Half-Blood Blues

Enthralling, vividly written and entirely believable, this is a striking and accomplished novel from Canadian-based Edugyan. Her achievement is to have created a strong, unique voice in protagonist Sid, a bass player in a jazz band in 1930s Berlin. It is through his eyes that we see this story of friendship and betrayal, set against the traumatic and devastating events in Nazi Germany and wartime Europe, which Edugyan depicts with level-headed skill.

For Sid and his fellow American bandmate Chip, life is all about jazz. But the multi-national band with which they have achieved moderate success cannot remain oblivious to outside influences. War, racial tension, love and jealousy intervene as the band flees Berlin for Paris, hoping a meeting with the legendary Louis Armstrong will make their name. But, caught up in this melting pot of high emotions, Sid makes a decision that will have a devastating effect on his younger bandmate Hiero, and affect both of their lives forever.

In addition to Sid’s vivid voice, Edugyan’s skill is in drawing us into a very human story and making us empathise with all the characters, despite their individual flaws. From Berlin to Paris to Baltimore to Poland, Half-Blood Blues is both an epic, sweeping tale and an intimate portrait of human frailty. The result is a compelling piece of work indeed