The Violinist : A Novel

by Joe Gerber

“MAYBE GOD WILL GIVE ME A BREAK SOMEDAY AND I WON’T NEED TO GIVE UP.”

Cassie Spillman’s helpless words summarize a person filled with fear, anger, and loneliness. The loss of her mother and the estrangement of her father has left a void too deep to fill. Her rejection of faith is another weak pillar amidst a crumbling life, where the daily battles with her mental and emotional health are relentless reminders of the pain of her past.

Now, under the care of her aunt and uncle in North Chicago, Cassie fights the terrors of depression and self-isolation. Trapped in grief, she struggles to find meaning in her life, even as she is surrounded by those who love her. Her attempts to cope only lead to more hurt and anger, threatening to cause her harm, end her career, and jeopardize her most beloved relationships.

In her darkest moments, Cassie turns to the only solace she knows—her violin. The notes she plays are a desperate plea for help, seeking peace and protection from her inner turmoil. But can her precious instrument alone save her from the depths of life’s brokenness, its dangers… and, perhaps most crucially, her cold-blooded self?

A powerful story where redemption bleeds from each page, The Violinist is perfect for fans of Contemporary Christian fiction who Character-driven storiesMental health themesClean romanceUnfiltered internal conflict
You’ll find yourself hating, loving, grieving with, and rooting hard for Cassie from the first page to the last. So, get a copy of The Violinist into your hands or onto your device now.

324 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 2, 2025

Reviews

[Harley O · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading about the journey Cassie (the main character of The Violinist) goes on in order to find meaning in her life and to learn to cope with internal and external struggles. She messes up many times throughout the novel which is just so relatable. And I thought her changing attitudes towards herself, her loved ones, and (eventually her) God over the course of the story were well-written. Cassie's path to faith in God is also really beautifully described. I laughed and cried alongside Cassie while reading this book.

This is a great read that recognizes that the struggles we face in this lifetime are really hard, that we need grace for all the times we mess up, and that we need support to help us through life. We cannot and should not try to do life by ourselves -- we can see that clearly in Cassie's life.

[Chas Bomgardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the authors debut novel so I went in expecting it to be like most first books- good but maybe a little lacking in style and content. Boy I was pleasantly surprised! As a reader who loves the Christian fiction genre, I’ve seen many books turn out to be too cheesy and not have the grit of real life I’m looking for. This book had that grit of a real life story that took things deep and got real and raw about life on this flawed earth. The story really had me cheering on the main character in one chapter and upset or crying in the next. This book does cover some heavy topics so I would personally recommend 16+ age. My favorite thing about this book was that it caused me to reflect and think deeply about my own relationship with the Lord- and all the best books make us think. I am honored to have been an ARC reader for this book.

[Michelle McComas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Captivating Christian Novel

A captivating story takes the reader through mental health struggles and leaves you anxiously turning the page to find the light at the end of the struggle.

[Dawn Bethune · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book!!

I couldn’t put it down. That’s the sign of a great book to me! Very moving and inspiring. I highly recommend it.