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The Case of the Missing Stradivarius

By Emanuel E. Garcia

ISBN: 978 1901091 36 8, hardback, 162 pages, blue cloth bound with dust jacket, demy 8vo, 2 photographs,

First Published February 2010

Also available as an eBook for Kindle and all other book reading devices.

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What makes a great violin? And what makes a great violinist? When the eccentric but brilliant violinist Donato del Nero arrives in London in 1901 for a concert which he hopes will establish himself as the greatest virtuoso of the age, he discovers that his priceless instrument, the Medici Stradivarius, has been stolen. Only on the Medici, once the secret treasure of Paganini and rumoured to possess near-magical properties as Stradivarius' masterpiece, has del Nero been able to realise his enormous potential as a peerless genius of the violin. Without it he fears the collapse of his talent.

Fortunately Mr Sherlock Holmes, whose own talents have been languishing since the death of archrival Professor Moriarty and who has been contemplating retirement from criminal detection, is pressed into action. His investigation of the theft becomes simultaneously a fascinating inquiry into the secrets of violin-making and the art of musical interpretation and virtuosity. Erudite and witty, The Case of the Missing Stradivarius is sure to delight players and lovers of music, as well as fans of Conan Doyle's immortal detective.

This book is a must for all lovers of Sherlock Holmes and music. It contains an extensive section of notes giving valuable insight into the world of Sherlock Holmes, Stradivarius and the great musicians in general written by an expert in the field.

For further information on this publication please click here to be directed to the author's web site.

Reviews for this Publication

Sherry Kloss, Internationally acclaimed violinist, student of the great Jascha Heifetz, and author of Jascha Heifetz: Through My Eyes. Kloss plays the Tononi violin which Heifetz bequeathed to her, the very instrument on which the incomparable master made his 1917 Carnegie Hall debut.

"I adored every word. You kept me on the edge of my seat, the tension which you created made my heart flutter. Never would I have expected the thesis behind the mystery. YET: the story which you have conceived is built around the very same principles which I espouse. Your insight and depth into each character bespeak your love and mastery of your profession and love and devotion to music. You have educated many who focus on the exterior of our mission and validated those who seek the illusive gift of the art. I smiled reading of the HUMAN(ity) of the wood, the soul of man, the expression of the art. I could continue and continue. Bravo, Bravo ..."

Ignat Solzhenitsyn, Music Director, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia

"Garcia furnishes a welcome escape into the captivating urbanity of a lost age. Exquisitely written, and very entertaining, with a classic Sherlockian twist at the end."

Rolf Gjelsten and Helene Pohl, New Zealand String Quartet

"Emanuel Garcia's wonderful mystery was completely engrossing, gathering momentum as it closed in on the final concert with all the surrounding shenanigans. From our vantage point as professional musicians, Garcia's meticulous research and attention to detail created a multi-faceted and realistic story. The engaging and entertaining dialogue was full of inside and outside jokes and the Agatha Christie surprise ending was a tour de force."

Eugene Garfield, Founding Editor, The Scientist Magazine

"I couldn't stop reading this marvelous work."

Kathleen Ross, Scholar and translator of Hispanic literature

"With The Case of the Missing Stradivarius, Emanuel Garcia has composed a multi-layered delight that transports readers to the turn-of-the-century world of Holmes, Freud, and a legion of European musicians. Combining the suspense of a good mystery with an erudite history of the violin and a psychoanalytic twist, Garcia's tale enchants and edifies from start to finish. And once you are done with the novel, don't miss the Notes, worthy of Borges in their wit and learning. Bravo!"

Laurence Reese, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

"Conan Doyle lives again at a molto vivace pace! Exciting and musically accurate."

Ted Nye, in The Antipodean Holmesian Society newsletter

This is a pastiche of a Holmes story which has a renowned violinist virtuoso, Donato del Nero (somewhat in the mould of Paganini) who has his priceless instrument stolen while on a visit to London. The instrument, called here the Medici has, it would seem, an impeccable pedigree from the Stradivarius atelier and its loss places its owner, and his beautiful fiancée into the Holmes/Watson orbit as, with only days to spare before a concert, the mystery is probed. As our readers will recall Holmes himself was the owner of a real Strad and del Nero is obliged to borrow Holmes' instrument to play in a much acclaimed concert at Queen's Hall in London.

The narrative is a source of much musical scholarship, particularly in the field of the craft of violin making and Garcia obviously draws on his own expert knowledge which takes the reader into unfamiliar territory but is essential for the final denouement when the missing instrument is restored and all ends happily. The final twist depends on a profound knowledge of 18 century calligraphy! Emanuel Garcia is a physician with areas of expertise in psychotherapy and has previously also published in the field of musicology.

E A Maxwell in their 5 star Amazon review entitled 'Hitting the Right Notes' writes ...

If you love Sherlock Holmes, then get The Case of the Missing Stradivarius.

Not only does Emanuel Garcia capture the voice, tone, and nuance of the great detective and his world, the author infuses the mystery with his own unique charm, glorious understanding of music, and in-depth comprehension of human psychology. And like with all works of literature, after reading it, you will learn something of value.

The case is in the fine details; and fortunately for us, the game is still afoot.

Tyler R Evans in their 5 star Amazon review entitled 'Holmes has got to be proud' writes ...

Dr Emanuel Garcia is a true linguistic craftsman, an author whose style and skill weave smoothly together the worlds of detective mystery, psychoanalysis and art. Having previously read a work by Dr Garcia on the Russian composer Alexander Scriabin, I was impressed by the author's ability to craft his language so perfectly to a completely different style, and to emulate - in an original way - the feel of another author.

In The Case of the Missing Stradivarius, Garcia captures elements of the performance of music, and the mental anguish and love that an artist feels for his/her instrument, craft, and self, with startling accuracy. I am not aware of other works, outside of books devoted to the subject by musicians and music scholars, which penetrate so accurately the depths of artistic motivation. In fact, I would not have been surprised if this had been written by a musician. And while paying homage to the style of Doyle, the engaging tone throughout is distinctly the author's own.

We have here a unique juxtaposition of enlightened, inspiring artistic discourse with a faithful effigy of the classic mystery.

It gets better. There is a most efficient, perhaps utilitarian molding of content to the point that every detail, no matter how seemingly small, is vital to the full structure. There are no superfluous elements - at any given moment, the story is being told.

Garcia also spares the reader a feature that can often hinder writings involving music: he never leaves the non-musician behind. There is (thankfully) no heavy music theory terminology. Presented with clarity, wit and grace, The Case of the Missing Stradivarius is an invigorating read for anyone who enjoys mysteries, music, or a damn good story.

Henry Vere in their 5 star Amazon review entitled 'All you could ask for in a book' writes ...

Every once in awhile a book comes along and it both captures your imagination, captivates you with its story and leaves you completely satisfied with what you bring away from the reading as far as what you have actually just learned. Mr Garcia's latest endeavour, The Case of the Missing Stradivarius succeeds with flying colours in all three. I loved this book!

Garcia has an amazing breath of knowledge, humour and an incredible sense of history and historical detail. The tightrope act he performs though is to step back and let you the reader share with him the amazing details of this world he has created. And the background intricately involved he is only too eager and happy to share with us. He is both a generous author - generous to the reader and generous to his subject - and deft and tight in his writing.

I had my own feelings and theory about what was going on with the missing famous violin. The delight came in realizing that, well, I was somewhat on the right path but not quite. There was fun enough in musing on things said earlier, hints I'd remembered all along that made everything fit like a perfectly elegant jigsaw puzzle of perhaps a scene of a Medieval Italian villa. About my only complaint is - I wanted more! I didn't want this world to end. The curtain had been pulled back. I felt like I was there in Edwardian England as content, engaged and ready for the next challenge as Watson and Holmes relaxing with cigar and pipe beside a glowing fireplace.

I am looking forward to more great writing from Mr Garcia. Based on his first two works I'm ready for his magnum opus - no - many of these at this talented hand. Turn off your cell phone, quit your texting or Face-book and read a good book. Besides Sherlock Holmes for one did just fine without all that stuff.

Stringendo, Journal of the Australian Strings Association, vol. 33, no. 1, April 2011, p. 59

"Facts, Watson, facts; they are indispensable".

Step again into Edwardian England and into the world of the celebrated detective as seen by Emanuel Garcia. Standing head and shoulders above the usual pastiches of the Conan Doyle novels, his elegantly written story will delight crime fiction fans as well as musicians.

As fans of Sherlock Holmes will already know, the great detective played a Stradivarius, 'felicitously acquired for 55 shillings' and desribed in The Adventure of the Cardboard Box. All the more reason then for Holmes to pursue this violin mystery with the greatest zeal.

In the style of Conan Doyle but adding his own distinctive charm, the author follows the original format in which Dr. Watson is the narrator. Pressed into action once more following the demise of his arch rival Moriarty, Holmes embarks on investigating the theft of the famous Medici Strad from celebrated violinist Donato del Nero. In a captivating story we are made privy to the secrets of violin-making, famous copyists (Vuillaume), dealers (the Hill brothers) and the rigours of the violin virtuoso's touring life.

Extensive end-notes and a selected bibliography are a bonus. Here beside more serious matters, we learn that Sarasate dyed his moustache, Kreisler used only the middle of the bow when playing, and Joachim owned at least eight Strads.

You will be compelled to read this charming, witty and erudite story in one sitting.

Mary Nemet