The Dark Maestro

A Novel

By: Brendan Slocumb

Narrated by: Ronald Peet

His cello made him famous. His father made him a target.

“In this perfectly crafted thriller, Slocumb acts as the master conductor, bringing together a twisty plot and gorgeously wrought characters.” —The Boston Globe

Curtis Wilson is a cello prodigy, growing up in the Southeast D.C. projects with a drug dealer for a father. But through determination and talent, and the loving support of his father’s girlfriend, Larissa, Curtis claws his way out of his challenging circumstances and rises to unimagined heights in the classical music world—even soloing with the New York Philharmonic.

And then, suddenly, his life disintegrates. His father, Zippy, turns state’s evidence, implicating his old bosses. Now the family—Curtis included—must enter the witness protection program if they want to survive. This means Curtis must give up the very thing he loves the most: sharing his extraordinary music with the world. When Zippy’s bosses prove too elusive for law enforcement, Curtis, Zippy, and Larissa realize that their only chance of survival is to take on the criminals themselves. They must create new identities and draw on their unique talents, including Curtis’s musical ability, to go after the people who want them dead. But will it be enough to save Curtis and his family?

A propulsive and moving story about sacrifice, loyalty, and the indomitable human spirit, The Dark Maestro is Brendan Slocumb at the height of his powers.

The chase

The end seemed a bit too fast or confusing so I may listen again soon.

Overcoming

Circumstances were hard but they faught to overcome. Mostly fast-paced. Great read! Would make a great movie!

This book delivers!

I’ll start here. This is the first book I’ve read by this author. This is because many reviews criticize the book for being unlike his previous two. Well, this is exactly what I was looking for. Don’t let the cello and mask on the cover deceive you. This is not simply a book about music. This novel blends crime, mystery, and coming-of-age themes. I really enjoyed it. If you’re a fan of the great S.A. Cosby, this is something I think you’ll really enjoy. The book hooked me from the start.

This book tells the story of Curtis, a cello prodigy from DC. All is well until his dad, a drug dealer, snitches on some truly awful people. Unfortunately, that’s bad news for his son. Larissa, Curtis’s stepmother, is my favorite character.

Read the Prologue and author’s note. The book is fantastic. I listened to the audiobook while reading my physical copy. Ronald Peet did a fantastic job! I just picked up his other two books.

More than a Metaphor?

As a crime story, this book starts strong and has a great premise. It moves smartly focusing on each character as they react to the unfolding scenarios. The performance is top notch! I would consider any book just because Ronald Peet is reading it.

However, when the "Dark Maestro" moves from a role of cartoon metaphor to an actual character becoming part of the plot, the story becomes a bit ... goofy.

Also, not having an developed ear for or knowledge of classical music, an accompanying discography with a few liner notes would have been helpful. Having listened to the pieces in advance would make the story more enjoyable.

Still, the book is a solid, engaging, and overall enjoyable tale.

Complicated and exciting

The ending was hard to take. I am not sure of what to think. I loved the characters. But Zippy was a criminal and we were supposed to accept this because he was a good man. But despite all the confusion I was totally sucked in