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A review by jcdunn16
Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb
challenging
dark
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? It's complicated
4.5
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