SYMPHONY OF SECRETS
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From the celebrated author of The Violin Conspiracy: A gripping page-turner about how America’s most famous composer hid a shocking secret – and that his descendants will stop at nothing to make sure no one discovers the truth.
In present day New York City, Bern Hendricks has just received the call of a lifetime: to authenticate the long-lost musical masterpiece of Frederick Delaney – arguably the greatest and most prolific composer since Beethoven. Bern thought he knew everything there is to know about the man and his music, but soon discovers that the truth behind the masterpieces – and behind Frederick Delaney himself – is far more complicated than he could ever have imagined.
In 1920s Manhattan, Josephine Reed meets the struggling musician Freddy Delaney. Josephine is living on the streets, sneaking into jazz clubs, and composing music from every genre, from jazz to classical to danceable show tunes. She’s a natural. Freddy convinces Josephine to work with him. With her as his silent partner, Delaney’s career takes off—but who is the real genius here?
In the present day, Bern teams up with tech savvy Eboni Washington, and the two uncover clues that indicate Delaney may have had help in composing his most successful works. Armed with more questions than answers and caught in the crosshairs of a powerful organization determined to keep their secret hidden, Bern and Eboni will move heaven and earth in their dogged quest to right history’s wrongs.
PRAISE
“Slocumb’s second novel (following The Violin Conspiracy)… will attract fans of Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code (a lot of readers, in other words).”
—Library Journal
“Brendan Slocumb burst onto the scene with the brilliant literary mystery The Violin Conspiracy, and his follow-up is just as good. Split between the present day and 1918, the story slowly reveals how a renowned composer may have stolen all that made his music great from the autistic Black woman who was once his best friend. Like Slocumb’s debut, Symphony of Secrets uses the framework of classic detective fiction to tell a larger story of cultural appropriation and how our unequal society determines who gets to reap the benefits of talent and produce art.”
—Crimereads, “25 Historical Crime, Mystery, and Horror Novels to Look Forward To in 2023”
“Music lovers will revel in Symphony of Secrets, a novel that is at once a celebration of music and also a cautionary tale about legacy, privilege, and creative genius.”
—Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid
“Brendan Slocumb’s Symphony of Secrets is a wonderfully compelling page-turner that’s so authentic you’ll swear that Slocumb himself was part of the 1920s Manhattan music scene. Slocumb's musical background, along with his unique characters and gorgeous prose, create a fascinating story of astonishing talent and extraordinary deceit. I loved this book!”
—Karen Dionne, #1 internationally bestselling author of The Marsh King’s Daughter and The Wicked Sister
“With Symphony of Secrets, Slocumb has woven an incredible thriller about music, genius, history, and greed—and how easily innocent passion can turn to dangerous, deadly obsession. You won’t be able to put it down until the last note!”
—Peng Sheperd, author of The Cartographers
“A twisty, mesmerizing mystery— Brendan Slocumb’s writing is like music itself, dancing elegantly from the page.”
—Danya Kukafka, bestselling author of Notes on an Execution
“Both a beautiful, joyful celebration of music and the people who love it, and a chilling portrait of how easily good slides into evil—and echoes through the years. I loved this book.”
—Sara Gran, author of The Book of the Most Precious Substance
“Symphony of Secrets is more than just a mystery—it’s an overture, a mingling of the past and the present and the problems that still plague America today. Brendan Slocumb is a master storyteller, a conductor of the written word, and in his talented hands, this symphony sings.”
—Eli Cranor, author of Don’t Know Tough and Ozark Dogs
“Music and history are strung together in a delicate harmony that further solidifies Slocumb’s place as a must-read author.”
—Rachel Strolle, BuzzFeed
“Slocumb’s popular debut, The Violin Conspiracy, turns out to be his tuning up for Symphony of Secrets, which is even better.”
—Lisa Henricksson, Air Mail
“This is a superb novel that will appeal to any thriller fan, not just readers with an ear for classical music. Sophomore novels don’t get much better than this.”
—Kirkus [starred review]
“Thought-provoking. . . . Gripping chapters set in the 1920s and 1930s vividly evoke Reed, Delaney, and the racial inequities that fueled their relationship. . . . This exploration of the ways race, power, and modern music intersect lands as a timely page-turner.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Absolutely brilliant! Once again, Slocumb’s consummate skills are on vivid display as he gives us a fascinating page-turner that slips back and forth in time and seamlessly blends a heart-pounding thriller, a heartfelt look at family and quiet heroism, and a searing exposé of issues stretching from deep in our country’s past to the very present. The 'secret' of his title is apt indeed. And as for the cast: nobody creates rich, fully formed characters like Brendan Slocumb. Some books we finish and move on. This one will stay with you long after you turn the final page.”
—Jeffery Deaver, New York Times bestselling author of The Bone Collector and Hunting Time
“Brendan Slocumb’s first novel, The Violin Conspiracy, displayed his deftness at crafting character-driven stories featuring amateur sleuths with a deep reverence for music history — and everything to lose. With his pitch-perfect follow-up, Symphony of Secrets, he firmly establishes himself as a maestro of musical mystery. . . . What makes the book sing is how it makes audible the chords that echo between present and past, coming together to create a consonant harmony. Slocumb dexterously interlaces the two plotlines, using them to echo and refract issues that haven’t disappeared over the years, only changed resonance. . . . Slocumb’s writing is invigorating, and the detail in his character work makes the main characters in both time periods easy to root for. The arc of the story mirrors the sensation of listening to an unfamiliar piece of classical music and thinking ‘This is nice’ as it starts, then suddenly finding yourself rapt, then thrilled, then, by the end of the journey, entirely astonished. Slocumb is a composer and conductor, and those skills translate well to his mystery writing — his mastery of pacing and tempo and his natural sense of when to soothe the audience and when to jolt them out of their seats are on full display. The novel’s examination of white supremacy as an extractive force is clear and present without tripping up the fast-paced and thrilling plotline.”
—The New York Times