Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy. From a young age, Curtis's musical talent was cultivated by his music teacher, Ms. Daniella, and his father's girlfriend, Larissa, but living in Southeast Washington, D.C., did not make his classical music career easy. Facing drugs, gangs, poor schools, and bullies, Curtis had to find his own way to cultivate his talent. Through hard work and lots of practice, Curtis made it out of Southeast to NYC and a bright future, until the FBI showed up at Carnegie Hall. Now, due to his dad, Zippy's, choices, Curtis and his family must enter witness protection and lose the lives they have, including music. After several errors on Curtis's part, the family must move again. Withdrawn and hateful, Larissa helps Curtis out of his funk through a different creative art: comic books. Together, they create "Dark Maestro", a classical musician turned superhero. As the family works together to filter their emotions and loves into the comics, they also realize that the only way to take back their lives is by doing the FBI's job. Together, they are determined to find the people after them, but can they do it before they are found?

I enjoyed The Dark Maestro until Curtis took on the persona of Dark Maestro. At this point, everything became really far-fetched and absurd. Slocumb should have stuck with either witness protection and how to find one's voice and self in a new identity, or stayed with the storyline of creating the comic, but he took it too far. I also didn't like how Zippy "knew" who was after him, but it took years to figure anything else, and then it also seemed too neat and tidy at the end that Zippy was right, since everything started in the drug market in Southeast. I feel like Slocumb forced a mystery here, but should have created a realistic fiction or literary fiction work instead.

This is one of the most compelling books I’ve read this year! Once I started I could not put it down, as I found myself completely caught up in this unusual tale involving drug dealing in the DC projects, a cello prodigy, more criminal activity that I won’t name to avoid spoilers, and comic books. Somehow it all works, because the three main characters: Zippy, his girlfriend Larissa, and his son Curtis, are incredibly nuanced and complex. They go through a lot in this book and they act like real people who are struggling to get by, do the right thing, and be true to their passions. The story is not quite a mystery, but it is a thriller. I loved Slocumb’s first two books, but this was the best one (in my opinion). Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to provide an honest review. Highly recommended!

Curtis is a cello prodigy. His father, Zippy, is a low level drug dealer. By threatening Zippy's family, the FBI forces Zippy to turn over everything he knows about the illegal organ transplant ring he's been working for. As a result, Curtis and his family must enter the witness protection program, and Curtis's dreams of being a famous cellist are dashed.

I loved the cello prodigy clawing his way out of the inner city and joining prestigious schools and orchestras aspect. Everything around the organ transplant ring kept escalating and getting crazier. It felt a bit unrealistic and long and silly after a while. If you are interested in this author, definitely start with The Violin Conspiracy. I think this one is skippable.

The Dark Maestro is an intense, emotional read that mixes classical music with gritty suspense. I appreciated how Slocumb grounds Curtis’s talent in real struggle and the tension of leaving it all behind for witness protection. The stakes feel personal and urgent, with family loyalty pushing the plot in unexpected ways. It’s not just a thriller but also a look at what you’re willing to sacrifice to stay alive. Some moments stretch belief, but the pacing and emotional weight kept me hooked. If you want a story with heart, danger, and a strong sense of place, this one delivers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book.

Taking someone who makes their living performing publicly and putting them in witness protection is such an interesting concept, because it forces them to not only live as someone else, but to become someone else entirely. I thought this was a neat premise and enjoyed it.

This was a really good read and I think it had a decent writing style and story! Would recommend to anyone looking for next read

Brendam Slocumb's Third Novel is a winning combination of music, drama, suspense, adventure, family relations, gangsterism and SUPER HERO COMICS. What more can be asked for? There are 3 books successfully stitched together or maybe 4...who cares. Everything works. The book is nonstop reading. The characters are real. You care about them and root for them. Don't want to say too much without giving away the delights and twists of the book. Perfect summer reading for anytime.

Classical music prodigy Curtis Wilson has it all figured out after making it out of inner city DC. He’s worked his way through Juilliard and is now performing a solo with the New York Philharmonic on his beloved cello.
However, his father, Zippy, and Zippy’s long-time girlfriend, Larissa, who has been a mother figure to Curtis since he was small, have other ideas. Zippy is a mid-level drug dealer and gets into it with the drug kingpin, leaving the whole family no choice but to enter witness protection and to upend their entire lives. Curtis is determined to get them out of this mess, but can he do it before it’s too late? I finished Slocumb’s 600-page novel in 3 days because it was so propulsive and I couldn’t put it down. He is a unique and interesting storyteller. Every book is a page-turner and 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of the Dark Maestro.

This is my second book by Brendan Slocumb; I loved the Violin Conspiracy and bought it as a gift for various people. So I was excited to see that there was a new one. Perhaps my expectations were unfairly elevated, but this new book was pretty average.

The setup is decent. Curtis has a natural aptitude for cello, despite his unlikely surroundings. As the son of a petty drug dealer living in Southeast Washington, DC, Curtis certainly doesn’t have the privileges that his peers in the orchestra have. But after his dad goes to prison to protect his boss’s identity, things change.

Curtis believes that his dad has gone straight and is working for a successful investment firm, but in fact he has just moved up in the gang structure. When the FBI gives the dad a choice to look like he’s cooperating with them but without their protection or to give them information that will allow them to bring the gang down, he does the reasonable thing. One thing leads to another and before long, Curtis’ family is carrying out their own investigation.

The characters are engaging and the plot is enjoyable, but the conclusion came too suddenly and wasn’t particularly satisfying. It’s disappointing to get pulled into a book just to end up dumped out at the other end wondering what just happened.

A fine read, but keep expectations low and you’re more likely to feel good at the end.

When the Music Turns into Mayhem: The Dark Maestro Hits a Sour Note

⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

I was really looking forward to The Dark Maestro. Brendan Slocumb’s first two books were fresh and original, blending music and mystery in a way that worked beautifully. But this one? It veers way off-key.

The plot centers on Curtis Wilson, a classical music prodigy whose career gets derailed when his dad—who happens to be a drug dealer—ticks off a ruthless cartel. The family goes into witness protection, but when law enforcement fails to deliver, Curtis and crew decide to take down the cartel themselves. Sure, why not?

The premise was already shaky, but then came the comic book storyline. It was supposed to be metaphorical or clever, I think—but instead, it was just plain insipid. It felt like a bad distraction from an already implausible plot. The idea that a cellist, his dad, and his dad’s girlfriend could do what the FBI couldn’t? That’s asking a lot.

Slocumb’s writing still has rhythm, and there are moments of insight about family and identity. But this genre mashup—part musical thriller, part crime saga, part…graphic novel?—never found its footing.

Here’s hoping the next one ditches the gimmicks and goes back to what Slocumb does best.

** Thanks to NetGalley and DoubleDay for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

Curtis Wilson is a successful cellist who is suddenly forced to disappear into the witness protection program due to his father’s activities. The first half of the book describes how Curtis developed his co-loves for the cello and comic books. About a quarter of the book describes life in the witness protection program. The end of the book describes how Curtis and his family plot to take down the evildoers themselves.

It’s that last part of the book that really lost me, because it is completely unbelievable. I also hated the ending. But that wasn’t my only problem with the book. I also thought the backstory went on too long - although Curtis was a charming kid.

My advice is that if you are new to this author, do not start here. I loved his two previous books. Where this author really shines is when his characters are caught up in the joy of making music. There is some of that in this book, but the plots of his other books are definitely better. 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Brendan Slocumb’s first two books, The Violin Conspiracy and Symphony of Secrets were engaging turn-the-page books for me. His third book, The Dark Maestro, started out that way for me! From the first page, I could not read the pages fast enough! Zippy is playing the cello in a concert. When the concert ends, Zippy, his father, and his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, are whisked away and put in the witness protection program due to Zippy’s involvement with the mob. Unfortunately, this is where the book slows down for me. I found myself putting the book aside and picking it up. Too many side plots. I wish I had read the author’s notes as it explains what is going on in his life and gave him the idea for the last section of the book. I definitely will read the next book by Brendan Slocumb.

Take a musical prodigy from the DC projects, give him a full ride to Julliard, invite him to solo with the top orchestras in the country, and then strip it all away and place him in the witness protection program. That is what happens to Curtis when his father gets in over his head in illegal dealings and chooses to work with the FBI. How do you hide a well known black male cellist? How do you take away his dreams that he spent years of hard work and dedication to reach? This is such a fascinating and, at times, heartbreaking novel about a family in extraordinary circumstances. The story definitely took some twists i didn't expect, and I recommend you read the author's personal note at the end to understand some of the influences on the story. Once again, the author has taken classical music mainstream, and i can't wait to see what he writes next.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ecopy. My opinion is my own.

I’ve really enjoyed Brendan Slocumb’s previous novels, The Violin Conspiracy and The Symphony of Secrets, so I was excited to dive into The Dark Maestro. While this one took a slightly different turn in tone and structure, I appreciated that Slocumb chose to try something new while still weaving in the musical themes that make his work stand out.

The plot kept me intrigued, and I loved way Slocumb weaves in the classical music world, which he always portrays with such authenticity. That said, I do think the story could’ve been a bit tighter. There were moments where the pacing slowed more than I’d hoped. Still, the rich detail, layered characters, and thoughtful themes made it worth the read.

Fans of his earlier work will enjoy seeing how he continues to evolve as a storyteller, while staying true to his musical roots.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[4.25 stars]

Slocumb was a podcast guest in 2023 for his sophomore novel, Symphony of Secrets. He is a talented musician in his own right and specializes in writing suspense set in the world of classical music. He's sort of like the TJ Newman of the classical music world. And, you DON'T have to be interested in classical music to love his books. He doesn't focus on the X's and O's of it...he writes more about how music makes the listener and the person playing the music FEEL. The publisher starts off with this, which I love: His cello made him famous. His father made him a target. Curtis Wilson is the son of Zippy, a mid-level drug dealer, living in the projects of the DC area. His dad's girlfriend, Larissa, is a mother figure to him and fosters his musical talent on the cello. Curtis' career in music has started to skyrocket when his Dad gets himself into some trouble with the law and the leaders of the drug cartel he works for, which turns the whole family's lives upside down. The Dark Maestro feels different from his previous two books - it's more character-driven (though the end does read more like a traditional thriller) and I felt deeply for these characters, even when they made mistakes. There are a couple very intriguing elements in the story that I'm not going to reveal because I loved discovering them on my own. But, both elements are drawn from Slocumb's real life. There is also a heart-warming element to this story with the father / son relationship between Zippy and Curtis and the mother figure relationship Curtis has with Larissa.

A new BS book is always cause for celebration in this house, and I raced through this right when it landed in my hands! I was totally sold from the moment I heard that it was going to be about a cellist (I’m pretty sure @isabelleisabookworm found this out literally years ago), and Curtis was such a fantastic character. I loved watching him grow from a precocious kid to a solid young man, and I was so nervous for him the entire way through his story. And Larissa and Zippy made their way into my heart as well with their love for Curtis. For me, the book didn’t quite live up to the heights of Slocumb’s previous two, with a lot of leaps in the story that made me raise an eyebrow or two. But it was still an engaging and solid read.

On the night of Curtis Wilson's greatest performance as a cello-playing prodigy, agents steal him away to place him into federal protection. Years earlier, his father Zippy, and Zippy's then-girlfriend Larissa figured out how to raise a child with so much talent while living in the less affluent areas of DC. Zippy made his career working for some dangerous people and ends up in a corner forcing him to cooperate with the feds. Zippy, Larissa, and Curtis are forced to begin new lives, but miss what was taken from them. As years go by, the trio realize that the only way out is to fight Zippy's former employers themselves.

Brendan Slocumb continues to corner the market on the music-themed thriller. This time a cello gets to take center stage, which I personally loved so much (and the audiobook gives a few nice snippets of the music). The book also lets Slocumb flex his comics knowledge through Curtis' character, which leads to a bunch of great references to superheroes that Slocumb makes thematically relevant. The book gets to play with a coming of age story, a look into the creative process of comics, and a little bit of a heist thriller, all wrapped up into a complex and engaging bow. The story is a little slower, but the book balances the story of its central trio and gives everyone development and stand-out moments. Fans of Slocumb's other books should enjoy this one, and those wanting a unique witness protection thriller that combines music and comics will love this. I have enjoyed everything Brendan Slocumb has put out and I can't wait to see what he tackles next.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for a copy of The Dark Maestro in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Dark Maestro. Very different than what I expected. This novel takes you the thru the entire life cycle of a young man’s younger years. This although is a bit long does help explain why he is so into music.
This book balances the two aspects of music and crime and the impact it has had on his life.
Family allegiances change and this changes this young man’s life forever.
Lots of twists and turns and this book is a bit long
Good read. 3.5 stars

The author's note at the end of this book explains where the basis of this story comes from. It's obviously a very personal one for him and the passion of that cpmes out in his writing. I liked The Violin Conspiracy, I loved Dark Maestro. Comic books, organ donors, blood banks, and drug dealers, all in one story.

This is an interesting book very unique outlook on how drug dealers are going to be diversifying there illegal activities. It’s not an intuitive jump from selling drugs to selling body parts. The book really showed how doing the right thing at times causes hardships in families. The end to get a little over the top but all in all it was a good book.