It is time for the 1997 Statewide Music Festival at the decrepit Bellweather Hotel in New York's Catskill Mountains. The Hatmaker twins, bassoonist "Rabbit" and his singing-diva sister Alice, are attending with their chaperone Mrs. Wilson, a former piano prodigy. Longtime concierge Hastings is there to welcome them and the other high school musicians, along with volatile orchestra conductor Fisher Brodie and savage Statewide Music director Viola Fabian. Aside from the festival, the Bellweather is best known for a murder/suicide in room 712. The event was witnessed by Minnie Graves, who arrives the same weekend—which happens to be the tragedy's 15th anniversary—to face her demons. As a snowstorm bears down on the hotel, the star flutist disappears from the same room. Is it a prank or worse? VERDICT Part ghost story, part mystery, part coming-of-age tale, and part love sonnet to music, Racculia's second novel (after This Must Be the Place) is dark and delightful, with memorable characters inspired by both literature and pop culture. It will grab readers and keep them with multilayered plotting and writing that ranges from humorous to poetic.—Nancy H. Fontaine, Norwich P.L., VT