“Narrated by a classical music critic in early 20th century England, the titular character in Charles Jessold, Considered as a Murderer is a clever young composer who the critic befriends. At the novel’s outset, we know that Jessold, his soprano wife, and her supposed lover have been found dead. From there, the critic recounts his friendship with Jessold up until the triple-death. In the novel’s second half, the critic looks back from the end of his life and gradually illuminates the shadowy corners of his previous telling, completely re-framing everything. Stace’s characters are vibrant, their voices completely believable, and his are settings are vivid. We also learn about notorious, real-life Renaissance composer Carlo Gesualdo; the use of English folk song in composition; and other aspects of the classical music world, all of which serve to further flesh out this already very rich and readable novel.”—Michael, Annie Bloom’s Books, Portland