I couldn't put this book down. As soon as I started reading I knew I was going to be hooked. It's about the theft of a violin ... it's about being a black violin player ... or being black in spaces that don't want you there ... it's about complicated relationships with family. Ooh this author had me in thrall - and - the way he describes when Ray was playing - simply beautiful! A+ for the plot and the pacing, A+ for the character development and A+ for the mystery.

4 stars

Brendan Slocumb's debut novel The Violin Conspiracy is billed both on Goodreads and NetGalley as being a mystery thriller. After reading it, I would say that it is not so much a thriller (although it contains elements of the genre) as a meditation on how racism permeates all aspects of a field that prides itself as being "universal".

We've heard it all before: music is a universal language, it's the one thing that binds people together, etc. As we see throughout The Violin Conspiracy, that is absolutely not true. As a musician who has been in many institutions similar to the ones that Ray enters, I have seen firsthand how much gatekeeping and discrimination occurs in the name of "preserving the form". You can tell that Slocumb, a musician himself, is incredibly passionate about bringing this issue to people's attention through his precise and poignant writing.

Since I went into this book thinking that it was a thriller, it did take a bit of time for me to adjust those expectations so that I could enjoy the book for what it really was. Throughout the extended flashback sequence that takes up a good half of the book, I kept waiting for us to get back to the present so we could figure out the mystery. I can see why Slocumb used that particular device and I do think that he used it very well, but I wish that I had known going in to expect more literary fiction than mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Anchor for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

I really wanted to love this book but I just could not get there. The premise was interesting, as well as the cover; that was my reason for requesting it. INSTEAD, what you get is a flawed character who whines the entire book about not being realized for his talent and is snubbed by other musicians because he is black. It was hard to know if this book was intended to be a lesson about race, acceptance, perseverance, or something else.

Just ok for me. Yes, the journey Ray had and learning that his violin was actually worth a lot was probably the only interesting point to the story. Still an ok read but I cannot recommend it except for others who play the violin.

Thanks to Netgalley, Brendan Slocumb and Knopf Doubleday Publsihing Group Ancor for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available: 2/1/22

Ray McMillian is a Black violinist who must overcome a whole slew of obstacles in this poignant and beautifully written suspense. It was heartbreaking at times reading about the racism that Ray endures and his constantly needing to prove himself even though his abilities far exceed those of his peers, especially knowing that the racism is far from fictional. This has all the ingredients of an excellent book: well-developed, sympathetic characters; a quick-moving plot and a mystery with lots red herrings to create an abundance of intrigue and suspense. This is ideal for book clubs.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Anchor Books and Brendan Slocumb for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Ray McMillian is a talented violinist with no formal training. As he is preparing to graduate from high school he is scouted to attend Markham University and given a full scholarship. His teacher helps him learn all the basics that he missed as a young player and uses her contacts to launch him in the music world.

He excels and makes a name for himself because he is super talented and has a unique story. He is in possession of a very valuable violin that was given to him by his grandmother. She never knew how rare and special the violin was, but for her and Ray the most important thing is that it once belonged to a beloved ancestor.

Ray is a young Black man trying to fit into a world that does not look like him or treat him as an equal. He is constantly looked down on by peers in the music world and often treated as a criminal when he travels for music performances.

His Stradivarius violin is stolen just before he is entered to compete in an international competition that will be a highlight in his career. As the suspect list grows, he never gives up on finding his precious violin and even competes without it.

The mystery of the stolen violin was blended perfectly with Ray’s life as a young man and as a budding professional violinist. The pacing of this story was excellent and slowly revealed key points at exactly the right time. The time jumps were perfectly balanced to make this a very engaging, fast paced story. I will definitely be looking forward to reading more from Brendan Slocumb in the future.

Recommended for: mystery readers

Content warning: racist slurs, racial profiling, profanity, toxic family

I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to receive an advanced reader copy of this book through NetGalley and I must say, I tore through it! The plot was engaging and fast-paced and I really enjoyed that the mystery and suspense was layered with the coming-of-age story of Ray and her persistence and determination when faced with racial discrimination every step of the way. I loved learning more about violins and classical music and the ending was exciting. Chris Bohjalian compared this story to The Queen’s Gambit and I very much agree.

Okay, this book was great, I enjoyed it a lot. Words aren't going to do this justice. This story really made an impression on me. This is an awesome book as a mystery/thriller and even more amazing and deep as a portrayal of racism. I can't even after reading this book - I mean I know racism is real and I know we all need to do better, but at the same time I can't believe that there are people out there who say and do these things and treat others so poorly just because they're different with the color of their skin - it really is despicable that there are humans that treat other humans as so much less than.
Now onto the rest of the story, this is very well-written and engaging. It kept me hooked and I could not put this down, I almost read this in one sitting - if I didn't have life to live I would have read it all at once. I loved hearing and reading this story with everything in it. I loved hearing about this character, Ray, and his dream to be a violinist and how he went about going to achieve his dreams and succeed despite all those who opposed him or got in his way. I especially enjoyed reading about the family dynamics and about how he came to have his Pop-pop's violin/fiddle that gets stolen. In this story, it illustrates really well that when the chips are down and there are large amounts of money involved you really do find out who's there for you and who's there for the money. The ending made complete sense and at the same time took me by surprise when they found out where the violin was and who had stolen it. I was disappointed and crushed when it was revealed who the thief was in the end.
I highly recommend reading this book. Just as a note though, if you try to avoid profanity, there are some F-bombs in this story.
Thank you so much to NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group/Anchor for letting me read and review this very amazing and well-written book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rayquan is an up and coming violin star preparing for the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow at the encouragement of his Mentor, girlfriend, and well, /some/ of his family. When his multimillion dollar violin goes missing, a random note left behind, his world is turned upside down as he retraces his steps, along with the violin’s history, to bring back something worth much more to him than money.

Exploring themes of racism, overcoming adversity, resilience, and passive restitution, Slocumb builds a beautiful masterpiece of drama, family history, conflicting loyalty, and self-determination culminating in a thrilling underdog story.

Through reading his words, you can’t help but to feel Slocumb’s passion for music, art, and beauty. This beauty, intermixed with heartbreaking realities (though fictionalized, the author states that many stories are based on his experiences), creates a whirlwind of emotions. This book was nearly impossible to put down - I wanted to learn more about Ray, his great great grandfather’s fiddle, and the connections he made throughout the book. This book also has inspired me to pick back up my own fiddle after a several year hiatus due to grad school. While I won’t be soloing with the Philadelphia Orchestra anytime soon, maybe you’ll see me at an open mic night in the area. So thank you Mr Slocumb.

I requested this book to be a buddy read with my partner. It had a far off publication date at the time. So, by the time it was this book's turn, I had totally forgotten the details. This book is about what? I never played an instrument and don't listen to classical music. Why did I pick this again?

And then it blew me away. You are immediately absorbed into Ray's struggles, heartaches, and passion. The mystery isn't mysterious. I figured out the perpetrator when it happened. The details at the end fleshed out the details. But, it didnt matter. So many other crimes had happened against Ray by that point that it almost felt beside the point.

Also, the violin had a bit of the "magic feather" quality to it. Its absence allowed him to really fly on his own. It also had so many other roles to play.

The real story here is Ray's journey and there are so many pieces. The pull of the practical, in whatever form that takes, against the long-shot dream, in whatever form that takes. The violin here is the beauty you miss by being overly tied to the practical and also the opportunities you miss. What does it take to be able to reach beyond the practical? This is universal, but especially poignant with the tie to enslavement in America.

I cant go into it more without giving too much away. This is an unexpectedly beautiful book and you should pick it up.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday and Anchor for a chance to experience this as an eARC.

Ray McMillan is a talented violinist and a person of color. After spending some time in New York City with his girlfriend, he discovers his priceless violin, passed down from his formerly enslaved great great grandfather has been stolen.

From here, we are taken on the journey of how Ray, a celebrity in the classical music world, got to that point. From his high school days playing on a school rental without the support and encouragement of his mother to playing as a soloist in the largest international competition. Along the way he is gifted his great great grandfather's fiddle that turns out to be an 18th Century Stradivarius worth millions. Throughout his journey he faces racism and discrimination.

The author, himself a Black classical musician, doesn't shy away from bringing attention to not only how Black people are treated by police, but to the staggeringly low numbers of Black and other people of color in orchestras today.

I really enjoyed this book! The character of Ray is very likable and is very well fleshed out. The author kept me rooting for Ray to be successful and turning the pages to see what happened next. I highly recommend that you go out and get you a copy of this book, even if you aren't a classical music fan.

Thank you to Knopf Doubleday, Anchor, author Brendan Slocumb, and NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Special thanks to Know Doubleday Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

I liked this book very much. Its not so much a mystery than about a man who loves music. He plays the violin and despite his race, prejudice and roadblocks in his way, he becomes very talented despite his own mother calling his playing "racket". The book's blurb reads more like a mystery, which I would call it more of a character study, which I'm beginning to like.

A little slow going at the start of the book, I wanted to keep reading and glad I did. The violin Ray played was his great grandfather's who was a slave in the early days. Why would someone want his violin? Because it was a Stradivarius, his great grandfather had from the people that owned him as a slave, and now they wanted back what they believed was the it's and left a very high ransom in its place.

The part of the book I could've done without was the part on the workings of an orchestra. It was a little boring for me there. I would recommend this book, to anyone who gets held back from their dreams especially and to inspire them to go for it and for anyone who has great ancestry items, because you never know what a treasure you may have.

3 stars well 3.5 really, which becomes a 4 I guess so I am knocking off a point for the facts on the inner workings of the opera. and going with 3.4 Zzzzzzz.

This is a good novel to read this month, one that emphasizes Black history. It has so much to say about music being for everyone, not just the elite. It is a language that transcends race and financial status. It is a passion that speaks to people across continents and is not reserved for a select few.

Ray is a Black musician and this novel highlights the difficulties he experienced. The author says he writes from his own history. Ray aptly portrays the sheer determination needed to be recognized as a success in his field. His character is developed well and we really have a clear picture of his passion for music and the love for his wonderful violin. The back story of the violin is a gruesome slave situation yet one we need to be aware of.

I felt the mystery of the stolen violin was not the strongest aspect of the plot. I was not at all surprised at the resolution. I did appreciate learning much about musical instruments and many pieces of music. But the best part was being immersed in the world of a Black musician with passion and determination. What an eye opening novel for this reader.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb is a mystery novel following Ray, a Black professional violinist who has defied all obstacles and become a rising star in classical music. Ray plays his Pop-Pop's fiddle that was gifted to him when he was a teen and soon discovers it is a famous Stradivarius. However, with a priceless violin comes family, strangers, and others who come out of the woodwork wanting to claim his violin. Even worse, his treasured possession is stolen right before the Tchaikovsky Competition he has been preparing for the last 3 years for. With an endless list of suspects and a sizable ransom, will Ray ever be reunited with his violin?

Wow, what a fantastic premise! When I read this summary I knew there was something special about this book and I was not disappointed! Ray is a compelling character that was complex and vulnerable. The reader roots for Ray to have the love and support of those around him as he deals with racism, unsupportive and greedy family, and so much more. I absolutely loved that Ray was confident and did not demonstrate imposter syndrome despite the terrible voices around him. As for the other characters, I loved how Janice supported Ray and saw the gem that lay within him. His family on the other hand, filled me with so much frustration and I just wanted them to treat him the way Ray deserved. Ray made so many sacrifices for his family and yet it somehow was never enough.

The atmosphere of this novel was tense! I had dread for so much of the book wanting to know who was involved and wanting his interpersonal dynamics to improve. There are shocking scenes that after reading the author's note about these scenes reflecting his own experiences and I believe are necessary for the author to include. Despite the tenseness, I loved the joy when Ray was performing and how he left everything on the stage during his performances.

The ending I thought was fantastic, although I predicted the two big reveals rather early. However, it was so fitting and powerful. The letter included did not absolve certain individuals who did not deserve it and I appreciated that.

Overall, this was a FANTASTIC novel and I cannot believe this is a debut novel. Wonderful storytelling and I can't wait to see what is next from this author.

Many thanks to the publisher Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group - Anchor and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

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.

Ray McMillan is this talented black violinist in the South, the great great grandchild of slaves, who overcomes amazing odds and learns to play when nobody expects him to have any ability whatsoever. His grandmother even gives him a family heirloom that is steeped in mystery, more mystery then they could expect.

But, we actually learn all this as we wander through the story, because as the story begins, Ray is in NYC practicing and getting ready to head home. He gets back to NC and finds his violin has been stolen. And not just any violin, a Stradivarius! And the backbiting over this violin is unreal.

The story goes through Ray’s life, over states and continents, through history and bigotry. You see the world of classical music through the eyes of a minority musician, someone seen as gimmick until they actually hear him play. Slocumb is a musician himself, so we see this world through his eyes.

What a wonderful novel…it hits all the right notes (appropriate pun since it is about classical music)! The story is filled with emotion, suspense, and hope and with characters that will fill your heart. The descriptions of the stories the music tells are amazing, making me wish I had a better musical background so I could share the joy the music so obviously brings. The messages it delivers on family and race and dedication are perfect. Loved this novel!

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC to read and review.

I wasn’t sure what to expect going into this one and when it started out slow and was a little vague on what was going on, I won’t kid you, I was concerned. But then just like that I was engrossed in the flashbacks to Ray’s life and wanted to know more about him, his family and his violin.

I appreciate the arts and music, but I really don’t know much about orchestras and really enjoyed the discussion of the violin, revered music and how things work in the industry. This is listed as a mystery/thriller and it only meets this in the loosest of ways. Yes, there is a mystery as to what happened to Ray’s violin, but it is really so much more of a character driven story about an outsider trying to fit in and not let life take away his opportunities.

The only thing that kept me from giving it 5 stars is it had moments where it was a little preachy and gave the reader a lesson on what is wrong in the world and classical music. I wish that lesson would have been a little less overt and blended into the story, but that did not stop me from rooting for Ray to recover his violin and win the Moscow competition.

I breezed through this quickly and really enjoyed it.

This book was so much more than I was expecting and I enjoyed every page. Ray is a young man with great talent and he has been given a violin by his grandmother. It seems to be a run of the mill violin but is found to be a Stradivarius. It's value to those around him is the millions its sale would bring or the ransom that will soon to be required when it is stolen. Let the mystery unfold....and what a wonderful mystery it is.
Ray is a wonderful character, a young black teenager, a young man who can make his violin sing. We learn about his family, his friends and the barriers he faces from both them and society. The world of a professional musician is cut throat and, if you are black, well it's quite a head wind to fight. I was sucked into his story, learning so much about professional musicians, Stradivarius and how evil some people can be. The mystery was well crafted with a great ending.
My thanks to the publisher Anchor Books and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Excellent book detailing the life of a classical musician and a black man in a predominantly white world. This book imatter-of-factly portrays the day-to-day racism encountered but also shows a way to combat it without violence or anger or stooping to the racist’s level. I enjoyed the backstage glimpse of celebrity shown here on the uphill side and at the top. Ray McMillan would be a very interesting person to know and a good friend. Thank you to #netgalley and Anchor Books for this arc of #theviolinconspiracy to read and review.

Anyone who loves music will sink into the gorgeous descriptive passages in this book about what happens to your brain on music. I think that what I find so satisfying is that in real life, we often fumble or freeze up or are struck wordless, but Ray McMillian, violin virtuoso, seems always able to speak the right word or to lose himself in the music and give a brilliant performance just when he needs to the most. When he went to pick up the old violin after repairs and played it in the shop:

"The opening adagio starts out rich and full...and then it lightens, begins to dance, bob along in the current of life: excitement and great joy competing, soaring, grateful, and alive.... He poured out into the air what he was unable to put into words: his gratitude--for this violin, for Janice, for Grandma Nora...Thank you. He ended the piece with its thunderous final note, opened his eyes. The applause echoed in the showroom; from the stairwell, all of Rowland's associates had come down and were clapping as well."

What a moment--for a black kid from Charlotte, NC, to enter a high-end violin shop and play a Stradivarius that brought these jaded New Yorkers out of the woodwork and drew heartfelt applause.

The tale's structure starts with the inciting incident, the moment he discovers his violin is stolen, and then it backtracks over Ray's life as he picks up a cheap school violin and begins to feel the joy of music, then gets his Pop Pop's old violin, then truly blossoms as a performer, all the while enduring constant racism and microaggressions from snobs in the classical music world. After three years of preparation, he is only a few months away from entering the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow when the violin is just--gone--and in its case is a Chuck Taylor sneaker and a ransom note.

Great storytelling ensues, but at every turn Ray seems to come out on top. It made me think of The Goldfinch in that I was so worried about all the misadventures the protagonist had. But fear not, this is a most satisfying read.

Unlike some fiction I've read where there is a character who is musical and just obviously is going to Juilliard (like it's easy), Ray's story is much more realistic. He earns a scholarship to the fictional Markham University in NC and racks up some serious debt. The author's realistic portrayal of the vicissitudes of a career in classical music and the ten-hour daily practices is also very satisfying. This book is for anyone who has endured prejudice trying to make it in a non-traditional field, everyone whose family does not believe in them, every school kid who has ever had a dream, everyone who loves music. With maybe a note about a few f-bombs that echo realistic speech, I would recommend this for high school through adult interest level.