The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

 

First Line: The flash of the FBI badge would wipe away, forever, his identity.

Growing up in the Southeast Washington, D.C., projects with a drug dealer for a father usually doesn't promise a bright future. But Curtis Wilson has prevailed through talent, sheer determination, and the loving support of his father's girlfriend, Larissa. Now at unimagined heights in the classical music world, Curtis has even soloed with the New York Philharmonic. He is on the brink of a phenomenal career. 

Then everything falls to pieces. His father, Zippy, turns state's evidence on his old bosses, and the family must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. This means Curtis must give up the very thing he loves most: sharing his music with the world. 

When Zippy's old bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa realize that their only chance for survival lies in taking on the criminals themselves. But will it be enough to save Curtis and his family?

~

I loved Brendan Slocumb's first two novels, The Violin Conspiracy and Symphony of Secrets, and although I did have a few problems with this latest, I still found The Dark Maestro an enjoyable read. Slocumb's love of music shines through the pages of all three books. He can actually make me feel the music as Curtis Wilson plays his cello. I feel Curtis's passion and dedication, and I want him to achieve his dreams. 

The three main characters-- Curtis, his father Zippy, and Zippy's girlfriend, Larissa-- are vivid. As a single father, all Zippy has ever wanted is to do what's best for the son he loves so much. It almost breaks your heart when almost every single thing Zippy does is wrong. Fortunately, Zippy's girlfriend, Larissa, is loving, smart, and supportive. If not for her, Curtis and Zippy wouldn't have a chance. 

I have to admit that I did become exasperated with Curtis as he continually fought against his life in witness protection. His choices were almost always the exact opposite of what law enforcement told him, and the consequences were never pleasant. Then I put myself in Curtis's shoes. What if I were put in witness protection? What if law enforcement told me I could never pick up another book, enter another bookstore, review another book on my blog? I had to be honest. Like Curtis, I would be trying to find ways around those rules. There's no way I could completely divorce myself from books. Once I realized that, Curtis and I got along much better.

When the three get tired of law enforcement being unable to bring down Zippy's old bosses, they decide they're going to have to do it themselves, and how they do it is quite inventive. Of course, their plans unravel a bit, and I couldn't buy in completely to the ending, but I did enjoy the journey. And-- if you're the type of reader who skips the Author's Note at the back of the books you read, I'd advise against it this time. I highly recommend Brendan Slocumb's music-drenched thrillers.

The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

eISBN: 9780593687628

Knopf Doubleday © 2025

eBook, 416 pages

Standalone Thriller

Rating: B+

Source: Net Galley

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

 

First Line: On the morning of the worst, most earth-shattering day of Ray McMillian's life, he ordered room service: scrambled eggs for two, one side of regular bacon (for Nicole), one side of vegan sausage (for him), one coffee (for Nicole), one orange juice (for him).

 

Young Ray McMillian is determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing is going to stand in his way. Not the fact that his mother wants him to stop all that noise, get his GED, and start earning money for a 60-inch color television. Not the fact that he's Black and wants a career in a predominantly white profession. Not the fact that he's never had private lessons. Not the fact that he doesn't even have a decent violin to play.

Given a beat-up old family fiddle by his beloved grandmother, Ray's fortunes begin a meteoric rise when he discovers that the old fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius. All his dreams are suddenly within reach, and he qualifies for the renowned Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow. Then tragedy strikes. His violin is stolen; the thieves wanting five million dollars before they will return it. As the time for the competition approaches, Ray not only has to try to recover his violin but he also has to prove that-- regardless of the outcome-- there is a truly great musician within him.

~

I don't remember why I decided to pick up Brendan Slocumb's The Violin Conspiracy and read it, but I'm certainly glad I did. Slocumb's story grabbed me by the throat almost from the beginning, and it didn't let me loose until I'd turned the last page.

The story isn't new. Boy has talent. Boy needs violin. Boy gets violin. Boy works hard. Boy starts to get some breaks. Boy's violin is stolen. Can boy's dreams still come true? But if the only books that mattered were those with completely new plots, very few books would matter at all. Some stories are universal and deserve to be told over and over again.

Some of the characters aren't new either. The self-absorbed mother who wants Ray to stop making all that racket, get his GED, and get hired on at the hospital so he can buy her that 60-inch color TV she wants. The greedy family who, when they learn that the old family fiddle none of them gave a hoot about is actually a priceless Stradivarius, see nothing but DOLLAR SIGNS and insist that Ray sell it so they can wallow in millions of dollars. The evil couple who insists that the violin is theirs. The fairy godmother of a college music professor. Even Ray isn't new. 

But guess what? Those tried-and-true characters we've seen thousands of times are just as fine as that "old" story because of the way Brendan Slocumb breathes life into it all. We care about Ray. We want him to succeed. We want to tackle every bigot the young boy has to face and get them out of his way for good. Our hearts soar as music fills every pore in Ray's body and then comes out in a brilliant torrent as he plays that old family fiddle. You don't have to love classical music to enjoy this book, but-- if you do-- it's going to add that extra Something Special. 

The identity of the violin thief is easy to deduce, but how the theft was accomplished and what happened to the thief made up for that. The author explains how much of The Violin Conspiracy actually happened in his notes and acknowledgments, and I also watched a video of one of his appearances on Youtube in which Slocumb stated, "I want to be the Stephen King of musical thrillers!" After falling head over heels into this first book of his, all I can say is that I hope his wish comes true.

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb

ISBN: 9780593315422

Vintage Books © 2022

Trade Paperback, 368 pages

 

Standalone Thriller

Rating: A+

Source: Purchased from The Poisoned Pen.