Over the years Gerald Elias has been recognized as one of Utah’s top musicians for his work as the Utah Symphony’s associate concertmaster and as the director of the annual Vivaldi by Candlelight series, along with his contributions as a composer and conductor. Now his literary talents have been recognized as well.

At an awards ceremony last night in Salt Lake City, Elias’ novel Danse Macabre was selected as the 2010 Utah Book of the Year in fiction by the Utah Humanities Council.

Danse Macabre is the second of what are now three mystery novels that Elias has written. It features the elderly and curmudgeonly, but oddly likable, violinist Daniel Jacobus, who unwillingly gets drawn into exposing long hidden secrets and solving murders.

The most recent addition to the series, Death and the Maiden was published this past August. (Click on the following link to read an interview with Elias and read the review of Death and the Maiden: http://www.reichelrecommends.com/?p=1428.)