Violet

By: SJI Holliday

Narrated by: Imogen Church

Length: 9 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Carrie's best friend has an accident and can no longer make the round-the-world trip they'd planned together, so Carrie decides to go it alone. 

Violet is also travelling alone, after splitting up with her boyfriend in Thailand. She is desperate for a ticket on the Trans-Siberian Express, but there is nothing available. 

When the two women meet in a Beijing Hotel, Carrie makes the impulsive decision to invite Violet to take her best friend's place. Thrown together in a strange country, and the cramped cabin of the train, the women soon form a bond. But as the journey continues, through Mongolia and into Russia, things start to unravel - because one of these women is not who she claims to be....

©2019 S.J.I. Holliday (P)2019 Isis Publishing Ltd

Mesmerizing!

I am two thirds into this wild ride of a novel. I am so glad I ignored the bad reviews, and followed my instinct to buy what sounded like an intriguing book; read by my favorite narrator. Imogen Church does not disappoint, clearly vocalizing two very different women as they merge their travels for a crazy journey and a perilous relationship. I don’t want this to end, but it will do very soon, as I can’t stop listening.
I have finished listening to “Violet.” It is already difficult to settle on a book to follow this one. I highly recommend; though this novel is not for the faint hearted. It is at times graphically violent. It is profoundly disturbing, and quite depressing. It is also richly atmospheric, with characters one can almost touch. The pace never lets up. This is a strange, taut story. You become a voyeur on this wild, often depraved, adventure. Buckle up.

Fantastic, just a slow start

If you get 3-4 hours into this audiobook and you're considering quitting - DON'T!! You would miss out on one of the thrilling, twisty stories there are! I loved the book and I always appreciate a travel story. Unfortunately, things start slowly as Carrie and Violet get to know each other, but the last half of the book picks up and...takes off. I got this book as a recommendation from The Story Graph - a great alternative to GoodReads.

Loved it!

I loved this book. It was suspenseful, and engaging right off the bat. The story kept me on the edge of my seat. And as always, imogen church kills it at the narration.

Culturally offensive

Can't finish this. The perspective of other cultures is through a white, privileged, Eurocentric lens which scowls, laughs and scoffs at everything non-Western culture. Yuck.

Entertaining but a bit unhinged

Overall really enjoyed this story but some of the story is a little ridiculous. Good mystery and thriller that’s easy to get through but not the greatest story.

I was reeling from this book for a couple of days

Two women meet and both want to take the Trans-Siberian Express. One has no ticket, but the other has an extra one because her friend had a broken leg and wasn't able to accompany her. We are told in the book blurb "things start to unravel – because one of these women is not who she claims to be…". I'm still reeling from this because at first I'm just taken aback by the bad life decisions like drinking, smoking cigarettes, and doing drugs.

I'm not going to say much more because I don't want to give away this psychological thriller. This isn't a favorite genre of mine, but it held my interest enough that I finished it quickly. I needed to know what happened and which woman was not who she claimed to be!

Part of the reason I chose this book is because it is narrated by Imogen Church and my granddaughter Imogen recently had a birthday. The narration elevated my feelings for this book and I will look for more books that she narrates. I'm not rushing to do more of these psychological thrillers however.

Great book

Edgy and descriptive. I wish this book, had a part two. The main character makes the reader anticipate who her enemy’s are, but the conclusion blows the reader away.

HORRIBLE

Worst story ever! I was ready for a psychological thriller and I got this. Can't even finish it.

Keeps you listening right to the end!

So pleased I decided to try a new author - I really enjoyed this book. The author weaves the mystery through different cities and its always nice to learn something new about other cultures. Narrator (Imogen Church) really did an excellent job. My only complaint, her pauses were a little long, but I just listened on 1.25 and it was perfect for me. Would definitely recommend.

Intrigued to the end...

Intrigued to the end, however! I got a bit angry at parts because some of the decisions These girls make are so stupid I felt like screaming.
And I felt like the only likeable person in the whole book was Martin. But it was worth a go. Performed very well by narrator and does make you wanna go travelling regardless of the nightmare situations they get themselves in.

Brilliantly written & brilliantly read.

Suzi Holliday is a seriously good writer & this is a seriously good book.

boring. struggled to finish

really wasn't very interesting. Boring. only just finished it , but wished I'd given up much earlier