THE VIRTUOSO

In Burges’ debut novel, a professional violinist searches for meaning in life after a tragic incident leaves her unable to play.

London-based Isabelle Bryant has a well-celebrated and critically acclaimed career as a violinist. She’s known for both her talent and beauty; some critics call her “Beethoven’s Babe.” But although her public life is glamorous, she’s privately unhappy: Her alcoholic husband, Howard, a conductor, emotionally and physically abuses her and calls her a “celebrity whore.” One night, he viciously attacks her, resulting in her losing two fingers of her left hand in a car door. Unable to play her violin professionally, Isabelle struggles with depression and disillusionment. She travels with her friend Hortense Lafayette, a singer, and begins a new romance with Daniel Carter, a publishing executive, and she starts to feel better about her life. She finds a new passion in writing and public speaking, ultimately discovering she can still spread the joy of classical music without playing her violin. Although Howard looms in the background of her journey, she relies on her friends and newfound inner strength to overcome her past tragedies. Burges offers a moving ode to classical music in this tale. Her love for and expertise regarding the genre comes across in her many glowing descriptions of Isabelle’s skills and of the music she plays: “Shimmering strings then picked up the mantle again and it felt like they were being surrounded by legend and mythology.” Isabelle’s emotional transformation is captivating, from the harrowing moment she loses her fingers to her final acceptance that she can no longer play. Although the road-to-redemption plot isn’t exactly groundbreaking, Burges doesn’t lean on predictable clichés. Instead, the story unfolds at a smooth, entrancing pace with enough twists to keep one engaged.

A poignant melodrama with a heroine that readers will root for.