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marioosa517's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Racial slurs, Slavery, Cursing, Death of parent, Racism, Police brutality, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Torture, Bullying, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Alcohol, Cancer, Medical content, Terminal illness, Dementia, Rape, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Drug use
kelly_e's review against another edition
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Title: The Violin Conspiracy
Author: Brendan Slocumb
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: February 1, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Original • Poignant • Reflective
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music.
When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'd initially added The Violin Conspiracy to my TBR when it was selected as a GMA pick (I've had previous success with GMA picks in the past), yet what really solidified me wanting to pick it up was it being on the 2022 end-of-the-year favourites list of two trusted friends. All of this made it an easy choice to include as part of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends in 2023.
Quick take: I absolutely loved this book! It was exactly the type of book that reminds me why I love reading to begin with. It combined so many elements I love (a heist, a mystery, a messy family, some history, an underdog story...) and evoked a whole range of emotions. Ray is one of those memorable characters that will stick with me. He knows what he wants, and despite facing so much adversity and many obstacles, he remains determined to pursue his dreams.
Throughout the narrative, there was also the opportunity for me to learn and gain an understanding of the classism and racism in the classical music industry. I cannot say this is a topic I have thought about in the past, but this book certainly sparked a curiosity. Slocumb talks about his personal experience as a black musician in the classical music world in his author's note, and I think this is a valuable addition to the book. I would by no means considered myself a classical music fan, yet I was absolutely drawn into the history of the violin and Ray's world. Slocumb has interwoven so many moving passages about the power and beauty of music.
The audiobook, read by JD Jackson, is absolutely fantastic - I could easily listen to his voice all day long. There are also beautiful pieces of classical music interspersed between chapters, which really connected me to the story. It made for the perfect tandem read.
I had my suspicions as to whodunit early on, but it never detracted from my interest. With only three months left in the year, it is safe to say The Violin Conspiracy will be finding a way onto my 2023 favourites, and my copy will be finding a home on my favourites shelf. After his fantastic debut, I am really looking forward to reading his follow up, Symphony of Secrets.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• everyone!
• fans of the underdog
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark. Together, we are a symphony."
"He would tell you that music is truly a universal language, and that we, the listeners, will always impose our own fears and biases, our own hopes and hungers, on whatever we hear. He would tell you that the rhythm that spurred Tchaikovsky is the same rhythm that a kid in a redneck North Carolina town would beat with a stick against a fallen tree. It is a rhythm in all of us. Music is about communication - a way of touching your fellow man beyond and above and below language; it is a language all its own."
Author: Brendan Slocumb
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 5.00
Pub Date: February 1, 2022
T H R E E • W O R D S
Original • Poignant • Reflective
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music.
When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'd initially added The Violin Conspiracy to my TBR when it was selected as a GMA pick (I've had previous success with GMA picks in the past), yet what really solidified me wanting to pick it up was it being on the 2022 end-of-the-year favourites list of two trusted friends. All of this made it an easy choice to include as part of my 12 recommendations from 12 friends in 2023.
Quick take: I absolutely loved this book! It was exactly the type of book that reminds me why I love reading to begin with. It combined so many elements I love (a heist, a mystery, a messy family, some history, an underdog story...) and evoked a whole range of emotions. Ray is one of those memorable characters that will stick with me. He knows what he wants, and despite facing so much adversity and many obstacles, he remains determined to pursue his dreams.
Throughout the narrative, there was also the opportunity for me to learn and gain an understanding of the classism and racism in the classical music industry. I cannot say this is a topic I have thought about in the past, but this book certainly sparked a curiosity. Slocumb talks about his personal experience as a black musician in the classical music world in his author's note, and I think this is a valuable addition to the book. I would by no means considered myself a classical music fan, yet I was absolutely drawn into the history of the violin and Ray's world. Slocumb has interwoven so many moving passages about the power and beauty of music.
The audiobook, read by JD Jackson, is absolutely fantastic - I could easily listen to his voice all day long. There are also beautiful pieces of classical music interspersed between chapters, which really connected me to the story. It made for the perfect tandem read.
I had my suspicions as to whodunit early on, but it never detracted from my interest. With only three months left in the year, it is safe to say The Violin Conspiracy will be finding a way onto my 2023 favourites, and my copy will be finding a home on my favourites shelf. After his fantastic debut, I am really looking forward to reading his follow up, Symphony of Secrets.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• everyone!
• fans of the underdog
• book clubs
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"Alone, we are a solitary violin, a lonely flute, a trumpet singing in the dark. Together, we are a symphony."
"He would tell you that music is truly a universal language, and that we, the listeners, will always impose our own fears and biases, our own hopes and hungers, on whatever we hear. He would tell you that the rhythm that spurred Tchaikovsky is the same rhythm that a kid in a redneck North Carolina town would beat with a stick against a fallen tree. It is a rhythm in all of us. Music is about communication - a way of touching your fellow man beyond and above and below language; it is a language all its own."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Classism, Racism, Racial slurs, Slavery, Police brutality, Torture, and Violence
Moderate: Murder, Death, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, and Cursing
Minor: Rape
povertyalisonfaith426's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Slavery, Racism, Classism, Cursing, and Sexual content
Moderate: Alcohol, Bullying, and Grief
Minor: Sexual assault, Infidelity, and Rape
wormgirl's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
sad
slow-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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Slavery
Minor: Rape and Torture
pershie13's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
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? Yes
5.0
It took me a long time to finally finish this book while completing my last semester of undergrad, but this book turned out fantastic! The book follows the story of violinist Ray McMillan, who received no formal training on his instrument until he reached college. Mentored by his violin professor Dr. Janice Stevens, Ray becomes one of the best at his craft. Along with following his journey as a violinist, the story also places an emphasis on the instrument he plays, a Stradivarius violin passed down to him by his grandmother. The story turns into a sort of mystery/thriller as we find out in the opening pages that this violin has been stolen and requires a multi-million dollar ransom for its return. This story covers many of the issues that Black people often face in the field of classical music, as well as the themes of hard work, family, and mentorship. The story definitely took unexpected turns, and I questioned to the very end what was going to happen to Ray, his violin, and his musical career. The book was fantastic, and I enjoyed every twist and turn!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Racial slurs, Gore, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Slavery, and Torture
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Police brutality, Hate crime, and Cursing
Minor: Classism, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, and Grief
tome's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
4.75
It is truly rare that one finds a book that floors the reader. In spite of that, this review is being written lying on my apartment floor. Riveting from start to finish, what was meant to be a light hour of afternoon reading became the whole afternoon to finish the novel. Slocumb masterfully weaves the plot together, easily transitioning between past struggles, current anguish, and the ever looming worries of the Tchaikovsky competition. Even between the deeply emotional aspects of Ray's journey, details about the mystery are well interspersed throughout the novel, though the ending reveal still shocked me. This was truly an amazing read that I cannot recommend enough.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, Grief, Racial slurs, and Slavery
Moderate: Emotional abuse and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
bonniejpg's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Torture, Racial slurs, Slavery, and Racism
Minor: Death, Grief, and Rape
shelf_reflect10n's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Rape, and Racial slurs
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Murder, Child abuse, Rape, Cursing, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, and Torture
Minor: Deportation
professional_grandma's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
This book left me speechless. How this author was able to describe music and give a window into the passion he holds for it is beyond me. This story felt musical in the style of writing and it was astounding. The story itself was hard to read because of the blatant racism faced by the main character, but it was necessary to experience second-hand what a Black musician faces in the classical realm. I am so grateful to have read this book and opened my perspective to a struggle I previously didn’t know existed. This was truly an amazing book and even the author’s note was brilliantly written. I now want to recommend this to anyone and everyone.
And holy crap! That ending! The final line made me nearly cry. It was such a beautiful way to finish the story, yet so sad. And finding out Nicole was the one to steal the violin!! Holy cow! These twists were done so freaking well.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Classism
Moderate: Hate crime, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Terminal illness, Gore, and Slavery
Minor: Rape and Death
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