Victoria Morgan, violin virtuoso extraordinaire, and her devoted piano accompanist are on yet another European tour currently stopping in Vienna. While playing to a full house, Tory leaves the stage and disappears in the middle of this important concert, leaving behind a puzzled (and angry) audience. Why would a seasoned professional so intent on maintaining her well-established career do something so damaging? Especially after some very negative reviews from local press? Tory’s decision to leave proves to be especially fatal to her career, since the rumours of her disappearance involve the accusation that Tory has committed the brutal murder of a high profile Viennese figure. While the press continues to hound everyone who knew Tory for answers, it appears she is running from them, the police and her long-suffering husband Oscar Lukesh, affectionately known as Rocky. Or is she? The action is set around the appearance of a mysterious score for a recently discovered violin concerto of incredible worth. Is it truly by Beethoven as the owner claims, and will Tory be the first to debut this dream violin piece, or are all of these things just hollow promises and a way to bait a trap? Now it looks like it’s up to Rocky to help save Tory from herself and figure out who is committing the growing number of murders - if it really isn’t his wife.

The fact that Rick Blechta has been a musician all his life is clearly evident in his writing. He brings his musician’s viewpoint to the thriller genre in much the same way Dick Francis has used his experiences in the horse-racing world. All four Blechta novels, Knock on Wood (1992), The Lark Ascending (1993) and Shooting Straight in the Dark (2002) and his first RendezVous Crime novel, Cemetery of the Nameless (2005), have all been critically praised for the insider’s knowledge of the music world which he injects into his plots. Equally praised by the critics have been his engaging and memorable characters. Rick began his professional music career at the tender age of fourteen and had eclectic tastes right from the start. He’s accomplished on several instruments, has been a ”Rock Star“, conducted orchestras and even composed a well-received musical. His passion for music led him to emigrate to Canada from the U.S. in 1971 to complete a Bachelor of Music Education at McGill University in Montreal. Immediately after graduation, Blechta formed one of Canada’s finest progressive rock bands, Devotion, which went on to achieve legendary status across the country. A growing family and disillusionment with the music business led him back to the education field in 1977 for a one-year stint. Twenty-three years later he escaped, having taught instrumental music in Toronto schools and at the Royal Conservatory of Music. For the past thirteen years Rick has been very active in Crime Writers of Canada and is currently its president. In 2000 the CWC presented him with the Derrick Murdoch Award in recognition of his contributions to the organization.

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