Random Things Tours: Wolf Tones by JJ Marsh

 

I did not know what exactly to expect from Wolf Tones by J.J. Marsh but I am very much interested in books about musicians therefore this significant detail about the story was enough for catching my interest. However, the more I was lost into the book the less I wanted the story to end. No, Wolf Tones is far from being one of those feelgood books that one may be interested in because it gives you a positive vibe. Rather the opposite, but what kept me so much interested into the book was the unique art of the writer to create a suspense which builds up as a concerto.

Rolf Jaro is a young cellist with a relatively shady past that just got a new job at Salzburg Orchestra. He moved from Bratislava with his glamorous girlfriend Leonor, a beautiful and well-connected lady with a flash of temper. Their love is not enough though as Leonor is in fact a very manipulative and psychotic person whose narcissistic personality will not refuse herself anything for reaching her mentally-distorted aims. She is playing the most hideous game of psychological torture and manipulation that may occur in a private relationship. 

This is not love, but a survival of the fittest in a scenario which involves breaking the most humanly possible rules. Leonor knows his victim very well and is obsessed about controlling Rolf and breaking up his career. If in the case of Rolf there are details about his past revealed, I would have been a bit curious to find out some details about Leonor´s personal history as well. What happened to her that she ended up so vicious?

The details about how an orchestra operates at a human level are very important for understanding the framework of the story. The ambiance details are an important element of the story construction, helping the characters to operate. 

The innate aggressivity and the mind games are not for everyone and some readers may feel overwhelmed by the rough sexual scenes as well. Personally, I needed a short break after every chapter as it kept me breathless. But although most of the characters are either broken or enjoying breaking each other, there is a fascination of the evil very well described and featured by JJ Marsh that made me keep reading. She is such a knowledgeable person of the darkest sides of humans and writing about it is equally important as encouraging people to see the positive side of life.

Wolf Tones is a masterpiece of book featuring in such a vivid way the temptation of just being evil, and enjoying it, with no explanation or reason to be somebody else. 

Rating: 4 stars

Disclaimer: Book offered as part of the book tour, but the opinions are, as usual, my own