A Glee-ful Murder

Murder for Choir by Joelle Charbonneau.

Meet Paige Marshall, a struggling opera singer. Frustrated at having turned 30 and not had her "big break", she takes a job as the new show choir coach at Prospect Glen High School, somewhere in the midwestern U.S. One of the reasons she's taken the job is that she's able to save on rent by living with her Aunt Millie, which is not really a hardship, except for Millie's standard poodle, affectionately nicknamed "Killer", who has taken a dislike to Paige.

Never having taught before, Paige is understandably nervous, especially when the choir members refuse to take her seriously. Her jitters increase when she finds Greg Lucas, the director of rival North Shore High's show choir seated at a piano with a microphone cord wrapped around his neck.

Paige is certain that the the student suspected of the deed is innocent, and not just because he's a star member of the choir. She sets out to prove his innocence, with the help of her aunt and some of the new friends she's making in Prospect Glen.

The story is much more about Paige than about show choir, which may disappoint those who are looking for something like the television show Glee.   But it's an engrossing story, and Paige is a congenial protagonist.  Even if you know nothing about music, you should enjoy this book.

As well as writing the Paige Marshall series, Joelle Charbonneau is the author of the Rebecca Robbins mysteries, set in the world of roller-skating and the young adult Graduation Day trilogy, coming in spring 2013. 






FTC Full Disclosure: Many thanks to the publisher, who sent me a copy of the book for review purposes.