Story Behind The Book
As a journalist, I first became intrigued by the story of Benjamin Franklin when the bank accounts he left in trust matured some years ago. They had mounted up to many millions and the banks with which he had deposited them had to negotiate a settlement with the cities who inherited the cash. What would happen, I wondered, if there was another account - an even bigger one, worth a billion? What would happen to the bank? What about the person who inherited it? It sounded like a great motive for murder! When I discovered that Ben Franklin had also invented an extraordinary musical instrument called the glass harmonica, and the instrument had been accused of driving people insane, I knew I had the makings of a juicy murder mystery. Much of the historical background of the book - perhaps surprisingly - is perfectly true. Anton Mesmer really was a virtuoso of the glass harmonica and really did attempt to cure his patients by playing to them. He really did cure concert pianist Marie Paradies of hysterical blindness. And one other thing I must mention. I’m indebted to a very beautiful and talented concert pianist for confiding in me her nightmare - that of walking onto the stage to play and finding herself with no clothes on!
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Reviews
<p><strong>When you're in love with a fictional woman, you know it's hard, 4 Mar. 2015 By Hal Marshall (From Amazon.co.uk - five stars)</strong></p> <p>"This is, without question, a superb literary effort. The next book I read will have to be out of a secret little compartment at the back of someone's 'top drawer' to be able to grab me like this one. And, let's face it - that's probably not very likely. Unless - or until - the hero of this book, Julia Franklin, reappears in future novels."<br /> </p>