A Fatal Overture

Praise for the Ella Shane Mysteries by Kathleen Marple Kalb:

“Romance, engaging characters, and a timely exploration of marriage and freedom.” —Kirkus Reviews on A Fatal First Night

“Readers who enjoy historical mysteries with a touch of romance will enjoy the period details and strong female characters, as well as Ella’s colorful parrot, Montezuma.”
—Library Journal on A Fatal First Night

“Kalb has clearly done her research, giving the reader a fascinating glimpse into the life of a fin de siècle opera singer. Cozy fans will enjoy this one.” —Publishers Weekly on A Fatal First Night

“Filled with period detail and well-drawn characters, including an intelligent parrot named Montezuma, this story provides a nice start to a series for those who enjoy feisty heroines in cozies with theatrical frames.” —Booklist on A Fatal Finale

“A fascinating novel, filled with facts about life in the fin-de-siècle of the Victorian Era, of the niche of women during that time, social commentary on the attitude toward not only Blacks but Jews and the Irish, the strictures of courtship, and a murder or two thrown in for good measure.” —New York Journal of Books on A Fatal First Night

“While this sequel to A Fatal Finale focuses less on the murder mysteries than on the relationships of our heroine and her circle of family and friends, it is another insightful look into the life of respectable artists at the turn of the 20th century. The intricacies of what is and isn’t acceptable in a courtship may seem strangely stilted to modern perspectives, but the sense of camaraderie and lack of racial or religious prejudice is refreshing.” —Criminal Element on A Fatal First Night

“A wonderful new series. Ella is an amazing character, an expert at fencing and cycling, besides her singing career. She is fiercely independent, having resisted all suitors, and wants to stay that way, even though people keep reminding her that, in her mid-thirties, she will soon be too old for motherhood. Kalb paints a vivid portrait of New York at the end of the 19th century…Highly recommended.”
—Historical Novel Society (Editor’s Choice) on A Fatal Finale

“Sparkling…A Fatal Finale hits the ground running, with lively storytelling, a great milieu, and wonderful characters…Kalb may be a debut author, but her storytelling skills are already top-notch…Fun, romance, swordplay, music, and a well-done mystery take the stage for an outstanding debut. Brava!” —Mystery Scene Magazine on A Fatal Finale

“A thoroughly enjoyable book, for both the plot centering around a still-contemporary malady, as well as its historical description of a world on the brink of a new century.” 
—New York Journal of Books on A Fatal Finale
 
“Appealing characters…Well-drawn opera-world setting.” —Publishers Weekly on A Fatal Finale



“An immersive romp in the life of a Gilded Age opera singer from humble beginnings...It sets the stage for a series that could explore the complicated career and interior life of an independent woman of the early 1900s.” —Criminal Element on A Fatal Finale
 
“In A Fatal Finale, Kathleen Marple Kalb raises the curtain on the tarnished glamour of the New York City theater scene in the Gilded Age, with a cast of characters so genuine and loveable you won’t want to leave them when the book is over. Bravo to this engaging debut! I look forward to encore after encore!” —Alyssa Maxwell, author of Murder at Crossways on A Fatal Finale
 
“Delightfully intriguing, A Fatal Finale is a Gilded Age gem of a mystery. Kathleen Marple Kalb has gifted us with a glimpse of behind-the-scenes opera at the turn of the 20th century and introduced us to Ella Shane, an unconventional diva, and the perfect plucky heroine. Readers will adore this immersive tale!” —Lydia Kang, author of Opium and Absinthe on A Fatal Finale