Rhapsody in Red
Rhapsody in Red book cover

Rhapsody in Red

Paperback – September 1, 2008

by
Price
$16.00
Format
Paperback
Pages
368
Publisher
Moody Publishers
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0802451163
Dimensions
5.75 x 1 x 8.25 inches
Weight
13.6 ounces

Description

From Publishers Weekly Two professors accused of murder on a Christian college campus must find the killer in a whodunit that plays to the beat of a unique soundtrack. The main character and narrator, Preston Barclay, suffers with musical hallucinations that started when his wife died and music passed from Faith's soul into mine. Repeated references to specific music he's hearing from his internal musicians distracts in this second novel from a war veteran with a Ph.D. in English literature. Barclay's female colleague is Wiccan, hired as part of the university's new policy of inclusion. Her blue gaze burns Preston, but their budding friendship intrigues. Suspended by the administration and suspected by police of killing a fellow professor, evidence mounts against the pair, even as they conduct a risky investigation of their own. While the style is usually witty and sensitive, puns and dialogue are overexplained, and prose tends toward the pedagogical. However, the ending has an unpredictable and satisfying twist, and both characters' journey toward faith will resonate with Christian readers. (Sept.) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. DONN TAYLOR (B.A., University of Mississippi; Ph.D., University of Texas) served in both the Korean and Vietnam War and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. For 18 years he taught literature and history of ideas at Wayland Baptist University in Texas and Jamestown (ND) College. He is the author of Rhapsody in Red, The Lazarus File , and Dust and Diamond: Poems of Earth and Beyond . He and his wife live near Houston and have three children and several grandchildren.

Features & Highlights

  • It was a bad day to find a corpse on campus. Preston Barclay is a self-made recluse (and he likes it that way). Teaching college history allows him time to grieve the loss of his pianist wife and find relief from the musical hallucinations that have been playing in his head since her death. But when he and headstrong colleague, Mara Thorn, discover the body of another instructor on campus, Press’s monotonous solitude is shaken up. When the preliminary evidence singles out Press and Mara, they must take some chances, including trusting each other, to build their own defense by bending the rules just a little bit. They form an unlikely alliance to stay ahead of the police, the college’s wary and incompetent administration, and whoever is trying to get away with murder. Or else they both might end up unemployed, behind bars, or worse...

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
30%
(67)
★★★★
25%
(56)
★★★
15%
(33)
★★
7%
(16)
★
23%
(50)

Most Helpful Reviews

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Interesting Plot, Lame Writing

I'd never known there was such a thing as a 'Christian mystery', but that's what we have here, set as it is on a Christian college campus. I picked this book up because I primarily write classical music CD reviews and the dustjacket blurb mentions that the main character in the book, Professor Preston Barclay, has classical music running in his head all the time and he comments about it. I thought that might be interesting. In fact, there were plenty of mistakes in the references to classical music and that became irritating to me. Add to that the really lame writing -- outright mistakes of facts, awkward transitions, non sequiturs, unconvincing characterizations, verbal quirks (why do all the women have 'blazing eyes'?), unbelievable coincidences, inept psychological motivations, and so on. Further, his description of a college campus and its denizens is completely unconvincing (unless, of course, 'Christian' colleges are totally different from any campus I've ever been on; and perhaps they are).

I toyed with putting the book down, not finishing it. But the plot was engaging and I truly wanted to find out how it turned out. And in that regard I was not disappointed. I'm glad I read the book, for the story and for the sport of finding a solecism on just about every page.

Scott Morrison
1 people found this helpful
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Dr. Barclay Is At It Again

Another fun mystery to solve from Donn Taylor. His novels come complete with musical accompaniment, and though I rarely recognized the tunes, I was usually able to discern the mood of the music from the text. I thoroughly enjoy Dr. Preston Barclay's adventures on university campuses. Am looking forward to his next one.
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Quirky and Mysterious

As usual, I enjoyed Donn Taylor's book Rhapsody in Red. His dry sense of humor and quirky characters are fun and yet there is excitement and thrills.
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Five Stars

Great read by a great author!! Love his books!
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Five Stars

I loved the book. Thanks,
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Christian Suspense

Rhapsody in Red, a Preston Barclay Mystery, by Donn Taylor is another fast-paced suspense story with a plot that keeps the reader guessing until the end. Preston Barclay is a college history professor, still grieving the loss of his pianist wife and preferring his solitary existence. With his daughter away at college, the, at times, unbearable loneliness is relieved by his satisfying interaction with his classes. A surprising request from a female faculty member, Mara Thorn, to confront another colleague about unwanted advances, places both of them at the scene of a horrific crime. Preliminary evidence points to Preston and Mara. It does not help that Preston has the reputation of being an odd sort (and no one even knows that he has musical hallucinations). Nor does it help that Mara is a specialist in comparative religions (and everyone does know that she is a Wiccan).

Thrust into the forefront of the investigation as the prime suspects, Preston and Mara form an unusual alliance to find the real culprit who focuses unrelenting and vicious attention on them. In order to stay out of jail and to retain their jobs at the university, they have to smoke out the killer and stay alive in the process. Retired history department chair and bored nursing home resident, Dr. Lincoln Sheldon becomes their sounding board and research assistant.

The author’s humor and witty phrases enhance the entertaining plot and dialogue. Taylor has a sequel to this book and several others in print also. I recommend this book which I received through TBCN in exchange for an honest review.
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Christian mystery novel

I love to read books written by Donn Taylor. He is a talented writer that keeps you enthralled and captivated in each novel. Always with well defined characters. I look forward to reading more of his books.

Preston Barclay teaches college history. Since his pianist wife passed away several years ago he has become a recluse and has hallucinations of music constantly playing in his head. Mara Thorn a Wican teaches in the department of religious studies. She asks Preston to escort her to a colleague's office which he is reluctant to do. When they arrive they find that she has been murdered and find themselves suspects in the murder investigation. They decide to do their on investigation to find the killer. As they try to prove they are not the killers they discover another body. Can they trust each other and work together? Will Preston find faith again and will Mara stay a Wican.
This unique mystery has a lot of twists an turns and keeps you guessing to the end. A great read. I recommend this book.

I received a free copy of this book from bookfun.org for my honest opinion and review

Review posted by Donna McGinnis
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Murder and Mystery at the University

Rhapsody in Red is another Christian suspense novel with a touch of romance by Donn Taylor that is well worth taking the time to read. Full of twists and turns, each chapter reveals something new that keeps the reader guessing until the end of the book. All the references to music were a little confusing since I am not a music major, but it did not distract me from being engrossed in the plot of the story. Preston Barclay is a professor at a Christian university teaching history and for three years has lived a solitary life grieving the death of his wife which was the love of his life. Her music dominates his mind, and he cannot even face going to church without her. His life is disrupted by another professor, Mara Thorn, a Wiccan hired to teach in the department of religious studies, when she asks him to escort her to a colleague’s office. On entering, they find the teacher’s body and end up in the pool of suspects. Preston and Mara must learn to trust each other and conduct their own investigation in order to clear their names and save their jobs. This adventure leads them through dangers of the additional murder of a student and losing friendships, their jobs, and even their lives. Will they be able to solve the murders? Can Preston overcome his grief to trust God and love? Is Mara a true Wiccan or will she rediscover a relationship with the Lord? I received a copy from the author and publisher of The Book Club Network in exchange for an honest review.
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Excellent Read!

This was an excellent book! I had a hard time putting it down because I couldn't wait to find out who the killer was!

Professor Preston Barclay is a college professor who keeps to himself. His wife has passed away and now he pretty much just teaches. But then him and a colleague find a body of another colleague. Since they found the body, they become the prime suspects. They form an unlikely alliance, and try to find out who the real killeris so they can clear their names.

This was a great inspirational suspense novel. I would recommend this to everyone. I can't wait until the sequel comes out! I received this book from bookfun for my honest opinion.
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On Target

As a university professor I was intrigued by the realistic description of the characters. I could imagine any of the characters as professors on my campus. I loved the music correlations for each character. There were great plot twists and an ending that was enjoyable. Reading this book helped me to begin reading for pleasure again. Thanks!

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