Many thanks to my partners at @vintageanchorbooks and @prhaudio for the #gifted books.

 

Lies, deception, and the pull for more power.  

 

When a long lost, highly sought after composition by Frederik Delaney is found, Professor Bern Hendricks is immediately brought in to authenticate and prepare the piece.  But it doesn’t take long for him to realize that the truth of Delaney and his music is much more complicated and sinister than previously known.  

 

The story unfolds in dual timeframe: that of the past following Delaney in his rise to success and that of Hendricks unraveling the history and determined to right old wrongs.  

 

I found myself fully immersed in the past storyline.  The early 20’s backdrop in the jazz era created an atmospheric backdrop.  The clubs.  The horns and piano.  The look at the music industry.  I could feel its rhythm within the pages.  

 

But it was Josephine Reed that really made the past timeline shine.  She was such an interesting character… so full of talent yet not quite at ease even within the musical world.  That raw genius mixed with other complexities created a fully 3-dimensional portrayal.  I found myself equally cheering for her and distraught on her behalf.  

 

I appreciated the present-day timeline and the main character’s determination to fight for Josephine.  And yet, it didn’t hold my interest to the same degree as that of the past.  I found much of the present-day execution over-the-top and muddled, which led me to wonder if the past-timeline couldn’t have told the overall story more fully.  

 

Slocumb comes into this sophomore novel with a message, and it’s a strong, important one.  “Vital voices” have often failed to be heard, particularly those from marginalized groups: Blacks, women, those with differing abilities. 

 

Slocumb well honors the underrepresented and gives them a voice in hopes of championing change.  And for that powerful reason, this is a book worth reading.  

 

🎧 The audiobook was well narrated by Chante’ McCormick, and I easily fell into her rhythm as Jo and Bern’s stories unfolded.