Maskerade is one of the less zany of the Discworld books. Nanny Ogg and Granny Weatherwax are back making it part of the witches subseries even if Magrat is off being a queen. In fact, the book opens with Nanny and Granny needing a third witch for their little gatherings. Nanny is particularly worried that Granny will become unhinged and either wander off and die or become one of the bad ones.The best candidate for a new witch is Agnes Nitt, only she's gone off to Ankh-Morpork to become an opera singer. She's got an amazing voice too. The problem she finds is that she is built on rather more Wagnerian lines and her ample figure isn't what they are looking for in their stars these days. In fact, there are many in the opera-house who feel that the values of good music above all other consideration are being compromised. And it doesn't help that their patron ghost has started killing people.
This is an unusual book for Discworld series. It is really a murder mystery. Someone is killing people and Agnes, Nanny, and Granny are trying to find out who: basic mystery plot. The identity of the Ghost is the lynch pin of course.
Maskerade was a fun read but it took a long time. The pacing was very different. As with all the Discworld books, there were no chapter breaks which will always be a struggle for younger readers. Additionally, a lot of the jokes assumed at least a passing understanding of opera. Pratchett particularly pokes at some of the notoriously ridiculous plots. I spotted references to La Traviatta, The Magic Flute, The Barber of Seville, and Die Fledermaus. Wagner's entire opus is sort of generally referenced. Additionally, the Ghost in the book is an obvious reference to The Phantom of the Opera, and there is a passing reference to Cats, The Pirates of Penzance, Les Mis, Evita, and Miss Saigon. Given that I'm not a big Opera or Musical Theater fan, I am sure that I missed a lot on this one.
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