REVIEWS FOR CLAUDETTE ON THE KEYS

Music and hope navigate the treacherous waters of the pre-war period in this detailed, well-researched novel about perseverance and the power of self-discovery. 

- Genevieve Graham, author of Letters Across the Sea and The Forgotten Home Child

Author Joanne Culley is descended from Toronto musical royalty and uses her piano-playing grandparents, Harry and Ida Culley, as the leading characters in this intriguing book. Not only does it paint a vivid picture of what life was like for musicians in the depths of the Great Depression, but also of the Toronto that was. Harry and Ida travel to England, looking for a chance to perform, and get embroiled in the dramatic events of 1936-37, including the abdication of Edward VIII from the British throne and the rise of Naziism in Germany. It's a must read for musicians in times like these. I couldn't put it down.

- Glen Woodcock, Host and Producer, The Big Bands on JAZZ.FM91 in Toronto


The world of Depression-era musicians – and especially the musical world of Ida, or Claudette – is superbly rendered. The highs and lows of a performer’s life, from anxious insecurity to concert euphoria, feels wonderfully authentic. And the book’s many details about the era’s popular songs and performers give the novel great authenticity and bring the story to sparkling life.

- Barbara Kyle, author of The Man from Spirit Creek


Joanne Culley weaves a fascinating tale of a brave young Canadian pianist who leaves everything she knows and crosses the Atlantic to find her way in the show business world of pre-war Europe. Claudette is a wonderfully plucky heroine who is willing to risk it all to provide for her young family. Culley brings the musical world of Toronto, London and Berlin to life with keenly observed detail and an intriguing mixture of real-life and fictional characters.

​- Dan Needles, author and creator of Wingfield Farm stage plays