This was a really good read and I think it had a decent writing style and story! Would recommend to anyone looking for next read

Brendam Slocumb's Third Novel is a winning combination of music, drama, suspense, adventure, family relations, gangsterism and SUPER HERO COMICS. What more can be asked for? There are 3 books successfully stitched together or maybe 4...who cares. Everything works. The book is nonstop reading. The characters are real. You care about them and root for them. Don't want to say too much without giving away the delights and twists of the book. Perfect summer reading for anytime.

Classical music prodigy Curtis Wilson has it all figured out after making it out of inner city DC. He’s worked his way through Juilliard and is now performing a solo with the New York Philharmonic on his beloved cello.
However, his father, Zippy, and Zippy’s long-time girlfriend, Larissa, who has been a mother figure to Curtis since he was small, have other ideas. Zippy is a mid-level drug dealer and gets into it with the drug kingpin, leaving the whole family no choice but to enter witness protection and to upend their entire lives. Curtis is determined to get them out of this mess, but can he do it before it’s too late? I finished Slocumb’s 600-page novel in 3 days because it was so propulsive and I couldn’t put it down. He is a unique and interesting storyteller. Every book is a page-turner and 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of the Dark Maestro.

This is my second book by Brendan Slocumb; I loved the Violin Conspiracy and bought it as a gift for various people. So I was excited to see that there was a new one. Perhaps my expectations were unfairly elevated, but this new book was pretty average.

The setup is decent. Curtis has a natural aptitude for cello, despite his unlikely surroundings. As the son of a petty drug dealer living in Southeast Washington, DC, Curtis certainly doesn’t have the privileges that his peers in the orchestra have. But after his dad goes to prison to protect his boss’s identity, things change.

Curtis believes that his dad has gone straight and is working for a successful investment firm, but in fact he has just moved up in the gang structure. When the FBI gives the dad a choice to look like he’s cooperating with them but without their protection or to give them information that will allow them to bring the gang down, he does the reasonable thing. One thing leads to another and before long, Curtis’ family is carrying out their own investigation.

The characters are engaging and the plot is enjoyable, but the conclusion came too suddenly and wasn’t particularly satisfying. It’s disappointing to get pulled into a book just to end up dumped out at the other end wondering what just happened.

A fine read, but keep expectations low and you’re more likely to feel good at the end.

When the Music Turns into Mayhem: The Dark Maestro Hits a Sour Note

⭐⭐⭐ (3 stars)

I was really looking forward to The Dark Maestro. Brendan Slocumb’s first two books were fresh and original, blending music and mystery in a way that worked beautifully. But this one? It veers way off-key.

The plot centers on Curtis Wilson, a classical music prodigy whose career gets derailed when his dad—who happens to be a drug dealer—ticks off a ruthless cartel. The family goes into witness protection, but when law enforcement fails to deliver, Curtis and crew decide to take down the cartel themselves. Sure, why not?

The premise was already shaky, but then came the comic book storyline. It was supposed to be metaphorical or clever, I think—but instead, it was just plain insipid. It felt like a bad distraction from an already implausible plot. The idea that a cellist, his dad, and his dad’s girlfriend could do what the FBI couldn’t? That’s asking a lot.

Slocumb’s writing still has rhythm, and there are moments of insight about family and identity. But this genre mashup—part musical thriller, part crime saga, part…graphic novel?—never found its footing.

Here’s hoping the next one ditches the gimmicks and goes back to what Slocumb does best.

** Thanks to NetGalley and DoubleDay for a complimentary review copy. The opinions are my own.

Curtis Wilson is a successful cellist who is suddenly forced to disappear into the witness protection program due to his father’s activities. The first half of the book describes how Curtis developed his co-loves for the cello and comic books. About a quarter of the book describes life in the witness protection program. The end of the book describes how Curtis and his family plot to take down the evildoers themselves.

It’s that last part of the book that really lost me, because it is completely unbelievable. I also hated the ending. But that wasn’t my only problem with the book. I also thought the backstory went on too long - although Curtis was a charming kid.

My advice is that if you are new to this author, do not start here. I loved his two previous books. Where this author really shines is when his characters are caught up in the joy of making music. There is some of that in this book, but the plots of his other books are definitely better. 3.5 stars.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

Brendan Slocumb’s first two books, The Violin Conspiracy and Symphony of Secrets were engaging turn-the-page books for me. His third book, The Dark Maestro, started out that way for me! From the first page, I could not read the pages fast enough! Zippy is playing the cello in a concert. When the concert ends, Zippy, his father, and his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, are whisked away and put in the witness protection program due to Zippy’s involvement with the mob. Unfortunately, this is where the book slows down for me. I found myself putting the book aside and picking it up. Too many side plots. I wish I had read the author’s notes as it explains what is going on in his life and gave him the idea for the last section of the book. I definitely will read the next book by Brendan Slocumb.

Take a musical prodigy from the DC projects, give him a full ride to Julliard, invite him to solo with the top orchestras in the country, and then strip it all away and place him in the witness protection program. That is what happens to Curtis when his father gets in over his head in illegal dealings and chooses to work with the FBI. How do you hide a well known black male cellist? How do you take away his dreams that he spent years of hard work and dedication to reach? This is such a fascinating and, at times, heartbreaking novel about a family in extraordinary circumstances. The story definitely took some twists i didn't expect, and I recommend you read the author's personal note at the end to understand some of the influences on the story. Once again, the author has taken classical music mainstream, and i can't wait to see what he writes next.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ecopy. My opinion is my own.

I’ve really enjoyed Brendan Slocumb’s previous novels, The Violin Conspiracy and The Symphony of Secrets, so I was excited to dive into The Dark Maestro. While this one took a slightly different turn in tone and structure, I appreciated that Slocumb chose to try something new while still weaving in the musical themes that make his work stand out.

The plot kept me intrigued, and I loved way Slocumb weaves in the classical music world, which he always portrays with such authenticity. That said, I do think the story could’ve been a bit tighter. There were moments where the pacing slowed more than I’d hoped. Still, the rich detail, layered characters, and thoughtful themes made it worth the read.

Fans of his earlier work will enjoy seeing how he continues to evolve as a storyteller, while staying true to his musical roots.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Doubleday for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[4.25 stars]

Slocumb was a podcast guest in 2023 for his sophomore novel, Symphony of Secrets. He is a talented musician in his own right and specializes in writing suspense set in the world of classical music. He's sort of like the TJ Newman of the classical music world. And, you DON'T have to be interested in classical music to love his books. He doesn't focus on the X's and O's of it...he writes more about how music makes the listener and the person playing the music FEEL. The publisher starts off with this, which I love: His cello made him famous. His father made him a target. Curtis Wilson is the son of Zippy, a mid-level drug dealer, living in the projects of the DC area. His dad's girlfriend, Larissa, is a mother figure to him and fosters his musical talent on the cello. Curtis' career in music has started to skyrocket when his Dad gets himself into some trouble with the law and the leaders of the drug cartel he works for, which turns the whole family's lives upside down. The Dark Maestro feels different from his previous two books - it's more character-driven (though the end does read more like a traditional thriller) and I felt deeply for these characters, even when they made mistakes. There are a couple very intriguing elements in the story that I'm not going to reveal because I loved discovering them on my own. But, both elements are drawn from Slocumb's real life. There is also a heart-warming element to this story with the father / son relationship between Zippy and Curtis and the mother figure relationship Curtis has with Larissa.

A new BS book is always cause for celebration in this house, and I raced through this right when it landed in my hands! I was totally sold from the moment I heard that it was going to be about a cellist (I’m pretty sure @isabelleisabookworm found this out literally years ago), and Curtis was such a fantastic character. I loved watching him grow from a precocious kid to a solid young man, and I was so nervous for him the entire way through his story. And Larissa and Zippy made their way into my heart as well with their love for Curtis. For me, the book didn’t quite live up to the heights of Slocumb’s previous two, with a lot of leaps in the story that made me raise an eyebrow or two. But it was still an engaging and solid read.

On the night of Curtis Wilson's greatest performance as a cello-playing prodigy, agents steal him away to place him into federal protection. Years earlier, his father Zippy, and Zippy's then-girlfriend Larissa figured out how to raise a child with so much talent while living in the less affluent areas of DC. Zippy made his career working for some dangerous people and ends up in a corner forcing him to cooperate with the feds. Zippy, Larissa, and Curtis are forced to begin new lives, but miss what was taken from them. As years go by, the trio realize that the only way out is to fight Zippy's former employers themselves.

Brendan Slocumb continues to corner the market on the music-themed thriller. This time a cello gets to take center stage, which I personally loved so much (and the audiobook gives a few nice snippets of the music). The book also lets Slocumb flex his comics knowledge through Curtis' character, which leads to a bunch of great references to superheroes that Slocumb makes thematically relevant. The book gets to play with a coming of age story, a look into the creative process of comics, and a little bit of a heist thriller, all wrapped up into a complex and engaging bow. The story is a little slower, but the book balances the story of its central trio and gives everyone development and stand-out moments. Fans of Slocumb's other books should enjoy this one, and those wanting a unique witness protection thriller that combines music and comics will love this. I have enjoyed everything Brendan Slocumb has put out and I can't wait to see what he tackles next.

Thank you to Doubleday Books and NetGalley for a copy of The Dark Maestro in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to preview The Dark Maestro. Very different than what I expected. This novel takes you the thru the entire life cycle of a young man’s younger years. This although is a bit long does help explain why he is so into music.
This book balances the two aspects of music and crime and the impact it has had on his life.
Family allegiances change and this changes this young man’s life forever.
Lots of twists and turns and this book is a bit long
Good read. 3.5 stars

The author's note at the end of this book explains where the basis of this story comes from. It's obviously a very personal one for him and the passion of that cpmes out in his writing. I liked The Violin Conspiracy, I loved Dark Maestro. Comic books, organ donors, blood banks, and drug dealers, all in one story.

This is an interesting book very unique outlook on how drug dealers are going to be diversifying there illegal activities. It’s not an intuitive jump from selling drugs to selling body parts. The book really showed how doing the right thing at times causes hardships in families. The end to get a little over the top but all in all it was a good book.

DNF at 25%. I loved Slocumb's first two books but this one isn't a match for me. Way too out there for me.

Brendan Slocumb is one of my all-time FAVORITE authors, thanks to his two previous novels The Violin Conspiracy and Symphony of Secrets. His characters always feel so real and multi-dimensional, his stories are always so layered and include a ton of social commentary, and the way he incorporates classical music into the mystery/thriller genre is so unique and I love that I can feel his passion for music through the pages.

All of this is also true in The Dark Maestro, and as long as that's the case I can't see myself rating his books anything less than 3 stars. The plot of The Dark Maestro however definitely felt different from Slocumb's first two novels, and I struggled to feel as invested throughout the whole book. It's much more gritty and suspenseful, with focus on a black market crime, the witness protection program, and a comic book series created by the MC. While these themes didn't resonate with me personally, I totally respect why Slocumb wrote this story (supported by his author's note at the end, which I loved) and don't want to steer it away from potential readers. It just won't end up in my year-end favorites, sadly - but I will for sure be picking up his next book and whatever he chooses to write in the future!

Intriguing concept which was solidly executed, I did feel like it didn't really tie everything up at the end, and may have been more focused on comic book logistics then executing the final twist. Solid read overall, but missed the mark for me.

4.5 stars
I really loved this one! My only complaint, it’s a little long. But we’re taken through the entire story beginning with Curtis as a young child. SO much happens! This has everything: heartwarming family moments, murder, mystery, and heartbreak. What would you do if you suddenly had to go into witness protection? If you had a very public famous career you had to give up?
Curtis is one of few black cellists and he struggles to quit. If he’s in a public space playing, he can’t hide. There is no balance, he has to stop playing for everyone’s safety.

The Violin Conspiracy was everywhere a few years ago (and it was so good!) but I haven’t seen a lot about Slocumb’s next novels. I highly recommend this one! So much adventure. There was never a dull moment.

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC!

Did not finish book. Stopped at 21%.

As much as I wanted to finish this, I got bogged down by the backstory. The premise was intriguing, the title fascinated me, and the wit/sec narrative was compelling. But I never made it that far.

I'd really like to return to this someday, but for now, I think the difficulty of hearing about Curtis' upbringing and his desire to perform music, knowing his true debut was eventually going to come to a crashing halt, is one of the reasons I stopped reading. I was approved for the ARC the day before the book was released, and I endeavored to finish it quickly, but as I continued, other books beckoned and I ultimately abandoned this one.

Unfortunately, after over a month of not touching the book, I think it's time to call TOD. But I do hope to return to it when I'm feeling more emotionally ready for a contemporary novel of this kind.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Doubleday for providing me with a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review!

Rating (currently): 3 stars

Review posted to StoryGraph on June 7, 2025 (https://app.thestorygraph.com/reviews/225f97d3-24d2-4563-a882-0c9a40aed7b1?redirect=true)