Corpse de Ballet: A Nine Muses Mystery: Terpsichore

by Ellen Pall

Book Overview

It's not as if Juliet Bodine wishes that she'd stayed an English professor instead of becoming a successful romance novelist. It's just that writing, though interesting, is never easy, and she will do almost anything to avoid her desk. So she succumbs to the pleas of her friend Ruth, a renowned choreographer, to help translate Dickens' Great Expectations into ballet form. Watching the magnificent dancers work is fascinating. But Juliet soon finds...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312280335
• ISBN13: 9780312280338
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Minotaur Books
• Length: 276 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.8" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Brava! Encore!

Oh, to be an author of Regency Romance novels even half as successful as Juliet Bodine, otherwise known as Angelica Kestrel-Haven! But then, dreams are always wonderful to have, regardless. Even as successful as A K-H is in her work, the very real Juliet still finds boredom a steady visitor, and is always eager to do almost anything other than write. When her college friend, Ruth Renswick, a choreographer for the Jansch Ballet in Manhatten, asks for help with her new venture, GREAT EXPECTATIONS, based on the novel by Charles Dickens, Juliet is drawn in like flies to honey. And the readers are drawn in by the very realistic descriptions of life in and around a ballet troupe. This is the first of a new series on the nine muses; this one, of course, is in honor of Terpsichore, goddess of dance.Unfortunately, the lead male dancer soon turns up dead, and another college friend turns up as the investigating detective. Murray Landis is also a sculptor who plays a wicked game of softball on the side. The two of them--Juliet and Murray--dance their own pas de deux while sorting out the clues that lead everywhere but to the proper conclusion. If you've ever read any Regency novels by Fiona Hill, you'll be prepared for the excellent writing of Ellen Pall, her alter ego. If not, you'll have a wonderful treat with this very witty, very literate, very enjoyable mystery novel that doesn't believe in rushing around, working up a sweat, looking here, there and everywhere for clues. The dancers do enough of that, thank you, but you will also, no doubt, enjoy the vicarious pleasure of visiting Juliet's upper West-Side apartment. It's to die for! So pull up a cozy rocking chair, and settle in for some of the best word-play to be found in recent years. And don't be in such a big hurry that you'll miss any of the enticing and tantalizing hints of things to come. This was the first of a series; I'm really looking forward to book two! Which muse will it be this time?

Muse over Manhattan

Ellen Pall is an experienced writer (her literary novel, Among the Ginzburgs, is well worth reading), and it shows. Her characters are real enough to sit down and have a cup of coffee with; the plot is tightly-knit as well as informative about the way a choreographer interacts with the dancers to create a complete ballet. Juliet Bodine, the protagonist, has a great Upper West Side apartment, complete with Hudson river views and the wry Manhattan view of life to go with it. This is a strong debut, and I look forward to reading the future books inspired by the remaining eight muses.

Outstanding mystery--ballet, regency romance, and murder

Juliet Bodine will do almost anything to avoid having to write her overdue regency romance so, when her friend Ruth calls for help with her choreographing a ballet of GREAT EXPECTATIONS, Juliet jumps at the chance. She helps her friend with the story but can't stop investigating the strange 'accidents' that seem to be happening. Or are they really accidents.Although even her romantically interested NYPD detective doesn't believe her, Juliet believes that she is on the trail of murder. Author Ellen Pall has created a wonderful story. Its depiction of the ballet industry, with its narcissistic dancers, petty (and not so petty) intrigue, and constant sexual tension is completely believable. Its depiction of the life of a romance author is also wonderful although unfortunately few regency authors earn enough to enjoy the lifestyle that Juliet does. Pall does a fabulous job with her characters, making each come to life.I highly recommend this excellent novel.

A superb overture to what I hope will be a long series

Corpse de Ballet is an excellent book. Its mystery elements are a bit weak, but that does not matter. The book's virtue lies in the fact that it is both extremely well written and a remarkable portrait of the world of ballet. One rarely gets any trip behind the scenes of a ballet production, let alone the vivid excursion this book involves. So well-written is this portrait that the reader cannot tell whether the author loves ballet for its art and beauty or hates it for the terrible physical and emotional tolls it imposes on its practitioners. One must surely call into question the value of any art form that requires that its adherents be both anorexic and cut-throat and that ultimately physically and emotionally destroys those who choose dance as a career. Another aspect of this book worthy of note is the relationship between the two detectives. I will enjoy watching what is clearly an incipient romance develop. Ellen Pall is clearly experienced in the art of creating a convincing romance. Indeed, so well-written. .... .... ....