When I am able to devour an entire book in just a day I know it is one that I need to tell people about.
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb is a mystery centering around the theft of a Stradivarius violin.
Ray McQuinn grew up in poverty with a mother who didn't support (or understand) his obsession with music, yet from the moment he began playing the school violin, there was little else he wanted to do.
As an adult, Ray is getting ready for the Tchaikovsky competition which is taking all of his time. After arriving home from New York City, Ray opens his violin case to find a shoe with a ransom note tucked inside. His entire world comes to a screeching halt as he desperately attempts to find his missing instrument.
I'm not sure anyone who isn't a professional musician can quite understand the connection and attachment a musician feels for their instrument, but the way Ray feels about his violin is also compounded by the fact that it is the instrument that his beloved grandmother gave to him, passing it on from his grandfather.
This mystery shines a light on the fact that African Americans comprise only 1.8% of professional musicians, and I loved the way the story unfolded, and Ray's past is slowly revealed.
I can't wait for Slocumb to write more and if you are looking for a must read mystery for 2022, this one is it.
1 comment:
This sounds wonderful, I eyed it but didn't really know what it was about. Glad you enjoyed it so much.
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