The Violin Conspiracy
A Novel (Good Morning America Book Club)
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The Violin Conspiracy
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Narrated by:
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JD Jackson
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Brendan Slocumb
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Written by:
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Brendan Slocumb
About this listen
GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! • Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world—when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world.
“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.”—Chris Bohjalian, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch
Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music.
When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him.
©2022 Brendan Slocumb (P)2022 Random House AudioWhat the critics say
A Good Morning America GMA Book Club Pick! • ONE OF THE WASHINGTON POST'S BEST MYSTERY BOOKS OF THE YEAR • A Best Book of the Year: NPR, GOODREADS, Air Mail, Book Riot • A CrimeReads Best Mystery Book of the Year
A MOST ANTICPIATED BOOK OF THE YEAR: The Seattle Times, Goodreads, The Millions
A Medium Most Exciting Book Releases of the Year • Pop Sugar: 35 Must-Read Thrillers and Mystery Books to Keep You Chasing Clues • A Publishers Weekly Top Ten Mystery/Thriller
"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.”—The New York Times
“When I opened Brendan Slocumb’s debut novel, The Violin Conspiracy, I was immediately transported to a place I’d never been, surrounded by characters I’d never met. In the crowded world of fiction, that’s no small accomplishment. . . . Slocumb has orchestrated an engaging and suspenseful story about an aspiring musician and his great-great-grandfather’s violin. . . . The Violin Conspiracy is so wonderfully written, especially its descriptions of music, that at times I questioned whether I was reading or listening to a concert. . . . Slocumb is equally adept at suspense, whether he’s conveying the ticktock of the main mystery or the heart-pounding, fist-clenching realities Ray has to face as a young Black man in America. 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.”—The Washington Post
What listeners say about The Violin Conspiracy
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Leslie Windsor
- 2024-01-03
Loved this!
Loved the story and how real life experiences of classical musicians of colour today were woven into it without making the story disjointed or choppy. The story flowed well; characters were well drawn.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dana G
- 2022-07-13
Really enjoyable!
I didn't know what to expect from this book but I was very pleasantly surprised. If you love a whodunit and/or classical music this book is a sure bet. it was very interesting and informative to hear the struggles of the main character as he faces racism and persecution even as he ascends the ladder of fame as a musician. Sad the book is over.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Mary Anne Elston
- 2023-03-14
Excellent read
This well written mystery where the main character, a black classical musician, who has a passion for classical music for which he has a real gift, faces racism and persecution but continues his career without giving up, even if his mother does not support him. I was interested in what happened to his violin.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Allyray29
- 2023-02-20
This was a fanominal book
I have loved classical music since I was a young teenager and opera. This book had my guessing who had taken the violin and the way the story was written was exceptional. I can't believe this was the author's first book. I didn't want it to end.
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Overall4 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- M.S.
- 2023-03-30
Interesting story but ...
I love stories about music and musicians, especially about violins and violin players. This story is very interesting, but a little bit unbelievable (the Stradivarius violin stolen by a viola player?). However, the struggle of an unprivileged black kid trying to play a violin, racism on every level through his life, unsupported family, and the music competitions are very well described. You can feel that the book was written by a violin player who had a such experience.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Belkis Lewis-Storhas
- 2023-01-17
Binge style whodunit
Educating and revealing of the racism that still goes on around us. A good weekend read.
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story2 out of 5 stars
- Bob Tyrrell
- 2023-06-04
Interesting story, very mediocre storytelling…
The story is interesting enough, but the plot is full of holes and the writing often cliched and awkward. Oprah’s book club selection says more about “affirmative action” than the quality of this work. Shame on her!
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 2023-12-09
Couldn’t continue
It was disappointing. He said she said very annoying. Slow in developing the characters and the plot. Had to return the title
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