This is an unknown author to me but this book is worthy of the term "classic crime".  The story starts slowly but builds into an intriguing mystery and all the twists and turns are unravelled at the end - with the obligatory red herrings thrown in along the way.  I, for one, will be looking out for more of her work in the future and I would  recommend her to fans of this genre.

I was delighted to be given a copy of this novel by NetGalley for review purposes.  It has been reissued by Agora Books as part of their Uncrowned Queens of Crime series and is the first novel I have ever read by this author. All I can say is that Ms Newman has definitely earned her place in this collection and I truly hope that she was a prolific writer as I am now a fan. The plot is intricate and begins with a murder which takes place during the closing moments of a choral mass during it’s first performance. The detective,  Superintendent Simon Hudson, is in the audience as his girlfriend is in the choir and she assists him in his investigations. However the murders continue and everyone on his list of suspects seem to have secrets.
I was hooked from the first page and couldn’t put the book down. Having read an inordinate amount of crime novels in my time,  I consider myself a pretty good detective but this story had me fixed. Every time I decided that the murderer must definitely be X, I was proved wrong and when I reached the end I discovered that the murderer was someone I had ignored from the start. The book is well written which is an important aspect for me and is very much of it’s period. I loved it and would happily recommend it to all those who love detective stories from the Golden Age.

Seemed similar to Christie's Tommy and Tuppence books, except it's in the 50's instead of the 20's or 30's. And yet it managed to seem more dated! The romance is just as sweet, as the investigating policeman tries to find out who killed the conductor of his sweetheart's Choir orchestra. Perhaps too often he says things to her like, "Well, it's against policy, but sure, you can come along." I don't think that would fly with today's experienced readers. It did pick up half-way through, both in method of investigation and in the pace of the book. Not exciting, more of the old puzzle type than most modern murder novels. I started with three stars, but I was finally engaged in trying to figure out whodunnit, so I added one. It's not what I'd call "classic", but a nice little story to read with a cup of tea or glass of port.

This mystery was published in 1959 by Margaret Newman, who was a prolific author, publishing under a number of pseudonyms and writing in different genres.  I haven’t explored her work before, but she is, apparently, best-known for her historical novels, under the name Anne Melville.

I am not sure whether she wrote any more mysteries, but I would hope she did, as this was a really enjoyable surprise.   It involves Detective-Superintendent Simon Hudson, who is in his late thirties, but seems older, and who was widowed at just twenty two, after only four months of marriage.  If we assume the novel  is set in the year it was published, this would have meant he was widowed in 1943, so that his loss could have been due to the war and, indeed, the shadow of WWII is still very obviously relevant to many of the characters in this book.

Our detective has recently found happiness again with Delia Jones, who is part of a large, London choral society.   She is, indeed, on the Metro’s Committee, and Hudson happily drops her off, and picks her up, from meetings. It is on the way to a meeting that we first meet them.  The ‘Old Man,’ Evan Tredegar, has written a mass, to be produced at the Festival Hall, and broadcast by the BBC, in December.   Of course, we have a group of people in the Committee, who will go on to be our suspects and who have a wide range of secrets, feuds, nursed grievances and tangled relationships.  Most of the grievances are aimed towards Owen Burr, the assistant conductor, who is so keen to have the best, musically, that he has a tendency to stamp on people’s feelings to get what he wants.  

Of course, music, as the title suggests, leads to murder and it is up to Hudson to unravel the various suspects, and motives, to find the truth.   I liked Newman, and Delia, very much.  The setting was interesting, and the cast of characters gave lots of scope and made the murder investigation really enjoyable to follow.   A very enjoyable mystery, for anyone who enjoys a character driven mystery, with a good setting and a Golden Age feel.  I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

This delightful book makes me remember why these authors are called the Golden Age. It is well crafted as far as puzzle goes and equally delightful regarding characters. I am, of course, looking for more titles by this author. Margie Disque

A fun classic crime mystery set to a background of music. A quick read without hurting the brain cells.

Here's a crime novel from 1959 which has dated well and is still highly readable.
Margaret Newman never found the fame of her contemporaries, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh and Margery Allingham - but this novel has as much wit and charm - as anything written by those great Queens of Crime Fiction.
Amidst all the social niceties one would expect at a London Choral Society, and a detective charmed and in love with one of its members, a murderer strikes.
This isn't one of those cosy crime novels best lost in the mists of time. There's a second, most unpleasant death and the story touches on several controversial themes of the time: capital punishment, judicial execution - and an Austrian refugee who has set himself up as a doctor with a 'cure' for homosexuality.
This is a pitch perfect read for any fan of classic crime fiction.

The plot is intriguing, the characterizations and relationships fairly well done. However, Newman gives away the identity of the murderer and their motive, with multiple easily spotted events and statements. Now normally that wouldn’t really bother me, but it happened so early on that the rest of the story felt like one long anticlimax. Newman could have used it to her advantage, using it as a sort of cat and mouse game, buuuut she didn’t. 

In short, this was just an ok kind of read for me.

This was a new author to me and I have to say, I really enjoyed this book.  It was engaging and creative.  The perfect read for a time of isolation and anxiety. The only thing better than a locked room murder is one in front of a crowd.  And I adore these older books because the cases are solved not through technology, but sheer doggedness and intuition on the part of the investigator.  Perhaps it can be put down to a bit distraction due to our current situation, but it did take about 2/3 of the way through the book before I cottoned onto what the murder was really about.  I definitely recommend!

Thank you to Agora Books and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

What a wonderful find. Margaret Newman mysteries are such fun - well developed characters, interesting settings for the plots (I learn something every time), and enough twists to keep you guessing. A great example of golden age mystery. Highly recommend for lovers of this genre.

Clever, twisty murder mystery centering on a murder during a concert. I was guessing right up until the end and I liked the dynamic of the detective and his girlfriend who was in the choir. Don’t think I’ve read any Margaret Newman before but would happily read more if they’re as smart as this.

My thanks to Crime Classics and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book by Margaret Newman an author who is sadly no longer with us. The book starts with introductions to the main characters, in this case an amateur choir. One of the characters Delia just happens to be going out with a policeman called Simon Hudson, he is invited to their concert where the conductor Owen Burr is shot. At the time due to the noise of the orchestra and the applause nobody realises that a murder has just been committed. It is only when he falls from his dais that people realise something is wrong, they think he has only fainted but are soon faced with the question of who did it! Follow the case as the police question the suspects. Absolutely excellent read and thoroughly enjoyed.

A very easy book to read, good flow and the mystery moved very quickly, the ending was a surprise, in more ways than one. All in all a good read. How is a conductor shot in front of an audience,  players and singers in a concert hall. Many twists and turns before the mystery is solved.

I was given this book to review for Crime Classics as part of a republication of old forgotten female writers from the golden age of detective fiction. I must admit to being a fan of Christie, Sayers and Marsh so was quite looking forward to discovering a writer from that period whom I had never heard of before. 
Murder To Music was the first book by Margaret Newman published in 1959. The story involves a choir that is putting on a choral work Mass with a renowned tenor from Italy, Senor Cassati. The first 5 chapters set the scene with the bickering within the choir committee and a host of characters which I admit I found hard to keep track of until later in the book. 
Evan Tredegar is the senior conductor and is advertised to conduct the new Metropolitana Choir's concert which is being broadcast by the BBC. A tenor from Italy has been engaged for a fee rather higher than the committee members realise as a generous donor is picking up half the tab. Tredegar's assistant Owen Burr ends up conducting the concert himself when Tredegar gets ill and then Owen gets shot when the music reaches it's crescendo. One of the choir members is Delia who just happens to be going out with a policeman Detective Superintendent Simon Hudson who just happens to be in the audience and takes control of the investigation. Of course everyone in the choir, including Delia, is a suspect putting Hudson in an awkward position. For his sake he needs to find the murderer before it damages his relationship with Delia.
On Christmas Eve Cassati disappears and Hudson works to find a link and also find a body. Things move fast after Cassati's disappearance and another character has an accident which only helps to muddy the suspects list. 
The killing of Cassati was ingenious and marks Newman out as a great writer of detective fiction. I had guessed who the killer might be earlier but not the reason until after Cassati's discovery. Overall I enjoyed the book and once I got over the first few chapters the book flowed quite well. It has definitely stood the test of time and does not come across as dated with the exception of the doctor that deals with homosexuals. It is well worth a read and I will look out for more books by this author.

This book was first published in 1959. It is now being republished by Agora books and will be released in kindle edition on 16th April 2020.
This involves an amateur choir named the Metropolitan. Its conductor-in-chief is the ageing Evan Tredegar. There are petty bickerings, jealousies and old rivalries among the members of the choir and of the managing committee. 
The debut performance of Tredegar’s latest composition, a new Mass, takes place in the Royal Festival Hall just before Christmas. He is however absent during the performance and his place is taken by the deputy conductor Owen Burr. Just as the performance concludes, Owen is shot dead. Nothing surprising since he has antagonised several people with his tactless, unsympathetic and rude behaviour.
Detective-Superintendent Simon Hudson, whose girl friend Delia Jones is one of the singers, is watching the performance and he takes charge of the case.
Another singer subsequently disappears and Tredegar is attacked in his house . Finally Hudson is able to resolve the case after several wrong turns.
The plot is good and intriguing. The characterisation is also good. However, the writing style simply did not click with me, as a result I found several portions dull reading. I rate the book as a whole as 3 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and Agora Books for a free advance review copy.

Agatha Christie with a twist.
I thoroughly enjoyed this mystery and was very surprised to find it was originally published in 1959 - very unusual for an ARC I would think! Nevertheless I think it speaks to the writing ability of Margaret Newman that this reads like a recently written story.
DS Hudson is attending a concert by his girlfriend's choir when the conductor is mysteriously murdered. With the victim not very well liked, everyone is a suspect, even the detective's girlfriend.
There were enough twists and turns to keep the reader interested, and this book kept me guessing until the end, something that I find doesn't happen terribly often with mysteries.
**Was unable to post this review to Goodreads - unable to match the ISBN

Detective Simon Hudson is in love with Delia Jones. He drives her to and from her Metro choir rehearsals and the Metro Managing Committee meetings. Owen is the Assistant Director, and manages to make most of the other Committee members angry. The meetings are held at the home of Mrs. Bainsbury, who is the secretary of the committee. Her son Roger is often in the house, but is not a member of the Committee. Owen and Shirley are somewhat of an item. They are planning a big Christmas concert with a special mass written by the Director Evan Tredegar, called the Old Man. Owen usually leads the rehearsals, and Evan the final rehearsal and the performance. During the meeting, Mrs Sheraton-Smith was told by Owen that she couldn't sing anymore and she left. Then they decided to try to hire Cassati, a famous tenor from Italy as soloist.

On the day of the concert, Owen tells the choir that the Old Man is sick and he will be directing. During the final rehearsal, another singer is thrown out. The hall is filled, and the concert is very successful. However, after the final piece, Owen drops to the floor. Simon runs up, and finds he has been shot. Delia and Mrs Bainbridge saw the Old Man watching from the door. Simon, in charge of the case, has several suspects, since Owen has angered so many of the choir members, including embarrassing John Southerly, the piano player, during the concert. With Delia's help, after two other deaths, Simon finally figures everything out, but the perpetrator wasn't one of his original suspects.

Lights, Camera, BANG! Fun Golden Age mystery, featuring the dramatic murder of a conductor at the climactic end of a musical performance. Well clued with excellent misdirection. Some of the drama involving the detectives romance felt a bit contrived, but overall a very good read.

A man is murdered during a concert at the Royal Festival Hall. Hundreds of people saw him die but none saw the means. This is the problem faced by D S Simon Hudson. He needs to investigate the amateur choir which was performing at the time. and even Delia, the girl he loves, has to be suspected. Hudson discovers a great deal about the choir and about music but is he completely wrong about motive? There are many red herrings and a twist before he discovers the truth. An enjoyable enough book, although I couldn’t believe any policeman would confide so much about the case to his own girlfriend.

I really enjoyed this book. It was written in 1959 and teeters on the edge of classics from the Golden Age of Mysteries. I was not familiar with this author but would certainly have read more had they been written. The main character, Detective Superintendent Simon Hudson finds himself in an uncomfortable role after attending the Metropolitan Choir’s concert to show support for his girlfriend. Instead he finds himself trying to solve a murder where one of the suspects could very well be that same girlfriend. Believable plot, suspenseful and great dialogue. I highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.