Matt McAvoy Book Review

A particularly gripping drama thriller, this one, it has to be said; the author April Seymour really knows how to craft an intriguing, twisty, crime drama with a very tangible, ominous sense of threat permeating throughout.  The multi-viewpoint narrative of Violin starts to piece its tale together well, and as the reader you are watching it unfold at a very satisfying pace, from one character’s version of events to another.  When put together, it feels just the right length, and its mood hits its notes with tone precision throughout.  Sure, on occasion the fragmented, uneven timeline was a tiny touch confusing, particularly where the odd scene break might have been beneficial and was notably missing, but it isn’t difficult to stay on track with this one, with its core cast of characters; you could see this as a melodramatic tragedy play, such is its reliance on its key components.  You can feel the claustrophobia of the characters’ lives, despite their perceived privilege and wealth.  This is a very good, gripping read.

April is decent, her writing exemplary.  The occasional polish would have really set this off, admittedly, but the gem itself is there, underneath; it exists, for April created it.  If you like low-action, twisty, cerebral, story- and character-based crime dramas, perhaps even reminiscent in ways of those cosy mysteries, this is one for you.  For, essentially that is really what it is: a murder whodunnit with a small cast of suspects.  If I’m going to be really brutal, the big reveal wasn’t that much of a surprise to me, and to be honest I expected there might be a little more intricacy to the plot when it unfolded, but that is not to disparage this book in any way, nor undermine its value to those who haven’t read it; it is a fantastic way to spend a couple of atmospheric evenings, curled up in moody lighting without distraction.  The characters are wonderfully layered and the author doesn’t waste any words.

I’ve not read April Seymour before, but I definitely hope to read more from her, if they’re all as good as this one.  I hope the book does well – it deserves to – and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it to fans of its kind.  Be warned, there are themes of domestic violence and suicide, but among the tragedy also a good, old-fashioned killer story.  Take a look at Violin; I think you’ll enjoy it.