The Piano Tuner by Daniel Mason

The Piano Tuner is the mysterious and intriguing story of Edgar Drake, a mild-mannered dreamer who specialises in tuning beautiful French Erard piano's. Drake is happy and content with his life. He has a beautiful wife Katherine, a nice home, successful business and a passion for music. Piano's are his life, his love, and his passion.

Then one afternoon in 1886, Drake is called in to the War Office and is asked to complete a special mission; to travel to British occupied Burma, and then on to the Shan States to tune a rare Erard grand piano. The piano is owned by the eccentric Surgeon-Major Anthony Carroll, a British officer, who appears to have been channeling the medium of music to pacify the locals and obtain significant political alliances within the Shan States. This request, although irregular in nature immediately appeals to Drake, thus beginning his adventures to Burma to meet this enigmatic officer.

But Drake does not travel alone. In Mandalay, he is introduced to the beautiful and mysterious Khin Myo who travels with him, at Surgeon-Major Carroll's request, to Mae Lwin, his final destination in the Shan States. It is in Mae Lwin that the real adventures begin. As Drake embraces this new culture, he embarks on a transformation of character and values that change him forever, but as he does so he also engages himself deeply into dangerous political, and military concerns that affect his life forever.

Daniel Mason has a way of writing that draws you straight in to this intriguing adventure. Edgar Drake is a mild-mannered quiet man, yet you instantly know he is a man of depth, and that there is more to him than meets the eye, so to speak. So, you want to know exactly what this story is about, and what is going to happen to him. So, you decide to continue with this book, and to travel with him on this adventure. You feel how he feels, you see what he sees, and you smell what he smells. That's what I love about this book.

Some books that I read, I find I am getting bored with the descriptive narrative and I skip over those parts trying to get on with the story. But not this book. I enjoyed the descriptions of the scenery, the culture, the smells and the tastes. It was exotic, intriguing and it makes me want to travel. It also makes me want to learn the piano. But the story is so much more than that. Its also about values, and transformation, and the little things. And alongside that its a bit of a political mystery.

I cannot say too much about the second part of the book without spoiling it, but suffice to say that the ending was rather a surprise and left the reader having to make their own mind up. I can't say more than that. The last fifty pages or so were a rapid closure to this beautiful story, and although I am disappointed in some respects to the outcome, I appreciate why it was concluded in such a manner.

Intrigued? I was. I recommend The Piano Tuner. If you read it, let me know your thoughts. I finished it on Friday night, and only this morning (Monday) I decided what I think is the truth.

My Rating: A very worthy 4 Stars.