chiliqueen's Full Review: Claire Kilroy - Tenderwire
In Claire Kilroy's "Tenderwire," protagonist Eva Tyne, an aspiring solo violinist, is confronted with her deepest desire: to possess a newly-discovered Strad offered at a fraction of its market value. As the novel opens, Eva, who relocated from Ireland to pursue her musical dreams, has a painful debut which results in a rush to the hospital (the full impact of this isn't revealed until the end of the novel). Afterwards, dulled by painkillers, she sets out into the night and meets Daniel in a hotel bar. Daniel, a handsome Latino investment banker, seems destined to be a one-night stand, but will play a significant role in Eva's life. Soon after, Eva runs into Alexander, a sketchy "antiques" dealer from Chechnya, who shows her what he says is an undiscovered Stradivarius. Every fiber of Eva's being is burning to possess the marvelous instrument, leading her into a web of deception that grows ever larger until the novel's climax. She resorts to lying to gather up the huge sum of six hundred thousand dollars that Alexander is asking. There's even a bit of globetrotting as Eva flies to concerts in Cologne and back home to Ireland. I didn't get as much of a feel for New York City as a leading role, though; most of the action takes place in Eva's apartment or in concert halls, with few recognizable landmarks.
The cast of characters, including Eva's parents, her love interests, her nosy New York neighbor, and her rival / roommate Valentina, really brings the story to vivid life. Eva is dealing with her own personal demons, including a breakup, insecurity, and the fallout from her late father's disappearance. The purchase of the "Magdalena," as Eva dubbed it, marks the rapid unraveling of her previous life. And Ventolin plays the role of guest star: Eva's frequent severe asthma attacks serve as an effective metaphor for Eva's growing panic and anxiety.
Claire Kilroy has done a marvelous job at capturing the violin on paper, its nuances of tone and its expresiveness, set against a backdrop of intrigue (Eva constantly feels like some of Alexander's "friends" are tailing her and the violin, she has to avoid certain musical organizations due to the sketchy provenance of her violin, and she thinks her boyfriend is cheating on her). The blend of musicianship and suspense is an enchanting one, and I look forward to reading more of Ms. Kilroy's work in the future.
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