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The Violin Conspiracy: A GMA Book Club Pick: A Novel

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GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK! • Ray McMillian is a Black classical musician on the rise—undeterred by the pressure and prejudice of the classical music world—when a shocking theft sends him on a desperate quest to recover his great-great-grandfather’s heirloom violin on the eve of the most prestigious musical competition in the world. “I loved The Violin Conspiracy for exactly the same reasons I loved The Queen’s Gambit: a surprising, beautifully rendered underdog hero I cared about deeply and a fascinating, cutthroat world I knew nothing about—in this case, classical music.” —Chris Bohjalian, 1 New York Times bestselling author of The Flight Attendant and Hour of the Witch Growing up Black in rural North Carolina, Ray McMillian’s life is already mapped out. But Ray has a gift and a dream—he’s determined to become a world-class professional violinist, and nothing will stand in his way. Not his mother, who wants him to stop making such a racket; not the fact that he can’t afford a violin suitable to his talents; not even the racism inherent in the world of classical music. When he discovers that his beat-up, family fiddle is actually a priceless Stradivarius, all his dreams suddenly seem within reach, and together, Ray and his violin take the world by storm. But on the eve of the renowned and cutthroat Tchaikovsky Competition—the Olympics of classical music—the violin is stolen, a ransom note for five million dollars left in its place. Without it, Ray feels like he's lost a piece of himself. As the competition approaches, Ray must not only reclaim his precious violin, but prove to himself—and the world—that no matter the outcome, there has always been a truly great musician within him. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage


Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more


Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2022


Language ‏ : ‎ English


File size ‏ : ‎ 1.8 MB


Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported


Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled


X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled


Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • A mystery and a beautiful character rise above heart ache in the world of classical music.
Format: Paperback
Fabulous book in so many ways. I loved it because it was educational about a subject I knew nothing about, violins and music. The main character, Ray was a beautiful, gentle soul tormented on so many fronts, racially, mentally, physically, but positively persevered to try to become a success. The twists and turns of the mystery made it so engaging. I think it would be a great book club read. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on June 19, 2026 by Kathy Wass
    • 🥹🥹🥹
Format: Kindle
The violin conspiracy was a story that was quite different for me, but I absolutely loved it! The narrator for the audio was fantastic. There was a case of the missing violin, an international competition, family drama, greed, and the ugly side - doused with racism - of the music industry. Who says a poor black boy with his violin and a dream couldn’t change his life.. the story as a whole was good but the ending felt rushed. I would recommend. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2025 by ReadnliftwithShar
    • Riveting, Resonant, and Unmistakably Real
Format: Audiobook
The storytelling in The Violin Conspiracy is riveting. I found myself engrossed almost immediately and stayed that way until the final page. As a Black man, the family dynamics, the internal drive to succeed against long odds, and the determination to overcome both visible and invisible barriers were incredibly moving. As a student of the Civil Rights Movement and a fifth-generation descendant of slavery, the historical references and present-day realities felt unmistakably real. Nothing about this story rang false. This novel reads less like a traditional whodunit and more like a historical narrative and coming-of-age story. I especially appreciated the way the author, himself a lover of music, infused elements of his own lived experience into Ray’s life. That intimacy shows on every page. Whether or not you are a lover of classical music, you will not want to put this book down. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2026 by Rev. Kevin T. Taylor
    • Wonderful Violin Mystery Book for Classical Music Lovers.
Format: Hardcover
Love this book. I played a violin as a child and teenager and could really relate. I've never read a mystery book about a violin before! His experiences show us we still need to improve racial equality for all. It was fun to be reminded of so many great classical pieces of music. Loved him, and his Grandmother:) This has everything, Love, Mystery, Intrigue, Race Relations, Education, Coming of Age, Friendship, etc. I suggest you also read up on the author, maybe listen to one of his interviews. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2026 by Hard to please reader in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan
    • Some important themes
Format: Kindle
This book introduces and explores some important themes about generational poverty, being Black in America, racism, family lore, greed, and the power of music to change and improve lives. Those are the strengths of the book. The weakness is the writing. It was clunky, completely unlike the music it beautifully described. I might have put this book down, had it not been chosen for my book club, but I am glad I read it. In my opinion, the epilogue was the best part of the book. Perhaps if part of that was a prologue, I might have enjoyed the book a bit more. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2023 by Lisa Jason
    • A Novel About Race And Classical Music
Format: Kindle
Ray McMillian has loved music and specifically, the violin, since he discovered them as a child. He plays in the school band but doesn't have the advantages the other students do. Ray is black and his family is barely scraping by, uninterested in his vocation and not able to provide private lessons or even a violin to practice on. Ray makes do with the school's violin and practices in the air at night in his room. Then one Christmas while on the annual family get-together, his grandmother gives him a gift he treasures. She gives him his grandfather's violin which family history says has been passed down through the family from the former slave who was gifted it by his owner. Now Ray can practice for hours. At a state competition, his talent is recognized and he is chosen over many other students. He is also noticed by one of the judges, also black, who recognizes his talent and arranges for him to be offered a scholarship at the university at which she teaches. Ray rises to the top there and afterwards is making his way up the ladder in the world of classical music. When he takes his violin in to be repaired, a miracle occurs and it turns out that the old violin, handed down through generations, is a Stradivarius. This is a story that makes the news as it is worth around ten million dollars. But Ray just treasures it as his violin. He continues to play it everywhere. When he is accepted into the Tchaikovsky Competition in Russia, it is an honor he can hardly believe. No American has won this competition except Van Claiborne and he won in the piano competition. But before Ray can go, his violin is stolen. How? Who? It's not like others hadn't wanted his violin. His own family had a lawsuit against him, since once they discovered what had seemed like a beat up fiddle was worth a fortune, they decided they were the rightful owners. Descendants of the former slave owner had a lawsuit as well and showed up repeatedly, trying to intimidate Ray. A hotel maid, a baggage handler, anyone could have wanted this violin. Could Ray possibly win the biggest competition in his life without it? This is a debut novel for the author and received a lot of buzz. The theme running throughout the novel is the place that race plays in the opportunities available to black students. Only 1.8 percent of classical musicians are black and that is a result of the lack of exposure, private lessons, ability to enter and travel to regional and state competitions or to even attend college. This book was a real touchstone to me as the author was raised in North Carolina where I live and got his degree in music from a university a few miles from me where I also attended and got a degree. The reader will fall in love with Ray and his fight to be able to do the one thing he was made to do; play classical music and bring a love of music to everyone. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2023 by Sandra Iler Kirkland
    • A symphony of storytelling
Format: Kindle
Just finished "The Violin Conspiracy," the debut novel of Brendan Slocumb - a symphony of storytelling intertwining mystery, music, resilience, and systemic prejudice. One becomes sensitive to the plight of being a black man in America as Slocumb masterfully weaves his protagonist’s journey from rural North Carolina to the global stage of classical music. What sets this novel apart is Slocumb’s ability to immerse readers in the cutthroat world of classical music, illustrating its beauty and its barriers. His descriptions of music are vivid and electrifying, making you feel as though you’re sitting in a concert hall, while his exploration of racism is unflinchingly honest and thought-provoking. There were times while reading where I would pause and search the particular violin concerto being discussed to listen to the music, which added a differentiator to my reading experience. To create added drama and tension, the theft of a beloved violin serves as the catalyst for a high-stakes mystery. But in the end, the novel’s true soul lies in our protagonist's grit, determination, and love for music. Truly enjoyed the story, characters, and depth of feeling created by the author. High praise and 5 stars. Check it out! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2024 by R Scheese
    • Great book!!
Format: Paperback
This was my book club’s July read and we all really enjoyed it and it was a good book for discussion. The members who listened to it on audio said the music in the audio added to their enjoyment of the book. This was the debut novel for Slocumb. This book will have you quickly engrossed in the mystery of Ray McMillian’s missing violin and will have you rooting for him from page 1. Ray has a dream to be a world class violinist, but he has a lot of things standing in his way- his lack of money, his race, and sadly his family who don’t think being a violinist is a real job. Ray inherits a fiddle that belonged to his grandfather, which turns out to be a priceless violin. But then right before he is to compete in a big competition, Ray’s violin goes missing. The book is engaging and beautifully written. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2025 by Melanie Falconer

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