A review by alexblackreads
The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
2.0
I usually try not to be judgmental about books other people like, but I'm genuinely so shocked this has an average rating of more than four stars on goodreads. It is such an interesting premise, but it's executed so horribly. The characters were all completely one dimensional, the writing was flat, I hate the structure of switching back to the past after the big theft of the violin occurs. At one point towards the beginning, I was so confused just by the basics of what was happening that I had to flip to the back to read the the synopsis.
It was also really repetitive. Not only is Slocumb constantly spoon feeding the reader the morals of the story, but there are whole scenes that I'm pretty sure took place twice, just slightly rephrased.
I'm all for suspension of disbelief in books, especially mysteries, but this was way too over the top for me. The main character's ten million dollar violin gets stolen because he carries it around with him all the time unlocked. And it's always on his person, except sometimes he leaves it in the other room while he showers and sometimes he drinks too much and can't remember exactly that he kept it with him. He also makes a stupid deal with his family to pay them obscene amounts of money (that he doesn't have) to make them leave him alone, which seemed to make no sense. And while the police/insurance agent are investigating the theft, he tries to constantly help by pointing out very obvious things- like for example, he has a rival in the big competition he's in. The insurance investigator apparently had no idea about that, even though it's big news. Like google the main character and it's the first result big news.
Also I'm a white person so take this critique with a total grain of salt, but at one point Ray, the 17 year old Black main character, asks his grandmother if she's ever experienced racism. The grandmother who was born in the (I think) 40s in the American south. Like???? I have no idea how we were supposed to believe he got to near adulthood with no concept of racism in the US.
I really disliked this, which was unfortunate considering how high my expectations were. But apparently it's quite well liked so maybe I'm just confused. I really don't understand. Usually when I feel this way about a book, it gets pretty middling reviews. I'm kind of baffled because the only positive thing I have to say about this book is that the premise sounded great and I wanted to like it a lot.
It was also really repetitive. Not only is Slocumb constantly spoon feeding the reader the morals of the story, but there are whole scenes that I'm pretty sure took place twice, just slightly rephrased.
I'm all for suspension of disbelief in books, especially mysteries, but this was way too over the top for me. The main character's ten million dollar violin gets stolen because he carries it around with him all the time unlocked. And it's always on his person, except sometimes he leaves it in the other room while he showers and sometimes he drinks too much and can't remember exactly that he kept it with him. He also makes a stupid deal with his family to pay them obscene amounts of money (that he doesn't have) to make them leave him alone, which seemed to make no sense. And while the police/insurance agent are investigating the theft, he tries to constantly help by pointing out very obvious things- like for example, he has a rival in the big competition he's in. The insurance investigator apparently had no idea about that, even though it's big news. Like google the main character and it's the first result big news.
Also I'm a white person so take this critique with a total grain of salt, but at one point Ray, the 17 year old Black main character, asks his grandmother if she's ever experienced racism. The grandmother who was born in the (I think) 40s in the American south. Like???? I have no idea how we were supposed to believe he got to near adulthood with no concept of racism in the US.
I really disliked this, which was unfortunate considering how high my expectations were. But apparently it's quite well liked so maybe I'm just confused. I really don't understand. Usually when I feel this way about a book, it gets pretty middling reviews. I'm kind of baffled because the only positive thing I have to say about this book is that the premise sounded great and I wanted to like it a lot.