Liszt's Kiss

I was up until 1am on the night of the 4th, and not entirely because my neighborhood sounded like a war zone. I couldn't force myself to break away ... From Liszt's Kiss. Where did I get the idea this was a romance novel? It's set in the romantic period, Paris, and is described as, "passionate and enchanting." I suppose that could give the impression of torrid romance full of husky breathing and musky body odor and overtight corsets that simply must be loosened by the hero somewhere prior to page 55. But there's nothing torrid about Susanne Dunlap's intricate novel (well, not much). Primarily, this is historical, rich with detail of post-revolution Paris and the gruesomeness of the cholera epidemic, 1832. Dunlap is intimate with the period and transports the reader effortlessly. At thesame time, a delicious mystery weaves through the story, complete with dark alleys, thieving scoundrels and gun-wielding madmen. Liszt's Kiss is reminiscent, in this way, of Anne Perry's Monk series. Excepting, of course, for the romance. Famous pianist, Franz Liszt is central here, and oh my, can that Hungarian kiss. Beyond a slightly underdeveloped backstory (particularly the part relating to the climax of the book, which I can't get into without giving away plot elements) and a mite too much backstory in the opening pages, I have no complaints. Liszt's Kiss will reward any reader with luscious prose, engaging characters, and riveting plot. Those who frequent this blog know I am not a fan of romance, historical or otherwise, yet I devoured this book and was hungry for more. I plan to pass this book off next to my mother who is an avid mystery reader, then to a more literary-minded friend, and on to a picture book author, then to a friend who favors gritty contemporary works. I have no doubt they will all enjoy Liszt's Kiss.

This is a lovely novel with a compelling story, a suspenseful mystery and a wealth of historical and musical background. Dunlap clearly conveys her love of music and her knowledge of the period. She also knows how to write beautifully and to tell an engrossing story.

I just finished the last page of the engrossing and deliciously descriptive Liszt's Kiss and had to post my praises to the author. This well crafted, beautifully lyrical, and vivid novel is a must read for the summer.

Having just read Liszt's Kiss I give it my highest recommendation. The characters were clearly drawn and engaging, the story moved along with a good, fast pace, and the setting of 1830's Paris took one far from today's turmoil, though a devastating cholera epidemic was providing its own drama. More central were the entwined musical and personal developments of the story, with a rich blend of romance and intrigue. Trust me, you'll enjoy it.

Dunlap has chosen an extraordinary epoch in an extraordinary city -- Paris in the 1830's -- and makes the reader present at the birth of Romanticism. The fictional heroine, Anne, is surrounded by some of the most interesting cultural icons of her day: Composer and pianist, Franz Liszt; poet, Alfred de Musset; legendary painter, Eugene Delacroix; and a true-life romantic heroine, Marie d'Agoult. D'Agoult is a major character in the work and an extraordinary figure in her own right -- a beautiful woman who gave up wealth, title and children for love of the incendiary Liszt, and later became a leading revolutionary journalist under a male pseudonym. This is the same Paris depicted in the novels of Balzac and Dumas. The author's knowledge of the history, and particularly the music, of the day lures the reader into a vividly imagined world. If you've ever stared at the lush portraits of countesses by Ingres, lost in the details of their watered silks and mouth-watering jewels, you'll be be right at home in the sumptuous ballrooms and salons of Liszt's Kiss. Dunlap, a Ph.D. in Music who studied to be concert pianist, so beautifully evokes the emotions present in the music of the period that one only wishes the book came with underscoring. Maybe next time the publishers will make relevant selections available for download. Unlike some novelists who violate the historical accuracy of their character's personality to supply a modern lust for melodrama, Dunlap carefully develops Anne as an authentic young woman of her time, someone just beginning to realize she has power as a woman. The novel leaves one wondering -- as all great novels do -- what this character is going to do next.