‘Wolf Tones’ by J.J. Marsh is a standalone psychological thriller by an author that is new to me. A novel that explores abuse within a relationship while also plunging us into the world of the professional orchestra. I have no idea about the music world, so this was a riveting and unsettling read.
Rolf is a working-class man who, fifteen years ago was saved by his upper-class mentor and lover, Leonor. Rolf will never forget she made him and neither will Leonor. She controls everything, his food, friends, decisions and even his career. The question is, when is it abusive? That is only his home life, at work, he is being crushed there as well. Rolf’s confidence is so badly battered he doubts his very self.
Then a rumour reaches his ear. Has he misjudged his new friends? Is something more sinister pulling the orchestra’s strings? Regardless of the drama behind the scenes, the show must go on. It’s the only way to escape his past. A classic artist, Rolf presents the best side of himself, hiding the pain of imperfection. A strategy with devastating results.
A slow burner of a story that took me a little time to settle into. Once I got so far I was really invested in the book and found it quite impossible to leave alone for any length of time. The types of abuse that are a major part of this book are bad enough to make it very hard to find anything likeable about some characters. Rolf himself, well, he is broken down too far for me to want to shake him…I just really felt for him. I am very empathic when it comes to the results of abuse. I spent years being manipulated in a major way and I realise how simple it is to break someone down, then rebuild them in the mould the abuser wishes.
A novel that seamlessly interweaves sex, music, thriller, manipulation and more together to give us a dark, twisted and steamy story that keeps you turning the pages to find out what was next.
Thanks to Anne Cater of Random Things Tours and J.J. Marsh for the gifted copy of Wolf Tones
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