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DEADLY CADENZA by Paul Myers

DEADLY CADENZA

By

Pub Date: Sept. 12th, 1986
Publisher: Vanguard

During a London recording session, young Israeli violinist Sandor Berman is shot dead by an unseen sniper--in the vivid, atmospheric opening chapter of Myers' second mystery (the first was Deadly Variations). Unfortunately, however, the action becomes increasingly routine and creaky thereafter. The dead violinist's manager, 50-ish Mark Holland (who just happens to be an ex-spy), is naturally bewildered by the Berman murder. His puzzlement increases when international mobster-types begin threatening him, when it turns out that Berman was mysteriously wealthy, when Berman's apartment is ransacked. Eventually, of course, it becomes clear that Berman was involved in drug-smuggling (yawn)--while dullish Mark, apparently irresistible to women, is slobbered over (""Mark, be careful!"") by two young lovelies, one of whom may be a secret femme fatale. Despite the welcome tidbits of music-business detail: bland, corny mystery-action, reminiscent of a run-of-the-mill TV episode.