A review by leahgustafson
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

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? No

3.0

 This book didn’t quite end up being what I expected, though, there are some really positive things about it. First, this is a very unique perspective of the classical music world, something I personally know nothing about. This story highlights the blatant racism in the classical music sphere as well as issues of access and privilege that keep so many children of color out of this space from the very beginning. Brendan Slocomb’s Author’s Note is incredibly powerful and truly enriches Ray’s fictional story. Many of the situations Ray finds himself in have come from Slocomb’s lived experiences. 
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Unfortunately, this book just didn’t come together for me. The pacing felt a little off, and there were parts that it felt very, very slow. The cast of characters was not as complex or dynamic as I’d have hoped for either. Some of them felt very one dimensional. 
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This story was also marketed as part mystery/thriller, and I felt that aspect of the story was just kind of in the background. The person who “did it” and the whole  backstory felt a little far fetched and forced. 
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