudonym Bernard Bastable, Robert Barnard has published one standalone novel and three alternate history books starring Wolfgang Mozart as a detective, he having survived to old age.

Barnard lived with his wife Louise in Yorkshire.

Series:
* Perry Trethowan
* Charlie Peace

Reviews

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my second attempt at reading a Barnard book. The first attempt didn't go too well - the book got on my nerves and I gave up. Barnard tells a good story, but he can get pretentious and annoying at times. However, this one is fun and interesting with its portrayal of a struggling English opera company trying to put on "Rigoletto" when the singer performing Maddalena is murdered. She's such a delightfully nasty character you can't help but feel the killer should get a reward, an opinion echoed by more than one character:

“Pity,” said Mrs Hogben, shaking her head, “because it would have been so neat, and she did have it coming to her. And whoever did it, I’d hate to seem him actually suffer for it.”

It seemed to Sergeant Chappell that no murdered had enjoyed such universal sympathy since the gentlemen who robbed the Russian Imperial family of the counsels of Gregory Rasputin.

None of the characters are saints. In fact, they are all rather self-centered, including the young lovers, Calvin Cross and Bridget Lander, who is a rising star. The death of Gaylene Ffrench (born Gay French) is nothing more than an inconvenience to them. The motive for Gaylene’s death appears to be pretty simple – someone hated her enough to kill her. However, a second murder complicates matters.

Barnard’s constant fat-shaming is tiresome. Yes, we understand that Gaylene is overweight, but there’s no need to beat it into the ground. Barnard’s other weakness is that I never really cared for any of the characters. There’s always more than an element of satire in his books, and his characters tend to suffer for it by being rather cardboard at times. The ending falls a little flat as well, and I never entirely believed the reason for Gaylene’s murder. However, this is a fun, short read that is well worth a try.

[John Hardy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Bookfest I picked up this quite enjoyable murder mystery from 1977. The author has a nice way with words and also does quite natural sounding dialogue. The first murder takes place a third of the way through the book, the second shortly afterwards. If you want to try to guess the culprit, jolly good luck. There are traps to be avoided in the form of certain now commonly known authors' ploys. The first victim is so determinedly horrible that anyone might want her out of the way. The second victim seems quite a decent chap.
The police investigation is conducted by a detective superintendent and a sergeant - holy cow! Maybe all the DIs were on leave. They get a bit of a shock investigating suspects in a minor opera company - there's a fair bit of s - e - x going on, if you catch my drift. That's one of the four major motives for murder, isn't it?
Investigative procedures in those days mainly focused on interviewing suspects and checking alibis. The investigation drags on, seemingly getting nowhere, until one of the interviewees gives the super an interesting insight which puts him on the right track.
I had trouble deciding on a rating. At 250 paperback pages this is longer than many. The lead-up to the murder could have been shorter, but the author wanted to flesh out some characters and give a bit of information about opera. There's a modicum of humour throughout, a plus for me. In the end I think it's worth a 3.8.

[Cora · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, this was mildly enjoyable - the best bits were about the various characters who perform in the small regional opera company that provides the setting. There’s some sly humor, some of which is even actually funny, some not so much. Has a definite Ngaio Marsh flavor, with the abundance of ‘artistic types’. The solution falls very flat - there’s been essentially zero clues for the reader to attempt to figure out the solution. Some definitely problematic elements, lots of stereotyping of the various nationalities, and several racial slurs in the mouth of the unpleasant murder victim (who is portrayed as overweight, promiscuous, and entirely egotistical).

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robert Barnard may or may not have been an opera buff, but his Superintendent Nichols certainly is. That fact isn't revealed until he is well into his investigation of the murder by electrocution of a diva who is universally disliked. The strugglling Northern Opera Company is an interesting mix of real talent, histrionics, and backbiting; as usual, Barnard gives us some unforgettable characters. Nichols is struggling too, especially when a second murder occurs and he is convinced it is related to the first one. Self-effacing and hard working, I'm surprised that Barnard didn't write Nichols into other books.

January 2024: Just read this again and enjoyed it just as much the second time. I've passed it on to a friend who is a music student and has sung opera, and I'm looking forward to getting his take on it.

[Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book that delivers exactly what the back of book blurbs promises, and in spades at that! You don't have to be an opera buff to enjoy this mystery novel. I should have seen the twist at the end coming, but I didn't and it was a delightful surprise. The personalities were truly larger than life, each engaging and just suspicious enough to advance the plot and the puzzle. Many of them were flawed, and the satire abounds in this Barnard novel just as his others, but this one is just more fun somehow. That said, I have been reading a few Barnard lately and this will probably be my last for awhile, he's just too uneven, and it's ideal to end on a High (C) note!

[Jeff Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a long time fan of Robert Barnard I found "Death on the High C's" a little underwhelming . I find opera high brow and have no interest in the art form. The plot involves a company based in Manchester where Australian diva Gaylene Ffoulkes and doorman Sergeant Harrison dead on the same night. Ffoulkes had already upset many members of the cast with her behavior but the murder of her was still a shock. Superintendent Nicholls is brought in to investigate but the solution comes so far from left field that it takes the reader by surprise.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually finished this book back in March, but I forgot to get back to Goodreads.
I loved this book.
It's a very good mystery, with a great plot, great characters, an interesting setting, taught me some things about opera, and it's funny.
This is actually the second time I've read this book. I enjoy visiting Robert Barnard's books. Very entertaining.

[Lydia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Brilliant analysis of the opera, and those who dwell in that world. Clearly one of the author's loves enhanced by details about Rigoletto. Another dreadful woman well portrayed. Did Barnard know these women? The unpleasant, rude, offensive, profligate females appear often. One wonders...

[Ron Kerrigan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much opera, too many superfluous characters, too long a book and unsatisfying solution to the deaths. Except for some typical Barnard witty dialogue, this was a let-down. Might be more enjoyable to opera fans (especially Rigoletto).

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably my favorite mystery set among an opera company. A bitchy coloratura delights the rest of the company by getting electrocuted, but in return they have to put up with opera buff Inspector Nichols detecting as they rehearse. Some careers are taking off and others are winding down, and that might or might not be significant to the solution.

Read 9 times

[Gail · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a huge kick out of this book, as it spoofs the opera world none to gently. The plot relies on an intimate knowledge of a particular opera, but the careful reader will see the essential clue. Just a fun way to pass a bit of time.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Robert Barnard brings his characters to life with such ease that his stories are unforgettable.