Praise for The Violin Conspiracy:
A Good Morning America Book Club Pick!
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"Slocumb imbues his character's life with so much authenticity in the details, details that anyone who has played a stringed instrument, or played in a professional ensemble, will recognize. . . . Where Slocumb shines ... is in the passages where he shows Ray's grit. . . . [Brendan Slocumb] has plenty of brio to share with readers as well as listeners."
— NPR
“Such a page-turner . . . a musical bildungsroman cleverly contained within a literary thriller. . . . Slocumb isn’t too different from his protagonist: a natural. He easily conjures the thrill of mastering a tough musical passage and the tinnitus-like torture of everyday racism.”
“Engaging and suspenseful story about an aspiring musician and his great-great-grandfather’s violin….This novel, which will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page, is sure to be a favorite in 2022.”
“A spellbinding first novel that melds classical music, the mystery surrounding a stolen violin and history, too—by way of some troubling insights into our nation’s painful legacy of slavery.”
— Ebony
"Brendan Slocumb hits all the right notes in his engrossing debut about a young Black man whose natural talent for music has become the only way to secure his future.”
"….The Violin Conspiracy takes the reader on a musical journey ripe with passion and intrigue. Slocumb’s cogent narrative explores time-worn themes with a fresh and powerful voice."
“A big proclamation, but here goes: This is my new favorite book. . . . It’s page-turning, poignant, beautiful, and altogether engrossing.”
"Generally, I avoid hype. . . . Slocumb’s book, however, is something I cannot hype enough."
“Deeply engrossing….Authentic and unexaggerated, this captivating coming-of-age story meets suspenseful crime mystery is a sharp debut.”
“Entertaining. . . . A gripping novel. . . . A solid page-turner.”
“[A] galvanizing blend of thriller, coming-of-age drama, and probing portrait of racism….This flawless debut will do for classical music what The Queen's Gambit did for chess.”
— Booklist, starred review
“Utterly original and downright gripping, The Violin Conspiracy is more than a mystery—it’s an unflinching peek into the heart and soul of a gifted Black violinist striving to pursue his passion in the face of adversity. Brendan Slocumb’s debut is an essential lesson in artistry, prejudice, and persistence.”
— Zakiya Dalila Harris, New York Times bestselling author of The Other Black Girl
[A] gripping debut. . . . Slocumb sensitively portrays Ray’s resilience in the face of extreme racism. The author is off to a promising start.”
“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. I devoured this fine novel: every page and every word. And that ending? Never saw it coming.”
— Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch
“Finally, classical music gets the complex treatment it deserves. A wide-eyed look at the art form and its discontents."
— Gary Shteyngart, New York Times bestselling author of Little Failure and Lake Success
"Magnificent, from the first page to the last, the pace never slackens. It is a gorgeous read. Old violins, international music competitions, human greed, determination, decency—all of these feature in this first-rate novel."
— Alexander McCall Smith, bestselling author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series
“The Violin Conspiracy reminds all of us that dreams are worth pursuing, no matter the obstacles in front of us. The struggle to follow your heart is always the same—and this novel inspires us to take the chance, make the leap, and dare to be better…”
— Misty Copeland, New York Times bestselling author of Life in Motion and principal dancer, American Ballet Theatre