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Furious Violet: A Novel
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From the author of the bestselling phenomenon Dietland comes a razor-sharp, subversive thriller about motherhood, obsession, and the stories we tell ourselves to survive.
Violet “West” Shelley has unwillingly spent her life in the spotlight as the only daughter of a legendary poet and feminist icon who died tragically young. Now, as the self-described “lowbrow” crime journalist approaches fifty—burned out, creatively blocked, and far older than her mother ever was—she retreats to her hometown in the Colorado mountains hometown to finish a long-overdue book about the “Crying Killer,” a notorious serial killer who sobs for his mother after committing his crimes.
But what begins as a bid for solitude quickly spirals into something far more sinister. A stalker emerges—mysterious, relentless, with accusations disturbingly this invisible stranger insists that West is their long-lost mother, though West has never had children. As the threats escalate and her carefully defended privacy starts to shatter, West is drawn into a chilling psychological web where the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to collapse.
Is she being watched? Hunted? Or is her own mind turning against her?
Gripping, provocative, and laced with pitch-black humor, Furious Violet is a psychological thrill ride and a fierce exploration of mothers (real and imagined), fame, and the question of who can lay claim to women’s bodies of work—and their bodies themselves. Once again, Sarai Walker has delivered a subversively brilliant heroine unlike any damaged, defiant, and utterly unforgettable.
Violet “West” Shelley has unwillingly spent her life in the spotlight as the only daughter of a legendary poet and feminist icon who died tragically young. Now, as the self-described “lowbrow” crime journalist approaches fifty—burned out, creatively blocked, and far older than her mother ever was—she retreats to her hometown in the Colorado mountains hometown to finish a long-overdue book about the “Crying Killer,” a notorious serial killer who sobs for his mother after committing his crimes.
But what begins as a bid for solitude quickly spirals into something far more sinister. A stalker emerges—mysterious, relentless, with accusations disturbingly this invisible stranger insists that West is their long-lost mother, though West has never had children. As the threats escalate and her carefully defended privacy starts to shatter, West is drawn into a chilling psychological web where the boundaries between fiction and reality begin to collapse.
Is she being watched? Hunted? Or is her own mind turning against her?
Gripping, provocative, and laced with pitch-black humor, Furious Violet is a psychological thrill ride and a fierce exploration of mothers (real and imagined), fame, and the question of who can lay claim to women’s bodies of work—and their bodies themselves. Once again, Sarai Walker has delivered a subversively brilliant heroine unlike any damaged, defiant, and utterly unforgettable.
1 pages, MP3 CD
First published July 28, 2026
About the author
Sarai Walker
3 books957 followersSarai Walker is the author of FURIOUS VIOLET, THE CHERRY ROBBERS, and DIETLAND, which was adapted as a television series for AMC in 2018. Her work has been published in more than a dozen countries. She has a cat named after Shirley Jackson.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 280 reviews
August 14, 2026
True crime is about what happens to other people.
But when it happens to you? That’s a different kind of story. That’s horror.
It's rare these days that I find a thriller doing something fresh and interesting, but Walker manages it with Furious Violet. It combines true crime obsession and celebrity culture with a meditation on motherhood and childlessness.
The protagonist, Violet, is a true crime writer approaching fifty, and just a cat short of being a "childless cat lady". Violet, herself, has no issue with this, but she is well aware of the judgement of others. The silent disapproval; the comments about the fulfilment of motherhood, implying, intentionally or not, that she remains incomplete. Then she starts to receive threatening messages from a stalker who addresses her as "Mother".
But there's another layer to the story as well. A bit of a historical mystery surrounding Violet's own mother— a respected poet and a feminist icon who died by suicide when Violet was a baby. The relationship between Violet's mother and father is modelled on that of Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes, which is to say it was tumultuous and plagued by mental health issues. When Violet acquires a stalker, the most likely explanation is that one of her mother's diehard fans has gone off the rails.
It is interesting the way the book handles celebrity cults. How odd it is that some people feel ownership over a person and their private lives because they have purchased and felt connected to their art. What an odd form of entitlement to assume a famous person owes you their soul in exchange for your devotion. The story is fictional, but that phenomenon is most definitely observable in our world.
This also intersects with the entitlement we feel towards women's bodies. The two mirror each other in a number of ways; the judgement towards Violet for not being a mother is similar to the ways people judge celebrities for not living in a way they would like. And all the threads are tied together to say: these are real people. Behind the fame, the public persona, the juicy details of the crime... there are real people.
It's one of those books that balances a dynamic plot and reflective commentary really well. Things keep moving, and there are some genuinely creepy and unsettling moments, but there's a lot of introspection too. Violet is funny, irreverent and self-aware, which makes it enjoyable to be inside her mind.
I really enjoyed it and it won't be my last by Walker.
September 25, 2026
i>Furious Violet by Sarai Walker takes an intriguing look at just how far obsessive fans of a famous author might go in their devotion. It also explores something I found equally interesting: what it means to be the child of a literary icon and to spend your life trying to escape that legacy.
Walker creates a fictional poet, Juliet Bellwood, who bears some resemblance to Sylvia Plath. Bellwood gained an enormous following after her death by suicide, which was believed to have been related to postpartum depression. Her poetry struck a chord with feminists, and over time Bellwood became a feminist icon, celebrated as a "trailblazer of confessional and feminist poetry."
Bellwood's baby daughter, Violet, was raised by her maternal uncle, Lawton, and eventually built a successful writing career of her own in the true crime genre. But Juliet's most obsessive followers, known as the Furies, believe that both Violet and Lawton betrayed Bellwood's legacy. Lawton burned Juliet's journals after her death, although, in his defense, she was relatively unknown at the time. Violet refuses to give interviews about her mother because she doesn't want to spend her life in Juliet's shadow. She has even dropped Bellwood as her surname and now goes by Violet West.
At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Violet has a stalker, most likely an unhinged Fury. Unfortunately for Violet, a nearby college is about to host a symposium marking the 50th anniversary of her mother's death, bringing Juliet's most devoted followers uncomfortably close.
Meanwhile, Violet is finishing a true crime book about the "Crying Killer," a serial rapist and murderer from the 1970s and '80s who cries for his mother after killing his victims. Violet knows a great deal about obsession and how it can lead to violence. Now she is increasingly worried that she may become the victim of a killer herself.
Walker also weaves menopause into this very feminist story. Violet is turning 50, and the physical and emotional realities of menopause consume much of her interior life. So we have feminism and fandom, stalking and true crime, motherhood and aging, and the complicated burden of being the daughter of an icon, all tied together in a layered thriller.
I especially liked the questions the novel raises about who "owns" the legacy of a famous person after death. Is it the family, who knew the actual woman? Or the fans who have turned her into a symbol? And what does the child of an icon owe the people who believe that icon somehow belongs to them?
I listened to the audiobook through my library, narrated by Joy Nash, and she is excellent. Her performance captures Violet's personality perfectly and definitely elevated the story for me.
Walker creates a fictional poet, Juliet Bellwood, who bears some resemblance to Sylvia Plath. Bellwood gained an enormous following after her death by suicide, which was believed to have been related to postpartum depression. Her poetry struck a chord with feminists, and over time Bellwood became a feminist icon, celebrated as a "trailblazer of confessional and feminist poetry."
Bellwood's baby daughter, Violet, was raised by her maternal uncle, Lawton, and eventually built a successful writing career of her own in the true crime genre. But Juliet's most obsessive followers, known as the Furies, believe that both Violet and Lawton betrayed Bellwood's legacy. Lawton burned Juliet's journals after her death, although, in his defense, she was relatively unknown at the time. Violet refuses to give interviews about her mother because she doesn't want to spend her life in Juliet's shadow. She has even dropped Bellwood as her surname and now goes by Violet West.
At the beginning of the novel, we learn that Violet has a stalker, most likely an unhinged Fury. Unfortunately for Violet, a nearby college is about to host a symposium marking the 50th anniversary of her mother's death, bringing Juliet's most devoted followers uncomfortably close.
Meanwhile, Violet is finishing a true crime book about the "Crying Killer," a serial rapist and murderer from the 1970s and '80s who cries for his mother after killing his victims. Violet knows a great deal about obsession and how it can lead to violence. Now she is increasingly worried that she may become the victim of a killer herself.
Walker also weaves menopause into this very feminist story. Violet is turning 50, and the physical and emotional realities of menopause consume much of her interior life. So we have feminism and fandom, stalking and true crime, motherhood and aging, and the complicated burden of being the daughter of an icon, all tied together in a layered thriller.
I especially liked the questions the novel raises about who "owns" the legacy of a famous person after death. Is it the family, who knew the actual woman? Or the fans who have turned her into a symbol? And what does the child of an icon owe the people who believe that icon somehow belongs to them?
I listened to the audiobook through my library, narrated by Joy Nash, and she is excellent. Her performance captures Violet's personality perfectly and definitely elevated the story for me.
August 4, 2026
Furious Violet marries serious themes like mental health and reluctant motherhood with a rollicking good time of a story, and it balances this tension well. It manages to tell a poignant story of generational trauma while also being one hell of a page turner. Full review on BookBrowse: https://www.bookbrowse.com/mag/review...
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
4.5 stars. Crime novels have been... lackluster for a couple years now. But Sarai Walker has given us a basically perfect crime novel. It's always dialed up a little bit too high, it's always a little too much, which imo is just right.
So many pieces here! There is Violet's work as a true crime writer, which already has her surrounded by violence and loss. There is her mother, a Sylvia-Plath-esque poet whose suicide shortly after Violet's birth has enshrined her as a symbol of feminine power and rage. There is menopause, which literally can leave her soaked in blood. And this is just where we are before the plot really kicks in and a series of cryptic threats escalate.
Walker does so much here and she does it all so well. Everything is both action and commentary, a real consideration of what these things are and how they impact the world. The acolytes of her mother's work (called Furies) are a scathing indictment of a certain type of academic as well as fandoms generally. And it all overlaps with a very real consideration of true crime. Making real people into characters in a story has all kinds of impacts both on the audience and the subject. Walker considers all of this and throws herself completely into it, rolling around gleefully with zippy plot twists and sharp satire.
I read this in a single day, just couldn't stop. I would have liked it even if it was just a fluffy twisty thriller, but that it provided so much more made it into something substantial that has stuck around in my head and doesn't seem like it'll be leaving any time soon.
Dietland was a fantastic debut with so much potential and Walker really takes it up a level here. It's beautifully paced, packed with plot, and has that almost zany feeling that I loved so much in Dietland. One of the best of the year.
So many pieces here! There is Violet's work as a true crime writer, which already has her surrounded by violence and loss. There is her mother, a Sylvia-Plath-esque poet whose suicide shortly after Violet's birth has enshrined her as a symbol of feminine power and rage. There is menopause, which literally can leave her soaked in blood. And this is just where we are before the plot really kicks in and a series of cryptic threats escalate.
Walker does so much here and she does it all so well. Everything is both action and commentary, a real consideration of what these things are and how they impact the world. The acolytes of her mother's work (called Furies) are a scathing indictment of a certain type of academic as well as fandoms generally. And it all overlaps with a very real consideration of true crime. Making real people into characters in a story has all kinds of impacts both on the audience and the subject. Walker considers all of this and throws herself completely into it, rolling around gleefully with zippy plot twists and sharp satire.
I read this in a single day, just couldn't stop. I would have liked it even if it was just a fluffy twisty thriller, but that it provided so much more made it into something substantial that has stuck around in my head and doesn't seem like it'll be leaving any time soon.
Dietland was a fantastic debut with so much potential and Walker really takes it up a level here. It's beautifully paced, packed with plot, and has that almost zany feeling that I loved so much in Dietland. One of the best of the year.
August 12, 2026
A child-free, menopausal true crime journalist who carries a gun in a diaper bag? Yes, please!
I loved everything about this book. I loved Violet, our flawed and fabulous heroine. I loved her struggle to come to terms with the lack of connection to her parents, the labels others assign to her, her anger toward those who obsess over her famous mother, and the fear she faces as she's being stalked by someone who knows way too much about her life.
This book had me laughing, raging, and nodding my head in satisfaction as Violet take control of everything that has felt out of her control.
I loved everything about this book. I loved Violet, our flawed and fabulous heroine. I loved her struggle to come to terms with the lack of connection to her parents, the labels others assign to her, her anger toward those who obsess over her famous mother, and the fear she faces as she's being stalked by someone who knows way too much about her life.
This book had me laughing, raging, and nodding my head in satisfaction as Violet take control of everything that has felt out of her control.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Violet "West" Shelley is a true crime writer that's working on her latest book regarding the "Crying Killer". Now it appears someone is stalking her by leaving her notes and weird phone messages claiming she is their mother.
There's only one problem, West is a 49 year old single woman that has never had a child. Anyone claiming she is their mother has to be completely deranged. West never wanted children after being raised by her kind uncle when her mother committed suicide only 3 months after her birth when her father left her for another woman. Having never had a mother made West the least maternal woman she knows.
As for her mother she was a famous poet with a rabid fan base called "The Furies" and these people are always trying to provoke West. Is it possible one of these so-called fans is the one tormenting her? You'll have to read this to find out.
This one started out so very strong. I read 50% in one sitting and then dumb me forgot my kindle when we went away for a few days and when I returned to this I couldn't help but wonder if I was still reading the same page-turner from only a few days previous. At the half way mark this book lost all of it's momentum and became very repetitive which made this book feel much longer than it actually is.
Sadly, the ending was easily predicted and not very satisfying for me. Once the big baddie is revealed there were still another 30 pages or so repeating itself yet again about all that happened.
I did appreciate that West wasn't an unreliable narrator hooked on booze and pills though her addiction to Big Gulp Mountain Dew's and fast food started giving me a tummy ache.
Early reviewers are raving about this one so don't take my dissenting opinion as gospel. I have a feeling this will be a very successful book for many. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for my complimentary copy.
There's only one problem, West is a 49 year old single woman that has never had a child. Anyone claiming she is their mother has to be completely deranged. West never wanted children after being raised by her kind uncle when her mother committed suicide only 3 months after her birth when her father left her for another woman. Having never had a mother made West the least maternal woman she knows.
As for her mother she was a famous poet with a rabid fan base called "The Furies" and these people are always trying to provoke West. Is it possible one of these so-called fans is the one tormenting her? You'll have to read this to find out.
This one started out so very strong. I read 50% in one sitting and then dumb me forgot my kindle when we went away for a few days and when I returned to this I couldn't help but wonder if I was still reading the same page-turner from only a few days previous. At the half way mark this book lost all of it's momentum and became very repetitive which made this book feel much longer than it actually is.
Sadly, the ending was easily predicted and not very satisfying for me. Once the big baddie is revealed there were still another 30 pages or so repeating itself yet again about all that happened.
I did appreciate that West wasn't an unreliable narrator hooked on booze and pills though her addiction to Big Gulp Mountain Dew's and fast food started giving me a tummy ache.
Early reviewers are raving about this one so don't take my dissenting opinion as gospel. I have a feeling this will be a very successful book for many. 3 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for my complimentary copy.
September 23, 2026
I would have never picked this up had it not been chosen for my weird girl lit fic book club for September….im sooo glad I did! I was thoroughly entertained from start to finish and really loved the audio version. I can’t wait to discuss with the book club girlies!
I felt this was super unique and covered a lot of heavy topics all while tossing in some dark humor which I could always appreciate.
True crime writer Violet lives in the shadow of her poet mother who died by suicide when she was just 3 months old. Now almost 50 and feeling abandoned by her mother her entire life Violet grapples with many issues of her own. While on the hunt for answers for her next big true crime novel she begins to get threatening letters from someone claiming to be her child. Last time Violet checked she never had any children so she begins to go on a psychological frenzy while the stalking messages continue. Could this have something to do with her mother’s suicide all those years ago?
Twisty and kept me on my toes. I really loved this literary thriller and its psychological suspense.
I felt this was super unique and covered a lot of heavy topics all while tossing in some dark humor which I could always appreciate.
True crime writer Violet lives in the shadow of her poet mother who died by suicide when she was just 3 months old. Now almost 50 and feeling abandoned by her mother her entire life Violet grapples with many issues of her own. While on the hunt for answers for her next big true crime novel she begins to get threatening letters from someone claiming to be her child. Last time Violet checked she never had any children so she begins to go on a psychological frenzy while the stalking messages continue. Could this have something to do with her mother’s suicide all those years ago?
Twisty and kept me on my toes. I really loved this literary thriller and its psychological suspense.
August 30, 2026
West Shelley wakes on blood soaked hotel sheets, forty nine years old, mid cycle, mid memoir, mid crisis. She writes true crime for a living and now lives inside one.
At a gas station a stranger leaves two words on her windshield, HELLO MOTHER, a title she has no claim to since she has no children. Cue road rage, cue paranoia, cue a gun she already owns for reasons involving an LA break in. Motherhood, it turns out, can stalk a woman skipping it entirely.
Her mother Juliet, a poet, exited via pills and a farewell verse titled Furious Violet, found dead in a barn while West still wore diapers. A fresh letter shows up claiming that the barn body belonged to a missing Bennington girl, Guinevere Gardiner, and that Juliet strolled off into a second life, dyed hair, Canadian zip code, decades of hush.
West's father Hugh comes stocked with a wandering eye, having left Juliet for a younger actress before the ink dried on any wedding vow metaphor. Small town police chief Wozniak already loathes West for an earlier book that embarrassed his department, so her stalker problem gets a lukewarm reception at best.
Between a possible half sibling, a possibly undead mother, and a badge that would rather she vanish too, West investigates her own bloodline like a true crime case, minus the objectivity.
Furious Violet is a stalker thriller that smuggles in an essay about fandom eating women alive. Sarai Walker, author of Dietland and The Cherry Robbers, creates her poet Juliet as a stand-in for Sylvia Plath, a woman turned into public property decades after her own death, picked over by strangers calling themselves Furies.
This book knows what a page turner needs and delivers pace, twists, a stalker with a flair for cardstock threats, plus a family secret buried under fifty years of Vermont snow. The plot occasionally creaks louder than farmhouse floorboards, coincidences pile up like unread fan mail, and a few reveals show up with the subtlety of a Dateline reenactment. Walker seems aware of this, given her narrator writes the genre for a living and mocks its tricks even while deploying every single one.
The message running under the corpse count concerns ownership, specifically society's habit of treating a dead or damaged woman as raw material for everyone's story but her own. Fans claim Plath's suffering, true crime fans claim victims, Furies claim Juliet, and West learns she owns even less of her mother's legacy than a stranger with a fan account. True crime keeps growing into a full blown industry built on turning corpses into content, a fact this novel indicts while also, cheerfully, profiting from it. If you want a beach thriller, you get one. If you want an essay on fandom's appetite, you get that too.
❤️ 🇮🇱
At a gas station a stranger leaves two words on her windshield, HELLO MOTHER, a title she has no claim to since she has no children. Cue road rage, cue paranoia, cue a gun she already owns for reasons involving an LA break in. Motherhood, it turns out, can stalk a woman skipping it entirely.
Her mother Juliet, a poet, exited via pills and a farewell verse titled Furious Violet, found dead in a barn while West still wore diapers. A fresh letter shows up claiming that the barn body belonged to a missing Bennington girl, Guinevere Gardiner, and that Juliet strolled off into a second life, dyed hair, Canadian zip code, decades of hush.
West's father Hugh comes stocked with a wandering eye, having left Juliet for a younger actress before the ink dried on any wedding vow metaphor. Small town police chief Wozniak already loathes West for an earlier book that embarrassed his department, so her stalker problem gets a lukewarm reception at best.
Between a possible half sibling, a possibly undead mother, and a badge that would rather she vanish too, West investigates her own bloodline like a true crime case, minus the objectivity.
Furious Violet is a stalker thriller that smuggles in an essay about fandom eating women alive. Sarai Walker, author of Dietland and The Cherry Robbers, creates her poet Juliet as a stand-in for Sylvia Plath, a woman turned into public property decades after her own death, picked over by strangers calling themselves Furies.
This book knows what a page turner needs and delivers pace, twists, a stalker with a flair for cardstock threats, plus a family secret buried under fifty years of Vermont snow. The plot occasionally creaks louder than farmhouse floorboards, coincidences pile up like unread fan mail, and a few reveals show up with the subtlety of a Dateline reenactment. Walker seems aware of this, given her narrator writes the genre for a living and mocks its tricks even while deploying every single one.
The message running under the corpse count concerns ownership, specifically society's habit of treating a dead or damaged woman as raw material for everyone's story but her own. Fans claim Plath's suffering, true crime fans claim victims, Furies claim Juliet, and West learns she owns even less of her mother's legacy than a stranger with a fan account. True crime keeps growing into a full blown industry built on turning corpses into content, a fact this novel indicts while also, cheerfully, profiting from it. If you want a beach thriller, you get one. If you want an essay on fandom's appetite, you get that too.
❤️ 🇮🇱
August 27, 2026
This one took me by complete surprise, especially after I DNFed a previous book by this author. I feel like I need to re-read Furious Violet with a pen in hand, just so I can spew my feelings at it, and just go at it with my brain. It's at the intersection of a lot of things I'm interested in, but what pushed it over the edge for me was a moment around 55% that articulated something important that I really needed to read. This is a literary fiction genre hybrid that just really worked for me. Definitely reading more from this author in the future.
[4.5 stars, rounded up]
[4.5 stars, rounded up]
August 5, 2026
General Thoughts:
For a book that I requested based on the cover alone, this was absolutely worth it.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this novel other than it was a thriller with themes of motherhood, but I felt like this was a very fresh and unique take on motherhood in general. Being that literally none of the people in this story were actually mothers, I felt like it took a different viewpoint from most books that have themes of motherhood. This book examined the life of women who did not want children and have to survive in a world where that's what's expected of them. It also pointed a lens at women who probably should not have been mothers, but due to pressure from outside sources, took on that roll and how it changed them.
The mystery/thriller aspect kept me very well engaged throughout the story. I felt like the pacing moved the book forward at a great tempo. I did find the ending and ultimate climax slightly underwhelming. It felt like the reasoning and motivation for everything fell a little thin for me.
but overall, I absolutely enjoyed this story and will definitely be picking up some of this author's other books.
Things to Love:
- [ ] Older FMC
- [ ] Realistic Rep of menopause
- [ ] Themes of motherhood
- [ ] A spotlight on literary fascination vs obsession
Things I Didn't Love:
- [ ] Ending felt thin
Book Stats:
📖: 338
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Harper
Format: single narrative with flashbacks
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 11 hours 33 minutes
🎤: Joy Nash
Publisher: Harper
Format: single narrator
Was the narration good??
I do believe this was my first book narrated by this narrator, and I did enjoy it. I felt like the dictation was clear and concise. There was definitely lots of emotion throughout the story and I was able to differentiate the characters without it being overblown or cartoonish. I enjoyed this.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher Harper and a audiobook I purchased. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
For a book that I requested based on the cover alone, this was absolutely worth it.
I wasn't sure what to expect going into this novel other than it was a thriller with themes of motherhood, but I felt like this was a very fresh and unique take on motherhood in general. Being that literally none of the people in this story were actually mothers, I felt like it took a different viewpoint from most books that have themes of motherhood. This book examined the life of women who did not want children and have to survive in a world where that's what's expected of them. It also pointed a lens at women who probably should not have been mothers, but due to pressure from outside sources, took on that roll and how it changed them.
The mystery/thriller aspect kept me very well engaged throughout the story. I felt like the pacing moved the book forward at a great tempo. I did find the ending and ultimate climax slightly underwhelming. It felt like the reasoning and motivation for everything fell a little thin for me.
but overall, I absolutely enjoyed this story and will definitely be picking up some of this author's other books.
Things to Love:
- [ ] Older FMC
- [ ] Realistic Rep of menopause
- [ ] Themes of motherhood
- [ ] A spotlight on literary fascination vs obsession
Things I Didn't Love:
- [ ] Ending felt thin
Book Stats:
📖: 338
Genre: Thriller
Publisher: Harper
Format: single narrative with flashbacks
Series: Standalone
Audiobook Stats:
⏰: 11 hours 33 minutes
🎤: Joy Nash
Publisher: Harper
Format: single narrator
Was the narration good??
I do believe this was my first book narrated by this narrator, and I did enjoy it. I felt like the dictation was clear and concise. There was definitely lots of emotion throughout the story and I was able to differentiate the characters without it being overblown or cartoonish. I enjoyed this.
Disclaimer: I read this book as a gifted physical ARC from the publisher Harper and a audiobook I purchased. All opinions are my own. This is my honest and voluntary review.
August 4, 2026
Furious Violet grabbed me from the very first page.
A burned-out true crime writer retreats to a quiet mountain town to finish her latest book, only to start receiving messages from someone claiming she's their mother. The thing is she's never had children.
I liked the writing, it's sharp, confident, and surprisingly funny at times. Violet is a great narrator - cynical, stubborn, but always interesting to spend time with. I also appreciated that the book has more on its mind than simply delivering twists. It explores fame, motherhood, identity, and our obsession with true crime without ever feeling preachy.
The tension is excellent throughout. Every strange phone call or cryptic message made me wonder what was really going on, and I found myself constantly coming up with new theories. Thankfully, the ending actually delivers.
If I had one complaint, it's that a few side characters could have used a little more development. But that's a minor issue in a novel that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
A gripping, well-written psychological thriller with an ending that earns its payoff. Definitely one of the better thrillers I've read this year.
A burned-out true crime writer retreats to a quiet mountain town to finish her latest book, only to start receiving messages from someone claiming she's their mother. The thing is she's never had children.
I liked the writing, it's sharp, confident, and surprisingly funny at times. Violet is a great narrator - cynical, stubborn, but always interesting to spend time with. I also appreciated that the book has more on its mind than simply delivering twists. It explores fame, motherhood, identity, and our obsession with true crime without ever feeling preachy.
The tension is excellent throughout. Every strange phone call or cryptic message made me wonder what was really going on, and I found myself constantly coming up with new theories. Thankfully, the ending actually delivers.
If I had one complaint, it's that a few side characters could have used a little more development. But that's a minor issue in a novel that kept me hooked from beginning to end.
A gripping, well-written psychological thriller with an ending that earns its payoff. Definitely one of the better thrillers I've read this year.
September 1, 2026
This is the best of this genre I've read in quite some time. The read was intriguing and I returned to the book (lots of school starting tasks and outside time hours right now) with more and more interest the longer it progressed.
Looking at the reviews, I find myself outlier most generally. Perhaps it is the book for the older, and not so much for barely middle aged and younger to read with strongest interest. I think it is.
Violet, the narrator and prime character is extremely well done. I almost gave this one a 5. Only the length and the protracted every detail finish (ending would be better done in more succinct version, IMHO) kept me from giving this a 5 star. And on top of it the subject matter!!! When in real time TV there is a woman being tried for strangling her own 3 children. Motherhood itself! And the human women with three stages of Maiden, Mother, Crone. Plus it was done in the era (immensely a huge subject in the last 5 years since COVID)- of the "mean girls" who-dun-it or mystery thrillers.
I will read more by this author, this one was the first I came across of hers. Sarai Walker is NO dummy- and her therapists and other "helpers" copy wise are also done well. Better than the masses of glib stuff out there for messed up psyches.
Violet is not a character that is easily likeable at all. But she sure was insightful. And this particular plot is absolutely not the cliche' one encoutered so often in the last decade or two.
Looking at the reviews, I find myself outlier most generally. Perhaps it is the book for the older, and not so much for barely middle aged and younger to read with strongest interest. I think it is.
Violet, the narrator and prime character is extremely well done. I almost gave this one a 5. Only the length and the protracted every detail finish (ending would be better done in more succinct version, IMHO) kept me from giving this a 5 star. And on top of it the subject matter!!! When in real time TV there is a woman being tried for strangling her own 3 children. Motherhood itself! And the human women with three stages of Maiden, Mother, Crone. Plus it was done in the era (immensely a huge subject in the last 5 years since COVID)- of the "mean girls" who-dun-it or mystery thrillers.
I will read more by this author, this one was the first I came across of hers. Sarai Walker is NO dummy- and her therapists and other "helpers" copy wise are also done well. Better than the masses of glib stuff out there for messed up psyches.
Violet is not a character that is easily likeable at all. But she sure was insightful. And this particular plot is absolutely not the cliche' one encoutered so often in the last decade or two.
August 22, 2026
Thank you Harper for my free ARC of Furious Violet by Sarai Walker — out now!
» READ IF YOU «
🖋️ love complicated mother-daughter dynamics
🔫 want a heroine who handles her stalker like a pro
🥤 eat nothing but fast food on road trips
» SYNOPSIS «
Violet West Shelley is over trying to live up to her famous poet mother's legacy. Menopausal and stressed, she retreats to her isolated hometown in the Rockies to finish an overdue true crime book, but starts getting threatening messages from someone calling her "mother." Maybe solitude wasn't a great choice after all?
» REVIEW «
This is a great balance of mother-daughter dynamic and "wtf" thriller, and I have been having a haaaard time with thrillers lately. There was plenty of character depth to keep me invested, combined with plenty of high-stress thriller beat to keep me flipping the pages. Diving in to the complicated history of Violet's mother (and that note that comes up?!) and pairing it with the stalker who is calling VIOLET their mother was a great choice thematically, and it carried me through the whole book.
Violet herself was a delight, for me. A diaper bag for your handgun? Kinda genius. She's old enough to not take shit from anyone, least of all those irritating Furies. Though listen, girl—when you know someone is literally stalking you, maybe just...stay in the house next time?! And obviously, set any book in Colorado and I'm already halfway sold. Had a great time with this one!
» RATING «
📝 I'm Furious 📝
» READ-A-LIKES «
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
• Only Murders In the Building (TV series)
• The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
• Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
» READ IF YOU «
🖋️ love complicated mother-daughter dynamics
🔫 want a heroine who handles her stalker like a pro
🥤 eat nothing but fast food on road trips
» SYNOPSIS «
Violet West Shelley is over trying to live up to her famous poet mother's legacy. Menopausal and stressed, she retreats to her isolated hometown in the Rockies to finish an overdue true crime book, but starts getting threatening messages from someone calling her "mother." Maybe solitude wasn't a great choice after all?
» REVIEW «
This is a great balance of mother-daughter dynamic and "wtf" thriller, and I have been having a haaaard time with thrillers lately. There was plenty of character depth to keep me invested, combined with plenty of high-stress thriller beat to keep me flipping the pages. Diving in to the complicated history of Violet's mother (and that note that comes up?!) and pairing it with the stalker who is calling VIOLET their mother was a great choice thematically, and it carried me through the whole book.
Violet herself was a delight, for me. A diaper bag for your handgun? Kinda genius. She's old enough to not take shit from anyone, least of all those irritating Furies. Though listen, girl—when you know someone is literally stalking you, maybe just...stay in the house next time?! And obviously, set any book in Colorado and I'm already halfway sold. Had a great time with this one!
» RATING «
📝 I'm Furious 📝
» READ-A-LIKES «
• The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
• Only Murders In the Building (TV series)
• The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
• Pieces of Her by Karin Slaughter
July 20, 2026
Violet West Shelley, almost 50 and hoping this current research on yet another serial rapist/killer will be it for a while. Spending years in such a dark and dormant path should not have her still feeling jumpy and spooked with every true crime novel she pens.
This current research hits a bit harder, as all the victims were young Mormon women, soon to be wives and mothers. Violet, never wanted to be either; nor did she want to live in her posthumously famous poet mother’s shadow. Menopause sure has a nasty way of representing all of that.
After a break in at her apartment, where nothing was stolen- just moved around, unnerves Violet. She scares herself enough to finish the research in her childhood home in Colorado, and that’s where the trouble truly begins! Notes on her car, unknown callers at odd times, veiled threats; is it the killer? Who’s somehow figured out about her research? Was he the one who broke into her apt? Searched through her things?
Is Violet going to become a victim? Like all those she’s researched and interviewed? Or is this frightening issue related to her mother?
Absolutely unnerving, unsettling, and definitely creepy mixing stalking and serial killers-yet at same time this feels long winded in length as the subject matter toggles back and forth between shared victims, and motherhood and less about murders.
Thanks to Harper for an entertaining read.
This current research hits a bit harder, as all the victims were young Mormon women, soon to be wives and mothers. Violet, never wanted to be either; nor did she want to live in her posthumously famous poet mother’s shadow. Menopause sure has a nasty way of representing all of that.
After a break in at her apartment, where nothing was stolen- just moved around, unnerves Violet. She scares herself enough to finish the research in her childhood home in Colorado, and that’s where the trouble truly begins! Notes on her car, unknown callers at odd times, veiled threats; is it the killer? Who’s somehow figured out about her research? Was he the one who broke into her apt? Searched through her things?
Is Violet going to become a victim? Like all those she’s researched and interviewed? Or is this frightening issue related to her mother?
Absolutely unnerving, unsettling, and definitely creepy mixing stalking and serial killers-yet at same time this feels long winded in length as the subject matter toggles back and forth between shared victims, and motherhood and less about murders.
Thanks to Harper for an entertaining read.
August 29, 2026
The first half of this book was excellent. It was tense, tightly drawn, and genuinely suspenseful. Violet felt sharp and capable, and I was completely invested in where the story was going. I honestly thought I was headed toward a five-star read.
Then came the reveal, and everything started to fall apart.
Violet suddenly begins making decisions that make no sense for the seasoned crime expert the book has established her to be. She starts behaving less like Violet and more like someone being moved around for the sake of the plot, eventually walking straight into the stalker’s hands.
Clementine was also a huge letdown. After such a strong setup, falling back on the “mad, delusional woman” trope felt hollow and lazy. The final confrontation between her and Violet was even worse. The dialogue and descriptions were so over-the-top that I cringed through most of it instead of feeling any of the tension the first half had built.
And then there was the repeated focus on Violet’s menstrual blood. I’m not squeamish about menstruation, but I genuinely don’t understand what all of that added to this particular story.
It’s such a shame because the setup was so good. The first half had all the makings of a five-star read, and the second half completely squandered it. A really strong start with a frustratingly weak finish.
Then came the reveal, and everything started to fall apart.
Violet suddenly begins making decisions that make no sense for the seasoned crime expert the book has established her to be. She starts behaving less like Violet and more like someone being moved around for the sake of the plot, eventually walking straight into the stalker’s hands.
Clementine was also a huge letdown. After such a strong setup, falling back on the “mad, delusional woman” trope felt hollow and lazy. The final confrontation between her and Violet was even worse. The dialogue and descriptions were so over-the-top that I cringed through most of it instead of feeling any of the tension the first half had built.
And then there was the repeated focus on Violet’s menstrual blood. I’m not squeamish about menstruation, but I genuinely don’t understand what all of that added to this particular story.
It’s such a shame because the setup was so good. The first half had all the makings of a five-star read, and the second half completely squandered it. A really strong start with a frustratingly weak finish.
August 4, 2026
This book was so good. One of my favorites this year.
Violet "West" Shelley is the daughter of a famous poet who killed herself when West was a baby after being abandoned by her British husband. There are some parallels to Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes there. West grows up to be a true crime writer and is haunted by the legacy of her mother's fans, with their parasocial relationships. As she is finishing up her latest book and coming to the fiftieth anniversary of her mother's death, she starts being stalked by one of these fans.
There is a lot in here about midlife, motherhood, and true crime that really works well and was very interesting. I love this author, and hope she continues to write great stuff.
Violet "West" Shelley is the daughter of a famous poet who killed herself when West was a baby after being abandoned by her British husband. There are some parallels to Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes there. West grows up to be a true crime writer and is haunted by the legacy of her mother's fans, with their parasocial relationships. As she is finishing up her latest book and coming to the fiftieth anniversary of her mother's death, she starts being stalked by one of these fans.
There is a lot in here about midlife, motherhood, and true crime that really works well and was very interesting. I love this author, and hope she continues to write great stuff.
August 16, 2026
While the idea of exploring the cult of personality around a literary icon like Sylvia Plath is intriguing, the decision to make Violet the Plath stand-in's daughter gave me a bit of the ick.
I kept asking myself why did Walker have to use so many details's from Plath's life? Why couldn't she just make up an aggregate character and not something that was so on the nose? Hugh Shelley, really?
Maybe I'd feel differently if Freida Hughes wasn't a real person who's still dealing with the worship of her mother, sixty years after her death.
As it is, I feel as though Walker is guilty of doing the very things she's critiquing in her novel.
I kept asking myself why did Walker have to use so many details's from Plath's life? Why couldn't she just make up an aggregate character and not something that was so on the nose? Hugh Shelley, really?
Maybe I'd feel differently if Freida Hughes wasn't a real person who's still dealing with the worship of her mother, sixty years after her death.
As it is, I feel as though Walker is guilty of doing the very things she's critiquing in her novel.
October 1, 2026
Book Title: Furious Violet
Author: Sarai Walker
Publisher: Harper
Out Now? Y
Dates Listened: September 29, 2026 – September 30, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I picked up Furious Violet thanks to a weird girl lit buddy read group I’m in on Instagram, and I’m not sure when/if I would have read it had it not been for it being the pick for September. I loved the beginning of the book and thought it would be a 5-star read for me. Serial killers and true crime? Sign me up! However, as we moved into the second half of the novel, it started to feel disjointed, and I really didn’t understand how we got to where we ended up. I didn’t find this to be a thriller, and I would consider it more of a mystery mixed with something I can’t quite put my finger on. There were a couple of shocking moments for me, but they ultimately didn’t make this a thriller in my mind.
Walker mentions in her author’s note that she was influenced by Sylvia Plath and her fandom, which ultimately led me down a rabbit hole on Plath, her horrid husband Ted Hughes, and his mistresses. While I couldn’t tell during reading, now that I’ve done that deep dive, I can definitely see how that came into the storyline. While I didn’t love Violet or a lot of her choices, I did love certain aspects of her character. Thank you, Walker, for giving us a childless FMC in her late 40s!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I was incredibly glad to listen to the audio, and I’m not sure this book would have hit the same if I hadn’t heard Joy Nash voice it. I was already familiar with her narration, and she was the perfect pick to voice Violet. I recommend this as an ear read, but I also recommend having a physical copy for the mixed media, as that ended up being rather confusing while listening.
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫
Author: Sarai Walker
Publisher: Harper
Out Now? Y
Dates Listened: September 29, 2026 – September 30, 2026
🗣️ 𝚀𝚞𝚒𝚌𝚔(𝚒𝚜𝚑) 𝚃𝚊𝚔𝚎: I picked up Furious Violet thanks to a weird girl lit buddy read group I’m in on Instagram, and I’m not sure when/if I would have read it had it not been for it being the pick for September. I loved the beginning of the book and thought it would be a 5-star read for me. Serial killers and true crime? Sign me up! However, as we moved into the second half of the novel, it started to feel disjointed, and I really didn’t understand how we got to where we ended up. I didn’t find this to be a thriller, and I would consider it more of a mystery mixed with something I can’t quite put my finger on. There were a couple of shocking moments for me, but they ultimately didn’t make this a thriller in my mind.
Walker mentions in her author’s note that she was influenced by Sylvia Plath and her fandom, which ultimately led me down a rabbit hole on Plath, her horrid husband Ted Hughes, and his mistresses. While I couldn’t tell during reading, now that I’ve done that deep dive, I can definitely see how that came into the storyline. While I didn’t love Violet or a lot of her choices, I did love certain aspects of her character. Thank you, Walker, for giving us a childless FMC in her late 40s!
🎧 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘰𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬: I was incredibly glad to listen to the audio, and I’m not sure this book would have hit the same if I hadn’t heard Joy Nash voice it. I was already familiar with her narration, and she was the perfect pick to voice Violet. I recommend this as an ear read, but I also recommend having a physical copy for the mixed media, as that ended up being rather confusing while listening.
𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: ⭐⭐⭐💫
𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
𝙼𝚢 𝚂𝚙𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 🚫
August 11, 2026
“True crime is about what happens to other people. But when it happens to you? That’s a different kind of story. That’s horror. “.
A wild ride of a book , loosely inspired by Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Themes of motherhood, true crime obsession and ownership of literature.
Propulsive plot with a lot of snark and sass.
A wild ride of a book , loosely inspired by Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes. Themes of motherhood, true crime obsession and ownership of literature.
Propulsive plot with a lot of snark and sass.
August 26, 2026
This novel was truly insulting to any sincere Plath fan, and I made an account just to post this review.
The Sylvia-inspired character (named Juliet Bellwood, a lazy combined Plath reference to both the Bell Jar and its protagonist, Esther Greenwood) is not inspired at all but takes details verbatim from the actual Sylvia (beautiful overachiever, Smith College, Fulbright in England, a rugged Englishman husband with a violent first meeting). Not to mention the bad movie staring Gwyneth Paltrow! I mean, how heavy handed can you get?
Violet is an unlikable character, but I do enjoy an unlikeable character. What I didn’t enjoy was the way that the Plath-inspired fans—unaffectionately called “Furies”—were made into parasocial lunatics. Violet straight up asks a woman (an English professor, mind you) if she has mother issues. I mean are you KIDDING me?
You spend your time banking on a novel and hyping up its Plath inspiration and you have the nerve to portray us as freaks with no boundaries? Obviously there are weirdos in every fandom, and Plath’s is no exception. But the book seems less interested in exploring that complexity than in sneering at people who have found genuine meaning, comfort, and strength in Plath’s work. I know several successful academics who’ve dedicated their careers into understanding Plath’s work and how it resonates with them personally.
And the climax was especially disappointing. The “whodunit” felt like a cheap gotcha—a smug little wink at the very readers whose fascination with Plath the novel itself is so obviously built around, its main selling point. There’s something particularly irritating about profiting from a literary fandom while simultaneously treating the people in that fandom as pathetic freaks for caring too much. So in short, if you’re a Plath fan just don’t bother.
The Sylvia-inspired character (named Juliet Bellwood, a lazy combined Plath reference to both the Bell Jar and its protagonist, Esther Greenwood) is not inspired at all but takes details verbatim from the actual Sylvia (beautiful overachiever, Smith College, Fulbright in England, a rugged Englishman husband with a violent first meeting). Not to mention the bad movie staring Gwyneth Paltrow! I mean, how heavy handed can you get?
Violet is an unlikable character, but I do enjoy an unlikeable character. What I didn’t enjoy was the way that the Plath-inspired fans—unaffectionately called “Furies”—were made into parasocial lunatics. Violet straight up asks a woman (an English professor, mind you) if she has mother issues. I mean are you KIDDING me?
You spend your time banking on a novel and hyping up its Plath inspiration and you have the nerve to portray us as freaks with no boundaries? Obviously there are weirdos in every fandom, and Plath’s is no exception. But the book seems less interested in exploring that complexity than in sneering at people who have found genuine meaning, comfort, and strength in Plath’s work. I know several successful academics who’ve dedicated their careers into understanding Plath’s work and how it resonates with them personally.
And the climax was especially disappointing. The “whodunit” felt like a cheap gotcha—a smug little wink at the very readers whose fascination with Plath the novel itself is so obviously built around, its main selling point. There’s something particularly irritating about profiting from a literary fandom while simultaneously treating the people in that fandom as pathetic freaks for caring too much. So in short, if you’re a Plath fan just don’t bother.
September 23, 2026
entirely undeserving of the caravaggio medusa cover
September 29, 2026
This was quite a unique read that I really couldn't get enough of. I went into this one completely blind (as I do almost always) with the idea that this was 'weird lit fic' in the back of my head. It was absolutely *not* that, and as soon as I dropped that expectation I had a much better time listening to and reading this.
Furious Violet is a thriller/mystery with many caveats within the story. I thought the true crime writer of a deceased, famous poet, being stalked was such an interesting set up. The mommy issues were exploding off of the pages, but more importantly were the societal issues..... I cannot express how repulsive I find it when parents claim that 'people who don't have kids don't actually know love' or 'people without kids cannot possibly understand xyz because they don't know that kind of love'. The repetitive nature of these themes was infuriating because I'm sorry, but did you only learn empathy by becoming a parent and are projecting or......? It was a lot and it was making my blood boil, and rightfully so. There was also quite a bit of dry, sarcastic humor that really helped balance the tone of the story in a great way. Violet in herself was downright cynical but I'd really love to be a fly on her wall because that woman cracked me up.
The people Violet interacted with in this book were so interesting and added their own unique flavor to the story. It was definitely a gaggle of 'fine arts' people, which I thought was a refreshing change of pace.
I thought the pacing of this book was done really well. I did feel it KIND of lag in some spots but it picked right back up and I just kept going on in my merry little book world. While the ending was slightly underwhelming, I thought the story buttoned itself up really well and I was satisfied with the turnout.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and found the audio narration to be excellent. I had a great time listening to this, and switching between audio and physical was definitely seamless. I can't wait to see what else this author writes!
Furious Violet is a thriller/mystery with many caveats within the story. I thought the true crime writer of a deceased, famous poet, being stalked was such an interesting set up. The mommy issues were exploding off of the pages, but more importantly were the societal issues..... I cannot express how repulsive I find it when parents claim that 'people who don't have kids don't actually know love' or 'people without kids cannot possibly understand xyz because they don't know that kind of love'. The repetitive nature of these themes was infuriating because I'm sorry, but did you only learn empathy by becoming a parent and are projecting or......? It was a lot and it was making my blood boil, and rightfully so. There was also quite a bit of dry, sarcastic humor that really helped balance the tone of the story in a great way. Violet in herself was downright cynical but I'd really love to be a fly on her wall because that woman cracked me up.
The people Violet interacted with in this book were so interesting and added their own unique flavor to the story. It was definitely a gaggle of 'fine arts' people, which I thought was a refreshing change of pace.
I thought the pacing of this book was done really well. I did feel it KIND of lag in some spots but it picked right back up and I just kept going on in my merry little book world. While the ending was slightly underwhelming, I thought the story buttoned itself up really well and I was satisfied with the turnout.
Overall, I really enjoyed this one and found the audio narration to be excellent. I had a great time listening to this, and switching between audio and physical was definitely seamless. I can't wait to see what else this author writes!
August 8, 2026
This was quite the read with very relatable themes of motherhood, obsession, and how we convince ourselves to survive. True crime vibes and horror had me feeling edgy as I read. The setting was a vibe itself and really pulled me in. A lot of psychological twists in this book for sure but I did enjoy it and finished it in half a day. I received a review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 6, 2026
* thanks to Harper Audio for the NetGalley review copy (out now!)
Violet (West) Shelley is single, childless by choice, and in the sweaty throes of perimenopause when she starts getting notes on her car, calling her "mother." As a true crime writer and the daughter of a cultishly popular dead poet, there's no shortage of weirdos who could be stalking Violet.
I enjoyed listening to this quite a bit - Violet/West was just my speed of cranky middle aged lady and the exploration of motherhood, grief, and fame added some depth to what could have been an average stalking story. I'm not sure if I'd have liked the book as much in print because it did start to feel a little drawn out, and the ending had a real Freida McFadden off the rails vibe that I didn't super love. (and that cover is very much not my favorite). That said, overall I really liked this, will be recommending it at the store, and am interested in reading other books by Sarai Walker!
Violet (West) Shelley is single, childless by choice, and in the sweaty throes of perimenopause when she starts getting notes on her car, calling her "mother." As a true crime writer and the daughter of a cultishly popular dead poet, there's no shortage of weirdos who could be stalking Violet.
I enjoyed listening to this quite a bit - Violet/West was just my speed of cranky middle aged lady and the exploration of motherhood, grief, and fame added some depth to what could have been an average stalking story. I'm not sure if I'd have liked the book as much in print because it did start to feel a little drawn out, and the ending had a real Freida McFadden off the rails vibe that I didn't super love. (and that cover is very much not my favorite). That said, overall I really liked this, will be recommending it at the store, and am interested in reading other books by Sarai Walker!
August 17, 2026
I don't know I'm conflicted on this one. Maybe it's a 3 * but I just didn't love it and I wanted to. The premise was great but I didn't love Violet and I was tired of all the details about the junk food she ate (did I miss some deep meaning in that?) and all the angst! I get it, what a terrible start to life but she had a great dad/uncle. It just fell flat for me. I can't get exited about it one way or the other!
September 4, 2026
Very hard to get through and I think it’s kinda crazy that real true crime continues to have punch and intrigue in a way that fiction really struggles to imitate. Could have been a good book but really needed to be cut down and reworked into something that followed some form of logic
August 5, 2026
What an incredibly incisive, character-driven thriller that had me captivated from the start. I was initially unsure how the novel’s interrogation of true crime and motherhood would come together, but I quickly found myself hooked, breathlessly turning page after page.
This novel starts out as a straightforward mystery: Violet West Shelley, true crime author and daughter of renowned poet Juliet Bellwood, is working on a new book on the Crying Killer, a rapist and murderer (who, to me, seems inspired by the Golden State Killer — right down to the crying after the attacks). However, she soon becomes the target of a stalker, someone who claims that she is their mother.
Motherhood takes on a key dimension of the novel as West continues to struggle with the loss of her mother — and the rabid fans who hold deeply obsessive, parasocial relationships with Juliet and her œuvre. (I've read many an unlikeable character in my time, but my god, Margo Dyle may take the cake — the utter disconnect of the ivory tower, the theoretical outweighing reality, the lack of boundaries, the absolute arrogance and entitlement.)
When a new revelation about her mother's death emerges, the stalking escalates, with West herself becoming the subject of one of her true crime narratives. What ensues is an explosive, fast-paced journey as West tries to outsmart and outrun her stalker before it's too late. I'm not going to give away any of the details, but this was a phenomenal read, highly recommended.
This novel starts out as a straightforward mystery: Violet West Shelley, true crime author and daughter of renowned poet Juliet Bellwood, is working on a new book on the Crying Killer, a rapist and murderer (who, to me, seems inspired by the Golden State Killer — right down to the crying after the attacks). However, she soon becomes the target of a stalker, someone who claims that she is their mother.
Motherhood takes on a key dimension of the novel as West continues to struggle with the loss of her mother — and the rabid fans who hold deeply obsessive, parasocial relationships with Juliet and her œuvre. (I've read many an unlikeable character in my time, but my god, Margo Dyle may take the cake — the utter disconnect of the ivory tower, the theoretical outweighing reality, the lack of boundaries, the absolute arrogance and entitlement.)
When a new revelation about her mother's death emerges, the stalking escalates, with West herself becoming the subject of one of her true crime narratives. What ensues is an explosive, fast-paced journey as West tries to outsmart and outrun her stalker before it's too late. I'm not going to give away any of the details, but this was a phenomenal read, highly recommended.
September 22, 2026
This is another issue with marketing here as this is NOT a thriller. Maybe a mystery but not a thriller for me. This novel combines several important issues such as true crime obsession, motherhood, childlessness and celebrity culture. The author loosely based the story on Sylvia Plath and Hugh which was interesting. There is a lot of social commentary and some of it made me lol or feel vindicated as a childless, perimenopausal women.
Violet is witty, funny and I mean…a diaper bag for your handgun?! Kinda genius. She makes some irritating decisions and half the time I wanted to shake her by the shoulders. I will say this one is unique and different than anything I have ever read.
3.5 rounded up***
Violet is witty, funny and I mean…a diaper bag for your handgun?! Kinda genius. She makes some irritating decisions and half the time I wanted to shake her by the shoulders. I will say this one is unique and different than anything I have ever read.
3.5 rounded up***
August 11, 2026
3.5
The story was engaging and I was curious where it was going all the way through. I was concerned with how the true crime aspect was going to connect with the motherhood and childlessness themes. After finishing it I’m still sitting with it trying to come to a conclusion. Idk what the two connections were? It felt like it tackled too much for one book…or maybe it just went over my head. Also a possibility.
It was lovely to see that West had such a caring community supporting her. It dispels the idea that people with no kids will have no one to care about them. Family is built on love and trust not DNA, which was a big part of the book.
The story was engaging and I was curious where it was going all the way through. I was concerned with how the true crime aspect was going to connect with the motherhood and childlessness themes. After finishing it I’m still sitting with it trying to come to a conclusion. Idk what the two connections were? It felt like it tackled too much for one book…or maybe it just went over my head. Also a possibility.
It was lovely to see that West had such a caring community supporting her. It dispels the idea that people with no kids will have no one to care about them. Family is built on love and trust not DNA, which was a big part of the book.
September 29, 2026
Skeptical at first because of narrator’s obsession with perimenopause, fast food and serial killers, but I forged ahead once storyline focused on the mystery of the Plath-based character. Plus love the title!
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