The Luthier's Apprentice

by Mayra Calvani

[Kim Deister]

The Luthier's Apprentice is a short novel with a very interesting premise. Emma Braun is a sixteen-year-old American girl living in Brussels, a budding violin virtuoso. Her violin teacher , Monsieur Dupriez, has gone missing, as have several other violinists. She and her best friend Annika decide that they are going to investigate, eventually joining forces with Corey Fletcher, another of Monsieur Dupriez' students. The three of them stumble upon a truly imaginative mystery that they have to solve in order to save lives, their own and others.

This book is a wonderful mix of mystery and fantasy, even a little bit of light romance. But it was the intrigue and mystery that was the foundation of the plot. I was initially disappointed because I figured out who the villain was very early in the story and I assumed that it was going to ruin the rest of the book. However, while I figured out the "whodunit" fairly quickly, it was the "whydunit" that was truly the heart of the story.

There was a lot of suspense and anticipation in this story which kept me turning the pages. Sherlock Holmes fans will appreciate the plethora of references to him throughout the novel. The target audience is young adult, but the story is easily engaging for older readers. Although I have found no reference to this book being a part of a series, there is a bit of an opening at the end that would lend itself nicely to at least a sequel.

Things to love...

--Corey. I love that there was a male character who was as much a part of the story as a female character. I have sons and I am constantly looking for books with more male presence and this one fits nicely.
--The interesting take on an old theme. Making a pact with the devil is a common theme, but I liked how Calvani used it in a new way.

Some Quotastic Goodness

--At first she had thought they were a string of coincidences, but not anymore. While scowling at obnoxious Billie Lynam during school recess, for instance, she wished he would fall flat on his face… and half a minute later, her wish was granted (Loc. 60).
--To her horror, someone was already hiding in there. Her gasp was muffled as a strong hand closed over her mouth. Another hand yanked her inside and closed the pantry door (Loc. 565).

My Recommendation: This was a great book with a fantastic new take on an old theme! This is a must read!

This review originally appeared on my blog: http://thecaffeinateddivareads.multifacetedmama.com/?p=9642.