Tell me a story… about the cutthroat world of classical music
Publication date: February 1, 2022
Date read: March 2, 2023
Ray McMillan loves playing the violin more than anything, and nothing will stop him from pursuing his dream of becoming a professional musician. Not his mother, who thinks he should get a real job, not the fact that he can’t afford a high-caliber violin, not the racism inherent in the classical music world. And when he makes the startling discovery that his great-grandfather’s fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, his star begins to rise. But when the violin is stolen right before a competition, the odds are stacked against him. Will he be able to get his violin back and prove he belongs among the best in the world?
This book had been recommended to me, but I kept putting it off and I'm not sure why. I'm glad I finally got around to reading it.
I thought that Slocumb did a great job of writing his characters. Ray was a very complex character. He wasn't unlikable, but this kind of hyper-obsessed artist can often be standoffish and hard to understand, and I liked the way he was written as that, but in a likable way. All of the characters were very well written, especially Ray and Nicole, and I found myself getting drawn into a story about the people even when the plot was light.
And despite this book being a mystery about a stolen violin, it's not a thriller, so don't pick it up if you're in the mood for mile-a-minute plot developments. But as much of a slow burn as it is, it's worth it to find out what really happened to the violin.
I think that if Slocumb can keep this up, he is going to become a writer to be reckoned with. Not an author for anyone looking for a quick read, but definitely one for those looking for a slow burn that will surprise you and stay with you.
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Content warning: racism and racial slurs, racial profiling by police and including threats of violence and false charges, slavery, torture
Note: language
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
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