A great discovery

Lawton deserves to be better known, this is much much more than a thriller, more an enthralling history lesson with real and fictional characters. It puts you there on the spot, almost smelling the atmosphere and living in the period, posing lots of questions, particularly about the concept of identity, along the way.
This is actually the 1st Troy novel chronologically, a sort of "prequel" to Blackout (also set during World War II), which I'd read and Old Flames which, fortunately, I haven't yet but certainly will. Pity Audible do not appear to have it.
The narration was absolutely first class and added immeasurably to the experience. I am now buying Blue Rondo precisely because it is also read by Lewis Hancock - thank you for such a superb performance!

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more please

excellent story, beautifully read, finished it too quickly.
I couldn't stop listening to this story; I found it a fascinating portrayal of Austria and England in 1939-40 when the Germans took over Vienna and then the start of WWII in London.

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Not quite what you might expect

Any additional comments?

Although one of the main characters is a policeman, this is not a police procedural. The focus of the book shifts from one character to another and from place to place, with only slight links between them. The murders that purport to be the subject of the book get dealt with only in the last quarter of the book and most of the book has nothing to do with them.

A word of praise for Lewis Hancock who has done an outstanding job with the narration.

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Gripping!

I found the Second Violin fascinating. True it dealt with the horrors of the Third Reich without pulling any punches but I do not think it does any of us any harm to be reminded of the consequences of racism and bigotry. If you enjoy stories based around the Second World War you will enjoy this audio book!

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2 people found this helpful

Engaging and Intelligent

This unusual and thoughtful book deals with the big themes: prejudice, heroism and sense of identity. Via the fictional Troy family the reader is taken through some of the most significant historical events of the twentieth century in a vivid and - at times - rightly horrifying manner. It provides the reader with a shocking insight into the casual racism of the 'thirties and 'forties. The characters are credible and the writing is detailed. It is not a conventional thriller in that the murder being investigated is not the central theme of the book, but nonetheless it does draw the reader in. However, where this fascinating book really does score is as a commentary on the zeitgeist of the period, and for those readers interested in this aspect I would unhesitatingly recommend it.

The narration is first rate too.

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Best listen I have had for ages

Very good book, full of interesting characters, dark and sombre in places, light and funny in others. A thoughtful, well written and engaging book with a narration that is timed to perfection. Top marks from me.

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1 person found this helpful

War history more than crime.

As a pice of war history this is very informative but also disturbing.As always it is well written and read. I was deeply engrossed.

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enjoyable listen

I love anything set in wartime, story is full of the era's detail.....have read Lawton before..well worth a listen.

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A good listen

Where does Second Violin rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

About the middle. Some books I listen to countless times (even crime novels if they are also good novels and beautifully read) but this one is not one of them. It's not bad and the narration is good but the book as a whole is not so engaging that I want to listen to it again soon. I may come back to it later though.

What did you like best about this story?

I very much enjoy novels which take the reader back to the early times of a character first seen in later life. I read the second Frederick Troy book, Old Flames, years ago. I didn't like it and that may have been because of the style and not liking Troy himself. He is younger here and although he is not likeable he has his good points. I also enjoyed the writing style, which is surprising. Lawton is describing horrific events but does it in quite a sardonic way. It shouldn't work but it does, hearing very shocking events described in that way might lessen the impact but for me it made them all the more powerful.

Which scene did you most enjoy?

All of the scenes in the internment camp were very affecting. There is character study, men from all walks of life bonding under pressure, some very funny scenes in the middle of some very moving ones.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It's too long for that but I listened to it over the course of three or four days and it never dragged.

Any additional comments?

This may be a novel about a policeman in London during the second world war but the crime aspect is almost peripheral to the main themes. Lawton has shown very well Europe in turmoil and shocking racism both studied and casual.

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second violin

found this heavy listening at first but the seconed half was better

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1 person found this helpful