"Taking the form of a concerto, this second novel from Mario (Firebird) is divided into three action-packed emotional movements. Consumed by grief, recently widowed Madgalena O'Shea is disengaged from her life as a concert pianist. When her best friend Sofia is murdered and her godson disappears, Maggie becomes embroiled in a conflict that is at once global and deeply personal. ... Read moreThe agent investigating Sofia's death shares with Maggie a photograph recently taken in Paris and a recording of an unpublished concerto. She recognizes the piece as a composition by her first love, lost in war-torn Beirut 30 years ago yet impossibly alive in the Paris photo. Vowing to find her godson and the truth, Maggie hastens to France, unaware that the trail she follows will lead to stolen art, musical artifacts, criminals, and terrorists.VERDICTMusic is not just backdrop here but also a character that permeates Maggie's life. With the help of a vigilant retired colonel and bolstered by the transformative power of classical music, Maggie finds what has been lost, including herself. Brava!"
-Library Journal (Starred Review) "With a musician's attention to the emotions that help us create a picture of our world, Helaine Mario weaves imagery with a thrilling plot."
-ForeWord Reviews "Picturesque, passionate and pulse-pounding, Helaine Mario's second novel is a gem of a thriller that has the taste and aroma of a perfectly blended wine. The author has given us entrances into classical music, art theft, terrorism, clandestine government operations and romanceâ¦This is a bravura thriller performance from a writer whose lyrical prose works well in counterpoint to the music aspects of the story line. She hits all the right notes."
-Florida Weekly Holy smokes, this story takes a reader on an intriguing journey! There are twists and turns that one never sees coming, making this a real page turner. Even after having to set it down for a few days, one will pick it back up and be sucked right back in. Mystery, murder, intrigue, terrorism, stolen music and artifactsâ¦.there is a lot going on in this story, but Ms. Mario keeps the flow going so well that it's easy to keep track of all the players. Maggie is heartbroken but finds the strength she needs even in the face of danger, and a love interest to help her find her way back to lifeâ¦sigh. Brava Ms. Mario, Brava!!!"
-InD'tale Magazine "It's powerful and evocative. It's also brutal and graphic at times, sparing the reader nothing. Other times, it's funny and poignant. And throughout the whole winds a love of music that is tangible. The Lost Concerto might not follow genre conventions, it might play games with what the reader knows that are author intrusion in keeping secrets even when we're in the POV of characters who know, but the story itself is one to keep you reading, the flaws minor in comparison to the power of deep characters and complex situations."
-Tales to Tide You Over Picturesque, passionate and pulse-pounding, Helaine Mario's second novel is a gem of a thriller that has the taste and aroma of a perfectly blended wine. The author has given us entrances into classical music, art theft, terrorism, clandestine government operations and romanceâ¦This is a bravura thriller performance from a writer whose lyrical prose works well in counterpoint to the music aspects of the story line. She hits all the right notes.
Florida Weekly "At the start of this suspenseful, heartrending novel from Mario ( Firebird ), Sofia Orsini and her young son, Thomas, are in flight from Sofia's husband, Victor, the target of U.S. Justice Department special agent Simon Sugarman, who suspects Victor of funding an impending terrorist attack on American soil. Sofia and Thomas take refuge in a church on an island off Brittany, where a killer strikes Sofia down. Thomas disappears. Ten months later in Boston, Simon uses some devious arguments to persuade recently widowed music shop owner and concert pianist Maggie O'Shea, Sofia's closest friend and Thomas's godmother, to help him locate Victor and the missing boy. Maggie becomes ensnared in a perilous game of cat and mouse that moves between France and America and brings her into contact with murderers, terrorists, and CIA agents. Musical artifacts and stolen art also figure in the action, which builds to a highly satisfying resolution...fans of romantic thrillers will be enthralled." (July) Publishers Weekly As tension mounts, it is so easy to put yourself in Maggie's shoes. The Lost Concerto by Helaine Mario races to a conclusion that kept me almost breathless. Maggie's determination and courage drives this work to an ending I did not expect But one that was the right one. Don't miss The Lost Concerto ." Bookloons.com "An island off the coast of France. the perfect place for a young mother and her son to hide
until there is a murder and the little boy disappears. Maggie O'Shea is horrified to hear of the disappearance of her godson. She is still trying to get over the deaths of her husband and best friend. An old photo that puts Maggie in mind of both the lost boy and her first love sets Maggie on a trail that will take her to a French music festival where she will encounter international terrorist plots, recall a lost love and finally understand her husband's death." Five Stars Books For Avid Readers "Ostensibly the story of a search, this book is much more, as we learn about the world of classical music, lost art seized by the Nazi's in World War II and unending international intrigue. Maggie's deceased husband, numerous CIA agents and counter agents, as well as the missing father of her now adult son all play interesting parts in the story. With a full cast of characters, this novel is evocative of its many locales, fast-paced and full of excitement that never stops. Helaine Mario is a talented writer who spins a compelling tale that is hard to put down, especially for lovers of intrigue told with a cosmopolitan and historical flair. There are terrorists, doubles crosses, CIA agents, blackmail and danger galore as Maggie tries to make sense of what has happened and is happening. I found this book very difficult to stop reading, to the detriment of my much needed sleep! When the novel ends in a crescendo of excitement, we can only hope that Maggie O'Shea will have further adventures and we will have another opportunity to experience the world of international intrigue through her prism of music, extraordinary intelligence and compassion." Rants, Raves, & Reviews "The Lost Concerto is a unique mystery intricately entering the world of professional musicians while still maintaining the passion for the music, her loyalty to her godson and friend, and the story. Each page masterfully unfolds to reveal a small piece of this intricately woven puzzle into an outstanding novel with realistic characters who are driven to their limits in achieving what they believe is right." Midwest Book Review Show Less