Unsinkable

By: Jenni L. Walsh

Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik, Alana Collins

Length: 11 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

“AN INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER”

The Titanic was only the beginning. What she survived has become legend. Inspired by true stories of survival and resilience, Unsinkable entwines the lives of two women, one from World War 1 and another from World War 2, as they face adversity and take hold of the second chances given to them.

Violet Jessop is Miss Unsinkable.

After her mother becomes too ill to work, the responsibility to provide for the family falls to Violet as the oldest of nine. When the world enters the Great War, she serves as a nurse, helping men who could very well be her brothers. Working as a stewardess and wartime nurse, Violet not only survives a shipwreck but also two sinkings, one on the infamous Titanic. No one can understand why she would return to sea, but something keeps drawing Violet back to the tumultuous waters, where she struggles to put the tragedies of her past behind her and pursue a life and love all her own.

Daphne has survived calamity of her own.

Daphne Chaundanson grows up as an unwanted child after her mother died in a tragedy. She throws herself into education, collecting languages like candy in a desperate attempt to finally earn her father's approval. When the Special Operations Executive invites her to be an agent in France in World War II, her childhood of anonymity and her love of languages make her the perfect fit. She sees it as an opportunity to help the country she loves and live up to her father's expectations. But the dangers of war challenge Daphne in ways she never could have expected, and the secrets from her own past must be faced for her to truly have a future beyond the conflict--if she can survive it.

Inspired by true stories of Violet Jessop and the thirty-nine women of the Special Operations Executive. Two unsinkable women. Two stories of survival, family, and finding one's own happiness. One connection that reshapes both their lives forever.

• Historical, stand-alone novel
• Themes of: true events, second chances, and happy endings
• Book length: approximately 103,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

©2024 Jenni L. Walsh (P)2024 Harper Muse

Critic reviews

An exhilarating voyage of danger, sacrifice, and ultimate triumph. --Lynda Cohen Loigman, USA TODAY bestselling author of Two-Family House, The Wartime Sisters, and The Matchmaker's Gift

Unsinkable

*Spoilers Ahead*

First, I have a bone to pick with you, Mrs. Walsh: HOW ARE YOU GOING TO WRITE A BOOK THAT FEATURES THE TITANIC, NAME A CHARACTER “LEO,” PUT HIM ON A BOAT THAT SINKS, AND THEN MAKE US WAIT TO SEE IF HE SURVIVED?!? That’s almost on a Shonda Rhimes level of playing with my emotions. From the time Leo was introduced until the end of Violet’s experience with the HMS Britannic, I feel like I didn’t take a full breath. Your 80s baby audience is NOT OKAY with the memories this character inclusion brings to the surface. “I’ll never let go, Jack!”

My indignation set aside, I loved the premise to the story; the retelling of Violet Jessup’s life and Daphne as an accumulation of some real-life stories of several very heroic women during WWII were perfect parallels. I wanted to shake Violet several times for her steadfast refusal to consider any other alternative to the life that she was living, but I guess I respect it on some level. Also, when basing a story on a real person’s life, there is only so liberty that can be taken with the narrative. I loved Daphne’s intelligence, wit, and vulnerability. She was a particularly relatable character.

4.5 rounded up for the ending. I mentally called the connection between the two women pretty far in advance, but it did not make the conclusion feel trite. The biggest issue I had with the ending is that it felt a little rushed, and it was tied up a little too neatly. However, after reading the author’s note with her self-admittance and rationalization, I understand why she made that narrative choice and I support it. If I had a chance to write a happy ending for them, I probably would have, too.

Narration:
Barrie Kreinik was perfect as Daphne and Alana Collins was great as Violet. I have a special love of the Irish lilt and was actually happy at the amounts of times Violet told herself and others to stay “calm” - a favorite pronunciation of mine. There was not a ton of voice variations for the men, but there were enough to make them seem separate.

I was approved this audiobook ARC from NetGalley. Unfortunately, I was unable to listen to it because the archival date passed before I could get to it. So, I used one of my coveted Audible credits to listen to this book. I regret nothing.