"Ms. Linforth has written a love story sure to please Phantom fans old and new alike."

~ Amanda Ashley, NYT Best-selling author

~~~

Jennifer Linforth's MADRIGAL combines mystery with love, albeit not a traditional romance story. She has created a fairly complex plot with interesting twists and changing viewpoints that keep the reader turning pages. The story, infused with some dramatic action sequences moves forward at a steady pace.

Linforth's descriptive ability shines, especially when she writes about the underbelly of the Opera Garnier where the book's most compelling scenes take place. Essentially, it's a confusing labyrinth of tunnels and mirrors that Erik can change at will to stay hidden. It's also fascinating to see what happens when Erik is confronted with two women for whom he has feelings. Erik's character is the most developed, as expected, showing the fine line between dark and light, madness and sanity. I look forward to reading ABENDLIED, the sequel to MADRIGAL.

~ Katherine Peterson, Romance Junkies

~~~

Madrigal: A Novel of Gaston Leroux's Phantom of the Opera takes place four years after the events of the original novel. Although I have not read Leroux's novel, I can see how Madrigal captures the feel of the story very well. The classic novel aside, this book is a wonderful historical tale of life, love, and choices. However, the most impressive aspect that stands out to me is the writing. Ms. Linforth's prose is phenomenally beautiful and hauntingly breathtaking.

~ Bonnie-Lass, CoffeeTime Romance

~~~

Madrigal, by Jennifer Linforth, captures the mystery and sensual essence of Gaston Leroux's classic, The Phantom of the Opera. We live again in the world of Erik, the masked phantom, and marvel at his complex character-disfigured but irresistible, evil yet loving. We walk in Christine's footsteps through the streets of glorious Paris. What a treat to revisit these characters and take up the tale where Leroux left off!

~ Kathryn M. Johnson, Author 

~~~

Reading Madrigal by Jennifer Linforth has been a wonderful experience. As a Phantom of the Opera lover, I've been able to read all the books based on this story and Ms. Linforth's work including plot, characters, and style makes this novel a gorgeous and unique creation.

Her main story is really original and thrilling from the very beginning to the last page. The action never looses its passion and suspense, guiding the reader through an intense journey which involves the entire book. We can submerge in the Phantom's life, feeling we are part of the story itself. She never forgets Erik belongs to Leroux and his personality and even his dialogues are impregnated with his original essence-a real treasure for Phantom readers.

The vision of Christine and her husband, Raoul, is full of surprises. We can never know if Christine regrets her choice for having chosen Raoul and even in the last chapters we feel her contradiction and see doubt in her eyes. This makes a perfect ending: we are yearning for it to continue.

Ms. Linforth's love for the Phantom legend can be felt in every page, in every word which makes her novel a wonderful experience and a delight to the senses.

~Sandra Andrs Belenguer, Historian and creator of the foremost Phantom of the Opera history and fan site on the net (www. ladyghost.com)

~~~

Many "sequels" to well-known classics fall short, lacking the spark of talent that blazed in the original. Jennifer Linforth's Madrigal is the exception to the rule, being the perfect continuation to the story that everyone knows and loves. Erik, known both as the Angel of Music and the Phantom of the Opera, has been hiding from the world and himself beneath the Paris Opera House, ever since Christine had chosen Raoul over him, and the terrible events of that night.

Jennifer Linforth has created a truly outstanding book with "Madrigal." This rich and evocative work was a sumptuous feast for any fan of The Phantom of the Opera. Watching Erik and Anna slowly come together was like savoring a fabulous piece of dark chocolate. I found myself reading this book just pages at a time, reluctant to end this feast too soon. For anyone who never understood Christine choosing the weak and bland Raoul over the complicated but truly intriguing Erik, this work will delight and reward. Anna is an amazing character, only someone as flawed as her, could see not the monster beneath the Opera House nor the musician behind the music but instead the man behind the mask. When the final page ended, I wiped away tears, happy because the story ended the way I felt it always should have, but also tears of sadness because the story was over, never to be experienced for the first time again.

~ Danya, Night Owl Romance

~~~

An opening letter of explanation and then a heartfelt prologue weigh the opening of Madrigal as surely as does anchoring the work, so securely, to Leroux's Phantom of the Opera. Jennifer Linforth sets a demanding course, to follow in the wake of such a tale and such an author. And for this daring, in her Madrigal Linforth deserves most heartfelt congratulations.

She does, indeed, chart an unpredictable course. Erik, imagined dead, returns, lurking as before, in his dark sanctuary, torn between love and hate. Again the voice of an angel and the soul of a madman rage. It's sounds wonderful- dramatic - but Erik is a tortured soul. He is both afraid and fearfulcompassionate and dangerous. The contrasts weave about his character from beginning to end.

Description intrigues nearly as much as action. Linforth not only exhibits a passion for research, but she brings places to life. Just a glimpse at the inner workings of the Opera house bring it all to focus, without slowing the story: The cellars of the Garnier were tremendous as the opera itself. Totaling five, they supported the layout of the stage with a network of traps, hatches, winches, counterweights and revolving doors. Anna often found respite among the wheels and pulleys of the sub-stage level. She enjoyed wandering among the giant machinery

~ Snapdragon, Long and Short Reviews

~~~

Madrigal takes place four years after the events of the original story, and while enough statements are dropped regarding the past that readers could understand what happened, knowing the history of the characters and events, whether it's having read Leroux's work, or having seen the play or film versions, helps to enhance the experience of this novel. Along with the return of familiar characters such as Christine, Raoul, and Madame Giry, several new ones are introduced, all who blend seamlessly with the old. Of the new, author Linforth makes a wonderful addition in Anna as an indomitable heroine, and in creating a despicable figure in the main antagonist. Though of all the characters, it is Erik who rightfully steals the show.

With this classic tale continued and given new life through author Linforth's lovely storytelling, Madrigal is a must read for Phantom fans. And if you're not a Phantom fan, give Madrigal a read and there's a good chance you'll become one.

~Shannon Frost, TCM Reviews