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4.07 AVERAGE
4.07 AVERAGE
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a better fit for classical music buffs and musicians than mystery fans, as the "whodunnit" element was fairly predictable. As a violinist, however, I really enjoyed this one. The bond between a musician and their instrument is magical and sacred - like the "wand chooses the wizard" idea from Harry Potter. I grieved alongside Ray for the theft of his instrument and the racism he faced along the way.
I cannot say enough how much I loved this book!! You think it’s just a run-of-the-mill mystery, but it’s not. It’s so much more. It’s beautiful writing. It’s the human experience. It’s emotional. It’s thought-provoking. It’s about an instrumentalist!! Written by a music educator and performer was the icing on the cake. I can read a book and tell when an author has done their homework and it works well… but having the author KNOW music like this? It took it to another level. There were times where I read about an experience that Ray (the main character) was having and I thought, “that wouldn’t possibly happen, would it?” And then I had to remind myself that that’s part of the point… Ray is a black, classically trained musician. While I understand his struggles in music coming from an underprivileged background in a pretty privileged and elitist community, I still don’t *know* and fully understand how many more struggles he has as a black kid and a black man and how much harder it really was. I had the check myself a lot. I did think I had it all figured out, but just wasn’t sure… and I was right! But it was brilliantly put together.
I highly recommend this novel and I can’t wait to read more by Slocumb.
I highly recommend this novel and I can’t wait to read more by Slocumb.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
This was SO GOOD! And the ending, I did NOT see that coming!!
I loved this fine arts mystery set in the high stakes world of classical concert musicians. The plot is about a young African man who faces racism, theft, and betrayal ---yet he never gives up on his dream to win a prestigious competition, even as he fights to get his ten million dollar violin back. Absorbing and informative, this story was great in audiobook form! I loved the journey, though I guessed the culprit correctly. An inspiring read.