Sun 31 Jan 2016
Reviewed by William F. Deeck: FRANCES FLETCHER – The Murder Sonata.
Posted by Steve under Reviews[7] Comments
William F. Deeck
FRANCES FLETCHER – The Murder Sonata. Leisure Books, paperback original, 1980.
Milton Schring sat in the solo chair of the symphony orchestra in an unnamed city. As well he should, since he was an immensely talented musician. Unfortunately, his private life is not exemplary, and after one performance — musical, though he was waiting to take part in another kind — he is found dead backstage.
Interesting information here about symphony orchestras, their sponsors, their labor problems, and their individual members’ egos. Otherwise, not fair play and merely average in characterization and writing. “Damsel in distress” would sum it up.
Bibliographic Note: This will be brief. This is the only book in Hubin by Frances Fletcher, about whom nothing is known.
January 31st, 2016 at 6:03 pm
So not a sonata, but a one note wonder.
January 31st, 2016 at 7:01 pm
This also may be the only review the book ever received.
January 31st, 2016 at 11:51 pm
This is interesting. I used Google to find a column in the MUSIC NEWS by Frances Fletcher about the classical music scene in New Britain, CT. That’s the next town over, about 3 miles away from me.
https://books.google.com/books?id=O2lFAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA14-PA26&lpg=RA14-PA26&dq=%22frances+fletcher%22+sonata&source=bl&ots=woXuaZk9Sv&sig=_vnojn3pb4Ptd5t_krobBdKLiuk&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiI9O724NXKAhVS9mMKHYhRAeU4FBDoAQhHMAg#v=onepage&q=%22frances%20fletcher%22%20sonata&f=false
The date, however, is 1920. Could it be the same woman? It seems doubtful.
January 31st, 2016 at 11:55 pm
Well, duh. I caught myself this way once before. Al Hubin is well ahead of me. In installment two of the new online Addenda to CRIME FICTION IV, he says:
FLETCHER, FRANCES. Pseudonym of Geneva Macdonald Fulgham, 1928- . Retired high school teacher in Texas.
January 31st, 2016 at 11:59 pm
Found on Amazon:
Wit and Wisdom Needed in the Classroom: A Guide for Teachers, by Geneva Fulgham. May 8, 2006.
February 1st, 2016 at 12:01 am
Another book:
Women Pioneers in Texas Medicine, by Elizabeth Silverthorne and Geneva Fulgham.
Elizabeth Silverthorne of Salado, Texas, is the author of numerous books, including Legends and Lore of Texas Wildflowers. Geneva Fulgham of Bellaire, Texas, has taught high school journalism and composition and has published fiction and poetry
February 1st, 2016 at 12:05 am
Follow this link for a lengthy profile and photo:
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/bellaire/news/latest-book-merges-fulgham-s-careers/article_8f784960-93bb-55c3-b770-ded464437060.html
According to the article, she has written five more mysteries that have not yet been published.