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Symphony of Secrets
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
10 posts | 11 read | 1 reading | 7 to read
From the celebrated author of book club favorite The Violin Conspiracy A gripping page-turner about a professor who uncovers a shocking secret about the most famous American composer of all time--that his music was stolen from a young Black composer named Josephine Reed. Determined to uncover the truth and right history's wrongs, Bern Hendricks will stop at nothing to finally give Josephine the recognition she deserves. Bern Hendricks has just received the call of a lifetime. As one of the world's preeminent experts on the famed twentieth-century composer Frederick Delaney, Bern knows everything there is to know about the man behind the music. When Mallory Roberts, a board member of the distinguished Delaney Foundation and direct descendant of the man himself, asks for Bern's help authenticating a newly discovered piece, which may be his famous lost opera, RED, he jumps at the chance. With the help of his tech-savvy acquaintance Eboni, Bern soon discovers that the truth is far more complicated than history would have them believe. In 1920s Manhattan, Josephine Reed is living on the streets and frequenting jazz clubs when she meets the struggling musician Fred Delaney. But where young Delaney struggles, Josephine soars. She's a natural prodigy who hears beautiful music in the sounds of the world around her. With Josephine as his silent partner, Delaney's career takes off--but who is the real genius here? In the present day, Bern and Eboni begin to uncover more clues that indicate Delaney may have had help in composing his most successful work. Armed with more questions than answers and caught in the crosshairs of a powerful organization who will stop at nothing to keep their secret hidden, Bern and Eboni will move heaven and earth in their dogged quest to right history's wrongs.
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BennettBookworm
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Bailedbailed

How do you deal when a book “ruins” the plot on the book jacket blurb, and then you‘re just waiting what feels like forever to get the characters up to speed?? For me, it‘s a bail, sadly. I really enjoyed the audiobook narrator and the writing style, but I hate when I‘m just sitting there thinking the characters are so ignorant to what I knew before cracking open the book.
Have you ever felt that way?? It happens to me a lot!

AileenRR I‘ve never had it ruined, but I‘m often impatient for things to get going 1mo
BennettBookworm @dabbe Absolutely!! 😄 1mo
30 likes3 comments
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Eggbeater
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

This book was a slow burn at first, but it was fabulous. It was unique and creative. I don't know if there is anything else out there quite like it. The characters were rich and the details intricate. It made me feel like I could compose music myself. There were two very captivating storylines from different time periods.

29 likes1 stack add
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Skeeterisme
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

Read. Read. Read.

42 likes1 stack add
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Bookwormjillk
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

I didn‘t like this one as much as the first, but still enjoyed it. Hooray for a woman cybersecurity expert! I like how Slocumb tells the stories of people who don‘t fit the stereotypical molds we usually hear about.

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BookedBeyondMeasure
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

This book was enjoyable. The way that Slocumb describes the impact of music and its importance on the characters, it‘s what kept me drawn in. It‘s was looks I could also feel the rhythms in the story. There were good twist to the story. I would have liked a little bit more discovery/ or a deeper dive behind the motives of some of the folks as to a why —or perhaps I would have liked to have it spelled out rather than insinuated.
A great read for me

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CaitlinR
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

I really enjoy the details about musicians and the musical world that Brendon Slocum gives us in his novels. In this novel, we‘re introduced to a world famous composer, who actually stole his music from a neurodivergent woman, ostensibly a friend. Revealing this cultural appropriation almost ruins Bern Hendricks and Eboni Washington‘s lives, pitting them against a foundation founded to honor the composers‘ life. I agree, not as good as his first.

CaitlinR Photo of the author by David Bickley. 1y
24 likes1 comment
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MaggieCarr
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

Another 5 star read for me. I love the time slip format and being transported back and forth 100+ years. Definitely got my heart racing a few times. Plus historic neurodivergent representation.

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Cinfhen
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Mehso-so

While I really enjoyed Slocumb‘s debut novel, Violin Conspiracy this one didn‘t quite hit the same high notes. I appreciate how the author highlights & brings attention to black musicians who are often overlooked & marginalized but this book was just a bit dull. Written in dual timelines, I much preferred the story of Josephine & Fred 2 struggling artists living in 1920‘s Harlem to present day Eboni & Bern, a computer wiz & professor tasked👇🏽

Cinfhen with solving the mystery of a five part musical composition. The book had some good elements but for me the story dragged. #BorrowNotBuy #MoreMehThanYeah 1y
Megabooks I‘m on the list at the library but not too excited. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1y
Cinfhen It‘s a perfect #BorrowNotBuy ….. @Megabooks especially since you didn‘t really care for 1y
See All 6 Comments
Megabooks Just passed it to the next person at the library. Too many on my plate atm. Listening and loving this rn though!! 1y
Cinfhen Soooo funny @Megabooks I just started Eden Test in print! Im hooked but the writing and storyline is kind of “B-side”, right? Like it‘s a total hoot but it doesn‘t feel polished?? #LiterarySnob 1y
Cinfhen Good move to skip over Symphony and come back to it later @Megabooks it‘s definitely a book you can wait on!! 1y
74 likes6 comments
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jlhammar
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Pickpick

I didn‘t like this musical mystery quite as much as The Violin Conspiracy, but still enjoyed. An entertaining listen while cleaning and baking. Slocumb is so good at making me angry about the injustices his characters face.

squirrelbrain Looking forward to this one! 2y
69 likes1 comment
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LeslieO
Symphony of Secrets | Brendan Slocumb
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Loved The Violin Conspiracy and can‘t wait for Slocumb‘s new one! #AuthorofColor #MarchMagic

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 2y
Eggs Perfect 🤩 2y
41 likes1 stack add2 comments