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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
Phenomenal. A true work of art. I read it simultaneously with The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and they were the perfect pairing. Reading them together allowed me to appreciate each story more deeply and with greater understanding of the characters, racism & injustice, and historical context.
Loved the story. The audiobook brought the characters to life! It is easy to follow ‘Fred’s’ path to what I classify as self destruction. Greed and power are the death of many people.
Brendan Slocumb's first book, The Violin Conspiracy, was one of my favorite books of last year. He doesn't disappoint with his second book, Symphony of Secrets.
Dr. Bern Hendricks is a professor of music and a former Delaney Foundation Kid. He adores the music of Frederick Delaney, and feels he owes the Delaney Foundation so much for helping him and kids like him, from disadvantaged backgrounds, to experience music, take lessons, and be successful.
When the Delaney Foundation contacts Bern and asks him to work on a secret project, he jumps at the opportunity. He is given an office and access to the lost score to RED, the final opera in Delaney's Ring Quintet. He can't believe his luck. He recruits an old friend, Eboni, to handle the computer analysis of the scores. Bern and Eboni discover some Delaney Doodles on the score, and try to figure out why they appear. Soon, they're investigating Delaney and his relationship with a Josephine Reed, a colored woman who worked in his office and lived in the same townhouse as he did.
But the Foundation isn't happy when they find out about their research and the trunk of Doodles they found in North Carolina with Reed's descendants. Will the true story ever be told?
Like in his first book, Slocumb illuminates the mistreatment of black people both in the past, during Delaney's time, and in the present, in Bern's time. There are parts of this book that are hard to read, mostly because it is all too easy to believe that this is exactly what would happen in real life. But his characters live in hope, and find a way to persevere and succeed. Slocumb's musical background shines through in his descriptions of the music written and performed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
Dr. Bern Hendricks is a professor of music and a former Delaney Foundation Kid. He adores the music of Frederick Delaney, and feels he owes the Delaney Foundation so much for helping him and kids like him, from disadvantaged backgrounds, to experience music, take lessons, and be successful.
When the Delaney Foundation contacts Bern and asks him to work on a secret project, he jumps at the opportunity. He is given an office and access to the lost score to RED, the final opera in Delaney's Ring Quintet. He can't believe his luck. He recruits an old friend, Eboni, to handle the computer analysis of the scores. Bern and Eboni discover some Delaney Doodles on the score, and try to figure out why they appear. Soon, they're investigating Delaney and his relationship with a Josephine Reed, a colored woman who worked in his office and lived in the same townhouse as he did.
But the Foundation isn't happy when they find out about their research and the trunk of Doodles they found in North Carolina with Reed's descendants. Will the true story ever be told?
Like in his first book, Slocumb illuminates the mistreatment of black people both in the past, during Delaney's time, and in the present, in Bern's time. There are parts of this book that are hard to read, mostly because it is all too easy to believe that this is exactly what would happen in real life. But his characters live in hope, and find a way to persevere and succeed. Slocumb's musical background shines through in his descriptions of the music written and performed.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
3.5⭐️Symphony of Secrets is Brendan Slocumbs sophomore novel. Thank you PRH Audio for the complementary audiobook!
Bern Hendricks, a music professor at UVA, gets a call from the foundation of the world’s most famous composer (Frederick Delany) to transcribe his last and final composition, known as RED. However, as he works on it, Bern discovers that Delany may have had help from someone else and that there are people who will go great lengths to prevent this information getting out. Alternating between present day and the 1920s, where we learn more about Delany and his relationship with Josephine Reed, Slocumb blends historical facts and musical knowledge with suspense and mystery with such talent.
While I did not like this book as much as The Violin Conspiracy and think some parts were repetitive, I thought the plot was unique and the themes of racism and power were strongly represented. I was definitely more invested in the past timeline than the present, and I loved learning more about the nuerodivergent music prodigy, Josephine Reed.
Read if you like:
-Historical mysteries
-Past/ present timeline
-The 1920s music world
-Composing
-BIPOC representation
Bern Hendricks, a music professor at UVA, gets a call from the foundation of the world’s most famous composer (Frederick Delany) to transcribe his last and final composition, known as RED. However, as he works on it, Bern discovers that Delany may have had help from someone else and that there are people who will go great lengths to prevent this information getting out. Alternating between present day and the 1920s, where we learn more about Delany and his relationship with Josephine Reed, Slocumb blends historical facts and musical knowledge with suspense and mystery with such talent.
While I did not like this book as much as The Violin Conspiracy and think some parts were repetitive, I thought the plot was unique and the themes of racism and power were strongly represented. I was definitely more invested in the past timeline than the present, and I loved learning more about the nuerodivergent music prodigy, Josephine Reed.
Read if you like:
-Historical mysteries
-Past/ present timeline
-The 1920s music world
-Composing
-BIPOC representation
adventurous
informative
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I loved this! Supremely interesting concept, dual timeline mystery, by the author of The Violin Conspiracy.
One timeline is centered on Josephine, a black neurodivergent woman, whose original music is stolen from her and passed off as being written by a white man. The present day timeline features a music PhD and his cyber-sleuth badass friend, who are trying to uncover the truth.
It was a little long for my taste, but I loved the characters, the morality, and the mystery.
One timeline is centered on Josephine, a black neurodivergent woman, whose original music is stolen from her and passed off as being written by a white man. The present day timeline features a music PhD and his cyber-sleuth badass friend, who are trying to uncover the truth.
It was a little long for my taste, but I loved the characters, the morality, and the mystery.
Well-written good story. The writing reminds me some of Richard Powers, in a good way.
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I received a galley copy of this book from the publisher via a Goodreads giveaway.
This book interested me initially due to its subject matter. I am a musician, and while I'm not typically a fan of mysteries, I loved the idea of researching a composer who was not all he seemed. As I got into it, I found this story, with all of its twists and turns, difficult to put down. I wanted to know what would become of Bern and Josephine, and goodness, did Slocumb keep me guessing!
I would also be remiss to leave out my appreciation, as a white woman, for the perspective of the lived experience of a Black man in America in the present day. It is so important, in a country as divided as ours is, to seek out voices different from our own and to listen, truly listen, to what they are telling us. On more that one occasion, I was outraged at the treatment Bern received, and unfortunately, his experience is based in reality. We have to be able to listen, find empathy, and lean in to uncomfortable truths, for only once acknowledged can we finally face the problems.
I enjoyed this book so much that I've already purchased Slocumb's first novel and will definitely be keeping an eye out for any upcoming releases he may announce. Highly recommend!
This book interested me initially due to its subject matter. I am a musician, and while I'm not typically a fan of mysteries, I loved the idea of researching a composer who was not all he seemed. As I got into it, I found this story, with all of its twists and turns, difficult to put down. I wanted to know what would become of Bern and Josephine, and goodness, did Slocumb keep me guessing!
I would also be remiss to leave out my appreciation, as a white woman, for the perspective of the lived experience of a Black man in America in the present day. It is so important, in a country as divided as ours is, to seek out voices different from our own and to listen, truly listen, to what they are telling us. On more that one occasion, I was outraged at the treatment Bern received, and unfortunately, his experience is based in reality. We have to be able to listen, find empathy, and lean in to uncomfortable truths, for only once acknowledged can we finally face the problems.
I enjoyed this book so much that I've already purchased Slocumb's first novel and will definitely be keeping an eye out for any upcoming releases he may announce. Highly recommend!