The Violin Maker’s Secret
As seen:
By Evie Woods
avg rating
3 reviews
The brand new book from the Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lost Bookshop!
’Heartwarming and full of wonder … a spellbinding tale’ Barnes & Noble Reads 🎻🎻🎻 On any given day, there are thousands of items slowly gathering dust in the Lost and Found of Heathrow Airport. Unknown to anyone, hidden among the clutter, is a very special object that can change the fortunes of those who possess it – a violin of rare beauty and power. Now, as if by chance, it has fallen into the hands of three strangers… Baggage claim agent Devlin, retired teacher Walter, and appraiser Gabrielle have nothing in common, but can these three unlikely guardians unlock the secrets of the violin? With heartfelt moments, unexpected connections, and a mystery that lingers long after the final page, this is Evie Woods at her very best. 🎻🎻🎻 Praise for The Violin Maker’s Secret ‘Moved me to tears’ Madeline Martin ’Captivating… the most romantic of love stories’ The Sunday Post ’A moving story that radiates passion and warmth. I loved every page, this is Evie Woods at her lyrical and magical best!’ Faith Hogan ‘5 Stars!… I was hooked… beautiful…heartfelt, and uplifting… stayed with me long after I finished… highly recommend this’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘My favourite… I was swept up… Truly beautiful… I was mesmerized… Captivating… It tugged at my heart strings. I highly recommend this’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Beautiful… My favourite… I read it in a single day, completely absorbed’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Captivating and heartfelt… Emotional… lingers long after the final page’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘A joy to read… beautiful’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘Wonderful… I was charmed… Beautiful read that I had to gobble up in one… I love that’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘So charming!… fast-paced and gripping… my romance-loving heart is happy 😌… a feel-good story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ‘FANTASTIC… I binge-read this… I can’t stop thinking about it’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ’Magical, uplifting tale… Spellbinding!’ My Weekly ’This … will keep you turning the pages with tears in your eyes and hope in your heart. I loved it.’New York Times bestselling author Kristin Harmel ‘An original and captivating story vibrating with charm, warmth, humour and vitality. Meticulously researched and beautifully written, […] a gripping and full bodied read. Deeply satisfying.’ Santa Montefiore ‘A gorgeous novel, intricately constructed; layer upon layer of story, history and character, all playing off each other in endlessly beguiling ways, never missing a note. A magical delight.’ Eve Chase, author of The Secret Thread ‘For lovers of music, mayhem, and a touch of magic. Evie Woods weaves an irresistible tale that celebrates the enduring power of music, friendships found in unexpected places, and the courage to believe in oneself.’ Lisa Medved ‘A spellbinding love letter to music and all who are moved by it. It’s enchanting from the opening page until the gloriously uplifting ending. I adored it.’ Kate Storey ‘Swept me away and made my heart sing … [lingers] long after the last note.’ Laura Resau, author of The Alchemy of Flowers TweetReviews
The Violin maker’s Secret by Evie Woods is a charming blend of historical fiction, mystery and magical realism that follows the journey of a remarkable violin as it passes through different hands over the centuries. At the heart of the story is a beautifully crafted instrument with an extraordinary history linking together people from different eras whose lives are changed by its presence.
The novel moves between past and present. In the contemporary storyline, Devlin, a baggage handler at Heathrow airport, discovers a mysterious violin in the airports lost and found department. Curious about its origins, he teams up with his former history teacher, Walter Pickering, and violin appraiser Gabrielle Wilding to uncover the instrument’s secrets. As they investigate, they unravel a story stretching back generations.
The historical narrative centres on William, a talented violin maker, and Clara, whose story becomes intertwined with the violin in a magical and poignant way. Their tale provides the emotional core of the novel and explains the violin’s enduring significance. The characters are likeable and easy to engage with. Devlin is a relatable protagonist carrying regrets from his past. Walter is a lonely, retired teacher who discovers renewed purpose through the story, and Gabrielle brings expertise and determination to the plot. The historical characters, particularly William and Clara, add warmth and romance to the story.
Overall, I found The Violin makers Secret to be an enjoyable and easy read. The writing is accessible, the chapters flow quickly, and the plot keeps the pages turning without demanding too much from the reader. While it explores themes of love, loss, healing and the power of music. It remains a lightweight and uplifting novel that is perfect for readers looking for an engaging escape. It may not be a book that deeply challenges its readers, but it is a heartwarming story with a touch of magic that makes it an enjoyable read.
This is the story of a violin and its provenance from conception and creation to the present day. The book spends about half of the time in the present day which is almost a swashbuckling adventure, with the remainder telling the equally fascinating history of the instrument.
It is a wonderful book - a great story, great characters and very well written. It has a complex plot incorporating mystery, romance, secrets and a huge amount of very well researched historical and musical information.
Each chapter focuses on one or more of the major characters in the book. Even the violin has its own voice and tells its own story. This may all sound a bit weird, but in the hands of a talented author it works – Evie Woods is definitely a talented author and the violin’s perspective on its own history became one of my favourite parts of the book.
I did have a couple of niggles.
I found the life story of the violin across the centuries a little hard to follow and when the next chapter appeared in which it had its voice, I invariably had to look back to the previous part of the story to make sense of it.
It also came as a bit of a surprise to me later on in the book when Devlin’s overriding character traits were spelled out as being kind and caring. Until that point, although there hadn’t been anything which contradicted these attributes to his personality, the picture I had formed of him in my mind was that he was a fairly weak, gauche individual. I think these more positive character traits could have been more fully developed early on.
This is my first Evie Woods book and I sincerely hope it won’t be my last. She is a very talented author and I would thoroughly recommend the book. I dithered about whether to give it 4 or 5 stars, the reality being that it is somewhere in between.
This is an easy, entertaining read. It features a violin with a soul and an intriguing history revolving majority around three soon-to-be friends. The story includes mystery, love, history, crime and revenge. It’s a bit off the wall but I enjoyed reading it very much. The characters are well developed and there are lots of unexpected twist and turns. The story is fast paced and well written.
