Mazurka

LeGarde Mysteries, Book 3

By: Aaron Paul Lazar

Narrated by: Lou Hecker

Music professor Gus LeGarde is about to embark on a European honeymoon with his new wife, Camille, when his socially challenged brother-in-law receives a mysterious invitation to visit an ailing relative in Germany. Siegfried can't travel alone, but the newlyweds have no qualms over bringing him along.

Unfortunately, their idyllic vacation takes a dark turn at the first stop in Paris, when Gus and Siegfried are caught in a bloody street brawl with a group of neo-Nazis - and a flawed news report frames Siegfried for the murder of one of their leaders, thrusting him into the deadly group's crosshairs.

After a narrow escape, Gus manages to bring his brother-in-law safely to Germany, where he hopes to both salvage the rest of the honeymoon and explore the shocking family secret that awaits there. But the events they've set in motion have far-reaching consequences, and the ruthless leader of the terrorist faction has lethal plans in store for Gus, Camille, and Siegfried - and ultimately, the world.

The author's alternate suggested listening order for the LeGarde Mysteries series:

1. Double Forté 2. Upstaged 3. Mazurka 4. FireSong 5. Tremolo 6. Don't Let the Wind Catch You 7. The Liar's Gallery 8. Spirit Me Away 9. Under the Ice 10. Lady Blues 11. Voodoo Summer

©2008 Aaron Paul Lazar (P)2016 Aaron Paul Lazar

The honeymoon from hell

From the terrifying weather their plane encounters on the way to Paris, to getting caught in a neo-Nazis street demonstration, our hero/heroine are not having an ideal honeymoon. Every time they think they've avoided trouble, something else happens. Hang on to your seat and enjoy the ride!

I received a free copy of this audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.

A Mystery Thriller..

Any additional comments?

This book had just about everything, honeymooning couples, a band of skinheads, with

several twists and turns.

The setting takes place in Paris and Germany and the author's descriptions were very vivid.

Overall, this book was an entertaining read.


Lou Hecker did well with the narration.

Note:
"This audio book was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review."

Mazurka

This is another installment in the Gus Legarde series.I love these books,but I am glad this is fiction!lol Lou Hacker is the perfect narrator.I was given this book free by the author,narrator or publisher.

Amazing listen!!!

This book was a suspenseful, satisfying page turner. The narrator smoothly transported you through the plot's twists and turns, hooking you from beginning to end. Highly recommend! 


I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily decided to review."

good

Loved it !! this story. the narrator is so fantastic it's like your really there!! good overall

Excellent Narration

Another great story in this series, dealing with neo nazis, bloony street fights, and his new brother in law who is challenged is targeted, by a news reporter err. Gus and Camille are on their honeymoon, and get caught in the circumstances of what is going on around them. The leader of the group is out for revenge against them now. Well written and enjoyed the narration bringing out the tension this was causing. Given audio for my voluntary review and my honest opinion

Listen to one Lazar story and you’re hooked.

I am not one to give a synopsis when I leave a review. That’s sufficiently done by the author. Instead, I prefer to give a vivid picture of the style, characters, storyline, and whatever intrigues me — or not — about the author’s work. In this story, Aaron Paul Lazar wove an action-packed thriller, taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride through Europe in MAZURKA: A Gus LeGarde Mystery.

I’ve come to love this author. He has plenty of books to choose from, but I haven’t had the opportunity to read other books in this series. Fortunately, that wasn’t a problem as Mazurka absolutely stands on its own. Lazar’s gift for storytelling keeps me wanting to read more.

One of my favorite things about this author is his description and writing style. I’m very visual and can literally see the characters come to life in my mind as I read Lazar’s work. I held my breath with the newlyweds—Gus LeGarde and Camille, his new bride and second wife— when their flight dropped in altitude and they prepared for a crash… and as they fought for their lives, lost in tunnels underneath a landmark.

I fell in love with Siegfried, Gus’s first wife’s brother, and a gentle giant. I rooted for him through his entanglement with the neo-Nazis and felt the emotion after the incident in Germany.

The thrills never stopped, except to give the reader a sigh of relief and a quick breath before moving onto the next tense situation. The author’s authenticity from music to scenery added to his historical knowledge of World War II and understanding of Neo-Nazis gives his tale a realistic storyline and setting.

As each chapter unfolds, new twists and turns abound with nail-biting suspense and passionate moments. But it wasn’t until the very end that I actually understood why the author chose the title Mazurka.

I highly recommend this enthralling story. One thing is for sure… You’ll want more.

The musical connection

Any additional comments?

Mazurka is a thrilling story that weaves family, suspense and romance threads together, only to bring forth the essence hiding underneath. As the title suggests, that essence, to me, is music. Gus, a music professor, states at the beginning, “Most days I played Chopin’s mazurkas, nocturnes, waltzes… My soul was being cleansed as my fingers danced over the ivories.” His late wife, Elsworth: had a passion for his music, too, instilled in her since childhood, so their love used to resonate on that note, as well.

On a honeymoon trip with his new wife, Camille, who has a history of abuse at the hands of her ex-husband, Gus is so gentle, so patient with her. Right from the start, this trip does not go as planned. “Hope glinted momentarily behind her long lashes util the plane quaked again.” The love scene is delicately described. Later, they visit places near and dear to his heart. “This is where he composed his last Mazurka, Camille.” And on second thought, he realizes, “I realized that when I sat at home in front of my old Mason and Hamlin piano and lost myself in one of Chopin’s melancholy nocturnes, I was closer to his genius than when I stood in front of this old building in Paris.”

But even in this romantic location, which is so vividly captured in this book, trouble is brewing, when they are faced, time and again, with members of a neo-nazi group. “There is a great deal of fear out there now, fear of those fanatics organizing and gaining some political momentum.” There are chase and escape scenes that will leave you hanging by your nails… Until, in the end, a revelation that harkens back to the musical theme, when they discover a precious, never before published manuscript by Chopin, for the woman in his life. Thus, love and music are woven together once more, even in the face of fear and mishaps. “My hand trembled as I held the precious manuscript under the light.”

The audiobook narrator, Lou Hecker, did justice to the writing, giving voice to Gus, giving a hesitant, soft voice to Camille, and endowing the other characters with different accents and intonations. I enjoyed his performance.

Highly recommended. Five stars.

Outstanding!!

This is a really interesting story to start with, but the great narrator makes it even better! The characters were so clear and so perfect for the characters!!

Reminded me . . .

As I listened to this book I was reminded that there will always be people in the world that want only their own views and goals to be accepted by others. They are willing to do anything and go to any lengths to eliminate those who are different or disagree with them. Philosophies such as those have started wars, killed millions and are slow to fade away. This story was a good example of that and though it was fiction it was a good illustration of what happens even today. I was reminded of what is going on in our country even now in 2020. May God protect us from repeating history!

This book in the Gus LeGarde Series was a lot more intense than the previous books I've read. Having said that, it was a thought provoking book. I don't know how I would have reacted had any Germans crossed my path; I was not born during WWII nor did I know any Germans during my childhood. I do remember my mother being very negative about the "Japs" when I was small, years after the war, though I think it was a general dislike because one of her best friends was a Japanese lady. I can understand the feelings of people who lost family members in the war. This story really brought to light that we need to be aware that this kind of thing is still going on with groups in our country at present, with many of them still promoting such plans and ideas the same as the Nazis. The story also offers a lot of positive thoughts about the people who work to stop the actions of these groups.

The story of family history is very interesting. Knowing that the personal family side is fiction, the historical information is fascinating. I am a true music lover and Chopin is one of my favorite composers. I've spent many hours at the piano playing his music. Also from the family perspective, the story is wonderful. It illustrates the true meaning and importance of family and family heritage.

I am definitely ready for more of this series! I should mention that the narrators that work with Mr. Lazar have been top notch!

I requested this audiobook from Audiobooks Unleashed and have voluntarily left this review.