The Violin Conspiracy

‘The Violin Conspiracy’ is a page-turner—a “who done it” mystery like a Walter Mosley or John Grisham novel. Instead of who killed the victim, the question is, who stole the violin? And not just any violin, but a rare, valuable Stradivarius violin made in the 19th century. This is Brendan Slocum’s debut novel, and it is a great read. 

The novel opens in a hotel room in NYC. We meet talented violinist Rayquil McMillan. Ray is Black and one of the finest musicians in the world. He has worked relentlessly and overcome many obstacles. He is days away from flying to Moscow to compete in the Tchaikovsky competition when his violin is stolen. The violin had become his prized possession well before it was appraised at over $10 million. His grandmother had given it to him when he was young. Ray loved the sound he created and the feeling that emanated when he played classical pieces. 

As the pages turn, the reader begins to witness the persistence of prejudice, even in the classical music world. “You work twice as hard. Even three times. For the rest of your life. It’s not fair, but that’s how it is. Some people will always see you as less than they are. So, you have to be twice as good as them.” Though mysteries are generally not my genre, this glimpse into the world of a Black classical musician seemed noteworthy. 

Once the worth of his beat-up violin becomes known, members of his unsupportive family assert that it is their instrument. And the descendants of the white slave owner who initially owned the violin say the same. 

The novel traces the chain of events leading to the theft while describing Ray’s journey from a small boy to a stunning virtuoso. He is underestimated and ostracized by fellow musicians and arrested while driving to perform with a symphony in the South. He tries to stay positive, but he feels, “No matter how nice the suit, no matter how educated his speech or how strong the handshake, no matter how much muscle he packed on, no matter how friendly or how smart he was, none of it mattered at all. He was just a Black person. That’s all they say, and that’s all he was.”

I rooted for Ray on every page and admired his resiliency. Though the mystery of who stole the violin is the book’s focus, the themes around bigotry, classical music, and family loyalty are compelling and provocative. Slocum’s debut novel reverberates long after the story ends. 4/5