In 2023, I absolutely fell in love with Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb, so of course, I did not hesitate to pick up his latest novel, The Dark Maestro. A young man with an incredible talent for the cello must put his life on hold due to his father's decisions. And it seems the only way he can return to his old life and do what he loves is to take incredible risks to bring the villains to justice.
The Situation: As a young boy, Curtis Wilson grows up in the projects of Washington, D.C. His small world includes his father Zippy, who says he always has his back, and his father's girlfriend Larissa, who has always been more of a mother to Curtis than his actual mom. When a program at school allows Curtis to pick an instrument to play, he settles on the cello, and it is discovered that the young man has an incredible talent, and may even be a prodigy. The young boy is soon obsessed, and continues to get better and better, using the cello as his main focus to get him through life in the projects, school bullies, and even his dad's brief time away in prison for drug dealing.
The Problem: After a dream performance with the New York Philharmonic, Curtis is made to leave right after (and I mean right after, as in he had just left the stage) with the FBI. Turns out Zippy had been working with some major underworld figures, and after providing authorities with crucial information, he, Curtis, and Larissa must all enter the witness protection program. It will be dangerous for Curtis to even bring his cello along, which means performing for even the smallest of audiences is completely out of the question. And after losing his patience with the officials, Curtis decides it may be time for him to perform his own investigation, under his own assumed identity, and get his life back.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a work of fiction set primarily in and around the D.C. area, though there are also quite a few crucial scenes in places like Phoenix and Costa Rica. At the center of the story is cello prodigy Curtis Wilson, but chapters switch between focusing on him, and Zippy, and Larissa. While Larissa wants to encourage Curtis' talent from the beginning, Zippy is initially annoyed, wishing his son was more interested in hip-hop than classical, and even wondering at what point can his son join him in the drug-dealing business. When Curtis can no longer perform due to being in the witness protection program, he feels as if he has lost his entire identity, but soon finds solace in the creation of a new superhero type character, using his long love of comic books as his inspiration.
My Verdict: From the beginning, when Curtis is a young boy simply trying to live his life in the projects of D.C, with a father who is attempting to rise in the ranks as a drug dealer, this book feels serious and heavy, and there is immediately so much at stake. And yet, when the witness protection part starts, it is still surprising, and heart-breaking, as Curtis' promising career as a cellist has to be put on hold. The thriller part of this mystery truly kicks into gear in the second half of the book, with everything from international travel, going undercover, even kidnapping, and eventually, the story begins to look a bit like the comic books Curtis has always loved. What I love about Slocumb's books is his unique plot lines, and never quite knowing where everything is headed, and this one will certainly once again keep readers on their toes.
Favorite Moment: I enjoyed watching Curtis in the early days of putting his comic book character together. Anyone who has embarked on a new and exciting project like that knows the feeling of grabbing hold of a compelling idea and working to bring it to life.
Favorite Character: Larissa supports Curtis no matter what, even during the times when she is not all that close to Zippy. She is committed to seeing the young man succeed and does everything she can to make sure he is taken care of.
Recommended Reading: I recommend Symphony of Secrets, but also Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson.
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