A taut, sultry novel about rivalry, obsession and how far we are willing to go to get what we truly desire – with thanks to Dawn for her review!

Crescendo is set in the world of classical music.  The story follows Max and Natasha, twins whose lives are completely wrapped up in each other, especially as Max’s music career takes centre stage.  I found their relationship really interesting – it’s close, but also quite intense, and you can feel the pressure building as the story goes on (like the title of the book suggest!)  The setting added a really atmospheric feel and I could clearly picture the elegant, artistic world they were part of.

I really liked how character-focused this book is.  You get a strong sense of both Max and Natasha and how differently they see things.  I enjoyed getting to understand their dynamic more as it developed. The writing is quite descriptive and emotional, which helped me connect with what they were going through.

The pacing is quite slow, focusing more on thoughts and relationships than action.  Whilst this may not suit all readers, it allows for a deeper exploration of themes such as the pressure of success and the search for personal identity. Overall, this is a really thoughtful and emotional read that focuses on ambition, identity and relationships

About the Book

It’s the summer of 1957 and Max, a piano prodigy, is on a sold-out concert tour.

His beautiful twin sister, Natasha, serves as his manager and minder. But despite Natasha’s careful planning, he begins, for the first time in his career, to make mistakes on stage. Upending his schedule to seek a cure in Paris, Max sets up the pair in the sprawling mansion of a handsome and wealthy count. But Henri is more than just a patron of the arts; he has also been – unknown to Max – Natasha’s lover.

Freed from the familiar dynamic of manager and talent, Natasha’s simmering resentment and Max’s deep insecurity turn into a rivalry, as the two vie for Henri’s attention. While Henri woos Natasha in galleries and cafés during the day, it is Max’s playing that draws him from bed each night.
As the twins compete, the fractures in their already vulnerable relationship start to show, with devastating consequences for both.

About The Author

Jane Healey has a BA (Hons) from Warwick University, an MSc in Literature & Modernity from The University of Edinburgh, and studied on the MFA Fiction course at CUNY Brooklyn College. She has been shortlisted for the Costa Short Story Award, the Bristol Short Story Prize and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. She is the author of the Historical Writers’ Association Debut Crown Award winner The Animals at Lockwood Manor and The Ophelia Girls.

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