The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

 

Book Excerpt:

"A riveting page-turner about a Black classical musician's desperate quest to recover his lost violin on the eve of the most prestigious music competition in the world

"Utterly original and downright gripping." —Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl

Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian's life is already mapped out. If he's lucky, he'll get a job at the hospital cafeteria. If he's extra fortunate, he'll earn more than minimum wage. 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 great-great-grandfather's beat-up old fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach. 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. Ray will have to piece together the clues to recover his treasured Strad . . . before it's too late. With the descendants of the man who once enslaved Ray's great-great-grandfather asserting that the instrument is rightfully theirs, and with his family staking their own claim, Ray doesn't know who he can trust—or whether he will ever see his beloved violin again."

Title: The Violin Conspiracy
Author: Brendan Slocumb
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, Anchor
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:
"The Violin Conspiracy" by Brendan Slocumb

My Assessment:

After all, is said and done, 'The Violin Conspiracy' was a good read. First, we find Ray McMillian's violin had been stolen. From there, we learn of its 'disappearance, lawsuits, and even prejudice' that came with all of it, giving the reader one fascinating story. It was interesting how well this author, Brendan Slocumb put the story together as he wrote from his own experiences...seeing that he had suffered in a way that Ray suffered. Seeing how Ray had fought against racism, prejudice, frustrations, roadblocks, and even abuse from his own family, friends, and society, we are given quite a story. 'The Violin Cospiracy' was about how 'Ray's grandma had passed down the violin to Ray that her Pop Pop had carried from slavery.' Who would have thought that this violin turned out to be a Stradivarius? However, on the eve of a classical music competition in Moscow, someone has stolen the violin, and a 5 million dollar ransom is demanded its return. Again, the author did an excellent job of giving us an engaging read ...how will this end? Who can Ray trust? I enjoyed how Ray searched it down to find the untrustworthy person who had stolen his violin, and I will stop here and say you will have to pick up 'The Violin Conspiracy' to see how it will all come out for Ray by the end.

If you are looking for a good book 'about music, mystery, coming of age, and social commentary,' you have come to the right place for 'The Violin Conspiracy' will give it all to you and more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.