The Dark Maestro is page-turning contemporary fiction with generous sides of classical music, superheroes, and suspense.

The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb

Genre/Categories/Setting: Contemporary Fiction, Witness Protection, Superheroes, Suspense, Washington, D.C.

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My Summary:

Thanks #NetGalley @DoubleDayBooks for a complimentary eARC of #TheDarkMaestro upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Young Curtis is a musical prodigy who (seemingly) escapes the inner-city of Washington, DC to achieve success with the New York City Philharmonic. His father is a drug dealer, and when he falls out of favor with the cartel and provides information to the authorities, the family’s only choice is to enter into a witness protection program. This complicates all of their lives, keeps them on the run, and Curtis is forced to give up his career in classical music. Life in the witness protection program is difficult and complicated, but things turn dangerous when Curtis and his family decide to take down the cartel themselves. Curtis turns to his superhero Dark Maestro for strength and inspiration.

My Thoughts:

Classical Music and Superheroes

If you’ve seen interviews with Slocumb, you might know that in addition to classical music, he is into superheroes, comics, and action figures. We haven’t seen evidence of his love of superheroes in his previous work like we do in this story. If you love superheroes, you will appreciate this aspect of the story!

Mystery and Suspense

The Dark Maestro is a mashup of classical music, crime fiction, superheroes, mystery, intrigue, thriller, and suspense. In my opinion, it’s quite different from his previous two novels. There’s no shortage of tense, page-turning action in the story’s latter half.

Memorable Character

We care a great deal for Curtis and his happiness. He makes it out of the inner-city, but he cannot escape his family and the cartel. We are bereft when he is forced to abandon his career in classical music and go into hiding. Curtis is disappointed in his father and has the best relationship with his stepmother, who is nurturing and looks out for him. Slocumb draws a realistic and bleak picture of lives controlled by drugs and the cartel. How does a child prodigy from the inner-city escape a dysfunctional family and a life of crime and drugs?

Content Consideration: drugs, gang violence

Recommending The Dark Maestro:

Fans of Brendan Slocumb who also enjoy crime fiction, classical music, and superheroes will want to add this riveting story to their TBRs. If you appreciate diverse reads, “own voices,” and unlikely heroes, this story will hold your attention.

Related: You might enjoy The Violin Conspiracy and Symphony of Secrets (my favorite) by the same author.

My Rating: 4 Stars

More Information Here

Meet the Author of The Dark Maestro, Brendan Slocumb

Brendan Nicholaus Slocumb was born in Yuba City, California and was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro with a degree in music education, concentrations in Violin and Viola. While at UNCG, Brendan was the concertmaster for the University Symphony orchestra and served as the principal violist. He performed with numerous small chamber ensembles, including flute and clarinet choirs, and in the BESK string quartet. As a musician, Brendan has performed on violin with the Washington Metropolitan Symphony, the McLean Symphony, the Prince George’s Philharmonic, and the Alexandria Symphony. He currently serves as the concertmaster for the NOVA- Symphony Orchestra. Brendan has been a frequent adjudicator and guest conductor for several district and regional orchestras throughout North Carolina and Virginia. He also performs chamber music with members of the Annandale symphony. He maintains a private music studio teaching lessons to students on violin, guitar and piano. He is the founder of the nonprofit organization, Hands Across the Sea, based in the Philippines. After touring the Philippines with the Northern Virginia Chamber Ensemble and witnessing firsthand the conditions that many of the young music students and their families endure, Brendan founded the Hands Across the Sea to offer support to the Berea School of the Arts in Manila, by providing instruments, lessons, and monetary support. The organization also supplements school supplies and dental and medical assistance. In his spare time, Brendan enjoys writing, exercising, collecting comic books and action figures, and performing with his rock band, Geppetto’s Wüd.

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