Brendan Sloclumb’s The Violin Conspiracy is the latest pick for the Good Morning America book club.
ABC News anchor Linsey Davis made the announcement on the morning show, saying, “This book is turning the world of classical music on its head. It’s as fast, intricate, and complex as the music itself.”
Slocumb’s debut novel, published Tuesday by Anchor, follows Ray, a young star classical musician whose prized Stradivarius violin is stolen and held for ransom. A critic for Kirkus called it “a gripping novel” and “a solid page-turner.”
“You’ll learn a lot about a world you might not have known anything about: classical music,” Slocumb told the morning show. “Stories like Ray’s happen all the time, but rarely have an opportunity to be heard. Now people seem to be more receptive to listen and empathize and gain a new perspective on what it’s like for young artists—especially what Black artists have to go through.”
“Lots to unpack in this one,” Davis said. “It’s a mystery, but it’s also about music and race, and it’s peppered with some family dysfunction just for good measure.”
Slocumb reacted to his book’s selection on Instagram, writing, “Watching #GMA announce your #debutnovel as the February #BookClub pick, especially during #BlackHistoryMonth means the world. I can't wait to hear what you all think of The Violin Conspiracy!”
Michael Schaub is a Texas-based journalist and regular contributor to NPR.
