A review by le3713
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

emotional mysterious tense 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

4.5

What I liked: as someone who played the violin in school, I absolutely loved the setting in the classical music world. You can tell the author knows and loves what he's talking about in this regard. I really enjoyed the treatment of diversity and racism in classical music and the strong mentorship relationship with Janice.

What I didn't like: the plot of the stolen violin, and its resolution, fell flat for me. Though I didn't mind this, most of the book was was about Ray's life prior to his violin being stolen, which slowed down the pace.

All told, this book was very memorable for me, despite its plot weaknesses. Highly recommended for anyone who loves classical music, less so for someone looking for a true thriller.

The audio book has brief musical interludes between sections, which was a bonus!
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