THE VIOLIN CONSPIRACY: The Mystery of the Stolen Stradivarius

“The Violin Conspiracy” by Brendan Slocumb follows Ray McMillian on his journey to become a professional musician. Despite facing racial prejudice and his family’s discouragement early on, Ray is determined to hone his craft.

Ray’s career takes a remarkable turn when he discovers that his family’s heirloom, a seemingly ordinary violin passed down through generations, is a valuable Stradivarius. This revelation propels him into the world of classical music stardom, but it also triggers disputes over the violin's ownership.As Ray's star rises in the classical music scene, the Stradivarius is stolen, just a month before he is set to compete in the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.

While the book’s central focus is the mystery of the stolen Stradivarius, Slocumb uses Ray’s story and personal development as important tools in unraveling the mystery.

I thought Slocumb did an incredible job of using this novel to confront racism within the classical music world and shedding light on the challenged and discrimination faced by Ray as a black musician. Ray’s journey is marred by systematic racism and stereotypes that exist in a predominately white field. He is underestimated by peers and mentors and even his family who have never seen a musician of Ray’s skin color. Ray’s story is one of resilience.