If you've never heard of this book before, I really don't blame you. It appears that I'm one of the few people who has it. I can't say "I'm one of the few people who has it whose not related to the author," because the author is my first cousin, once removed.

Normally, though, when you're family, you're supposed to like the work of your relatives. Doesn't every mother think that her child is the next virtuoso in whatever field they take on? Well, I guess that's mothers. What about first cousins, once removed?

I don't know what you're supposed to think, being an author's first cousin, once removed, but I do know what I'd think if I had no relationship to this author: It's a good start, but try harder next time.

You can tell that Dougherty really knows what she's talking about when she discusses music (and if you didn't know, she is very well educated, spanning a melange of disciplines). And at the same time, when she writes about dumb teenagers doing stupid stuff, you'd probably feel the same way I did: wanting to shout at the characters to not be so stupid. Also, she knows a lot about Polish-Americans, because, well, hey, we both share a common Polish ancestor. Finally, due to research and interviews (as I don't think she's ever been incarcerated), she conveys her knowledge of the penal system, jail, trial, and prison.

It's a touching story: a violin virtuoso throws his life away to drugs, gets arrested as an accomplice to murder, and is tossed in prison until he's much, much older. It's a coming of age work, only he comes of age in prison, and then must adapt to the outside world once he gets out, dealing with people judging him as a criminal and a shady person instead of a man who can play violin beautifully, albeit purely technically.

The book does tell a good story. Though, it's not perfect. I get the feeling that Dougherty didn't want to eviscerate her "child," and as such, couldn't find that right publisher. Thus, iUniverse, which is a self-publishing (dare I say Vanity?) press. Now, I'm sure some decent talent use iUniverse, but I adhere to those stodgy old beliefs that reputable publishers are more likely to sell stuff that's better. Though, I'm finding that harder and harder to believe, as it seems only the simple-to-read stuff is the hot seller, and now the only groups that publish intellectual work are university presses and UK publishers. Though that's not a universal statement.

There apparently is a second volume in this series. I have not been able to find it, promised to be published in 2007. Of course, I haven't contacted the author to get a status on it. Additionally, I haven't really gone out of my way to find it.

I can see this book appealing to fans of both classical music and prison dramas. I can't say that's me. ( )