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

To long to get the End

Love the Narrator which is why I chose to listen to book. The story itself was a bit uneventful.

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.

An entertaining mystery

I enjoyed every minute of this story. It was unpredictable and the main characters unusual.

So good!

I love SJ Holliday books and this one did not disappoint. I didn’t want to put it down until I was finished with it.

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.

Enjoyed it

This was quite creepy but very entertaining. Imogen Church is fantastic. I will look for other books narrated by her.

Superb narrator

Probably like most Audible listeners, I am a huge admirer of Ms. Church, her narration is always superb. A real artist. As far as the novel itself...well...it's certainly unusual and I see how some people love it. I didn't. Likely it's a matter of personal preference, but there are so many villains and awful individuals around (especially in politics!!!!!) that I don't particularly enjoy a book where there are among the main protagonists. I prefer to sympathize with them, not despise them.

Perfect book/audiobook for thriller/suspense lovers!

If you like suspense and creepy, disconcerting and cognitively dissonant stories, you have to get this one. I read on kindle and listened as well. I go back and forth during the day.

You know that person, the one who is just a bit too attached while also being 'out there''? Well, SJI Holliday kind of explains and demonstrates that feeling of sympathy mixed with disgust, Trustworthiness? Forget it. I love how this book went. I flew through it. Imogen Church is the real OG
On this stuff. She brings it to life like no other and her voice kind of stabs the truth into you.

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.

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.