Synopses & Reviews
Award-winning author Matt Rees takes readers to 18th centuryAustria, where Mozarts estranged sister Nannerl stumblesinto a world of ambition, conspiracy, and immortal music while attempting touncover the truth about her brothers suspicious death. Did Mozarts life endin murder? Nannerl must brave dire circumstances tofind out, running afoul of the secret police, the freemasons, and even theAustrian Emperor himself as she delves into a scandal greater than she had everimagined. With captivating historical details, compelling characters, and areal-life mystery upon which everything hinges, Rees—the award-winning authorof the internationally acclaimed Omar Yussefcrime series—writes in the tradition of Irvin YalomsWhen Nietzsche Wept, Louis Bayards The Pale Blue Eye, andPhillip Singtons The Einstein Girl to achievethe very best in historical fiction with Mozarts Last Aria.
Review
“Mozart fans and codecrackers will enjoy the clever musical riddle. A very readable historical mystery romp.” The Times (London)
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“Mozart, music, and murder seamlessly blend together in this fascinating historical mystery. A perfect read to go with a crackling fire and a pot of hot chocolate.” Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Girl
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“Rees nails the details of Mozarts Vienna with precision, seasoning his story with musical details that will delight fans of classical music. . . . A beautiful book lluminated by the authors own musical background that moves slowly and deliberately to a fine conclusion.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Engaging, well-paced. . . . Combining Dan Brown or Elizabeth Kostovastyle historical conspiracy theory with cozy detective novel, Reess latest offers a genuinely felt reverence for the power of Mozarts music and its lasting impact in the world.” Publishers Weekly
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“This absorbing Viennese soap opera is a solid choice for readers who like fiction about historical figures caught up in suspenseful intrigues such as Matthew Pearls The Dante Club or Gyles Brandreths Oscar Wilde mysteries.” Library Journal
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“A stunning combination of mystery and meticulously researched historical fiction. . . . A sweeping, gorgeously written book.” Tasha Alexander, author of < i=""> Dangerous to Know <>
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“An excellent choice for mystery fans and historical fiction readers.” Booklist
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“Matt Rees cleverly weaves music, crime, and conspiracy into a sumptuous historical whodunit, set against the decadent backdrop of 18th-century Vienna.” Marie Claire
Synopsis
The news arrives in a letter to his sister, Nannerl, in December 1791. But the message carries more than word of Nannerls brothers demise. Two months earlier, Mozart confided to his wife that his life was rapidly drawing to a close . . . and that he knew he had been poisoned.
In Vienna to pay her final respects, Nannerl soon finds herself ensnared in a web of suspicion and intrigue—as the actions of jealous lovers, sinister creditors, rival composers, and Mozarts Masonic brothers suggest that dark secrets hastened the genius to his grave. As Nannerl digs deeper into the mystery surrounding her brothers passing, Mozarts black fate threatens to overtake her as well.
Transporting readers to the salons and concert halls of eighteenth-century Austria, Mozarts Last Aria is a magnificent historical mystery that pulls back the curtain on a world of soaring music, burning passion, and powerful secrets.
About the Author
Matt Rees is an award-winning crime novelist and foreign correspondent. He is the author of the internationally acclaimed Omar Yussef crime series, including The Collaborator of Bethlehem. He is also the author of Cains Field, a nonfiction account of Israeli and Palestinian society. Matt lives in Jerusalem.