by Alyxandra Harvey
publisher: Walker BFYR
date published: June 21, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 352
source: for review from the publisher
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N
From Goodreads:
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?
What I Thought
I was very much intrigued by the premise of the story. The fact that Violet is the daughter of a fraudulent medium and turns out to have an authentic talent with spirits is both ironic and interesting. The mother-daughter dynamic here is very alarming, which adds another facet to Violet's life. Rather than take on a job typical of her class, Violet's mother, "Celine," sets out to cheat her way to the top, no matter what the cost to her own daughter may be. As a result, Violet is raised knowing how to pick a pocket, slip laudanum into cups unnoticed, and rig a parlor for her mother's fake seances. This isn't something Violet is especially proud of, but her mother leaves little room for refusal. The result is a character with a strongly-honed sense of right and wrong who must continually go against her better judgment, which is an interesting prospect to consider. I really enjoyed Violet as a character due to all of her complexities and her true sense of self.
The murder mystery aspect of the novel is well done. I was left guessing right until the end, which I found to be impressive, as other books of this variety usually contain a blatantly obvious clue that gives the answer away prematurely. Here, the hints point toward a few different people without fully revealing who the culprit is, which I really appreciated. Violet's progressing forays into the memories of the murdered girl, Rowena, add an extra punch to the plot and keep the air of mystery at very high levels. Her best friend and sometimes sidekick, Elizabeth, adds enough humor to the story to keep it from becoming too heavy and somber. She, too, is a character that I grew attached to by the end of the story.
Romance is another area that I really enjoyed with this book. Colin, the Irish orphan taken in by Violet's mother as a servant, grows up alongside Violet, thus establishing a connection between the two that continually grows throughout the book. Alyxandra Harvey has created a very intriguing love interest for Violet in Colin. I definitely felt a few flutters as I imagined some of his conversations with Violet, complete with a brogue. The relationship between the two is also refreshing in that Colin does not constantly try to prevent Violet from doing what she needs to do. While he will step in if she is in true need, he is more content to aid her in her adventures, which I really loved. I was very pleased with this love story when all was said and done.
Finally, the setting is something that I was feel completely enamored with. There were Gothic elements such as imposing estates with their own resident ghosts. There are also aspects such as misty ponds that are anything but the idyllic scenes they first appear to be and heavy pieces such as large urns and chandeliers rigged to fall upon our heroine. The English countryside is my favorite setting in this book, although the house in London has its own unique feeling and points of interest. The two settings are vastly different, but they are pulled together into a cohesive unit through the presence of the spirits that Violet is plagued by.
Haunting Violet is an awesomely fun read that I really did not want to put down. I was able to finish it in less than 24 hours, which is a real mark of a good book for me. It is absorbing, intriguing, spooky, and romantic all at once. I simply could not get enough of this story and would love to see more forays into Violet's world. I give Haunting Violet 5 hoots.
Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review. Many thanks to Walker Books for Young Readers/Bloomsbury Teen for the opportunity of reviewing this book.
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