{"id":27648,"date":"2021-08-20T11:03:37","date_gmt":"2021-08-20T16:03:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=27648"},"modified":"2021-08-20T11:04:14","modified_gmt":"2021-08-20T16:04:14","slug":"rhapsody-in-red-by-donn-taylor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/?p=27648","title":{"rendered":"Rhapsody in Red by Donn Taylor"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.22&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; background_size=&#8221;initial&#8221; background_position=&#8221;top_left&#8221; background_repeat=&#8221;repeat&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;3.25&#8243; custom_padding=&#8221;|||&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_padding__hover=&#8221;|||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;Rhapsody in Red&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Book Image&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;My Review &#8211; Celebrate Lit&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; hover_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; sticky_enabled=&#8221;0&#8243;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>MY REVIEW:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I sincerely hope that I can do justice to my review of <strong>Rhapsody in Red<\/strong> due to the fact that I struggled to stay awake while reading it. I do not blame the book because when I could actually stay awake I found it to be mostly engaging.<\/p>\n<p>Once again Professor Preston Barclay finds himself involved in yet another mystery and this time he is the primary suspect. As he and another professor strive to find the real killer and prove themselves innocent, the evidence points to several suspects and Press is threatened multiple times.<\/p>\n<p>The constant musical soundtrack that plays in the professor\u2019s mind is still present. I do wish I was more educated on the many songs mentioned because I think that would have rendered the book even more entertaining. I also enjoyed the frequent puns and humor interspersed throughout the story. A bit of action and danger kept things moving along but putting together all the clues proved to be daunting. Any of the suspects could have been guilty and the big reveal was a surprise to me.<\/p>\n<p>If you enjoy a mystery that makes you think, <strong>Rhapsody in Red<\/strong> as well as Taylor\u2019s previous novels may be for you.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-18375 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/divider2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"317\" height=\"61\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/divider2.png 317w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/divider2-150x28.png 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 317px) 100vw, 317px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><em>I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;ABOUT THE BOOK&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>ABOUT THE BOOK:<\/strong><\/p>\n<table style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\">\n<p><strong>Book:\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>Rhapsody in Red<\/p>\n<p><strong>Author:\u00a0<\/strong>Donn Taylor<\/p>\n<p><b>Genre:\u00a0<\/b>Mystery<\/p>\n<p><strong>Release date:<\/strong>\u00a0September 2018<\/p>\n<p>Click <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3wotZ7W\">here<\/a> to get your copy!<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27656 aligncenter size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-150x225.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"225\" \/><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u201cIT WAS A BAD DAY TO FIND A CORPSE ON CAMPUS.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Preston Barclay is a reclusive history professor with musical hallucinations. The feisty Mara Thorn is a newly arrived professor with a strong desire to be left alone. But finding the body of a murdered colleague shakes them out of their quiet lives. Worse yet, police accuse them of her murder, forcing the ill-matched pair into an uneasy alliance for their defense. However, that proves more perilous than they\u2019d thought. To succeed, they have to outwit the police, avoid discipline by the college\u2019s incompetent administration, and escape threats and attacks by the unseen and ruthless forces behind the murder. It\u2019s a one-in-a-hundred chance, and if they fail, they\u2019ll end up unemployed, behind bars, or worse . . .<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;ABOUT THE AUTHOR&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>ABOUT THE AUTHOR:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27657 alignleft size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Donn-Taylor.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"250\" height=\"313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Donn-Taylor.png 250w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Donn-Taylor-150x188.png 150w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Donn-Taylor-120x150.png 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 250px) 100vw, 250px\" \/>Donn Taylor<\/strong> led an Infantry rifle platoon in the Korean War, served with Army aviation in Vietnam, and worked with air reconnaissance in Europe and Asia. Afterward, he earned a PhD in Renaissance literature and taught literature at two liberal arts colleges. His published works include six suspense novels and a book of poetry. He is a frequent speaker at writers\u2019 conferences. He lives in the woods near Houston, TX, where he writes fiction, poetry, and essays on current topics.<\/p>\n<p><strong>MORE FROM DONN:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>About <em>Rhapsody in Red<\/em>: From teaching eighteen years in small denominational colleges, I knew that part of the academic world well. So when I came to write the Preston Barclay Mystery Series, that\u2019s where I turned. What would happen if someone dropped a murder into that placid environment?<\/p>\n<p>That was the basic question. But that part of the college world also has internal conflicts and tensions that even the best-intentioned people can\u2019t avoid. That leads most faculty into being discreet. But what would happen if one professor kept saying openly what the rest of the faculty were only thinking? That\u2019s why the series protagonist, Professor Preston Barclay, is always in trouble.<\/p>\n<p>In writing the series I wanted to mainly to give readers an interesting story about a murder and the complications leading to its solution. But I also wanted them to enjoy the story\u2019s interplay of strong and often quirky personalities navigating the varied conflicts of the small-college world.<\/p>\n<p>Whether I\u2019ve achieved those objectives will be decided by each individual reader. But <em>CBA Retailers and Resources Magazine<\/em> wrote that\u00a0 <em>Rhapsody in Red<\/em> is \u201cpeopled with academia\u2019s most intriguing eccentrics and snobs,\u201d and <em>Christian Review of Books<\/em> wrote that it\u2019s \u201ca delightful change from the clich\u00e9s of most novels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Readers who enjoy <em>Rhapsody in Red<\/em> may want to look at its two sequels, <em>Murder Mezzo Forte<\/em> and <em>Murder in Disguise<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;BLOG STOPS&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27658 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-banner.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"650\" height=\"241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-banner.jpg 650w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-banner-480x178.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 650px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>BLOG STOPS<\/strong>:<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;BLOGGER LINKS #1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bookwomanjoan.blogspot.com\">Book Reviews From an Avid Reader<\/a>, August 19<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/travelerswife4life.com\/\">Adventures of a Travelers Wife<\/a>, August 20 (Author Interview)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/daysongreflections.com\">Daysong Reflections<\/a>, August 20<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debbieloseanything.blogspot.com\">Debbie\u2019s Dusty Deliberations<\/a>, August 21<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.forhimandmyfamily.com\">For Him and My Family<\/a>, August 22<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/debs-bookreview.blogspot.com\/\">deb\u2019s Book Review<\/a>, August 23<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/amandanicolle.blogspot.com\/?m=1\">Inklings and notions<\/a>, August 24<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amoderndayfairytale.net\/\">A Modern Day Fairy Tale<\/a>, August 25<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/becauseisaidsomyadventuresinparenting.blogspot.com\/\">Because I said so \u2014 and other adventures in Parenting<\/a>, August 26<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;BLOGGER LINKS #2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/deana0326.blogspot.com\">Texas Book-aholic<\/a>, August 27<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.musingsofasassybookishmama.com\">Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama<\/a>, August 28<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amybooksy.blogspot.com\">Locks, Hooks and Books<\/a>, August 29<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/ashleyscleanbookreviews.blogspot.com\/\">Ashley\u2019s Clean Book Reviews<\/a>, August 30<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/truthandgracehomeschoolacademy.wordpress.com\/\">Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy<\/a>, August 31<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/storiesbygina.wordpress.com\">Gina Holder, Author and Blogger<\/a>, September 1 (Author Interview)<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/carolkeen.blogspot.com\/\">Blogging With Carol<\/a>, September 1<\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;GIVEAWAY&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.10.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><strong>GIVEAWAY:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-27659 aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-Giveaway.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"500\" height=\"419\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-Giveaway.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/Rhapsody-in-Red-Giveaway-480x402.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 500px, 100vw\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">To celebrate his tour, Donn is giving away\u00a0the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card plus one paperback copy of Rhapsody in Red!!<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/promosimple.com\/ps\/1141d\/rhapsody-in-red-celebration-tour-giveaway\">https:\/\/promosimple.com\/ps\/1141d\/rhapsody-in-red-celebration-tour-giveaway<\/a><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>MY REVIEW: I sincerely hope that I can do justice to my review of Rhapsody in Red due to the fact that I struggled to stay awake while reading it. I do not blame the book because when I could actually stay awake I found it to be mostly engaging. Once again Professor Preston Barclay [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[8,60,67],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-books","category-contemporary-fiction","category-mystery"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27648"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=27648"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27648\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27663,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27648\/revisions\/27663"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=27648"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=27648"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.daysongreflections.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=27648"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}