Daily Bow: From Concertmaster to Author

Former Associate Concertmaster of Utah Symphony Publishes Third Mystery Novel

Gerald Elias is a man of many talents. He was the associate concertmaster of the Utah Symphony for over twenty years, played first violin as a member of the Abramyan String Quartet, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of Utah School of Music. In addition to being an accomplished violinist, he is also the author of three published mystery novels, with a fourth on the way.

Elias’ novels are particularly interesting to musicians, especially string players. Each novel revolves around protagonist Daniel Jacobus, a blind violinist who solves murder mysteries that are set in the professional music world. In his latest book, Death and the Maiden, members of the New Magini String Quartet mysteriously disappear as they prepare for a Carnegie Hall performance. Backstage, the reader learns of the souring relationships of the quartet members following a lawsuit.

The two preceding installments, Devil’s Trill and Danse Macabre, have already sold numerous copies; Elais is currently on a six-week book tour and already has plans for future literary projects:

The upcoming fourth Jacobus mystery, Death and Transfiguration, is one his musical colleagues have been clamoring for, Elias jokes: It features the death of a conductor. The author also is contemplating possible future writing projects, such as a thriller set in Salt Lake City, as a well as a nonfiction book tracing a Paganini concert tour.

By joining the worlds of classical music and crime novels, Elias is giving musicians a new audience. Click below for more information about Death and the Maiden and read an interview with the author himself!

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/entertainment/52390975-81/book-death-elias-jacobus.html.csp?page=1