Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R. L. Stine

Book Review of Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R. L. Stine

Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R. L. Stine is the 13^th book from the famous Goosebumps horror series. In the attic of their new home, Jerome finds a piano that seems to play sad melodies all by itself.  Jerome’s parents move from Cedarville to a place called New Goshen. Soon after they settle in their new house, they discover a piano left behind by earlier occupant. That night Jerome hears music coming down from the attic. He decides to inspect. The music stops as soon as he turns the light on. There is nobody in the attic. The piano played by itself. Jerome concludes that it was one of those instruments that play automatically, like a jukebox or something. His parents complain of the noise, because they think it was Jerome who has been tinkering with the piano. Shortly after this his father employs a piano teacher for him. He is to take piano lessons from one Mr. Shreek who marvels at Jerome’s hands. “What beautiful hands,” he seems to be fixated at them. “Excellent hands,” he keeps repeating. The lesson begins. Jerome can still hear the music at midnight. Now that the piano has been brought down from the attic to the family room, it seems quite strange to Jerome that his parents know nothing about the music. He believes the piano is haunted.  One night the spirit manifests itself and warns him to stay away from Dr. Shreek. His parents still don’t believe all this. They take him to the therapist. Jerome knows it’s pointless. He agrees to give Dr. Frye a visit, anyway. He tells Kim Li Chin, one of his fellow-students, about his piano lessons. But the name ‘Dr. Shreek’ seems to frighten her. She tells him about some rumours she heard about Dr. Shreek’s school. Jerome, who is now a regular student of that school, finds it difficult to believe in those rumours until the day he meets Mr. Toggle, the real man behind the school. Piano Lessons can be murder indeed.

Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R. L. Stine is an excellent book for children. R. L. Stine is an accomplished author. He knows perfectly well, how to keep his readers glued to his books. Every chapter ends with intense suspense. You want to know what happens next. Sometimes they are only false alarms, but they slowly elevates the tension to a point when it becomes impossible to put the book down. A Goosebumps book will hardly take more than 2 hours to finish. The language is kept simple so that young readers can enjoy the stories. If you’re young and into horror stories, Piano Lessons Can Be Murder by R. L. Stine can be a good starter.

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