Book reviews

The Music of the Spheres
Elizabeth Redfern Book Review

Read a book review online (click here to search reviews)
Books Movies  
Sci-Fi/Fantasy Mystery/Thriller Literature Romance Biography Video
Elizabeth Redfern Books
New book search
Elizabeth Redfern Message Board
Get more information about this book
Plot Summary of The Music of the Spheres
"

Putnam, Jul 2001, 24.95, 420 pp.
ISBN: 0399147632

    By 1795 the impact of the French Revolution is being felt in all ways of life across the Channel, but especially among the Ton. England and France are at war, so the Home Office suspects the numerous exiles of conducting espionage in support of either Napoleon or a restoration.

    Home Office Agent John Absey earns a living searching for spies, but has little interest in his work except for applying his skills and experience on a personal matter. John is obsessed with uncovering the killer of his runaway teenage daughter. He soon discovers two similar murders. Evidence points towards the Company of Titius astronomers who claim they seek the missing orb between Mars and Jupiter. John forces his half-brother to help gain him entrance to the group. John soon begins to find a planet load of suspects, who might be using celestial numbers to transmit coded messages to France and who could also be hiding a serial killer among them.

    THE MUSIC OF SPHERES is an exciting Regency tale that contains a strong who-one-it and an even more powerful espionage subplot that deftly merge into a fantastic historic fiction. The story line provides layers of insight into the era, especially the rising interest in astronomy and the relationship between the English aristocracy and the French émigrés. John is an engaging character filled with guilt over his daughter, but uses guilt as a weapon to gain what he wants. Though at times the reader will feel they are drowning in the depths, Elizabeth Redfern has written a terrific tale that will delight cross genres fans.

Harriet Klausner
"

Harriet Klausner, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of The Music of the Spheres
Our unique search engine provides a wealth of detail about books by breaking them down into many different literary elements, all of which are searchable (click here).
Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
How difficult to spot villain? - Very difficult--no foreshadowing/clues
Time/era of story: - 18th century
Spying/Terrorism Thriller Yes
Cloak & Dagger Plotlets: - main char. spying/sabotage - stopping a saboteur/spy
What % of story relates directly to the mystery, not the subplot? - 40%
Kid or adult book? - Adult or Young Adult Book
Crime Thriller Yes
Murder Mystery (killer unknown) Yes
General Crime (including known murderer) Yes
Who's the criminal enemy here? - finding a known killer

Main Character
Gender - Male
Profession/status: - champion of justice
Age: - 40's-50's
How much violence does he/she use? - just the right amount
How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Main Adversary
Identity: - Male
Age: - 20's-30's
Profession/status: - killer
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in: - an average amount
Motive of antagonist - power
How sensitive is this character? - hard edged
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters
Physique - average physique

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK

Style
Person - mostly 3rd
Accounts of torture and death? - generic/vague references to death/punishment
How many deaths? - 2
Amount of dialog - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to The Music of the Spheres
Bone House by Betsy Tobin
An Experiment In Treason by Bruce Alexander
The One Thing More by Anne Perry
Rules of Engagement by Bruce Alexander
Interrupted Aria by Beverle Graves Myers


Click here for more information about this book




Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
Three ways to search for Thriller/Action books!

1) One-click plot searches! Simply click on a plot or subplot below!

Big vehicle disaster?

Crime Thriller

Disaster, natural or nuclear

Exploring into the wild

Horror Story?

Legal Thriller

Medical Thriller

Religious overtones?

Spying/Terrorism Thriller

War Thriller

Water adventure

Western



or 2) Simple lookup
(title or author)

or
3) Even more search options available with a Detailed Booksearch (click here)

Use our site!
17 FREE Sci-Fi Ebooks!
FREE "How to be happy" Ebook!
Funny Videos
Feedback


Most recent discussions:

General Book Talk
Book writing discussion
Off-topic message board
George W. Bush 7:52:11 PM
Robert Segarra 4:02:48 PM
Jane Rubino 1:21:00 PM
Deric Longden 12:40:32 AM
Anonymous 2:44:04 PM
Lori Wick 2:11:45 AM
Betty Mahmoody 5:57:33 PM
Patricia Cornwell 2:48:17 PM
Suzanne Weyn 2:21:30 PM
Andrew Clements 9:13:44 PM
General Discussion (All Topics) 2:00:07 PM
Mary Downing Hahn 1:51:06 AM
Mildred D. Taylor 6:14:50 PM
Margaret Peterson Haddix 10:02:22 AM
Jean-Francois Steiner 12:58:18 AM
Colin Forbes 8:47:01 AM
Lorna Freeman 6:03:18 AM
Jean M. Auel 11:12:54 PM
Mary Higgins Clark 2:18:10 PM
Slavomir Rawicz 8:34:47 AM

Silicon Valley
More message boards