No mass appeal. Ergo no profit. Ergo no use. The current World Credo.

These words are found on page 48 of the paperback version of this book, published in 1980. Such perception! Such prescience! And how completely unfortunate for those of us who like to read something just a tad different from the latest techno-thriller.

This particular book is the second of a series of intelligent, witty, off-the-beaten-path mysteries set in the northeastern part of the US. It could almost be called a Nick-and-Nora type of book, except that the 'Nick' of this book is the erudite and somewhat crusty Charlie Greenfield, owner/editor of Sloan's Ford (NY) Reporter, a small-town weekly newspaper, and the 'Nora' is Maggie Rome, girl--well actually--star woman reporter.

There is no sexual hanky-panky between these two, however, as Maggie is happily married, and mother of two nearly college age sons. Charlie is a widower, and quite probably a misogynist. Or if not that extreme, he is content without a romantic interest.

In this book (and I'm off to the library to find the first one) the annual summer vacation of the newspaper office staff coincides with the opening of Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Considering that Charlie and Maggie are two thirds of an amateur string trio, their shared love of music proves the final enticement and prompts Charlie to accept the invitation of an old friend, a violinist in the BSO. Maggie is roped into driving Charlie to Tanglewood as his car is suffering a possibly fatal illness, and the two set off in her Honda for a supposedly brief, calm and musical holiday.

Once arrived at Wheatleigh, the Italianate mansion that is now a luxury hotel located almost adjacent to Tanglewood, an amazing assortment of characters are introduced. Some of them are important to the story, some are not, but they'll all keep your interest. Unless, of course, you are a devotee of the above mentioned techno-thrillers. If you prefer an icy glass of lemonade, a hammock on a summer's day, and an entertaining book to while away the hours, you'll not want to close this book before you've come to the startling conclusion.

All the clues are laid out neatly, as are the red herrings. If you're a fan of Ravel or Brahms, so much the better.

Consolidation is not better than diversity! To think this book might not ever have been published. Horrible thought!

Good writing is good writing is good writing -- wherever one finds it. Even if you're not a fan of mysteries, if you love witty and excellent writing, as well as unforgettable characters and clever plots, you won't regret reading this book. If you remember "Your Show of Shows" from television's golden age, you'll understand the high praise for this book, because the author was one of the writers of that masterpiece of wit and erudition -- the only woman so honored.

Maggie Rome is a woman that other women will enjoy reading about: she has a husband, two sons, a dog, a career, and occasionally fibs about her age--but only by three years. She is perceptive, a good cook, although a somewhat recalcitrant housekeeper, an amateur pianist of some capability, and the star reporter of the Sloan's Ford Reporter. The C. B. Greenfield of the title is the owner and publisher of the weekly paper in upstate New York, a cellist and music lover, and a man whose way with words and love of puzzles exasperates Maggie almost beyond bearing. Sometimes.

This is the first of five stories about Maggie and C.B.,--I'd already read one of the others--and have every intention of reading the others. In fact, I intend to search out all the books and add them to my collection; I need them handy to re-read when I need a pick-me-up. I wish that one of the publishers of mystery stories would bring them out again in new editions. Unfortunately, it would be too late for the author, whose pen was stilled in January 1999. We're all diminished by her passing.

The Tanglewood Murder is an excellant book, so well written everything is painted in your mind. There is some humour, suspense, and Ravel. I would reccomend this to anyone.