Requiem for a Mezzo

A Daisy Dalrymple Mystery

By: Carola Dunn

Narrated by: Bernadette Dunne

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's Summary

With dashing Scotland Yard Inspector Alec Fletcher at her side, Daisy is enjoying a delightful performance of Verdi's Requiem, featuring her neighbor Muriel Westlea's celebrated sister, Bettina. But when all that emerges from the doomed diva's vocal chords is a dying gasp, Daisy soon discovers that the notoriously difficult opera star had her share of adversaries; among them a smugly philandering tenor, a burly Russian bass, and even her own vocal coach husband, with whom she shared a hardly harmonious marriage.

Did one of them fatally poison the acclaimed mezzo? Or is someone else determined to see that Daisy's investigation ends on as bitter a note as Bettina's fateful last performance?

©1996 Carola Dunn (P)2006 Blackstone Audio Inc

Critic Reviews

"Dunn describes 1920s London and the characters in detail and highlights the interplay between Alec and Daisy. A snug read." (Library Journal)

Pleasant Listen

A very nice listen, a goog mystery for drve time.

Light, easy and entertaining

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook because the story is entertaining, the narrator has captured the essence of the story and the characters.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Requiem for a Mezzo?

I really enjoyed when Daisy and Alec went out for dinner.

Which character – as performed by Bernadette Dunne – was your favorite?

Of course the main character, Daisy Dalrymple and Alec Fletcher are the usual favorites but I do like Daisys roommate Lucy.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I would have loved to sit and listening to the whole story but unfortunately I could not.

Any additional comments?

I would like to see all of the Daisy Dalrymple books in audio.

Daisy rides again!

These books are lightweight and very enjoyable. Ms Dunn does a fabulous job writing about the music in this book. The regular characters, Daisy, the heroine, Lucy, her BFF, Alec, the dashing Inspector, and his policemen are well rounded. The new characters for the mystery are interesting and you actually care about them. I did figure out "whodunnit" but that didn't take away from my enjoyment. Bernadette Dunne did a nice job with the many voices. I saw a comment that didn't care for her voices but they suited the story, at least for me.

Please get the rest of the series in audible!

Love Daisy. Why only four of the books available? And such a big gap between book three and book ten or so?

Couldn't listen to narrator

I enjoy this series when reading silently, but I couldn't listen to even one hour of this narrator. She acted out the characters' voices, making them whispery and simpering, and I think if she had just read it straight in her natural voice, it might have been ok. I hate to write something negative, but I wish I had known about this. Maybe, if it didn't make the site too slow, we could try out 4 min. or so of a book before buying??

another fun installment

as is usual with this series you dont have to read the previous books to understand the story (though some of minor characters like Phil will befog). the voice actor again knocks it out of the park delineateling characters and emoting well. excellent audio production quality. the mystery makes sense, the clues are well presented, and everything works. my main quibble is the book spends a lot of time building up the main chatacter meeting her boyfriends daughter and mother at tea and we dont get to see the scene. Considering how much time is spent mentioning the tea, the characters worries about meeting the family, and so on this makes the lack of fhe scene noticeable even though it is unrelated to the murder Also i would have enjoyed a scene of Phil reacting to some good news. honeslty, while the mystery is good the last chapter feels veru rushed in regards to a lot of relationships that were built in this novel.

Love this series!

A lovely gentle little murder mystery. I’ll definitely be back for more Daisy. Happy to say the narrator has done much better with the accents this time round too.

Best yet

This is the third in the series Ive read and her best developed characters and story yet..and opens up a new relationship between Daisy and Alec. Plus a look into the London music opera scene. High recommendation for the series..

Still going great!

This series is still awesome. I give this story a 4 instead of 5 because I was not keen on the subject matter, but give a 5 rating overall since that is only my issue—the book is great!

Thank you Miss Dunne’s is back—and w it Daisy’s affect!!

It was wonderful to have Ms. Dunne back to give this delightful, lively, young woman the lively, feeling and nuanced voice she deserves! After the stiff dry stilted presentations of Raynor’s read making listening miserable and making this character practically unrecognizable, stiff, and colorless. The author’s story never disappoints, following faithfully in the style of the best mysteries and paying careful attention to relationships, details of ambience, and possible sub-plots! I recommend this book to the lovers of Daisy and to those who would love to get to know her! Although if you are starting out “Death at Wentwater Court” is definitely the place to start!

Requiem for a Mezzo

Interesting enough book. But the irritating false British accent of the narrator detracts completely from the plot.

Hear the sample before you buy...

I didn't and I could kick myself. I can't move beyond the silly accent, it keeps grating on my nerves and what should have been a very enjoyable few hours (at least based on the first Daisy Dalrymple mystery which I read in paperback) has turned into a painful chore. I'd rather it was read in an American accent or whatever the reader's native accent is, than this farcical attempt at English RP. Sounds to me like it could only be passed off as an English accent to any other than an English audience. Maybe this was aimed at the American market? I rate it two starts for the narration, not the book which I shall have to read in paperback.

Great

Great story. Another tantalising mystery with twists and turns. Would recommend. Good easy listening and very good to follow

Read it, don't listen.

Passage is not pronounced parsage, Derby is pronounced Darby, enquiries is not pronounced en-qeeries, dashing is not pronounced darshing. Too, too annoying that too many times where English words that are supposed to be pronounced by an aristocratic lady are mis-pronounced.

Proper English pronunciation, please!

Stories are enjoyable but pass age instead of passage and marmalard instead of marmalade and many others are very distracting.

Change of narrator needed

I don't know what nationality the narrator is, but I suggest unsuitable for the Upper Class young ladies of the story.

Other than that, another enjoyable book in the series. I particularly enjoy reading them in order as the unfolding of the relationship between Alec Fletcher and Daisy is one of the best features.

You get used to the funny accent

Once you get used to the reader's funny accent she is really very good and brings all the characters to life. Don't be too put off you soon get used to it. The stories are a bit whimsical but a very easy listen. Excellent for those moments of stress when you want something light! And of course you want to know what happens to Daisy next...