The Piano Teacher

Lynn York

Life had been fairly quiet for Wilma Mabry. She has lived alone in her house since first her husband Walter died then her daughter Sarah went off to college. She and Sarah hadn't understood each other well so only saw each other infrequently since. Sarah, her husband Harper and their daughter Starling live in New Mexico. Miss Wilma knows most of the people in Swan Knob. She has been the piano teacher to all those children for 15 years or so. She is the organist for the church as well as for many weddings and funerals.

But when the day Lily Strong's daughter was married, Miss Wilma came home to find Sarah and Starling on her doorstep waiting. They had ridden the train to North Carolina to visit. Although she knew something was wrong, she waited for Sarah to tell her. Harper drove into town the next night, following Sarah. That is the night one of the young sheriffs was murdered. Harper had brought a hitchhiker with him from New Mexico. That man, a stranger in town, was picked up on suspicion of murder.

To complicate matters, someone slips Wilma some damaging photos at the sheriff.'s funeral. The local wealthy, older bachelor has suddenly decided he wants to date her even if she doesn't realize what is going on. Now Miss Wilma is embroiled in a family situation, affected by a murder and misunderstanding one of the town's civic leaders when he keeps insisting he has to see her. She doesn't realize it, but she's holding the clue to the murder.

Lynn York has written a brief picture of a small town in the American South in the early 1980's that reflects the people of the times and the tightness of a small Southern community. It's a quiet community full of intrigue. Every one knows every one else's business - except who murdered the sheriff. Every one knows everyone so it couldn't have been one of their own!

The Piano Teacher is an enjoyable vignette that could have been deeper if York had wanted to. Instead she keeps the story light, with the problems and hard decisions there. Each person faces the problems in their own way, especially Wilma and Sarah. Swan Knob is drawn in broad strokes, picturing the small community without exposing it. Although the problems are real and the community is tight, York is able to keep it pleasant without dragging it down.

The one wrong note is the way Sarah takes off during the day after Harper comes to Swan Knob. After she runs out of gas she makes a stop that just doesn't come off right. Sarah's character doesn't feel like the type to do what she did then. York wanted to given Sarah some depth but the scenes are awkward when she isn't self reflecting her life.

A small, self contained community is at the center of The Piano Teacher, shaping people's attitudes. York uses it well as a backdrop. Miss Wilma has realistic reactions to some of the different situations. Even so, often I felt she was a little pulled back, not quite real on paper. The Piano Teacher is a quiet book, nicely written, and can give the reader some entertainment as well as something to consider.

Notice:  Suggestive dialogue or situations

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Murder Makes Waves by Anne George