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Nemesis
This “mesmerizing” novel about a crime at an elite music school “calls to mind a David Lynch film” (TheNew York Times).
Shy piano teacher Maggie Blackburn has selflessly devoted her life and career to her students at the Forest Park Conservatory of Music in an affluent Connecticut suburb. Then a rape shakes the school’s refined grounds. The violated young student, Brendan Bauer, is a timid ex-seminarian. The perpetrator, Rolfe Christensen, is the newly appointed and celebrated composer-in-residence who has dazzled the faculty in ways Maggie could never have dreamed of. But when the conservatory’s conspiracy to conceal the crime results in Christensen’s murder, Bauer is suspected—and Maggie vows to find the real killer.
What Maggie soon discovers is that Christensen’s reputation—as genius, manipulator, and sexual predator—had preceded him, giving many people a reason to want him dead. But when the murder of another colleague casts additional doubt on Bauer’s innocence, Maggie’s labyrinthine hunt for a killer turns into more than an investigation. Now it’s a liberating obsession with secrets—hers included—as dark and twisted as the crimes themselves.
One of today’s most prolific and acclaimed literary talents, Joyce Carol Oates is a National Book Award winner, a four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a #1 New York Times–bestselling author. As Elmore Leonard said, with her psychological suspense novels written under the name Rosamond Smith, “[she] could become the world’s Number One mystery writer easily.”
Shy piano teacher Maggie Blackburn has selflessly devoted her life and career to her students at the Forest Park Conservatory of Music in an affluent Connecticut suburb. Then a rape shakes the school’s refined grounds. The violated young student, Brendan Bauer, is a timid ex-seminarian. The perpetrator, Rolfe Christensen, is the newly appointed and celebrated composer-in-residence who has dazzled the faculty in ways Maggie could never have dreamed of. But when the conservatory’s conspiracy to conceal the crime results in Christensen’s murder, Bauer is suspected—and Maggie vows to find the real killer.
What Maggie soon discovers is that Christensen’s reputation—as genius, manipulator, and sexual predator—had preceded him, giving many people a reason to want him dead. But when the murder of another colleague casts additional doubt on Bauer’s innocence, Maggie’s labyrinthine hunt for a killer turns into more than an investigation. Now it’s a liberating obsession with secrets—hers included—as dark and twisted as the crimes themselves.
One of today’s most prolific and acclaimed literary talents, Joyce Carol Oates is a National Book Award winner, a four-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, and a #1 New York Times–bestselling author. As Elmore Leonard said, with her psychological suspense novels written under the name Rosamond Smith, “[she] could become the world’s Number One mystery writer easily.”
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1990
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367 people want to read
About the author
Rosamond Smith
11 books39 followersRosamond Smith is a pseudonym for Joyce Carol Oates.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
August 17, 2018
Maggie Blackburn is a quite pianist and music teacher at the renowned Forest Park Conservatory. Maggie's acquiescent manner means that she is usually left in charge of extracurricular work, including being in charge of the graduate students, and having the party the night that alters Maggie's life. The day after the party, when one of her new graduate students shows up alleging he has been assaulted by Rolfe Christensen, a Pulitzer prize winning composer who teaches at the conservatory, Maggie helps encourage the student, Brendan, to report it to the school. As things about Rolfe's past start to come to light and the situation becomes more complex, Maggie finds herself embroiled in a tense situation.
I really enjoyed this one too, it's the second to last ARC I got for Joyce Carol Oates, and it was one of the one's I've enjoyed reading more. I didn't like it as much as Double Delight or Starr Bright Will Be with You Soon but it was no where near as terrible as Snake Eyes. I really enjoy her writing style and definitely am going to get more of her books, probably ones she hasn't written under the alias Rosamond Smith. All the one's I've read so far have been written under that alias so. There is rape involved in the book in case that's something anyone wants to avoid. Spoilers ahead.
Like the other books there was a reoccurring theme of twins and black outs/hazy memory, which can probably get annoying if you keep encountering it again and again, so maybe I'll wait a while before picking up another one of her books. I do think the twist towards the end for this one was much more obvious and I felt a lot less connected to Mary's feelings for Calvin, so when he spares her at the end it didn't really get to me. I couldn't quite grasp why she was even in love with him honestly, she really did not know him, which he even tells her at the end there.
Also Brendan trying to deal with the rape and the whole time when he kept insisting he wasn't gay but what women would want him now, that was pretty hard to read, in a good way. And everything he had to go through, even before the murders, and how Rolfe even had a history of sexual assault that had been covered up before. It might just be because we've been seeing a lot of that unfolding in public lately so it just felt more intense and real when reading the book. I just loved Mary so much the whole time because she kept trying to help Brendan out, even when it looked like he had committed the murders. So a lot of my enjoyment came from watching Mary digging into the investigation and clearing Brendan, probably because most of the times when we've seen these things happening we don't get someone like Mary coming along.
The only thing I thought was ridiculous was the Calvin thing, with his wife being his secret twin. That felt unnecessary honestly, and it was kind of obvious after reading some of the other books written by Oates. It just felt like an implausible soap opera twist and cutting it out wouldn't have really made that much of a difference to the book. Calvin still could've been victim to Rolfe's blackmail.
I really enjoyed this one too, it's the second to last ARC I got for Joyce Carol Oates, and it was one of the one's I've enjoyed reading more. I didn't like it as much as Double Delight or Starr Bright Will Be with You Soon but it was no where near as terrible as Snake Eyes. I really enjoy her writing style and definitely am going to get more of her books, probably ones she hasn't written under the alias Rosamond Smith. All the one's I've read so far have been written under that alias so. There is rape involved in the book in case that's something anyone wants to avoid. Spoilers ahead.
Like the other books there was a reoccurring theme of twins and black outs/hazy memory, which can probably get annoying if you keep encountering it again and again, so maybe I'll wait a while before picking up another one of her books. I do think the twist towards the end for this one was much more obvious and I felt a lot less connected to Mary's feelings for Calvin, so when he spares her at the end it didn't really get to me. I couldn't quite grasp why she was even in love with him honestly, she really did not know him, which he even tells her at the end there.
Also Brendan trying to deal with the rape and the whole time when he kept insisting he wasn't gay but what women would want him now, that was pretty hard to read, in a good way. And everything he had to go through, even before the murders, and how Rolfe even had a history of sexual assault that had been covered up before. It might just be because we've been seeing a lot of that unfolding in public lately so it just felt more intense and real when reading the book. I just loved Mary so much the whole time because she kept trying to help Brendan out, even when it looked like he had committed the murders. So a lot of my enjoyment came from watching Mary digging into the investigation and clearing Brendan, probably because most of the times when we've seen these things happening we don't get someone like Mary coming along.
The only thing I thought was ridiculous was the Calvin thing, with his wife being his secret twin. That felt unnecessary honestly, and it was kind of obvious after reading some of the other books written by Oates. It just felt like an implausible soap opera twist and cutting it out wouldn't have really made that much of a difference to the book. Calvin still could've been victim to Rolfe's blackmail.
February 9, 2019
Qué buena novela de suspense ha escrito la Sra. Oates bajo el disfraz de Smith. Disecciona perfectamente la devastación emocional y personal de las víctimas de violencia sexual, las dudas que generan en sí mismos y en su entorno, el difícil manejo de estos delitos... La descripción de los círculos endogámicos universitarios es acertadísima también. No me explico por qué esta novela, cuya temática además es de rabiosa actualidad, pese a haber sido escrita hace más de dos décadas, no está traducida al español.
September 28, 2019
Tercera de las novelas de Joyce Carol Oates bajo el pseudónimo de Rosamond Smith, un thriller psicológico e intimista protagonizado por Maggie Blackburn, una pianista y profesora de música en una prestigiosa universidad que se ve envuelta en una serie de asesinatos cada vez más bizarros. Uno de sus estudiantes es violado por uno de los profesores y a raiz de ahí, Maggie y en contra del sistema más patriarcal y cerrado, intentará por todos los medios llegar hasta el secreto escondido tras esa primera violación y los posteriores asesinatos.
La verdad es que me ha parecido un thriller colosal, atmosférico, lleno de recovecos e imprevisible. Por ahí lo comparaban con una peli de David Lynch, a mi más bien me ha recordado a una de de las peliculas de Brian de Palma de sus inicios, y no digo porqué de lo contrario desvelaría cosas de la trama que no debería. Desde el momento en que el estudiante de Maggie, Brendan Bauer, es violado por uno de los profesores más intocables de la institución y hasta que ocurren los asesinatos y alguna que otra desaparición, la Oates se las arregla de maravilla para conservar el suspense y conseguir que el secreto se mantenga sin que el lector lo vea venir. Y todo esto aderezado con su talento a la hora de ahondar en la psique humana: la profundidad psicológica de sus personajes que no tienen ni blancos ni negros sino una cantidad ingente de gama de grises. Un thriller soberbio de una de mis más adoradas autoras. Una pena que dejara el seudónimo porque con él, parece asomar la Oates más turbadora.
La verdad es que me ha parecido un thriller colosal, atmosférico, lleno de recovecos e imprevisible. Por ahí lo comparaban con una peli de David Lynch, a mi más bien me ha recordado a una de de las peliculas de Brian de Palma de sus inicios, y no digo porqué de lo contrario desvelaría cosas de la trama que no debería. Desde el momento en que el estudiante de Maggie, Brendan Bauer, es violado por uno de los profesores más intocables de la institución y hasta que ocurren los asesinatos y alguna que otra desaparición, la Oates se las arregla de maravilla para conservar el suspense y conseguir que el secreto se mantenga sin que el lector lo vea venir. Y todo esto aderezado con su talento a la hora de ahondar en la psique humana: la profundidad psicológica de sus personajes que no tienen ni blancos ni negros sino una cantidad ingente de gama de grises. Un thriller soberbio de una de mis más adoradas autoras. Una pena que dejara el seudónimo porque con él, parece asomar la Oates más turbadora.
December 2, 2013
And while there could be little doubt in Forest Park as to the nature of the things with which, this winter, Maggie Blackburn was involved, no one, not even Brendan Bauer, could have guessed at the depth of her involvement.
As the dust cover suggests, “This magnificently crafted, high-voltage tale shocks at every turn.” As a rule, one must be cautious about dust jacket pronouncements. But, in this case, I must admit I tilt toward agreeing. Joyce Carol Oates, under the guise of Rosamond Smith, does turn out another captivating story. And with the doppelganger that I have come to anticipate from Smith. As well as a bit of homosexual intrigue.
I am the cello, you are the piano, these notes are the thoughts passing through the dead Beethoven’s mind.
If my mind was sharper, I might have relished this book’s wordplay and given it five stars. As it is, it bemused me very pleasantly and four starishly.
Clearly a success for Rosamond Smith or Joyce Carol Oates. Whomever.
January 2, 2012
Wonderful, eerie, suspenseful tale. Great setting (a music conservatory in well-heeled southwest Connecticut), intriguing characters, and a highly unusual story. I love Nemesis for its uniqueness and its wonderfully sympathetic protagonist. This is not a book for a readers who want fast-paced action, sensationalized sex, or even good old-fashioned romance; Nemesis is atmospheric, captivating and meditative. The funny thing is: I'm not a fan of Joyce Carol Oates but when she writes as Rosamund Smith, I can't get enough of her bizarre, cerebral psychological thrillers.
June 21, 2016
Fantastic read — fictional treatment of major harassment/assault case at Princeton, written by Joyce Carol Oats under her nom de plum for, I guess, novelizations of her workplace? Some of the sharpest writing about academia. Novel centers on a well-intentioned feminist professor who becomes the confident of a student victim of sexual assault.
June 21, 2013
Joyce Carol Oates, die unter dem Pseudonym Rosamond Smith eine Reihe beachtlicher Psycho-Thriller verfasste, hat wiederholt das Universitäts-Milieu und auch Gewalttaten zum Mittelpunkt ihrer Romane gemacht. In "Das Frühlingsopfer" verknüpft sie das Schicksal einiger Musikprofessoren des Forest Park Konservatoriums. (Der Originaltitel "Nemesis" charakterisiert die Vorgänge am Forest Park Konservatorium treffender als der deutsche.) Margaret Blackburn hat sich für das Unterrichten an einer Universität und gegen eine Karriere als Pianistin entschieden, weil sie sich nicht selbstbewusst genug fand, um im Rampenlicht zu stehen. Maggie lebt allein und hat nur eine enge Freundin. Sie ist in ihrem Beruf angesehen, ihre Kollegen wundern sich nur über den sonderbaren Gegensatz zwischen Maggies direktem Auftreten und ihrem Wunsch nach Zurückgezogenheit. Für die Handlung des Psycho-Thrillers muss Maggies Persönlichkeit wichtig sein, wie auch ihre eigenartigen Erinnerungslücken, da die Musikprofessorin so ausführlich charakterisiert wird.
Im Anschluss an eine Party in Maggies Haus, die sie in offizieller Funktion für neue Studenten und Fachbbereichs-Mitarbeiter ausrichtet, wird ein - männlicher - Student vom prominenten Musikprofessor Rolfe Christensen mit Alkohol abgefüllt und vergewaltigt. Brendan vertraut sich Maggie an und vermittelt ihr äußerst raffiniert das Gefühl, schuldig an den Ereignissen zu sein, da sie ja Täter und Opfer eingeladen hat. "Ihr müsst das doch gewusst haben!", wirft Brendan seiner Fakultätsberaterin vor. Tatsächlich zieht Christensen einen Rattenschwanz von Verfahren wegen Übergriffen auf Studenten hinter sich her, die alle im Sande verliefen. Wie kann ein Mann mit einem solchen Lebenslauf eine Stelle als Musikprofessor ergattern? Maggie lässt der Fall nicht los. Bei einem Gespräch mit Calvin Gould, dem von ihr umschwärmten Dekan, stellt sich heraus, dass Gould über Alkoholexzesse und sexuelle Belästigung Abhängiger durch Christensen sehr wohl informiert ist. Brendan muss derweil vor einem Untersuchungsausschuss des Konservatoriums aussagen. Obwohl die Mitglieder dieser Kommission zum Stillschweigen verpflichtet sind, lässt sich die Tat an der Hochschule nicht unter den Teppich kehren. Brendan und auch Maggie als seine Unterstützerin werden an der Hochschule zu geächteten Außenseitern. Als Christensen tot aufgefunden wird, ist Brendan natürlich der Hauptverdächtige. Doch könnte es nicht weitere Opfer geben, die Christensen in der Vergangenheit missbrauchte und die sich nun an ihm gerächt haben? Könnten Christensens als unverdient angesehener beruflicher Erfolg und sein sichtbarer Wohlstand ein Motiv für die Tat sein? Maggie hat mit einem Mal keine Zeit mehr für unbezahlte Zusatzaufgaben, die ihr die Kollegen aus lieber Gewohnheit aufhalsen wollen. Sie sieht sich als Tochter eines pensionierten Staatsanwalts in der Rolle einer Ermittlerin, die an ihrem Konservatorium das Netzwerk einflussreicher Männer entwirren muss, die sich gegenseitig Posten und Stipendien zuschanzen.
Smith/Oates konstruiert ihren Psychothriller aus dem Zusammentreffen mehrerer exzentrischer Persönlichkeiten; Maggie, die sich wie von Krakenarmen an den Fall Brendan binden lässt, Brendan, der Maggie manipuliert und sich über die Vorgänge an seiner vorigen Hochschule seltsam widersprüchlich äußert, und eine Gruppe homosexueller Männer, die einander in verheerender Hassliebe zugeneigt sind. Die Autorin beschreibt die Persönlichkeiten ihrer Figuren bis ins winzigste Detail und analysiert klug den Mikrokosmos Universität. Die Ereignisse, die der Gewalttat an Brendan folgen, entwickelt sie mit solcher Raffinesse, dass ihre Leser in jedem Kapitel die eigene Wahrnehmung neu infragestellen müssen. Sogar die Erfahrung aus jahrelanger Krimi-Lektüre, welche Mord-Methoden typisch für männliche oder weibliche Täter sein könnten, bringt Smith ins Wanken. Ein subtiler Psycho-Thriller, der aus verschiedenen Perspektiven nach Antwort auf die Frage sucht, wer eigentlich Opfer und wer Täter ist.
Im Anschluss an eine Party in Maggies Haus, die sie in offizieller Funktion für neue Studenten und Fachbbereichs-Mitarbeiter ausrichtet, wird ein - männlicher - Student vom prominenten Musikprofessor Rolfe Christensen mit Alkohol abgefüllt und vergewaltigt. Brendan vertraut sich Maggie an und vermittelt ihr äußerst raffiniert das Gefühl, schuldig an den Ereignissen zu sein, da sie ja Täter und Opfer eingeladen hat. "Ihr müsst das doch gewusst haben!", wirft Brendan seiner Fakultätsberaterin vor. Tatsächlich zieht Christensen einen Rattenschwanz von Verfahren wegen Übergriffen auf Studenten hinter sich her, die alle im Sande verliefen. Wie kann ein Mann mit einem solchen Lebenslauf eine Stelle als Musikprofessor ergattern? Maggie lässt der Fall nicht los. Bei einem Gespräch mit Calvin Gould, dem von ihr umschwärmten Dekan, stellt sich heraus, dass Gould über Alkoholexzesse und sexuelle Belästigung Abhängiger durch Christensen sehr wohl informiert ist. Brendan muss derweil vor einem Untersuchungsausschuss des Konservatoriums aussagen. Obwohl die Mitglieder dieser Kommission zum Stillschweigen verpflichtet sind, lässt sich die Tat an der Hochschule nicht unter den Teppich kehren. Brendan und auch Maggie als seine Unterstützerin werden an der Hochschule zu geächteten Außenseitern. Als Christensen tot aufgefunden wird, ist Brendan natürlich der Hauptverdächtige. Doch könnte es nicht weitere Opfer geben, die Christensen in der Vergangenheit missbrauchte und die sich nun an ihm gerächt haben? Könnten Christensens als unverdient angesehener beruflicher Erfolg und sein sichtbarer Wohlstand ein Motiv für die Tat sein? Maggie hat mit einem Mal keine Zeit mehr für unbezahlte Zusatzaufgaben, die ihr die Kollegen aus lieber Gewohnheit aufhalsen wollen. Sie sieht sich als Tochter eines pensionierten Staatsanwalts in der Rolle einer Ermittlerin, die an ihrem Konservatorium das Netzwerk einflussreicher Männer entwirren muss, die sich gegenseitig Posten und Stipendien zuschanzen.
Smith/Oates konstruiert ihren Psychothriller aus dem Zusammentreffen mehrerer exzentrischer Persönlichkeiten; Maggie, die sich wie von Krakenarmen an den Fall Brendan binden lässt, Brendan, der Maggie manipuliert und sich über die Vorgänge an seiner vorigen Hochschule seltsam widersprüchlich äußert, und eine Gruppe homosexueller Männer, die einander in verheerender Hassliebe zugeneigt sind. Die Autorin beschreibt die Persönlichkeiten ihrer Figuren bis ins winzigste Detail und analysiert klug den Mikrokosmos Universität. Die Ereignisse, die der Gewalttat an Brendan folgen, entwickelt sie mit solcher Raffinesse, dass ihre Leser in jedem Kapitel die eigene Wahrnehmung neu infragestellen müssen. Sogar die Erfahrung aus jahrelanger Krimi-Lektüre, welche Mord-Methoden typisch für männliche oder weibliche Täter sein könnten, bringt Smith ins Wanken. Ein subtiler Psycho-Thriller, der aus verschiedenen Perspektiven nach Antwort auf die Frage sucht, wer eigentlich Opfer und wer Täter ist.
November 3, 2017
Published in 1990, this fiction suspense/crime novel is much better than the suspense short stories titled "Le musée du Dr. Moses" that I've read previously. This is the 4th novel I've read from author Joyce Carol Oates. In this well written novel, the author described well the location of Forest Park and its community of musicians, the crimes of rape and murder, the reaction of the various people directly linked to the crimes and the community at large. All the characters are well developed and difficult to discern because the author gave them a public in oppososite to the real private image of the characters, showed people had contradictory feelings about each characters; thus trying to make it difficult for the readers to guess who committed the crimes of murder. The story reveals clearly the link between a man's will and hunger to excercise power against another person and the act of rape and that the rapist will not refrain from doing it again if not stopped. Unfortunately and without giving spoilers, a reader can easily limit the number of potential suspects to 2 once the reader knows how the first person was killed. An even good read can guess who did it even prior to the rape and murder happened.
This fiction novel is good also because it seems real and could have happened in reality. The topic of rape is still hot today in the news.
This fiction novel is good also because it seems real and could have happened in reality. The topic of rape is still hot today in the news.
August 28, 2022
A psychological thriller, this takes you on a wild chase to find a murderer. Just when you think you know who it is, you have to do a double take. Difficult to put down, questions left unanswered, and an atypical ending.
June 1, 2024
Joyce Carol Oates. What must it be like to live with her mind? It knows the psychological terror of all of mankind it seems. While this is not my favorite of her novels, it was gripping, well-written, and contained a serious plot twist!
May 31, 2011
For a book that was set from September 88-December 89, the writing style was more old fashioned than I expected. The Forest Park Conservatory is a very elite music school with staff & students that are above reproach, or so we think. When young Brendan is raped by the composer in residence, Rolfe Christensen, the entire campus & surrounding community is completely shaken up. Brendan's greatest champion is Maggie Blackburn, a piano instructor. After Rolfe's death by poisoning, the community tries to pin the murder on poor Brendan. A while later, Brendan is implicated in the knife slashing death of one of Rolfe's friends, Nicky Reickmann, also a staff member, & the executor of Rolfe's literary estate.
In the end, Maggie discovers who the true murderer is, & it's quite a sordid tale of mental disturbance, seduction, & intrigue that will leave Maggie & Brendan forever changed as they search for a way to put their lives back in some semblance of normality.
All in all, it was quite interesting, although not riveting.
In the end, Maggie discovers who the true murderer is, & it's quite a sordid tale of mental disturbance, seduction, & intrigue that will leave Maggie & Brendan forever changed as they search for a way to put their lives back in some semblance of normality.
All in all, it was quite interesting, although not riveting.
November 10, 2018
The Forest Park Conservatory of Music. A community of musicians troubled by little more than the inevitable professional jealousies and rivalries. Until one night a graduate student is raped. What follows is a suspenseful and tense murder mystery which kept my attention to the end – and also kept me guessing. It’s well-written and well-paced, though perhaps a little overlong, and a bit too dependent on dialogue to move the narrative along. They sure do like to talk and expound, these musicians. However, overall a compelling and entertaining read.
March 13, 2013
A little too verbose and slow moving, for my taste, but an all around good book. A different sort of thriller/mystery novel than the usual. Very intelligently written. No guilty pleasures in this book (humor, wit, sex, sarcasm, etc.) so if you're not into a stiff read, perhaps pass over this one.
August 29, 2025
"Nemesis" is an intriguing mystery set in an interesting milieu--the world of classical music as represented by Forest Park Conservatory of Music in Connecticut, where most of the action of the novel takes place.
Not surprisingly, as depicted here, the world of classical music is fraught with egotists, climbers, careerists, rivalries and some truly reprehensible people. The central character of the novel, Maggie Blackburn is a professor and administrator at the conservatory, as well as a classical pianist in her own right. She's intelligent, hardworking, devoted to her students but, although well-liked by her colleagues, seems to lead a solitary life. She also seems somewhat naive towards her colleagues when scandal strikes the conservatory, and the administrators there seem more concerned with protecting the reputation of the institution rather than making things right for a student who has been sexually assaulted by a prestigious professor at the school.
This is a story that we've seen played out in real life many times, in many types of institutions. The depiction of the sexual assault is painful to read, allowing the reader to share Maggie's outrage at the administrators of the school attempting to downplay the scandal.
The mystery itself (without revealing details) kept me engaged throughout the novel. However, as much as I enjoyed the book, I did find the denouement of the novel somewhat unsatisfying. The novel climaxes with one of those massive information dumps beloved of mystery writers, which I found to be a bit overwhelming and not entirely convincing.
Not surprisingly, as depicted here, the world of classical music is fraught with egotists, climbers, careerists, rivalries and some truly reprehensible people. The central character of the novel, Maggie Blackburn is a professor and administrator at the conservatory, as well as a classical pianist in her own right. She's intelligent, hardworking, devoted to her students but, although well-liked by her colleagues, seems to lead a solitary life. She also seems somewhat naive towards her colleagues when scandal strikes the conservatory, and the administrators there seem more concerned with protecting the reputation of the institution rather than making things right for a student who has been sexually assaulted by a prestigious professor at the school.
This is a story that we've seen played out in real life many times, in many types of institutions. The depiction of the sexual assault is painful to read, allowing the reader to share Maggie's outrage at the administrators of the school attempting to downplay the scandal.
The mystery itself (without revealing details) kept me engaged throughout the novel. However, as much as I enjoyed the book, I did find the denouement of the novel somewhat unsatisfying. The novel climaxes with one of those massive information dumps beloved of mystery writers, which I found to be a bit overwhelming and not entirely convincing.
January 24, 2021
So this is my first foray into the works of Rosamond Smith, which is to say, the first Joyce Carol Oates novel I have read published under her pseudonym. Having only recently started my foray into the works of JCO, I became intrigued by the work she published under another name. Reading the synopsis, this seemed the most intriguing from the RS selection. I will say happily that I thoroughly enjoyed this one. Whilst it does have a healthy dose of twisted and sick characters who do heinous, terrible things, it also felt quite old fashioned in it's depiction of amateur sleuthing via it's resourceful and intelligent heroine (who also predictably but enjoyably comes with her own issues) and this who-done-it mystery was a greatly entertaining read, lean and compact with no fat on the bones. I enjoyed the world in which this was set, musical academe and could visualise the leafy New England backdrop as the story unfolded. Was it predictable? Well, to a degree, yes. However, Oates manages to resolve her tale by providing a subtext and motivation of a potentially predictable villain that was completely unpredictable and psychologically intriguing. So this was a most satisfying read, and I shall definitely be reading more of Oates' RS novels.
January 13, 2024
This was okay... The story wasn't anything special to me. It was a bit slower-paced than I would have expected. It took a bit for the mystery aspect to even come up, I think into part 2 or just before part 2. From the synopsis I read, I just expected it to happen a bit sooner. It also started to get a bit wacky toward the end with some of the twists and revelations. They were like soap opera-type twists. Which I don't dislike, it just didn't really match with the rest of the book's tone to me.
There were also some plot elements that didn't seem to go anywhere, but maybe I just didn't get what it was doing with them.
I did like the way it talked about its various themes though and explored characters' feelings and reactions to things. The writing in general was good, I didn't have any complaints about it in that aspect. It also seemed pretty ahead of its time in the way it discussed sexuality and gender identity. It talks a bit about being asexual, aromantic, nonbinary (not exactly in those terms, but that does seem to be what it's talking about), which I didn't really expect it to bring up. It also wasn't dismissive of these identities, which is how I recall older media that I have seen bring it up treating them, so that was surprising to me.
There were also some plot elements that didn't seem to go anywhere, but maybe I just didn't get what it was doing with them.
I did like the way it talked about its various themes though and explored characters' feelings and reactions to things. The writing in general was good, I didn't have any complaints about it in that aspect. It also seemed pretty ahead of its time in the way it discussed sexuality and gender identity. It talks a bit about being asexual, aromantic, nonbinary (not exactly in those terms, but that does seem to be what it's talking about), which I didn't really expect it to bring up. It also wasn't dismissive of these identities, which is how I recall older media that I have seen bring it up treating them, so that was surprising to me.
June 20, 2025
Hoping that the pianist/Conservatory angle would not simply be a gimmick, but: "Calvin did most of the talking...flexing...his long powerful pianist’s fingers. His stretch must have been well above an octave—ten keys, even eleven." Disappointed, but not surprised at this.
Otherwise happy with this mostly good-to-excellent example of a Patricia Highsmith novel written by someone untroubled by whatever tormented Highsmith. But that's also why this never comes close to reaching the heights of the best Highsmith; every character here, even if driven to extremes by circumstances at some point, is essentially rational, and all the "fugue states" &c do nothing to change this. There is no menace here, no feeling of an altered reality, both of which suffuse Highsmith.
Part "psychological thriller", part whodunnit, it's quite readable and well-written other than several completely unnecessary and ponderous bits of foreshadowing that, I suppose, the author felt were necessary for this lowly genre.
Otherwise happy with this mostly good-to-excellent example of a Patricia Highsmith novel written by someone untroubled by whatever tormented Highsmith. But that's also why this never comes close to reaching the heights of the best Highsmith; every character here, even if driven to extremes by circumstances at some point, is essentially rational, and all the "fugue states" &c do nothing to change this. There is no menace here, no feeling of an altered reality, both of which suffuse Highsmith.
Part "psychological thriller", part whodunnit, it's quite readable and well-written other than several completely unnecessary and ponderous bits of foreshadowing that, I suppose, the author felt were necessary for this lowly genre.
December 29, 2022
The story of Maggie, an instructor at a Conservatory of Music. She is outwardly timid, shy, and mostly a loner. Told from Maggie's pov, we are inside her head as she muses over her life. Things change when a male student comes to her and tells her that he was raped by a male instructor. Maggie then becomes obsessed with the case and when murder enters the picture she rallies for the suspected student. A very slow story which showcases the life of academics, the police, and the protection of their own. This dark academia made me think and muse over Maggie's thoughts. The story is mostly psychological rather than suspense but the plot did take a twist and the reveal of the murderer surprised me. Being inside Maggie's head we realize who the killer is at the same moment she does. I really enjoyed this in a thought-provoking way. However, the lack of tension brought down my rating.
March 30, 2024
Maggie Blackburn is a shy thirty four year old piano teacher at a prestigious music school. She takes her job very seriously and has taken many students under her wing. Her life is good; she's happy and content. Then there is a horrible rape on campus involving a male student and a well-thought-of music professor. Maggie finds herself right in the middle of the mystery, mayhem, and unanswered questions regarding this brutal crime.
Who committed the rape? Now murder is involved...could the rapist be the murderer or is the murderer someone else? JCO takes her time unfolding these crimes and keeps you guessing. This is a great psychological murder mystery, filled with plenty of twists and turns. A good reading experience.
Who committed the rape? Now murder is involved...could the rapist be the murderer or is the murderer someone else? JCO takes her time unfolding these crimes and keeps you guessing. This is a great psychological murder mystery, filled with plenty of twists and turns. A good reading experience.
December 3, 2022
Nemesis is a novel about an incident at a distinguished music conservatory where a young student was sexually assaulted by one of the school's composers-in-residence. The aftermath of the incident results in a bloody trail of bondage and death. You know, it's an Oates novel.
The thing that bothered me all the way through Nemesis was trying to figure out if I was reading a transgressive noir or an average paperback suspense potboiler; it had that kind of tacky sheen. In addition, the protagonist, Maggie Blackburn was such a dull character I couldn't identify with her at all.
The creepiest thing about the book was Oates using the pen name of Rosamond Smith. Her late husband's name is Raymond Smith.
The thing that bothered me all the way through Nemesis was trying to figure out if I was reading a transgressive noir or an average paperback suspense potboiler; it had that kind of tacky sheen. In addition, the protagonist, Maggie Blackburn was such a dull character I couldn't identify with her at all.
The creepiest thing about the book was Oates using the pen name of Rosamond Smith. Her late husband's name is Raymond Smith.
August 21, 2024
I am generally a huge fan of Joyce Carol Oates, but this was a miss for me. The unraveling of the mystery was a slog through deep mud for me. It probably didn't help my reading that I am not the "artistic" type, so I did not find the characters particularly relatable nor could I care about their circumstances. The suspense finally engaged my attention in the last quarter of the book and that brought my rating up to 3 stars, but, frankly, I am relieved the ordeal is over.
October 21, 2021
I like mysteries and I liked this one a lot. I don't like solving them even though solving them is satisfying. Kudos to me, yay! But then I think they're too obvious if I could solve it. I didn't solve this one even though all the clues were there. Love that! Well done, well-written. Academic setting, lots of cut-throat posturing. Yum!
August 4, 2020
The first half of the book was very captivating until I discovered the killer. Actually, a very good mystery to that point and a good psychological story as well. Unfortunately, from then on the book was anticlimactic and I just had to finish reading it.
November 24, 2025
She's so good at this—mystery, violence, the story of a Weinstein-style abuse of power, male sexual assault on other males, and how this doesn't affect a person's innate sexuality—and asexual representation!
Ahead of the curve as always, Joyce <3
Ahead of the curve as always, Joyce <3
September 12, 2020
A great character, decadent fun, and absolutely nothing ringing untrue in her characterization of classical musicians and that world, which is a feat. (Bel Canto was unbearable in that regard.)
April 19, 2025
Loved the mystery, building suspense, and whirlwind finale!
February 26, 2013
Nous voici avec un policier qui n’en est pas un, mais un peu quand même. Oates use du genre d’une manière bien à elle, et comme pour Le sourire de l’ange, il n’y a ni policier ni détective, seulement des personnages, attachants, intéressants, troublants, complexes. L’auteur nous propose de jeter un œil dans l’univers particulier d’un conservatoire de musique, avec sa hiérarchie, ses ambitions, ses travers. Un microcosme, un monde à part dans lequel évolue Maggie Blackburn, directrice timide et introvertie. Sur une intrigue un peu basique, l’auteur construit un suspens qui lui non plus n’en est pas un, car on devine une partie de la solution bien avant le dénouement. Le coupable est donc assez rapidement mis en évidence pour peu que l’on soit attentif aux détails, à la fine psychologie des personnages. Le manque de suspens et d’action ne m’ont en rien gênée, tant la plume de Joyce Carol Oates me séduit à chaque fois, ainsi que sa galerie de personnages toujours fouillés.
June 26, 2014
Un viol a lieu: celui de Brendan Bauer. Le violeur est ensuite assassiné. Bauer devient le suspect numéro 1. Tous le croient coupable, tous sauf Maggie Smith professeur de piano au Département de musique Forest Park du Connecticut. Elle va enquêter pour qu'éclate la vérité. C'est un suspense psychologique bien mené. Le style d'écriture m'a lassé à la longue. Je crois que je préfère cette auteure quand elle écrit sous son nom véritable : Joyce Carol Oates. En anglais le titre est Nemesis soit le juste retour des choses. Je lui donne quatre étoiles pour avoir réussi à cacher le coupable jusqu'à la fin. J'ai reçu ce livre en cadeau. Merci L.A.
June 9, 2018
This novel was inspired by a really serious rape accusation/SVSH scandal in the English Dept. at Princeton. Goes on my list of campus scandal novels — and it's right at the top, with Notes on a Scandal.
July 8, 2009
eh...ok, not great
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