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Murder Backstage
A Joseph Haydn Mystery
by Nupur Tustin
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Murder Backstage: A Joseph Haydn Mystery
Historical Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – In Vienna’s Burgtheater in the eighteenth century.
Foiled Plots Press (July 6, 2022)
Print length : 348 pages
Digital ASIN : B0B34548N5
When murder propels him backstage, Haydn is forced to confront a deadly killer. . .
When the Burgtheater’s impresario unexpectedly meets his maker, Joseph Haydn is relieved to learn no one expects him to look into the matter. The impresario was murdered—and the Salzburger believed to be the killer is already behind bars.
But the impresario’s untimely death is not without consequences. Haydn’s employer insists he take over the dead man’s duties. Handling the tedious technical details of putting on an opera is bad enough. Confronting the suspicious behavior backstage is even worse.
Is an innocent man being sent to the gallows? Haydn is plagued by the question when his brother Michael confirms his worst fears. The Salzburger arrested for the murder is none other than Leopold Mozart—father of the well-known child prodigy currently in Vienna.
Now, egged on by Michael—a close friend of the Mozarts—Haydn must prove Leopold innocent. Or risk his brother’s ire forever!
Praise for the Joseph Haydn Mysteries:
“Tustin orchestrates a concerto of intrigue and deception . . .”
– Anna Lee Huber, Lady Darby Mysteries
“A standout in the genre of historical mysteries . . .”
– Midwest Book Reviews
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Enjoy this peek inside:
Haydn, expecting to be commanded to look into the impresario’s untimely death, is pleasantly surprised to learn he isn’t required to investigate the matter. But his relief is short-lived. What his employer, Prince Nikolaus, expects him to do is far worse:
“The incident, Haydn, is tragic,” Prince Nikolaus said, his voice firm, “but, at the end of the day, a mere trifle. The opera must continue.”
“I-I could not agree more,” Haydn stammered, astonished and relieved at the same time. The worst appeared to be over. No one expected him to look into Affligio’s demise. In fact, the Prince’s nonchalant reaction suggested a natural death.
There would be some slight inconvenience, the Kapellmeister had no doubt. It would mean meeting and coordinating with a new impresario. But the new man could hardly be more difficult to deal with than Affligio.
“Has His Majesty given any thought as to who will replace Herr Affligio?” he asked.
The Prince’s lips tightened. “That is just it, Haydn. There will be no replacement.”
“No replacement? How, then, does His Majesty expect the opera to continue?”
In addition to providing a suitable libretto and singers, the impresario was expected to arrange for costumes and scenery and to take charge of illuminating the theater. It was a vast undertaking, and for all that he had been a difficult person, Affligio had handled the technical details immensely well.
It was the one aspect of the performance that had caused Haydn no concern. The stage machinery, lighting, and scenery would be as spectacular as that in Eszterháza.
The Prince’s eyes narrowed. “Continue it will, Haydn. It must. I have offered to take care of it myself.”
“Yourself?” Haydn repeated, feeling like an echo. His mind boggled at the thought of the Prince taking himself backstage to direct stagehands and crew.
“We have staged many an opera, Haydn. And what impresario have we had to help us?”
That was true enough, although Eszterháza had both an opera director and a stage and costume designer to bring their productions to life.
“Your Serene Highness means to send for Herr Porta?” Haydn’s hopes began to rise. With Nunziato Porta at his side and Pietro Travaglio and, who knew, a soprano or two that might also be smuggled in. Why, the opera could be an astounding success!
“Porta is on a leave of absence. As is Travaglio. I cannot send for either of them.”
“On leave? But why?” Haydn blurted out the question, the impropriety of it escaping him until the words had already fallen off his tongue.
But the Prince fortunately took no offense. “There was no reason not to. It will be a month or more before we return to Eszterháza.”
“Then”—Haydn passed a handkerchief over his forehead, mystified—“who is to take on Herr Affligio’s job?” They could do without a stage and costume designer. But a director—in particular one as well-versed in the technical aspects of opera production as Porta—was a necessity.
“Why, you are, Haydn. Who else is there to do the job?
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About Nupur Tustin
A former journalist, Nupur Tustin misuses a Ph.D. in Communication and an M.A. in English to orchestrate mayhem in Joseph Haydn’s Austria and to paint intrigue in her Celine Skye Psychic Mysteries about a psychic who takes on the outrageous and still unsolved Gardner Museum theft! In addition to being a storyteller and avid mystery fan, Nupur is a wife and homeschooling Mom who’s recently become a Christian.
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Great cover
Thanks, Nancy! I hope you enjoyed the excerpt as well.