"Sonata in Wax" - A melodious mystery at the Berthoud Book Fair

The overarching premise of "Sonata in Wax" by Edward Hamlin is that early twentieth century wax cylinders are unearthed by an antique purveyor who sends them to a sound engineer to mend the corrupted recording and uncover the genius behind the newly found musical work much ahead of its time. This background provides a solid foundation upon which many supporting interlaced stories with twists and turns draw the reader in.

First, we meet Ben the sound engineer, solitary and divorced, still trying to come to terms with his wife's infidelity and betrayal that at once leave him humiliated and alone while also freeing him from the binding frugality of their life together. He begins to invest in his comfort and life quality while he works to free the sonata from the decaying cylinders and solve the mystery, not just of the genius composer, but also the pianist who masterfully brings it to life.

We meet the exacting diva keyboardist, Ana Clara Matta, at his music studio, who is by turns somewhat teasing and flattering. All of which appears initially to be lost on Ben.

The story then veers back to the time of Alexander Graham Bell whose name appears as the brand on the cylinders. One hopes to see revealed some of the clues for which Ben is searching, but then the story jumps back to Ben's time as he searches and finds passages from a composer, Lili Boulanger, that seem familiar to the mystery sonata.

Then it's back to the early twentieth century as we become more familiar with Elisabeth Garnier, whose father, J. Garnier, was a classmate of Debussy's, and Helen Sanborn, who suggests they might record him on the gramophone. Meanwhile worldwide political tensions are swirling as war threatens.

Back to the near present, Ben finds that Ana Clara has heard the mysterious music. What does she do with it? Claim it as her own find? Betray Ben's loyalty and trust? The story then begins to unravel.

Back and forth, point and counterpoint, musical call and answer, the story winds its way through time and many curves with precious clues being revealed at each turn.

The author demonstrates his prodigious knowledge of music composition and technical recording skills while he carries the reader along melodic themes with some dissonance until the story reaches the climax and descends into the denouement.

Too often it is the performer that receives the adulation and the attention. In this telling, Hamlin shows us it can be the exacting technician, the historian, or the family who provide the dedication, expertise and support to allow the magic to be captured and shared for generations.

The premise is new, the telling, artfully done. Anyone with a modicum of musical ability or interest will find this story appealing, well-crafted and engaging.

Edward Hamlin won the 2015 Iowa Short Fiction Award and the Colorado Book Award for his story collection "Night in Erg Chebbi and Other Stories." Recently his work has won the Nelson Algren Award, the Nelligan Prize, the North Central Washington Short Story Prize and a Top of the Mountain Novel Prize.

"Sonata in Wax" is available at Inkberry Books. Learn more from the author himself on how facts and fiction inform his work at the Berthoud Literary Festival to be held Sept. 20-22. Tickets are available here.

Author Edward Hamlin will be speaking at the Berthoud Community Library, 236 Welch Avenue in Berthoud, from 4 to 4:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. There is no cost for this event and registration is not required.

The full listing of events including the writers' workshop to be held on Sunday, Sept. 22 may be found here.

The keynote address will be given by Kathleen Donnelly, author of "On the Scent of Justice, Truth and Secrets," from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Berthoud Foursquare Church, 500 N Fourth St. Tickets priced at $20 can be purchased here.

Donnellly will appear with Peter Heller, author of "The Dog Stars," at noon on Saturday, Sept. 21, for a Book Circle discussion. Registration is required and can be obtained here at no cost.