Divine Inspiration

I had read several of Jane Langton's Homer Kelly mysteries when I first read Divine Inspiration, but this book promptly became my favorite in that series. It's longer than most, it concerns a musical instrument I don't play, but this story of a powerful organ in a grand old church, competing organists and a controversial minister, secret loves and an adorable baby boy--all these elements are woven into one of the most engaging mysteries I've ever read. In solving the central mystery of the boy's missing mother, Homer and Mary--along with the intrepid Alan Starr--bring out the human warmth and zest for living in themselves and other offbeat, quirky characters, even in the face of disaster. A wonderful book to reread.

This book features organs and organ music as part of the goings-on. I am not musical at all but found all the information and descriptions of organs fascinating. The plot is slightly more plodding than other Langton books, but it's like listening to good music - give it time and you will get pulled into it, and then be very glad of it! The mystery itself and the characters are entertaining and in true Jane Langton style. There are the usual colorful and eccentric people, quirky incidents, and unexpected turns of events, but somehow it all ties together in the end in a very satisfying way. This book comes in as a favorite for me after Langton's "Emily Dickinson Is Dead" and "The Transcendental Murder."

The hero of "Divine Inspiration" is an organist who is "voicing" a new organ just installed in a church damaged by a mysterious fire. He befriends a toddler who is making his way up the steps of the church one day, then locates the baby's home and discovers that the fatherless child's mother - herself an accomplished organist - is mysteriously missing. Our hero falls in love with both the child and the child's mother, whom he has never met except through her photos and mementoes in the baby's home. Jane Langton's delightful Homer Kelly mysteries are just what the doctor ordered for a rainy afternoon. What makes these books special are, of course, her charming line drawings, her spellbinding plots, and her humor, which has a Dickensian ability to expose the pompous, the greedy, the pretentious. What distinguishes the Langton mysteries (apart from the line drawings) is that you always come away from them having learned something - in this case, all about organs, which was of particular interest to me. "Divine Inspiration" is a divine read.

I was a bit reluctant to begin this Homer Kelly mystery - my third (after getting hooked with Escher Twist and then Dark Nantucket Noon). The reason for my reluctance was the subject matter - churches and organists. Sounded boring. I know very little about either of those things and couldn't imagine wanting to learn more.Well, once I started reading, I couldn't put this book down! I loved the characters (Rosie, Alan, Pip, Charlie, Harold Oates, Barbara Inch, even Debbie Buffington), and I was completely taken by surprise at the end -- yet it all added up so perfectly.In addition, I must mention once again that the illustrations really add to the book, especially with the look of the organs and the architecture. Because they are created by the author, they give a great insight into her perception as she is writing, yet she never reveals so much that your own imagination of the happenings is affected.Kudos to another fine mystery by Jane Langton! I will be returning to the library for another Homer Kelly mystery ASAP.

Another wonderful book from Jane Langton. One of my favorite "cozy" mystery writers. She writes with a decidedly eccentric quirkiness that makes her books stand out from the crowd. Full of irony, and loving touches, her books are 1990's quaint without being old fashioned. She spins a lovely web.