Emma Braun, aged sixteen, is startled when violinists
begin
to go missing. The newspapers pick up the musical
connection between the disappearing persons and Emma knows
one of them - her own violin teacher. In THE LUTHIER'S
APPRENTICE Emma lives in Brussels, the capital of Belgium,
and the paper says Monsieur Dupriez disappeared from the
inside of his locked study.
Emma's mother has to visit an ill relative so Emma will
stay with her grandfather, attend the school for
diplomats'
kids and play in a violin contest. She's talented and has
even been learning from her reclusive grandfather to make
violins, the craft called lutherie. First the resourceful
girl visits her music teacher's home, but his shocked wife
hadn't noticed anything odd. Emma suspects something
supernatural has happened. But why would someone with
supernatural powers be picking off violinists from around
the world?
Emma's grandfather, an expert luthier, tells the girl that
through the centuries violinists have gone missing, never
enough to attract attention until the modern, well-
connected day. He can't tell her why, and Emma, who still
needs to practise in between homework, feeding her pet
rabbit, and phoning her best friend Annika, has to wonder
if
she is in danger. Corey Fletcher, a lad who is also a
student of M. Dupriez, turns out to be searching for the
man too. Danger, here we come!
I have met a man who took up violin making as a retirement
hobby, and there are many different steps and skills
required. The idea of crafting a mystery around the skill
is ingenious and I won't spoil the adventure by telling
you
why the musicians are being kidnapped. Let's just mention
the wolves, creepy castle, dimensional portal, and Golden
Retriever named Stradivarius. The date is Hallowe'en and
yes, as the witching hour approaches the tale can get
scary, maybe gruesome.
If you don't know much about music
at the start of this paranormal suspense story you will by
the end, while the adventure can be enjoyed by anyone, and
young adult musicians will be delighted to have a read
that
suits their interests in THE LUTHIER'S APPRENTICE. Even
more delighted to learn that there are plans for a second
book in this series by Mayra Calvani, to be
called Paganini's Ghost.
Niccolò Paganini (1782-1840), one of the greatest violinists who ever lived and rumored to have made a pact with the devil, has somehow transferred unique powers to another… When violinists around the world mysteriously vanish, 16- year-old Emma Braun takes notice. But when her beloved violin teacher disappears… Emma takes charge. With Sherlock Holmes fanatic, not to mention gorgeous Corey Fletcher, Emma discovers a parallel world ruled by an ex- violinist turned evil sorceress who wants to rule the music world on her own terms. But why are only men violinists captured and not women? What is the connection between Emma’s family, the sorceress, and the infamous Niccolò Paganini? Emma must unravel the mystery in order to save her teacher from the fatal destiny that awaits him. And undo the curse that torments her family—before evil wins and she becomes the next luthier’s apprentice…
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