Author: Lemony Snicket
Author Website: www.lemonysnicket.com
Illustrator: Carson Ellis
Illustrator Website: www.carsonellis.com
Media Used: Line watercolor drawing with subtle colors
Publisher: HarperCollins
Year of Publication: 2009
ISBN: 9780061236273
Annotation: There has been a murder and the music composer is dead. The constable (police inspector) is called to investigate. The likely suspects are those closest and in this case the orchestral instruments get grilled and all have an alibi. So who did it?
Personal Reaction: This is a fun and witty story with word play and allusion. Most of all it is amusing. Whether or not a young reader “gets” the sly wit and play on words is all right. They will, however, get a very clever way to learn the different instruments of an orchestra along with an entertaining story.
Illustration: The illustrator’s simple line drawings are a good compliment to the narrative and help the reader follow the story. But like the author’s play on words technique some of the pictures might be hard to interpret for some readers. For example on the third page with the line “This is called decomposing.” there is a picture of a fly. Older readers might get the connection between decomposition, death and a fly but probably not younger readers. But for the most part the illustrations are simple enough to carry the storyline and help convey the whimsical mystery.
Use of literary device: Personification is used for the orchestral instruments as in” Why are you giggling flutes?” Repetition is used as the inspector reviews all the alibis. Use of sophisticated language is used with the word play when the inspector accuses the conductor of “murdering” composers.
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