Asserting himself in a profession that has not proved accepting, Black classical violinist Ray McMillian is thrilled to learn that the instrument he plays—once his great-grandfather's—is actually an invaluable Stradivarius. He's devastated when it's stolen before the all-important Tchaikovsky Competition and further learns that descendants of the family that had enslaved his great-grandfather claim it's theirs. Slocumb knows his strings; an award-winning music educator, he has performed with numerous symphonies and serves as concertmaster for the NOVA Symphony Orchestra, serving Northern Virginia Community College.

DEBUT Slocumb, a former principal violinist and concertmaster, manages a delicate balance in his debut. It is a heist story and also an exploration of hope and perseverance in a world that doesn't always reward such. Ray McMillian is a Black virtuoso violinist on the cusp of his biggest challenge yet—competing in a prestigious Russian competition that no American has won before—when his prized Stradivarius violin is stolen. Ray prizes the violin not for its monetary worth, but for the personal connection it gives him to his beloved grandmother. But to others, including Ray's family members and the descendants of the family that once enslaved Ray's ancestors, the violin represents a $10 million payout. Ray is left with is a ransom demand and the realization that no matter the loss, he must work toward winning the Tchaikovsky Competition. VERDICT This novel brings an unflinching eye to the sometimes-cutthroat world of classical music, its very white culture, and the challenges a talented young Black violinist might face in that world. But in Ray, a man who strives toward honor and kindness despite the racist acts (some of them violent) he endures, the story also finds its heart. Strongly recommended.—Jane Jorgenson

Black violinist Ray McMillian, the hero of Slocumb's gripping debut, receives a $5 million ransom demand for his Stradivarius violin after the instrument is stolen from his New York City hotel room a few weeks before he's due to perform in the prestigious Tchaikovsky Competition. When the police, the FBI, and the insurance company's investigator hit dead ends, the case comes to a standstill. Flashback to Ray's high school years in Charlotte, N.C., where he must deal with pervasive racism—and his mother nagging him to drop out and get a job. Meanwhile, his grandmother, who supports his musical aspirations, gives him her grandfather's violin. At college, where he receives a full scholarship, Ray endures prejudice from fellow students, and a luthier repairing the heirloom discovers it's a Stradivarius. This revelation leads members of the Marks clan, whose ancestors enslaved Ray's ancestors, to claim the violin belongs to them. Legal battles over the violin's ownership ensue. The tension builds as the competition looms, and Ray struggles to shake off doubts, not get caught in false leads, and focus on finding the missing violin. Slocumb sensitively portrays Ray's resilience in the face of extreme racism. The author is off to a promising start. Agent: Jeff Kleinman, Folio Literary Management. (Feb.)