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Mephisto Aria
At the height of her career, opera singer Katherina Marov is stunned by her father's suicide. Reading his journals, she learns of his dark days as a soldier on the Russian front and in war-torn Berlin. She cannot condone him for his crimes and secrets though, for while she is learning of his demons, she is discovering her own.
264 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2010
3 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Justine Saracen
14 books34 followersFrom the author's website: How a mild-mannered academic went astray and began writing lesbian fiction:
A recovered academic, Justine Saracen started out producing dreary theses, dissertations and articles for esoteric literary journals. Writing fiction, it turned out, was way more fun. With seven historical thrillers now under her literary belt, she has moved from Ancient Egyptian theology (The 100th Generation) to the Crusades (2007 Lammy-nominated Vulture’s Kiss) to the Roman Renaissance.
Sistine Heresy, which conjures up a thoroughly blasphemic backstory to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, won a 2009 Independent Publisher’s Award (IPPY) and was a finalist in the ForeWord Book of the Year Award.
A few centuries farther along, WWII thriller Mephisto Aria, was a finalist in the EPIC award competition, won Rainbow awards for Best Historical Novel and Best Writing Style, and took the 2011 Golden Crown first prize for best historical novel.
The Eddie Izzard inspired novel, Sarah, Son of God followed soon after. In the story within a story, a transgendered beauty takes us through Stonewall- rioting New York, Venice under the Inquisition, and Nero’s Rome. The novel won the Rainbow First Prize for Best Transgendered Novel.
Her second WWII thriller Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bright, which follows the lives of four homosexuals during the Third Reich, won the 2012 Rainbow First Prize for Historical Novel. Having lived in Germany and taught courses on 20th Century German history, Justine is deeply engaged in the moral issues of the ‘urge to war’ and the ease with which it infects.
Beloved Gomorrah, appearing March 2013, marks a return to her critique of Bible myths – in this case an LGBT version of Sodom and Gomorrah -- though it also involves a lot of Red Sea diving and the dangerous allure of a certain Hollywood actress.
Saracen lives on a “charming little winding street in Brussels.” Being an adopted European has brought her close to the memories of WWII and engendered a sort of obsession with the war years. Waiting for the Violins, her work in progress, tells of an English nurse, nearly killed while fleeing Dunkirk, who returns as a British spy and joins forces with the Belgian resistance. In a year of constant terror, she discovers both betrayal and heroism and learns how very costly love can be.
When dwelling in reality, Justine’s favorite pursuits are scuba diving and listening to opera.
A recovered academic, Justine Saracen started out producing dreary theses, dissertations and articles for esoteric literary journals. Writing fiction, it turned out, was way more fun. With seven historical thrillers now under her literary belt, she has moved from Ancient Egyptian theology (The 100th Generation) to the Crusades (2007 Lammy-nominated Vulture’s Kiss) to the Roman Renaissance.
Sistine Heresy, which conjures up a thoroughly blasphemic backstory to Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes, won a 2009 Independent Publisher’s Award (IPPY) and was a finalist in the ForeWord Book of the Year Award.
A few centuries farther along, WWII thriller Mephisto Aria, was a finalist in the EPIC award competition, won Rainbow awards for Best Historical Novel and Best Writing Style, and took the 2011 Golden Crown first prize for best historical novel.
The Eddie Izzard inspired novel, Sarah, Son of God followed soon after. In the story within a story, a transgendered beauty takes us through Stonewall- rioting New York, Venice under the Inquisition, and Nero’s Rome. The novel won the Rainbow First Prize for Best Transgendered Novel.
Her second WWII thriller Tyger, Tyger, Burning Bright, which follows the lives of four homosexuals during the Third Reich, won the 2012 Rainbow First Prize for Historical Novel. Having lived in Germany and taught courses on 20th Century German history, Justine is deeply engaged in the moral issues of the ‘urge to war’ and the ease with which it infects.
Beloved Gomorrah, appearing March 2013, marks a return to her critique of Bible myths – in this case an LGBT version of Sodom and Gomorrah -- though it also involves a lot of Red Sea diving and the dangerous allure of a certain Hollywood actress.
Saracen lives on a “charming little winding street in Brussels.” Being an adopted European has brought her close to the memories of WWII and engendered a sort of obsession with the war years. Waiting for the Violins, her work in progress, tells of an English nurse, nearly killed while fleeing Dunkirk, who returns as a British spy and joins forces with the Belgian resistance. In a year of constant terror, she discovers both betrayal and heroism and learns how very costly love can be.
When dwelling in reality, Justine’s favorite pursuits are scuba diving and listening to opera.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 9, 2014
I don't think it was just the pleasure of spending a cozy day inside with fluffy white snow falling outside as a backdrop that made Mephisto Aria such a terrific read. With a storyline steeped in opera and history, Justine Saracen's novel offers up suspense, romance, sincerity and wonderful writing. I am not well-versed in opera, but that didn't stop me from enjoying the world our main character Katherina Marov lives in; if anything it made me want to learn more about Faust and other operas referenced throughout Mephisto.
Mephisto Aria centers around Katherina's successful career as a singer and how she struggles in the aftermath of her father's sudden death. When she discovers a hidden journal among the things he left behind, her life is rocked when everything she thought she knew about her family history comes undone. As she does her best to move on with life and her agent keeps getting her new and bigger roles, she meets people bent on destroying her and people who want to help.
Katherina also falls in love along the way, possibly for the very first time ever, and not knowing what to do in the face of seemingly being rejected, gives herself even more passionately to the music that has always been such a huge part of her life.
One thing that surprised me about Mephisto Aria is how clever and original it is. By having the background focus so strongly on opera the forefront plot (with its diabolical elements) gains a palpable plausibility. Drama is saved from becoming melodrama because Justine Saracen is an amazing writer and because opera is the perfect set-up for everything that goes on. With Faust coming into play how can anything else seem ridiculous? It works beautifully.
Another plus: the novel contains an afterword from the author explaining the history behind her work, making this is a perfect treat for any day, snowy or not!
Mephisto Aria centers around Katherina's successful career as a singer and how she struggles in the aftermath of her father's sudden death. When she discovers a hidden journal among the things he left behind, her life is rocked when everything she thought she knew about her family history comes undone. As she does her best to move on with life and her agent keeps getting her new and bigger roles, she meets people bent on destroying her and people who want to help.
Katherina also falls in love along the way, possibly for the very first time ever, and not knowing what to do in the face of seemingly being rejected, gives herself even more passionately to the music that has always been such a huge part of her life.
One thing that surprised me about Mephisto Aria is how clever and original it is. By having the background focus so strongly on opera the forefront plot (with its diabolical elements) gains a palpable plausibility. Drama is saved from becoming melodrama because Justine Saracen is an amazing writer and because opera is the perfect set-up for everything that goes on. With Faust coming into play how can anything else seem ridiculous? It works beautifully.
Another plus: the novel contains an afterword from the author explaining the history behind her work, making this is a perfect treat for any day, snowy or not!
June 1, 2013
A gripping thriller about opera in the old divided Germany of the 1980s and the repercussions of events occuring during and after WWII. Also there are women dressed as men and renegade Russian and East German soldiers for our heroines to contend with, not to mention a man who styles himself after the operatic devil himself. Highly recommended and I'm sorry I took so long to pick it up off the To Read pile and that I don't have the author's other books (yet).
July 29, 2013
This is a very strangle, brilliant and uneven story. The writing is very good and the historical elements are excellent and very well handled, however, the almost supernatural ending had my alarm going off and ultimately made me downgrade my rating.
Maybe the mixing of the historical elements and the supernatural weren't a great fit for me, but I would still recommend as a "Good Read".
Maybe the mixing of the historical elements and the supernatural weren't a great fit for me, but I would still recommend as a "Good Read".
December 24, 2016
I'm torn between 3 stars and 4. The writing is brilliant, the majority of the plot is well thought out and engaging, and the afterword gives some historical insight into Soviet Russia and the DDR. Ultimately the rushed, forced, and saccharine ending brought my rating down.
October 25, 2015
2010 Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention (5* from at least 1 judge)
October 6, 2014
Pretty dreadful for reasons too many to mention
April 18, 2017
Lovely read. I am a sucker for historical fiction and this book I am well pleased. The finding herself after feelings of being used and realising indeed who she is with the historical backdrop makes for a wonderful read.
I do feel the last chapters where she gets saved by her lover seems rushed. ...the revelations all came at the same time
I do feel the last chapters where she gets saved by her lover seems rushed. ...the revelations all came at the same time
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews