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4.32 AVERAGE
4.32 AVERAGE
Riveting. 4.5 rounded up for the gorgeous writing and the importance of raising up unheard voices.
emotional
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:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Murder
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A gripping page-turner about a professor who uncovers a shocking secret about the most famous American composer of all time—that his music was stolen from a young Black composer named Josephine Reed.
Some reviews state that those without a musical background will be impeded by the musical references in the book. I did not find that to be the case. I was completely engaged with this book. Now, can't wait to read The Violin Conspiracy.
I loved the Josephine Reed character in this book. Bern and Eboni make a great team, too!
Some reviews state that those without a musical background will be impeded by the musical references in the book. I did not find that to be the case. I was completely engaged with this book. Now, can't wait to read The Violin Conspiracy.
I loved the Josephine Reed character in this book. Bern and Eboni make a great team, too!
challenging
dark
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:
Complicated
There’s something about this author’s style that’s so gripping and powerful. Though this book is very different from The Violin Conspiracy, it just as much if not more.
The novel centers even more around injustice than The Violin Conspiracy. This time, Slocumb focuses part of his narrative around a genius neurodivergent black female composer (Josephine Reed) who is exploited by a white male (Fred Delaney) who publishes her work, credits himself as its sole creator and reaps all of the profits associated with it. The narrative is powerful - I found myself getting angered both by the injustices towards Josephine and the inherent narcissism of Fred to the point where I had to put the book down - and alternates between the life of Josephine and Fred in the early 1900s and two contemporary scholars Bern and Eboni who uncover the truth behind the music’s authorship. The ending is cathartic, with the true authorship of the music being revealed at the Met and restitution paid to Josephine’s descendants.
This book was one that we needed in 2025 both for the injustice it exposes and the Justice it offers its characters.
The novel centers even more around injustice than The Violin Conspiracy. This time, Slocumb focuses part of his narrative around a genius neurodivergent black female composer (Josephine Reed) who is exploited by a white male (Fred Delaney) who publishes her work, credits himself as its sole creator and reaps all of the profits associated with it. The narrative is powerful - I found myself getting angered both by the injustices towards Josephine and the inherent narcissism of Fred to the point where I had to put the book down - and alternates between the life of Josephine and Fred in the early 1900s and two contemporary scholars Bern and Eboni who uncover the truth behind the music’s authorship. The ending is cathartic, with the true authorship of the music being revealed at the Met and restitution paid to Josephine’s descendants.
This book was one that we needed in 2025 both for the injustice it exposes and the Justice it offers its characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wanted to love this, but only could get about half way through before skimming the rest.