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_sarah_reads_'s review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
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
povertyonegalonelife27's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This is the most intriguing mystery! We’re taking step by step of what happened on the day a ten million dollar gets stolen and one’s man journey to not just discovering this violin, but trying to reclaim it back.
Most of the book takes place in the past, building up Ray’s circumstances-his early start, discovery of the violin’s worth, the forces trying to take it away from him before the theft, adding real emotion to not only the violin’s loss but Ray’s struggle to get it back. It also makes you want to root for Ray, as you follow his struggles in trying to follow his passions. Also slap all the racists that he faced.
I have to admit I don’t understand some of the characters’ motivations. I often found myself going “Why…why are you like this? Why are you doing this?” Even after finishing, I still couldn’t understand why some characters did what they did. Yet I suppose that constant questioning did make it seem like anyone could have stolen the violin. Though maybe some more concrete backstory may have helped understand them a bit better.
I found myself just sitting the last two hours to hear the conclusion of this great piece. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a different kind of mystery! Also left me with a craving for classical music.
Most of the book takes place in the past, building up Ray’s circumstances-his early start, discovery of the violin’s worth, the forces trying to take it away from him before the theft, adding real emotion to not only the violin’s loss but Ray’s struggle to get it back. It also makes you want to root for Ray, as you follow his struggles in trying to follow his passions. Also slap all the racists that he faced.
I have to admit I don’t understand some of the characters’ motivations. I often found myself going “Why…why are you like this? Why are you doing this?” Even after finishing, I still couldn’t understand why some characters did what they did. Yet I suppose that constant questioning did make it seem like anyone could have stolen the violin. Though maybe some more concrete backstory may have helped understand them a bit better.
I found myself just sitting the last two hours to hear the conclusion of this great piece. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a different kind of mystery! Also left me with a craving for classical music.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Slavery
Moderate: Police brutality and Stalking
fizzy_reads's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
inspiring
relaxing
fast-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
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Slavery, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Racism, and Violence
author2223's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
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: Emotional abuse, Racism, Toxic relationship, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Torture, Slavery, Gaslighting, and Police brutality
alisonfaith426'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
chloemakesbooks's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.25
Fairly trite mystery revolving around a talented black violinist. I liked the writing style, which moved along at a great clip, and I wanted to like the characters, but they all felt fairly two-dimensional and often were used to manipulate the reader's emotions (eg, Grandma Nora and the epilogue with Janice). I never like to figure out the mystery ahead of time if I can help it, but this one I saw coming fairly early - no real twist. Loved the descriptions of classical music and performance art, and of course, the book makes important points about promoting diversity in classical music and racism in America. I wish the author had done a better job of framing the racist incidents in particular; Ray seems utterly blindsided by every single one, which seems strange.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Slavery, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, and Racism
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, Classism, Racial slurs, and Emotional abuse
kepler's review against another edition
hopeful
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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Toxic relationship and Police brutality
theinkdrinkerhouse's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
sad
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: Racism and Racial slurs
Moderate: Violence, Police brutality, and Slavery
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.0
This is outside my normal genre, as I'm not really a mystery/thriller reader, but sometimes it's nice to mix things up. Plus, as has been pretty clear with my recent reading choices, I'm in a "keep it light and quick" reading space right now, to balance out a more stressful IRL work situation right now. and I am not sure where I heard this but it somehow came across my radar, that this is written by a local (to me) author. I mean, all within the state of NC, even though our actual homes are almost two hours apart. Close enough. I do enjoy reading things where I recognize some of the locations and references and that doesn't happen too often. And apparently, I am not alone in that, because the waitlists for this audiobook at all my libraries were loooooong. But I finally got it!
Despite the fact that no one else in his family understands (and in fact they're mostly downright unsupportive), Ray McMillian loves, more than anything, playing the violin. As the only family member who's ever expressed any interest in the instrument, his grandmother gives him a family heirloom for Christmas one year, his great-grandfather's fiddle. Ray treasures it, his connection to his family history and his grandmother and the chance to really pursue a career as a professional musician. When he discovers that it's actually a priceless Stradivarius, everything changes: his family comes for the violin, other families' claiming to be the rightful owners bring lawsuits, and Ray's musical star rises quickly. On the eve of the international musical competition, that he is set to travel to Russia to compete in, the violin is stolen. This novel traces the path Ray's life took to get him to this point, the history of his family in America (and how his great-grandfather came to be this priceless instrument's owner), and the search for the stolen fiddle in conjunction with Ray's preparation for the Tchaikovsky Competition.
Alright, I know literally nothing about music or instruments, and especially not classical music. I have read one other book that had violin and classical music as a primary theme (Light From Uncommon Stars) and I loved it, even without any musical background/context. So I was pretty sure I'd be fine with it here. And, while I'm betting that knowing more about the techniques and pieces being referenced throughout would have made it an even more robust reading experience, I can also say that not knowing more didn't impede my enjoyment of the story. In fact, that framework for the overall plot felt really interesting. And really, one of the highlights of the entire book was the clear and profound love that the author has for the violin and classical music. It was so clear in the way he writes playing the instrument and the stories each piece tells in sound. It's not something I can directly relate to, but the emotion and connection were so real, and I loved that for him and loved reading it for me.
Obviously racism is an inescapable part of the reality of the United States, but the combined/alternate widely recognizable and very specific ways it shows up in the world of classical music was something I can't say I'd ever considered before. The general structural threads are, of course, common, but there were some ways they played out that were unique. Parts of reading this filled me with dread because I could guess what was coming (like the Marks family "claim" on the violin) and knew it was going to be hard to read and feel terrible. But it needs to be seen and addressed regardless. The way that the history of slavery and intergenerational family heirlooms and racism were interwoven in this way was well done. Also, seeing Ray's internal reactions feelings about the conspicuousness of being Black in this arena, the constant questioning of why you’re there (talent and being “good enough” or as a PR thing/media stunt), was similarly important and also quite (unfortunately) salient what with the recent Supreme Court rulings. Ugh.
Some final thoughts. My biggest issue was that the dialogue was sometimes pretty clunky and not super natural. If I had to guess, that's due in part to it being a debut novel. But dialogue is a major thing for me and a few times I got pulled out by it here. The emotional yo-yoing made sense, but was exhausting to read in a way that felt more repetitive than profound here. Perhaps again related to it being a debut. There was definitely more backstory development than mystery solving aspects for the majority of the book, which isn't necessarily a bad thing (I was invested throughout), but I want to mention it to help set accurate expectations. I think I had guessed the thief (kidnapper?) by about two thirds in, but it was still worth reading all the way. The ending itself was clean, but satisfying. I loved the relationship between Ray and his grandmother Nora; it was *all* the full-hearted feels. I also loved the Author's Note at the end (I do really enjoy when those are good and add something to the overall experience of the book). And, since I read the audiobook, I have to mention the music interludes between sections. I have no idea what pieces/artists they were, but they were a great addition to the ambiance.
This was a really original and fascinating read. It had some aspects that could have been better, but more in a technical sense, something that may grow and come with more experience and publications (and I do believe he has a second book out already so I'm sure it's smoother there!). As far as a well-plotted story, original aspects and fascinating details, and a lighter reading experience (though still well-grounded in reality), it delivered.
“Second, he learned that doing what you loved may not be enough, that all the passion and perseverance that roared like blood within you could be trumped by factors that you could never control – factors like the color of your skin, or the shape of your eyes, or the sound of your voice.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Slavery and Police brutality