The Secret Life of Violet Grant

By: Beatriz Williams

Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Passion, redemption, and a battered old suitcase full of secrets: The New York Times best-selling author of A Hundred Summers returns with another engrossing tale of lost love and female ambition that crosses generations.

Manhattan, 1964. Vivian Schuyler, newly graduated from Bryn Mawr College, has recently defied the privilege of her storied old Fifth Avenue family to do the unthinkable for a budding Kennedy-era socialite: Break into the Mad Men world of razor-stylish Metropolitan magazine. But when she receives a bulky overseas parcel in the mail, the unexpected contents draw her inexorably back into her family's past and the hushed-over crime passionnel of an aunt she never knew, whose existence has been wiped from the record of history.

Berlin, 1914. Violet Schuyler Grant endures her marriage to the philandering and decades-older scientist Dr. Walter Grant for one reason: For all his faults, he provides the necessary support to her liminal position as a young American female physicist in prewar Germany. The arrival of Dr. Grant's magnetic former student at the beginning of Europe's fateful summer interrupts this delicate détente. Lionel Richardson, a captain in the British Army, challenges Violet to escape her husband's perverse hold, and as the world edges into war and Lionel's shocking true motives become evident, Violet is tempted to take the ultimate step to set herself free and seek a life of her own conviction with a man whose cause is as audacious as her own.

As the iridescent and fractured Vivian digs deeper into her aunt's past and the mystery of her ultimate fate, Violet's story of determination and desire unfolds, shedding light on the darkness of her years abroad...and teaching Vivian to reach forward with grace for the ambitious future - and the love - she wants most.

©2014 Beatriz Williams (P)2014 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“A riveting tale of murder and adultery.” (US Weekly)

"Another absorbing page-turner filled with romance and secrets…. Violet’s narrative will captivate readers with its intrigue and the protagonist’s struggles…” (Library Journal)

“Williams conjures up another substantive beach read steeped in history and familial intrigue.... Readers will love wallowing in the twists and turns of this irresistibly luxurious tale.” (Booklist)

Excellent audio book

Loved this book! So interesting to learn about happenings in 1914.The narrator -Kathleen McInerney should receive awards
for her voice and performance skills.if I were a writer,I would definitely seek for her to narrate my books.
Anxious to order Book # 2 in this series. Cindy B.

very satisfying

held my interest, great characters, strong, smart female characters. exciting without being gruesome. I so enjoyed it.

Loved the entire book

From beginning to end a delight to listen to
Particularly loved the way she weaves everything together at the end. Great listen!!!

Well developed characters

The characters were very well developed in the book with respect to their personality and the readers ability to visualize them. However, the personality of Violet doesn’t match the personality of an intelligent, female, early pioneer in science. The story was interesting. The reading voice and accents were terrible.

intriguing

very interesting story regarding history mystery and romance Love how the author moves back and forth in history and then brings it all together...

a cute story

Was a good recommendation by audible. as with her other book, 100 summers, it takes a couple of hours to get engaged with the story & characters. however it paid off handsomely.

slow to start

slow to start but it caught by interest. narration could have been better thank you

Sex sells

A bit more story and a bit less Sex would benefit the quality of this book

Very Enjoyable Book

This book kept me interested from the first chapter to the last. It had wonderful contrasts and strong characters. The performance was very good and helped to guide you through the complexities of the story.

Fun easy read

Lovely cheeky mystery. Each character has a perfect place in the book, and well explained. I love the enthusiasm that the writer has given to each of them and how quick and easy the read is.