Book Review: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey

Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts... but they believe in her.

Violet has spent years taking part in her mother's fakes seances, putting the rich and powerful in touch with the dead, and their success has brought them a life of luxury they could only have dreamed of and Violet the prospect of a society marriage.

The last thing Violet expected was to start seeing and hearing the dead for real. But now she is haunted day and night but the ghost of a drowned girl who won't let her rest until her murderer is uncovered. 

Violet must use her talents to unravel the mystery surrounding the girl's death- and quickly before the killer strikes again.

I have read and enjoyed Alyxandra Harvey's Drake Chronicles so I was very excited to learn that her new young adult book had gone in the direction of historical fiction. Haunting Violet is set in 1872 and the world of Victorian spiritualism. Violet's mother is a fraud, she pretends she has the gift and holds the seances for the gentry who hold her in esteem as a celebrity of the day. It is these bogus talents that earn Violet and her mother an invitation to Rosefield, which is Lord Jasper's country estate. Mrs Willoughby is to entertain his guests who are staying and Violet is her unwilling accomplice. Rosefield is a new beginning for Violet though as it is here that she discovers that she truly does have the gift of seeing the dead. Violet tries to fight against it as she knows that her mother will think nothing of exploiting her only child.
One of the ghosts that Violet sees is pretty terrifying. Rowena was the daughter of one of Lord Jasper's neighbours he apparently drowned leaving behind her sister Tabitha. It soon becomes clear though that Rowena was murdered and the only way that she will leave Violet alone is if she can reveal the identity of her killer.
Violet wants justice for Rowena but soon finds herself the victim of several 'accidents', Rowena's murderer is clearly prepared to silence Violet if needs be and to have another death on their conscience.
Haunting Violet is hugely atmospheric, I think that Victorian spiritualism is fascinating and the author talks about many of the tricks of the trade. Alyxandra Harvery creates some terrifying scenes when Rowena appears to Violet and you get a real sense of her desperation for justice and the need to protect her sister.
If you like historical fiction or books with a paranormal twist then you would enjoy this one. Haunting Violet is young adult fiction but I think it will easily cross over to adult readers. I really hope that Alyxandra Harvey writes more in this genre as this is my favourite books that she has written so far.

Many thanks to Bloomsbury for sending me a copy of the book to review, Haunting Violet was published yesterday.