I did not realize when I requested this book that it was the third in a series. Nevertheless, that fact did not prevent me from enjoying the story. There was enough reference to the back story from the previous adventures to keep me engaged. The prologue starts at the end of the Cold War when a young girl escapes from Russian occupied Hungary with an infant girl and a priceless piece of art. Then the first chapter jumps to the present time when we are introduced to Maggie O’Shea who becomes embroiled in a mystery involving the Russian mafia, music, the stolen Van Gogh painting and enough suspense to keep me turning the page. Thanks to Netgalley and Oceanview Publishing for giving me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

It’s nice to see Maggie O’Shea again. She’s still as strong and reliable as ever. Her relationship with Beckett is going strong and she’s successful in her career as a pianist. The death of her husband is still a sore spot, but things are going back to normal when she gets involved in another historical mystery. This time it’s a lost Van Gogh. Her late hubby may have known where it was and he could have told her. He didn’t, but three shady Russians don’t know that. I like how Maggie is older than your typical heroine and this time she’s not the only resourceful woman around. I liked the discussions about philosophy, art and history. I especially enjoyed when Maggie plays the piano and the reader sees the music through her eyes. I also loved Shiloh the dog and all the animals in the story. I wasn’t too crazy about the dialogues, which sound a little contrived, or the way the plot relies heavily on coincidence. Sometimes I was worried about what was going to happen to a character, but the situation resolved in an anticlimactic manner. That said, this is the perfect mystery for art and music lovers, as well as history buffs.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Oceanview Publishing!

This mystery is complicated and a bit slow in the initial few chapters. It does have some parts that drew me in and kept me reading. I didn't know at the time this was the 3rd book in a series. It probably would have helped to read the first two and become more invested in the characters.

I received an advanced readers copy from Net Galley for my unbiased review.

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley. I was not paid or otherwise compensated for this review, and the thoughts and opinions included here are mine and mine alone.

My short review of this book is simple: I wanted to like this more than I did. If GoodReads or NetGalley allowed for half-stars, then this would get a 2.5/5. As it is, I prefer to round up, so I'm going with 3/5.

The long review? Well, there's an interesting story here, and Helaine Mario does a standup job of breaking her narrative into initially separate arcs that weave together at the end, much like a well-made basket. Some of the plot points are a bit fanciful, but part of the joy of reading fiction is letting the author lull you into suspending your disbelief, and Helaine Mario was successful in achieving that. To me, that's sufficient for a 3-star rating.

My problem with this book, then, is the dialogue. Human beings do not speak the way that Helaine Mario's characters do. Here's one particularly egregious example, from approximately page 110:

"Time we even the odds," Beckett muttered to the Shiloh, "But no more prison brawls. It's time for age and treachery to overcome youth and skill. So how about we resurrect our 'Good Cop Bad Dog' routine?"

Every single character talks like this, though some of them have certain markers to give them their own voices. Johnny constantly calls Maggie "Lass" (y'know, because he's Irish, and Irish men call their wives "Lass"), the Russians tend to sprinkle Russian phrases into their speech (along with multiple explicit reminders that they are Russian, just in case we forgot), and Dov speaks with a New York accent (or should I say a "New York" accent). Regardless, they are all prone to conversing in this most purple of prose, and while it lets up a bit toward the end of the book, it definitely makes the first ~200 pages a bit of a slog. The writing in general is a bit precious for my taste, even outside of the dialogue.

Additionally, all of the characters in Shadow Music, regardless of age, gender, nationality, or other personal characteristics, are stated to be extremely, conspicuously attractive, to an extent that borders on distracting. To be fair, though, it's a relief to know that in the Maggie O'Shea universe, I, a solid 6 out of 10 on a good day, would have nothing to fear vis a vis involvement in international criminal conspiracies.

On a more positive note, certain aspects of this book (particularly some of the letter and diary entries in the later chapters) were very well-written and filled with nuance, pathos, and gravitas. I wish that similar style had been applied to more of the book, but it was good to read anyway, and was deployed effectively to provide both relevant background to the characters as well as resolution to the story.

I didn't know going into this that it was book #3 in a series. It's entirely possible that someone who has read the first two books and is more familiar with Helaine Mario's writing style and characterization choices might love this book, and to that person I say godspeed and happy reading. Maybe you happen to enjoy overly florid descriptions and dialogue schmaltzier than my Bubbe's cooking, and if so, this is the book for you.

To summarize, I enjoyed the plot, setting, and interconnection of narrative elements, and did not enjoy the dialogue and certain aspects of the characterization.

This is a well-done murder mystery, lost art, music filled story that has a steller opening. The first chapter pulls you in and really doesn’t ever let you go. There are a few scenes that I felt were past the believability point but otherwise the storyline flows well and all the characters are well defined.
I especially liked Maggie, Michael, Dov and of course we can’t leave out Shiloh and I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book. Quick easy read with a nice ending.
I received an ARC from Oceanview Publishing along with NetGalley for my honest review. This one comes in with 4 stars.

Shadow Music
Helaine Mario

Book 3 staring Maggie O’Shea is simply amazing atmospheric and poignant full of danger suspense and most of all music. In her author’s note Helaine Mario tells readers that she wants them to fall into Maggie’s story and that is exactly what they’ll do, body and soul.

Budapest 1985: An escape attempt to the west turns tragic when a young woman is killed by Russian soldiers leaving her best friend a nun to make the crossing with the woman’s now motherless infant daughter and priceless treasures from the past.

Present day: World renowned concert pianist, Maggie O’Shea has finally found her music again and has found love again with Colonel Michael Beckett after the tragic death of her husband, Johnny, almost two years before. She’s even considering performing the beautiful and difficult Rachmaninoff Concerto 2 with The New Russian Symphony Orchestra after being asked by their tour arranger Yuri Blankov until she’s visited by a past adversary who tells her that Johnny may still be alive leaving her no choice but to go and find out.
Colonel Michael Beckett has his own problems dealing with the murder of his late best friend’s daughter and finding her missing son, Dov. Never the less he doesn’t want Maggie to go off searching for Johnny but loves and knows her enough to know that there’s no stopping her, even when they learn from their friend and government agent Simon Sugarman that the last case Johnny was working on, a missing Van Gough painting has come to light again.

Helaine Mario takes readers on an incredible journey through time and music with, Shadow Music, her latest novel staring Maggie O’Shea.
Beginning with this master storyteller’s prologue set in late cold war Budapest to a huge plot bomb she drops early in the story to the very last page the action never stops and the speed never slows enough for the audience to catch their breaths between one crisis and another and yet they’re often gifted to the mundane minutia that makes everyday life such a treasure like a sunset, an ocean breeze or a cherished memory. Her wonderful, expressive prose like narrative flows beautifully and her deliciously thrilling storyline will keep her audience engaged and engrossed, excited to connect all the ingenious convoluted plot dots. Her characters are the glue that binds this novel and not only fan favorites like Maggie, Michael, Sugar, Robbie and of course Michael’s three-legged dog Shiloh, but also the newcomers like the troubled teen Dov and even the bad guys. But it’s Maggie and Michael that are, as always, the true standouts, how their love Phoenix like rose from the ashes of their pasts, so inspiring and now maybe in trouble. Then there’s the music, oh the music, and this story focuses on Rachmaninoff and his Piano Concerto 2 one of the most celebrated and difficult works for piano and how Maggie in between personal pitfalls, dodging danger and bad guys manages to bring it to life. Music is at the heart and soul of every one of Helaine’s Maggie O’Shea books and Shadow Music is the perfect Cadence for her (so-far) three-part symphony.
Brava!

Shadow Music stands well alone but for deeper character and storyline understanding read the novels, The Lost Concerto, Dark Rhapsody and Shadow Music in order.
Fans of women’s fiction, romantic suspense and fans of Nora Roberts, Iris Johansen and Sandra Brown will love Shadow Music and Helaine Mario.

I didn't get very far into this book before giving up - it just didn't capture my attention. The formatting also seemed off about it, and that made it challenging to read.

I truly enjoyed this wonderful book. The characters are rich and multifaceted, and make you want to continue turning page after page!

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this title early and review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this novel and give a honest review.

I was not aware this book was part of a trilogy until I read the final notes. This would possibly explain why the characters are not given enough back story in this book, which was a bit disappointing. I guess reading the other books as well, you will get to know the characters better and appreciate the story even more.

I did not like the first few chapters, as I felt the narration was too fragmented for my liking, going from one place/character to the other, and making me too confused. However, towards the middle of the book, I started to get more into the story, and the narration also became more linear, letting me appreciate the main character and the mystery behind.
I particularly liked the two sub-story about the origin of the painting (could be a novel on its own in my opinion) and the husband, but I am not sure the mystery was thrilling enough for me to read the previous and the following books, if there will be any.

I am finding it hard to review this book without spoilers. I rated it a 4,5 actually. I liked the authors development of the characters, use of music in the plot, and multifaceted descriptions. It was a book, that for me, was hard to put down about half way through. I would like to read more from the author.

Maggie O’Shea is a classical pianist. One year, between some shows, she gets embroiled in a ring of Russian art smugglers who want a mysterious Van Gogh painting that vanished years ago. Maggie’s husband got killed 18 months ago while investigating that same painting, and the Russians think that not only did he find out where it is, but that he told Maggie about it.

I got this from NetGalley without realizing it was book 3 of a trilogy; obviously, I haven’t read the previous two. However, it was explained clearly enough that I rarely felt confused. Either enough backstory was given for a character or event that I knew what was going on, or no backstory was needed at that moment.

The pacing was enjoyable, I was never bored. The short chapters made for a quick read, without time to get too stuck in details. The different character points of view made us know many aspects of the story, and yet there were still a few surprises in store.

A solid 3* read, not the best for me, I found the ending a bit abrupt and a let-down after so much build-up, but I don’t regret the time I spent reading it at all!

I was feeling somewhat sheepish having requested this not realizing it was the third in a series until I was already invested. That's been assuaged seeing I wasn't the only one, but the realization did change how I read this story.

I was excited. That blurb is exciting! Suspense, loss, love, vengeance! Danger, secrets, missing paintings, and dead men walking! Sign me up! The end result was something much more subdued. I had to hit a hard skim at times because I could tell something was supposed to be happening soon, but the prose got a bit purple in a way I don't typically enjoy. That's more of a personal preference than anything, but I don't know why I had such a hard time getting into this one. It really could be that it lacked some essential context, being the third in a series, but I wasn't confused, really. Just bored.

The positives, though. The things that kept the pages turning. I loved the characters, and the complexity of those characters. Specifically speaking, Maggie O’Shea is a gift and I deeply enjoyed reading her. Also, I'll give Helaine Mario this, she has an exquisite gift for creating the most immersive atmosphere. Even when skimming I felt drawn in to the setting.

Thank you muchly to NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for an ARC in exchange for this review.

Set in the present time, the Cold War Years and World War Two. I loved the way this was written with references to classical music and famous artists. Classical musician Maggie O’Shea is drawn into helping a friend solve a mystery and find a long lost Van Gogh.
Maggie travels to Cornwall searching for answers. Her life is in danger as three Russians are also looking for the lost Van Gogh.
This was fast moving and full of twists and turns.
I loved the descriptive scenes in Cornwall when Maggie visits a site of standing stones and Tintagel Castle.

I would like to begin by thanking NetGalley and Oceanview Publishing for the opportunity to read this ebook. I did not realize this was a book from a series when I began to read it but I was quick to discover this as there were so many characters that were not given a backstory so I felt rather lost.

This is a book that covers murder, mystery, suspense, grief, love and starting over. This may seem like a lot for one book but the author manages to weave all of these things into one book. Maggie is the main character and she has faced many hardships yet still manages to love deeply. The other characters are likeable, even without knowing their history from the other books.

The story takes us from present day US to Hungary and France during WWII. It has a poignant storyline that I really enjoyed. The rest of the story was very slow in the beginning but it did all come together in the end. I would highly suggest you read this series in order so you don’t feel as confused as I was.

Overall it is a good book with enough suspense and intrigue to keep you interested.

Like many others, I did not realize that this book was the third book in a series. I did not struggle to keep up with the characters or feel lost in any way that made me miss not having read the first two books.

This book was a slow burn for me. The beginning felt a little muddled as there were many characters and each chapter would have a flash backs. The flash backs were a bit much at times and pulled me out of the story a bit. About halfway through the book, I really started to like it. The characters finally started making sense and the action was on! I found I really did enjoy this book and now I am curious about the first two books in the series.

I liked the tie in to the Cold War and World War II with that of music. I had not heard Rachmonioff's Concerto #2 so I found it and played it on my iPad while I read the book.

I gave this book three stars because it started slow for me. Also the characters unrealistically seemed to all be connected without knowing they were all looking for the same thing. And lastly, there was a character that was re-introduced that I thought would play a bigger role or have more of a part. However, that character seemed to be a bit of a throw away only meant to tempt the main character away.

Overall the writing was excellent! The story flowed even if sometimes hard to follow. It was a book I did enjoy and would recommend.

This is the third in a series but my first and intriguing enough for me to read the first two. Classical music and art are seamlessly infused throughout, giving the story a beautiful angle. We see PTSD, peril, secrets, effects of war, love, deception, insight and hope. Even gorgeous Tintagel Castle, one of my favourites, is involved, contributing to the atmosphere.

A daring and necessary escape is made from Communist Hungary during the Cold War. A baby survives and is hidden for safety. A priceless van Gogh is secreted away and decades later searched for by various parties but only two people on earth know where it is. Precious music is lost as well. Plots within plots.

Maggie O'Shea, a concert pianist has much at stake and finds herself caught in sticky web upon sticky web as she seeks answers.

I like the multilayered mysteries with the Cold War tie. Well done.

My sincere thank you to Oceanview Publishing and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this enthralling book.

Like other reviewers, I picked this up not realizing that this was the third book in a series. I think that this book is definitely manageable as a stand alone, but I do have to wonder how much more I would have appreciated some of this book with the background of the other two stories. The writing was engaging and the plot was well constructed.

I read this book not knowing that it was the third book in a series until I was part way through. Although I had no trouble following the plot, I suspect certain events or motivations would have been more meaningful had I read the other books first.
There are parallel story lines running through this book, but essentially they all centre around a Van Gogh painting that vanished during the cold war when a young mother is shot down attempting to escape Hungary. Her best friend escapes and disappears with her infant daughter. At present day, our heroine Maggie is pulled into the mystery when information comes to light that her late husband, an investigative journalist, may have had information regarding the whereabouts of the painting before his untimely death. The Russian mafia is also hot on the trial of the missing Van Gogh. What ensues is an international cat and mouse game as multiple factions race to locate the painting.
The multiple story lines tie together nicely in the end, still leaving potential for another installment.
Overall I enjoyed this book and its look behind the scenes into the worlds of classical musical and historical art.
Thank you to the author and publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

A book for lovers of music and art best enjoyed with Chopin and Rachmaninoff playing in the background. This is the first Maggie O'Shea book I have read so now I have to go back and find the earlier novels. while familiar with the music mentioned I read with phone in hand looking up the images of artwork I didn't know. Characters are engaging and words well written. An enjoyable afternoon's read. If you enjoy Iris Johansen and Sandra Brown you will love this book

I was really surprised by this book. I read it not knowing that this is the third book in a series but that did not matter, it was still fantastic, and I was able to follow the storyline without any difficulty. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves and appreciates both music and the arts. I felt like I was taken on a wild ride that was part espionage thriller, historical fiction, murder mystery and sweet romance.