A graduate of Yale, Gerald Elias has been a Boston Symphony violinist, Associate Concertmaster of the Utah Symphony since 1988, Adjunct Professor of Music at the University of Utah, first violinist of the Abramyan String Quartet, and Music Director of the Vivaldi Candlelight concert series.His novels include Devil's Trill, Danse Macabre, Death and the Maiden, and the recently released Playing With Fire.
From the author's Q&A with Lance Gudmundsen for the Salt Lake City Weekly:
Describe Daniel Jacobus, the novel's protagonist.Learn more about the book and author at Gerald Elias's website.
Jacobus is crusty. He's an old, blind, cantankerous violin teacher who yearns for seclusion. Deep down—way deep down at times—he has a heart of gold and an uncanny Holmesian knack for ferreting out nefarious criminals of the classical music world.
What's the mystery Jacobus tackles in Playing With Fire?
In the high-stakes world of multi-million-dollar violin dealing, buyers and sellers are occasionally led down the path of temptation. In the novel, a small-time violin repairman goes missing—and his shop is burned to the ground. It's up to Jacobus and his pals to figure out what happened. Without giving anything away, it ain't good.
Is Jacobus patterned after anyone you've known?
The visual image is based partly upon...[read on]
The Page 69 Test: Devil's Trill.
The Page 69 Test: Danse Macabre.
My Book, The Movie: Devil's Trill and Danse Macabre.
The Page 69 Test: Death and the Maiden.
My Book, The Movie: Playing With Fire.
The Page 69 Test: Playing With Fire.
Writers Read: Gerald Elias.
--Marshal Zeringue