V for Violet

by Alison Rattle

Battersea, 1961. London is just beginning to enter the swinging sixties. The world is changing - but not for sixteen-year-old Violet. She was born at the exact moment Winston Churchill announced Victory in Europe - an auspicious start, but now she's just stuck in her family's fish and chip shop dreaming of greatness. And it doesn't look like fame and fortune are going to come calling anytime soon. Then she meets Beau. Beau's a rocker - a motorcycle boy who arrives in an explosion of passion and rebellion. He blows up Violet's grey little life, and she can't believe her luck. But things don't go her way for long. Joseph, her long-lost brother, comes home. Then young girls start going missing, and turning up murdered. And then Violet's best friend disappears too. Suddenly life is horrifyingly much more interesting. Violet can't believe its coincidence that Joseph turns up just as girls start getting murdered. He's weird, and she feels sure he's hiding something. He's got a secret, and Violet's got a dreadful feeling it might be the worst kind of secret of all...

Genres: Historical, Young Adult, Crime, Historical Fiction, Romance, Mystery, Fiction

304 pages, Paperback

First published April 7, 2017

About the author

Alison Rattle grew up in Liverpool, and now lives in a medieval house in Somerset with her three teenage children, her partner - a carpenter - an extremely naughty Jack Russell and a ghost cat. She has co-authored a number of non-fiction titles on subjects as diverse as growing old, mad monarchs, how to boil a flamingo, the history of America and the biography of a nineteenth-century baby killer. She has worked as a fashion designer, a production controller, a painter and decorator, a barmaid, and now owns and runs a vintage tea room.

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This YA novel is set in Battersea, London. It is 1961 and London is not yet Swinging. Indeed, for Violet, who was born at the exact moment that Winston Churchill announced the war was over, it is quite grey and miserable. Having left school, Violet would like to follow her best friend, Jackie, into working at the nearby factory. Not, perhaps, the most exciting career option you can imagine – although Jackie has the benefit of new friends and fashions. However, a factory job is preferable to the life that Violet sees stretched out before her. As daughter of, “Frank the Fish,” she is immediately dragged into working at the family chip shop and years of endless chip suppers stretch ahead.

Violet is a wonderful main character. She is perceptive and imaginative - a bookworm in a family that are firmly based in reality. First, there are her parents, whose lives revolve around the fish shop. Then, her sister Norma; always seeing herself as more grown up than Violet and married to the dull Raymond. Lastly, having over the whole house, is the presence of her missing elder brother, Joseph. A war hero who went missing during a mission, and whose memory Violet’s parents have idolised; making his room into a shrine.

While Jackie creates a new life as a Sugar Girl at Garton’s, Violet feels left behind and ignored. Then, into her dull life comes change. First, there is Beau, with his biker’s jacket and motorcycle. His attention brings glamour into her life. However, she has to be careful, as girls are going missing and, with a murderer on the loose, it is difficult for Violet to find the freedom she desires. Then, to add to these events, Violet sees her mother in the park with a man. It seems as though all she has believed to be stable and immovable is suddenly shifting and that she could be in danger.

This is an excellent novel, with a great sense of place and atmosphere. I rarely read YA novels, but I love books set in London, especially in the Sixties, so I had to try this. As such, I can happily say that it has great appeal, not only for young adults, but also for adults. Lastly, I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, for review.

[Kirsty · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Alison Rattle's work and will read anything she writes. I was therefore incredibly excited to get my hands on a copy of this book.

As always with an Alison Rattle book the historical detail was rich and superbly done. I was absolutely fascinated with it. The story itself was fast paced and exciting too. Much of it was centred around a murder mystery whuch kept me guessing throughout.

I adored the main character Violet. I loved her awkwardness and her frustrations which the life she is being made to follow because of the society she lives in. I adored it when she decided to go teen rebel turning her back on bad friends and going against her family's expectations.

Just awesome and highly recommended.

[Jodie May · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was pretty good. Didn't expect the killer

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

V for Violet presents a really compelling mystery, one full of shocks, twists and suspense and it is a book I was incapable of putting down. I was already excited to read this book reading the blurb alone and so when my copy arrived, I had to start it straight away and it completely lived up to my expectations.

Sixteen year old Violet is bored of life. Her childhood best friend Jackie has ditched her, flaunting her new group of friends who Violet just can’t get along with. She hates the gap in her life now Jackie has vanished out of it. At home, she’s daughter to parents whose livelihood comes from their chip shop. Destined to be serving fish and chips for the rest of her life, Violet dreams of something, anything, more exciting – and the day when her face can be framed on her family’s mantelpiece, something they could be proud of.

Violet’s voice is really strong and interesting throughout this book and I loved her character. She’s bold, witty, brave and extremely curious, always wanting to learn new things and understand how and why things are the way they are. A born reader, she loves spending time alone with her library books and of course I could relate and identify with those traits. I liked how she always followed her gut and even if other people found it annoying how she couldn’t let things go, she didn’t let anyone stop her. She was a wonderful protagonist who had so much depth to her character and I rooted for her right to the very last page.

I was really intrigued by this book and all the little twists and turns dragged me right into the story. I loved the author’s style of writing – fast, vivid and so tense, especially towards the end where the novel was simply breath-taking. Because the author’s writing was so engaging and the mystery so fascinating, I did find myself guessing and second-guessing the whodunit and one other little twist which meant eventually I did get it right, and before the reveal. Having said that, I don’t think the book is predictable in the least (or that I’m just brilliant at working them out because I’m not), but instead it was thanks to Alison’s hints and clever plot development that I became engrossed to the level that I really had to know the truth as quickly as possible.

When girls of Violet’s age are disappearing and eventually found out to have been murdered, the reader is aware of the two main suspects – Beau (Violet’s new mysterious rocker boyfriend) and Joseph (Violet’s brother, who has returned to the family after disappearing years previously and being feared dead). I loved trying to work both characters out. Neither seemed trustworthy to me as the reader but purely from Violet’s perspective, she may have believed in Beau but she didn’t trust Joseph one bit. I found it interesting to see whether Violet’s instincts were going to be right and at the same time also liked how the story then develops so we can really get to know both the suspects and come up with our own conclusions about them.

Another aspect I really enjoyed about V for Violet was its location and the time it was set in. Opening in the early 1960s in London, without being an overpoweringly historical novel, the time and place is built clearly and vividly and Alison represented life in those times well – the judgements and representation of people, the money and its value, the battle with phone boxes… The story of this book was perfectly suited for the time and its setting.

The last fifty or so pages of this novel had me reading from the edge of my seat. It was exciting and tense, really addictive reading and I was desperate to learn how things were going to turn out in the aftermath. V for Violet is the first book of Alison Rattle’s that I have read but I really can’t wait to get my hands on some more. This was a fantastic, twisty page-turner of a read.

(review copy)

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

V for violet. V for vengeance.

I was slightly disappointed with this book. I went into it expecting to love it but found that during the start it was quite dull and boring. For at leas the first third nothing really happened and it was only when Joseph got back that I started paying a bit more attention.

Violet was a difficult character to like for me. I found it hard to identify with her and learn more about her personality. While I like some things about her, others just seemed fake and silly. I did like the way she represented herself and a lot of her thoughts were written beautifully, I would have liked to have seen her proper dialogue of how she interacted with other characters rather than just ' I told him about....' as I liked her better when we got to see some of her witty dialogue.

Beau was also a character I wasn't so fond of. I think that all the characters in this book could have had a bit more time spent on them, especially Beau. I just didn't really enjoy his character and found it hard to picture him. We didn't get much of a back story on him until the last 100 pages and even then it just made him seem slightly fake.

'And just like that, there's me, Violet White, hand in hand with a gorgeous fella'

'I never knew it was all so vast and fast and throbbing with life. it makes me feel tiny and insignificant. Like I really don't matter at all. like I'm just a speck floating in the universe.'

One thing I did like about this book was the awesome plot twist at the end. I won't spoil anything but let me say it was worth reading it for that. I had my doubts about Joseph and was leaning more towards Beau for some parts but the real criminal turned out to be far more shocking. It was one of the reasons that I didn't lower this rating to a two star.

Hey Raymond. Violet here. You know, V for Violet. V for Victory. V for f*cking vengeance. (best line).

Joseph was definetly my favorite character and a lot of the time Violet really annoyed me with all her suspicions. I found that Joseph was the most realistic character out of all the main ones and enjoyed reading about him more than Violet or Beau.

'And although he's not a hero in the usual sense of the word, I've got one of my feelings that because he is who he is, he;s going to ended up being my hero.'

and suddenly I know who I am. I'm violet with a Capital V, and this is where I belong.

Yeah so pretty much an alright book. Didn't really like the main character most of the time, she was pretty bipolar and I didn't like how much her character changed when she was with Beau. Didn't like Beau much either. Really enjoyed reading about Joseph's character. 2.5/5 stars.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

REVIEW BY BETH

Alison Rattle’s historical fiction is amazing. I really enjoyed The Madness a couple of years ago and whilst we’re in a totally different time period for V is for Violet, Rattle continues to offer fantastic, well-researched and enjoyable historical prose.

Fast moving and packed with mystery, it is possible to read V is for Violet and not have a clue about who is causing all the young local girls to go missing. There are red herrings thrown in and Violet’s own convictions make it very easy to go off scent, although I think I had a little inkling all the way through, the clues are there if very subtly and cleverly.

Like I’ve already said Alison Rattle has a real talent for setting a historical scene and Violet’s birth, born during Churchill’s declaration that war is over and fug in which Violet’s bereaved mother, mourning her only son lost at war, live are amazingly written and genuine.

Mixed in with the mystery and the sadness in Violet’s home are the first blooms of romance and excitement for her. Her life is dominated by working in the chip shop so when she has the chance to get involved with a local rocker and find her own place in the world, she jumps at it. It’s nice to see Violet standing out and doing things her own way, her relationship with her best friend Jackie has been tested by the change in their circumstances after school and whilst it isn’t key to the story, Violet changes and grows up significantly from beginning to end.

I read this book in a single sitting because I didn’t want to put it down and leave Violet! She is such a strong and well written character, not afraid to find her own way in the world as well as being brave and whilst not always right, she follows her convictions to the end and this is a perfect character for a teen novel I think. The kind of character readers should appreciate!

The novel moves very quickly and this makes it even more enjoyable as every time there’s another twist, the novel is already pushing onto the next and you really feel like you’re there in 1960s London with Violet as she tries to work out where the girls are disappearing to whilst also discovering herself.

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A copy of this novel was provided by Allen and Unwin for review.

Something was simply missing for me when it comes to V is for Violet. At first, I thought it might have been the time period – I’ve read another book set around the same time, and I wasn’t the hugest fan of that one – but then I realised that the descriptions of the sixties were perhaps some of the only things I genuinely enjoyed about this book. I think, sadly, that it was actually Violet who made this book not so great for me.

I know she was probably a product of her time, but Violet’s views on things were so problematic and judgemental. Her thoughts on divorce and sex and sexuality all had me cringing whenever she mentioned these things, and it was kind of painful to read about. It seemed to me that she had led a pretty sheltered life, because she didn’t even realise that there are reasons that people need to divorce one another, despite marriage vows and whatever else. So I didn’t really enjoy that about her at all.

Violet was also very self hating, and threw a bit of a Sandra Dee about halfway into the book. She was always going on about how boring she was, and how she looked terrible in her clothes, and no wonder boys didn’t like her. And then a biker boy comes along and she goes and buys a leather jacket and eye makeup and starts doing her hair the same as biker girls. Changing for a guy didn’t really make me warm up to her, but on the other hand at least she was willing to try and change for herself – she liked herself a lot better as a biker girl, so kudos to Violet for that, I guess.

I thought that the mystery of V is for Violet would be huge – after all, the blurb makes it out that it’s going to be a novel about Violet searching for her best friend. Which, sadly, wasn’t the case at all. Yes, her best friend goes missing, but is found dead later a few pages later. V is for Violet was less about figuring out who the murderer was, and more about Violet changing herself and making moon eyes at the biker boy.

In terms of the mystery, though, it was pretty much Violet convincing herself that her long lost brother was the culprit, and has murdered the girls in town. This was kind of cumbersome, if I’m being completely honest. It felt very cliché that it was the brooding brother who was supposed to be the killer, and to be honest I never bought into Violet’s theory. Even though she apparently was always “right” – which she really wasn’t. Like, ever.

There was a character that told Violet they were gay, and she accepted this incredibly fast. I mean, I wanted this person to be accepted (especially since I had caught onto the fact that they were gay), but it just seemed a little incongruent with Violet’s attitudes that were expressed previously. To be honest, I would have preferred to have seen so much more of this character, and their relationship with Violet after their confiding because that was the aspect of V is for Violet that I enjoyed the most. And it was only about the last three or so chapters.

Overall, I was slightly disappointed in V is for Violet. However, I did enjoy the sixties vibe, and the complete acceptance of a certain character’s sexuality.

© 2016, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity . All rights reserved.

trigger warning: murder, rape, abduction, attempted murder, and homophobia in this novel

[Sigourney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley for review.

Down in a green and shady bed,
A modest violet grew;
Its stalk was bent, it hung its head,
As if to hide from view.

V for Violet is an all-round superb young adult novel, set in 1960’s Battersea. It centres on Violet, a brilliant but sometimes obnoxious sixteen year old, who is stuck in her father’s fish and ship shop. She wants more, she wants excitement and to be able to follow her best friend Jackie into a different world, a more grown up world.

I absolutely loved this book; it got under my skin in unexpected ways. I loved Violet, I loved the romance, I loved the murder mystery, I loved the tension. One of the best things about this book is that is brings together different genres seamlessly – coming of age, murder mystery, romance. Each aspect of the story works really well to create a gripping and fast paced plot.

We know from the blurb that Violet’s world is turned upside down when her long lost brother, presumed dead in the war, returns home – he’s a complete stranger to her and she has to deal with an underlying hatred for the ‘golden boy’ she never knew and could never live up to. Her mother and older sister are overjoyed at Joseph’s return, her father is ashamed that he was a deserter not a hero, and Violet is stuck in the middle of it all not knowing what to do with this stranger. Rattle has dealt with the familial tensions and issues really well, and the development of Violet and Joseph’s relationship was something that I really enjoyed. When Joseph returns to Battersea young girls start disappearing and then turning up dead, and Violet doesn’t think is a coincidence – she’s sure her brother’s hiding something. The mystery of the murderer’s identity creates a tension that doesn’t let up until an almighty twist at the end of the book – every time I thought I had it figured out something new was thrown at me.

The characters were wonderful; they felt so real and it was a vivid experience being part of their lives. The protagonist Violet really grew on me, although she could be obnoxious and selfish to begin with – she’s very clever and feels that everyone else is just blind to the world and doesn’t care about her – in classic coming of age style she finds herself and her place in the world. She feels like her best friend Jackie has left her behind – going to work in the sugar factory, finding new friends, make-up and men – and Rattle explores the way their friendship changes extremely well; it’s always hard when a long friendship starts to change and people start going in different directions. The romance is done well and never feels like it overwhelms the story (Violet and Beau were SO cute).

This is my first experience with Alison Rattle’s work but it definitely won’t be the last. Her writing style and the way she crafts characters is excellent, and I’m excited to read more of her books in the future.

[Namra · Rating 3 out of 5]

V for Violet by AIison Rattle is a book I got by mistake(from an online bookstore)😅. Before this, I didn't know anything about this author.
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💜This book is categorized as "mystery". It is a nice and quick read and somewhat enjoyable. It is set in London, in the 1960's. The protagonist, Violet, is born on the exact moment Winston Churchill announces victory.
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💜This book felt like a granny telling you old tales, like a friend telling you about her day; it has an extremely friendly tone.
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💜The way of storytelling is nice. The story flowed smoothly, just like water on a piece of polished marble.
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💜The book cover gives pretty bold and dark vibes but it was nothing like that. It was just a typical teen story, a girl getting interested in a bad boy kinda thing. And everything was pretty 'on the surface'; nothing deep or moving.
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💜It gives insights on the life of a teenager in 60's and a teenager in general too. It talks about the war and the expectations from the young men. It also sheds some light on how parents force their kids into something they almost hate and also how the yongest kid is crushed under the burden of being never being like their elder and more perfect sibling.
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✨Story: Violet's brother has died in the war and is a source of pride for their parents and a burden for Violet. Her only friend, Jackie, finds new company and Voilet's left alone until she meets Beau, a mysterious rocker boy. During that time girls start to go missing and ultimately are found dead in a park. Who's responsible? That's a mystery.
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✨Criticism:💜The characters weren't 'profound'; they seemed shallow, could've been better.💜It was supposed to be a thrilling mystery but it wasn't much thrilling. It was more like a general talk.💜(SPOILER) The reveal of the murderer didn't have much impact on the reader, like it wasn't "heartbreaking" because the murderer was someone we (readers) already didn't really like and we weren't much familiar with him either.
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✨Overall it's a nice read that one may like to have when in a reader's block😄💜.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating = 3*s

Read this review in full here: https://bookendsandendings.wordpress....

I primarily read contemporary YA, but every time I try another branch of YA, such as historical or fantasy, I always wonder whether or not I will enjoy it. However, every time I am pleasantly surprised – and V for Violet was no exception. I quickly found myself wrapped up in the story, and was kept gripped for the whole book.

I thought that Violet was such an interesting character. Across the course of the book, her friendship with Jackie gradually deteriorated, and the story was written in a way which really pulled at your heart strings. I think something that contributed to this the fact that Violet would built her hopes up only to have them dashed, and then continue to build up hope again. She was also such an imaginative individual – it was so interesting to see her thoughts as when faced with a situation, she would immediately turn to an option which was far from the truth and quite an extreme response, but she would view it as logical.

[Ruci Tukana · Rating 3 out of 5]

V for Violet by Alison Rattle.

A very interesting read.

'Love can be murder' ...I was wondering, after reading this novel, what this statement meant in relation to the whole novel.

I read this novel in one sitting. Page- thumbing!!
Beau Smith seems to be my adorable character. A biker, rowdy at the cover but caring and warmhearted in the content, shows genuine love to Violet. Violet gives him chances for highway rides and grabbing meals at any eatery. He is so patience with Violet.
A kind of man needed in this sick world!

The twist of plot towards the end makes it more exciting. Violet shows her stern character by fighting against the murderer.
A part of me seems to like her then!!
Well! I cannot believe the murderer....

[Zarco Dragonetti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. I didn't notice that it was classed as young adult when I requested it at first, so a part of me expected it to be a bit childish. Not at all! This was a great read for any age - the writing style flows, and is engaging and easy to get sucked into. The storyline has plenty of twists and turns, leaving you really wondering whodunit. A really enjoyable read that I would thoroughly recommend.

[Priscilla · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a mystery novel, V For Violet lacks one very important quality: the mystery. Honestly, it’s clear who the culprit is. There are less than ten characters, which makes it easy for the reader to be several moves ahead of the plot.

Alison Rattle is a skilled writer. She’s eloquent and deeply thoughtful. The only problem is the way the plot is handled. It could have been so much more.

Rapid-fire review on Priscilla and her Books

[Sophie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this - I love a good murder mystery, and this one was no exception. The real star of the show is the 1960s London setting which is fantastically realised. I'll definitely be checking out more of Alison Rattle's books in future.

[Barbara Barrett]

Enjoyable read nothing like I thought it way going to be

[Tim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliantly written and totally engaging.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was just going to be another fun, inconsequential historical novel, but it was so, so much more.

I love the debunking of rape apology and rape culture in this book - other characters talk about girls that have been raped and murdered and wonder how short their skirts were, and many believe the perpetrator would never do such a thing - but Violet makes it clear that a rapist and murderer is a rapist and murderer, at no fault but his own. Violet is questioned on Jackie's virginity in relation to her rape and murder - Violet's fury at this is so so so so cathartic.

The need for informative sex education is also discreetly highlighted, as Violet's friends talk about "You won't get pregnant if you do it standing up", and Violet at 17 has no idea what a condom is.

I honestly wasn't expecting the return of Joseph, and it happened so early in the book. It was such a huge surprise. Sadly it is spoiled on the blurb but somehow I missed it.

As soon as Violet thought Joseph had a secret lover I predicted it would be a man, and the second she walked home without Jackie I predicted Jackie would be raped and murdered on the way home.

The amount of twists and reveals that started building up at the end absolutely floored me, like wow.

[Emilia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about a girl called Violet (no surprises there!). She works in the parent's fish and chip shop although she doesn't want to- she would rather work at the factory that her best-friend-since-primary-school works at even though their friendship seems to be breaking up as both of them start to grow up.
Then her long-lost brother turns up and it's as if she is unwanted (although she never thought she really was wanted anyway).
Soon after, girls from her town are found murdered...

This is such a great book! It is set in 1960s Britain and is told realistically so the reader can really engage with the characters and plot.

Violet was by far my favourite character. She's quite shy and isn't like other girls in the way that she's into fashion and suchlike. She's also an ok detective, determined and brave. Her character was really relatable.

Would definitely recommend as a YA book!!

[Glenys · Rating 5 out of 5]

London in the swinging sixties...Violet has just left school and is working in the family fish n chip shop. her friend Jacky is working in a factory, they have been great friends and inseperable up until now. There is a serial killer in the area and Violet has suspicions as to who she thinks is the perpetrator. Out for an evening Violet and Jacky have a disagreement and part ways, Overnight the killer strikes again.. the police interview people and everyone is very cautious, suspicion falls on a caretaker, a deserter who has returned to their family, and then a twist I didn't see coming... won't spoil this story by going any further... fantastic read.

[Catsalive · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm surprised this doesn't have an LGBTQ tag. After all, it is a fairly important theme here, & Violet wouldn't have been so suspicious without it.

An interesting tale of love & murder, although it didn't stick to the murder rules - there were no clues until the denouement! I liked Violet in the first half, not so sure about the second & whether her reactions would fit a 16-year-old in 1961. I did feel for her as Jackie drifted away.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I definitely did not expect the killer to be who it was and I LOVE the love interest in this book so much. V for Violet is an excellent historical fiction; it’s unpredictable and gripping the whole way through.

[Scarlett · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was fine, but Violet preventing me from ever becoming invested in the plot. It's tragic to see such lovely writing being tarnished by such a terrible main character.

[Jem · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little boring in the beginning but it got really exciting towards the end. Alison's writing style is so vividly amazing. I love the fact that it made me crave fish and chips every single time.

[Jaweria · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s so good especially the plot twist I love beau

[Charmaine Worth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an okay read just wasn't the book for me. I read it all the way through. The ending felt a little rushed but the killer was caught

[Rissy W · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is actually quite good for a Poundland find. I liked the story line and the typical Britishness of the lot. Loved the plot twist.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’ve been in a reading slump recently and I just couldn’t get into this book.

[Samantha (A Dream of Books) · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘V For Violet’ by Alison Rattle is set in the 1960’s. I’ve been trying to think and I don’t think I’ve actually read anything set in the sixties before. It’s not my favourite period but it was an interesting choice and worked well not only with the overall themes of the book but also in terms of showing what post-war society was like for a lot of teenagers. I’m doubtful that the historical setting will appeal to all readers however.

The main character Violet has finished school and is working in her parents fish and chip shop. She’s afraid of being left behind by her best friend who has a job in a factory, new friends and a fella on her arm. When Violet meets the dangerous and exciting Beau, she discovers the possibility of a romance of her own. However, she also has family problems to deal with when her long presumed dead brother returns, at the same time that girls from the area start turning up dead. I really liked Violet and I could identify with some of the feelings she had at the start about finding her place and the worry she has about what’s coming next. Having left school behind, the real world is opening up to her and that can be scary. She grows a lot as a character throughout the story and I think even surprises herself by the end.

Unfortunately the overall book was a bit hit and miss for me. There were parts I liked and thought were well done and there were other aspects of the story that felt a bit rushed. It seemed like Alison Rattle was trying to work a lot of different threads into the story and not all of them were given enough attention. The mystery element of the book was probably my favourite part but I was disappointed with the outcome. I don’t want to spoil anything about the plot but I thought this could have had much more impact if a different direction had been taken in terms of the murderer. The romance between Violet and Beau was okay but I didn’t feel any real sparks between them and Beau came across as a bit one-dimensional at times. The storyline with Violet’s brother could have been quite powerful but again, I think this wasn’t given enough attention until near the end of the book and by then I didn’t feel invested enough in the conclusion.

What I do like about Alison Rattle’s books is that they are all so different and she doesn’t restrict herself to one particular time-frame, setting of theme. You never know what to expect from her stories. Although this wasn’t a huge hit with me, I have enjoyed her writing in the past, so will put this title to one side and will look forward to whatever she has in store for readers next.

[Saskia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a while ago - a historic look at a young girl's life in the 60s; looking for love, looking for excitement and finding murder, and looking for a secret no one (least of all me, although it seems so obvious now!) was expecting.

Y9

[Lorna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Violet is born just as Winston Churchill is declaring victory over the wireless in 1945. Tumbling out onto a waiting newspaper it takes her mother a while to realise she's arrived. Her arrival signals how she will feel for the next 16 years. Conceived out of a night of grief and sorrow when her parents were told her brother Joseph was killed in action over France she has always lived in the shadow of the war hero. Sixteen years later the prodigal son returns. Not dead. Alive. Not a hero. A deserter. Yet still he is the golden boy to her parents. Her brother, the stranger.
This book has a bit of everything. It is a coming of age story as we see Violet mature, going from a shrinking Violet to an independent young woman finding her own voice, opinions, and style. The pain and confusion she feels as she grows apart from her life-long friend Jackie who now has other friends for her to compete with and the heart fluttering moment she meets Beau, a rocker with a motorbike and a leather jacket who sees beyond her national health specs and greasy apron she wears as she serves him the fish supper he buys from her dad's chippie.
Also, there's something about her brother that's not quite right. Is it a coincidence that since he's been back there have been teenage girls turning up dead? Or could he be connected? She knows he's lied to the police there could only be one reason why right? And when the Battersea park killer strikes a little too close to home Violet is in a quandary about who to trust and what to do.
What I loved most about the book was Violet's voice. I totally remember what it was like to be the one left behind after your friends grow up and leave you, I know what it's like to start looking at people in a different way to how you used to and trying to find your place in the world, and wanting to be just about anywhere than where you are.
For me, this book had a little bit of everything. A coming of age story with a twist of crime and a pinch of romance all combining to give us the most loveable character in Violet. This book will be staying in my kindle. Loved it.