The Violin Conspiracy: A Novel
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! • Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world—when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.
“I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch
Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. 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 beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and 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. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.
“I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch
Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. 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 beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and 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. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.
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Community Reviews
thenextgoodbook.com
What’s it about?
Ray McMillian loves the violin, but as a black boy in North Carolina, he is an oddity. His single mother is not interested in his love of music. She is interested in him getting a paying job, so when his grandma gives him his grandfather’s old fiddle, only Ray and his grandma are excited. When he takes that violin to a high-school competition, a professor will hear him and change his life. But when the violin is suddenly stolen, a whole new mystery begins.
What did it make me think about?
Music- and how racism seems to pervade even that.
Should I read it?
This was a solid mystery with an interesting backstory. My knowledge of classical music is limited, so reading about this world was an intriguing experience for me. When I started the book, my first thought was, “I’ve read this already…”, but it turned out I had read a later book, Symphony of Secrets, by the same author, and recognized the writing style and musical theme. Brendan Slocumb crafts a compelling mystery that offers a glimpse into his life as a Black man in the world of classical music. I think most mystery readers will enjoy this book.
Quote-
“Like many turning points in life- especially in the life of a lonely kid who stuck mostly to himself, playing a beat-up violin that his grandmother had given him- Ray’s life changed because someone else reached out across the gulf and touched him.”
What’s it about?
Ray McMillian loves the violin, but as a black boy in North Carolina, he is an oddity. His single mother is not interested in his love of music. She is interested in him getting a paying job, so when his grandma gives him his grandfather’s old fiddle, only Ray and his grandma are excited. When he takes that violin to a high-school competition, a professor will hear him and change his life. But when the violin is suddenly stolen, a whole new mystery begins.
What did it make me think about?
Music- and how racism seems to pervade even that.
Should I read it?
This was a solid mystery with an interesting backstory. My knowledge of classical music is limited, so reading about this world was an intriguing experience for me. When I started the book, my first thought was, “I’ve read this already…”, but it turned out I had read a later book, Symphony of Secrets, by the same author, and recognized the writing style and musical theme. Brendan Slocumb crafts a compelling mystery that offers a glimpse into his life as a Black man in the world of classical music. I think most mystery readers will enjoy this book.
Quote-
“Like many turning points in life- especially in the life of a lonely kid who stuck mostly to himself, playing a beat-up violin that his grandmother had given him- Ray’s life changed because someone else reached out across the gulf and touched him.”
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