The Vampire's Violin by Michael Romkey

Released: 2003

The Vampire's Violin is a tastefully written novel about a series of violins that sound so beautiful they are coveted by both vampires and humans alike. Michael Romkey opens the novel in the year 1744, introducing us to blind violin-maker Archangelo Serafino and Welsh vampire and violinist Dylan Glyndwr, who covets the "Angel" violins. Hundreds of years pass while Dylan searches for an Angel violin, and we are brought to present-day Iowa to meet Maggie O'Hara, a college student who inherits her grandfather's Angel violin that fell into his possession during WWII. Dylan pursues his quest for the Angel violin through Maggie.

As a horror novel, The Vampire's Violin is not at all scary; but instead pays an homage to violins, the love of classical music, and the orchestra. The Angel violin does not hold possessive or supernatural powers, but rather instills confidence in the player as they are affected by the instrument's beauty in sound. The book reminds me strongly of the movie The Red Violin.


The Vampire's Violin is written so well and is such a great story that vampires need not even be involved at all; it would have sufficed with just evil and selfish humans chasing the violin. The vampires featured in the novel are not scary or horrifying, and here I'll refrain from revealing any further details.

All in all, Michael Romkey's The Vampire's Violin is an entertaining and eloquent read, and I would definitely recommend it to classical music buffs and fans of the orchestra. Nicely done!