“The Violin Maker”

A “Music of Time” Romantic Thriller, Book One

 It is 1986.

The world is sinking into the chill of Nuclear Winter.
And an ancient evil—the Spanish Inquisition, with all of its horrors—once again stalks the earth.

In the midst of this terror, a mysterious ancient violin captivates Joseph Davidson, drawing him 500 years back in time. Pursued by agents of the Inquisition, Joseph and his lover Rachel must solve the puzzle of his hidden heritage—and a secret prophecy to save their dying world.

With their love in jeopardy, and their lives in deadly peril, the violin calls out its siren song, leading them on a dangerous quest across the globe—and back through time.

In the spirit of Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown and the film The Red Violin by Don McKellar, blended with a timeless romance. . . The Violin Maker by Glenn J. Hill unravels puzzels within a compelling romantic mystery that spans centuries.

Please note: This novel is a romantic mystical suspense/thriller with scenes of sensuality.

About Glenn J. Hill

I started writing some years ago when I was studying to become a certified Jewish Storyteller, also known as a Magid. At the time, I began writing my own original stories to tell to live audiences along with my own versions of traditional tales.

I had not known my mother was Jewish when I was younger. I only found out in the last twenty years that she was from a hidden Jewish family who, at pain of death, had to flee from persecution and the Inquisition in Spain and Portugal in the 1400s, 1500s and 1600s.

Some of my ancestral Jewish family in Venice claimed to be descended from King David, though there is no sure proof of this. In the 1500s and later, they were court musicians and instrument builders in the Courts of Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth, where the family continued to play music for the Royal Court and the Globe Theater in London. Eventually their descendants settled in the American colonies, as early as 1609.

I draw upon this once-hidden ancestry and my stringed instrument building experiences in my writing. I am a trained classical Italian violin builder and harp builder. I’ve been designing, building and carving custom one-of-a-kind harps for forty-one years now.*

In my Book Two, “The Fires of Time,” (to be released in August 2020), of this series, “The Music of Time,” the story in this novel will continue back in time in the 1500s and beyond.

This novel was partially inspired by past life recalls I have had, as well as a near-death experience I experienced on Yom Kippur, before I found out I was Jewish by birth.

Follow your Bliss and Live your Life in Joy.

Glenn J. Hill

*I make harps, too! To learn more about my custom harps, visit Mountain Glen Harps!

From the Book…

Return again, return again, return to the land of your soul.

Return to who you are, return to what you are,

return to where you are. Born and reborn, again and again…

 * * * * * * *

He was an invisible witness to all of this… he thought. But then one set of dark eyes focused on him with a chilling stare. … With outstretched arms and the lethal knives pointed at Joseph; the figure lunged directly at him.

The man’s brilliant blue eyes pierced the morning gloom. They focused intensely on Joseph, staring into his own eyes with a look he would not soon forget. There was something about this old man that felt powerful and perhaps dangerous, a mysterious hidden presence

 * * * * * * *

As he walked, the blue sky seemed to change to a deep, dark gray. He started to lose feeling in his arms and legs as his body now felt heavy and sluggish.

He felt like he was almost part of the stones, stuck and dizzy, spinning in place as something alien, an extraordinary presence, was overtaking and possessing him.

… Holy Mother of God, save me. Save… me …

 * * * * * * *

She had been waiting in the dark many long years for him to come back to her, for him to caress her again, to awaken her once more into her full power. She was ready. Come to me, my Master. I am here.

 * * * * * * *

“It means that you and I are in even worse danger than I ever thought. Deadly danger. No wonder you’ve been spied on and followed…. across the globe. And, shit, maybe even here.”

 * * * * * * *

Joseph did not seem to hear her, as he was mesmerized by the sight of the instrument. Flashes of fire sparkled in the golden varnish and the illuminated gem-like wood as the old violin was slowly passed from hand to hand down the long set of tables so each student could examine it. Time seemed to stretch and crawl for Joseph. It felt like it was taking so very long to reach him. The sunlight hitting the varnish continued to produce magnified sparks of fire-light that caught his eyes, almost blinding him as it grew closer and closer.

Even though this instrument was not playable as it was missing its bridge, tuning pegs, saddle, and strings, Joseph thought he could almost hear it quietly humming and vibrating in his gloved hands, somehow with a life of its own. It seemed to possess a warmth that was strange and animal-like, almost moving as if with a quiet and very slow heartbeat.

 * * * * * * *

The sun was so bright his eyes hurt. Blinking rapidly, Joseph was dazzled and staggered as he drew a stifling breath of dusty, super-heated air. Almost overwhelmed by a gust of hot wind pushing against his back, the wooden floor had vanished and he could not find his footing on what felt like uneven stones underfoot. He looked down and saw he was wearing sandals on his feet, and heavy black clothing that dragged on the ground, trying to trip his footing. He was carrying a brown cloth bag in one hand. Feeling dizzy, he struggled to not fall on his face.

* * * * * * *

She was able to reach the now almost transparent form of her lover, wrapping her arms around him. In a swirl of brilliant sparks of light Rachel also started to fade from view while she gazed with love into his eyes. “Joseph, I love you so much. I’m never letting you go, ever again.”

* * * * * * *

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