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tiffanielle 's review for:
Symphony of Secrets
by Brendan Slocumb
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Another creative musical based mystery! I read and reviewed this author's debut novel (The Violin Conspiracy) a few months ago and liked it a bit better, but this one was still very interesting!
I liked Josephine's 1920s timeline best. She was a brilliant pianist and composer. I admired her, I liked her, and I really felt for her. The limitations placed on her as a neurodivergent black female at that time in history, and her disadvantageous and dependent position as a composer, were heartbreaking. But as the story progressed, seeing her come into her own and be brave was heartwarming!
Downsides were that elements were redundant in places, and I wished characters in the present day timeline had definitive closure around Josephine's death. (Not a spoiler since she didn't live to be 125+ years old.)
The consensus in book club meeting was (1) there were some holes we wish had been filled in, (2) we all enjoyed it, but those that had read his first novel enjoyed that one better overall, and (3) we didn't feel deeply for present day characters as people (contributing to a 3⭐ storyline for me), but loved Josephine's storyline (5⭐ plotline).
I will definitely read this author every time for his uniqueness surrounding the musical element and the expertise he brings from his own musical experience.
I liked Josephine's 1920s timeline best. She was a brilliant pianist and composer. I admired her, I liked her, and I really felt for her. The limitations placed on her as a neurodivergent black female at that time in history, and her disadvantageous and dependent position as a composer, were heartbreaking. But as the story progressed, seeing her come into her own and be brave was heartwarming!
Downsides were that elements were redundant in places, and I wished characters in the present day timeline had definitive closure around Josephine's death. (Not a spoiler since she didn't live to be 125+ years old.)
The consensus in book club meeting was (1) there were some holes we wish had been filled in, (2) we all enjoyed it, but those that had read his first novel enjoyed that one better overall, and (3) we didn't feel deeply for present day characters as people (contributing to a 3⭐ storyline for me), but loved Josephine's storyline (5⭐ plotline).
I will definitely read this author every time for his uniqueness surrounding the musical element and the expertise he brings from his own musical experience.