Sound Proof is the second in Barbara Gregorich's mystery series featuring private investigator, Frank Dragovic. At the urging of his girlfriend Suzanne Quering, Frank is undercover at the Midwest Musical Festival trying to determine the culprit in a series of valuable instrument thefts. Suspicion is rife and tensions run high as the mercurial musicians squabble amongst themselves and the stakes are raised when a fiddle disappears from the caravan where a murdered man is discovered. Was the thief simply desperate to escape or does a murderer also stalk the festivities?

Sound Proof is an intricately plotted murder mystery laden with clever misdirections and twists. The setting, an old time musical festival in the midwest, is interesting and the author demonstrates her familiarity with the scene with authentic detail. I know little about old time music so I was fascinated by the information Gregorich works in to the story particularly about the musical instruments such as the hurdy-gurdy, bowed psaltries and dulcimers. It is obvious the story is carefully researched and her writing is well crafted with vivid description and realistic dialogue. The pace is a little slow in places but there is a satisfying climax when the mysteries are resolved.

The story is told from the first person point of view by Frank Dragovic. Frank has the feel of a traditional investigator, keenly observing the festival participants under his guise of a carpenter, and discretely poking around their personal business. He proves to be determined and intelligent, able to unravel the tangled strings that bind the suspects.
The cast of suspects includes Frank's employer and several of the festival attendees and even the Sherrif and Deputy. For most of the story I had no idea who could possibly be responsible for the thefts or murder as Gregorich identified possible motives amongst the large group. Initially I struggled to separate so many primary characters who are introduced en masse and think that there should have been a few less but as each were developed over the course of the story they became distinct and realistic characters. The lives of the group intersect in several ways and the author does well to ensure natural connections between them.

I enjoyed reading Sound Proof, it's an intelligent mystery with a likeable protagonist and entertaining premise. Fans of old time music should especially enjoy the setting and mystery lovers will be challenged to solve the crime. ( )