I think I may have just listened to my new favorite book of the year!! Without a doubt it's definitely going to be a hard one to beat! EXCELLENT on audio (and I HIGHLY recommend it be digested in that format), this is a story about the strained relationship between two grown sisters and a mother and daughter when famous magician Violet Volk goes missing mid-act.

Nearly ten years since her famous sister disappeared, Sasha is still constantly hounded by the media for interviews, when all she wants to do is move on and live her life in peace. No one is a bigger fan of the "find Violet fan club" though than Sasha's daughter Quinn, who is determined to figure out what exactly happened all those years ago and what caused the terrible rift between her mother and aunt.

The audio production quality of this book was 10/10 AMAZING with a full cast of extremely talented narrators. Brittany Pressley voices Sasha and is one of my very favorite audiobook narrators when it comes to mystery and suspense stories. Much like the Good girl's guide to murder books, this novel is told as a series of interviews and podcast episodes that jump back and forth in the past and present timelines. Slowly we get to piece together what happened in the past and follow along with Quinn and Sasha as they uncover new truths about just where Violet disappeared to.

Recommended for fans of magicians/mentalists and true crime podcast books like The night swim, If I disappear or This might hurt by Stephanie Wrobel. I couldn't get enough of this book and can't believe the author was able to deliver such a strong follow up to her debut, Oona out of order. Fans of that book will find a similar magical realism style that plays on time and place in a unique way. I'm definitely going to be thinking about this one for a long time to come! Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advance listening copy!!

I really enjoyed Oona Out of Order, so I was excited to request an ARC for Montimore's new book in audio format.

Violet Volk, the world's most famous rockstar magician, went missing without a trace ten years ago. Her sister Sasha, who prefers to be out of the spotlight, has been accused by the public of being cold and uncaring about her sister. The 10 year anniversary of the disappearance is approaching and unexplainable things begin to happen - was Violet truly magic or are there darker things at play?

First, a note about the audio book - this is a book that I think should absolutely be listened to. The audiobook is excellent - top notch production quality, a full cast, what sounds like actual podcast episodes interspersed with storytelling, punctuated by letter writing, all with great sound effects. The narrator for Sasha wasn't my favorite but it was fine (would be better if the NetGalley audio player worked at a faster speed without getting garbled!).

The book itself is a really fascinating meditation on celebrity, what happens when a person becomes a phenomenon and how that trickles down to affect everyone in their life. Violet as a character was fascinating, and I do wish we had gotten to know her as a person more - since the whole book chronicles her absence, you only learn about her through the perspective of others, which is an interesting tactic since it mimics the way everyone thinks they "know" celebrities without actually knowing them at all. The magic tricks were very cool to read about. I struggled a bit with Sasha as a character - she is very closed off and keeps things to herself, and it was so frustrating to read. I also struggled at times to make sense of the timeline since it jumps around a lot.

Overall, 3.5 stars rounded up, with a big bump because of the enjoyment of the audiobook. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/734853-kate">View all my reviews</a>

Wow, I loved this. It was different than I was expecting and I mean that in the best way possible. I would definitely like to go back and read this author's previous works. I have heard of her before and I can see where the positive rave comes from. She does a great job building the characters and the story to suck you in completely.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5
-Characters: 3/5 (2 points for Violet. 1 point for the podcaster. And 0 for the Crap Family)
-Cover: 3/5
-Story: 3/5
-Writing: 5/5
Genre: Thriller/Mystery/Magic
Type: Audiobook
Worth?: Yes

Want to thank Netgalley and publishers for giving me the chance to listen to this book. Now I will begin with the things that I loved about because ranting about the things I disliked is going to be a doozy. And honestly I don't see how people could give it as high of a rating.

THINGS I LOVED:

First, I love love love how it was read! I don't know how it worked for Ereader or the physical book but if you like podcasts... you are going to love this. I absolutely adored how it was done in that aspect. With podcast I love breaks and this did that even with the other storytelling. It reminded me of Upped and Vanished, a real podcast. We got to hear him to his research, his interaction with his bosses and other people. We also got him going around and interviewing, it was great.

Second, the magic and Violet. I was astounded by what Violet could do and what she did for herself. I could honestly see why people loved her. She had to fight big for who she wanted to be and I madly respect that.

It may seem like this list is short but these two were the majority of the book so don't worry! (Also the fight against the misogynistic pricks is 100.)

THINGS I DIDN'T LOVED:

First, I hated the family. Straight up seeetthhiiing hate. I hate that they didn't really take accountability (minus the niece.) Sasha had it basically all and took the one person Violet had from her, THEN at the end of the book gave a piss ass poor excuse for it. Like how can you not see that what YOU did would hurt and cause a riff between the two?

Second, Sasha. She was a "pity me I did this to myself but it is my sister's fault" piece of crap. I feel like the author had inserted herself into Sasha and tried to get us to pity both. Not ONE time did Sasha ever sit and freaking think that hey... MAYBE I am the problem. Is Violet spotless? Flawless even? Hell no. Violet had ISSUES but you know what? She freaking OWNED up to them more so than her sister who bashed and bashed and bashed. I am not going to feel sorry for the girl who got it all and refused to see her sister STRUGGLING.

And also, side note, just because you DO good things doesn't make you a good person. Psycho's do good to hide the freaking crazy.

Third, the (view spoiler) we were left with loose ends for that and I wish there had been more of an explanation.

Fourth, the ending was so rushed. I mean RUSHED. It wasn't so bad but it wasn't great. We got SOME answers but how it was presented wasn't up to par.

I loved the variety of voices that read for the audio book. The bond between sisters is strong, but what happens when one just disappears? Learn the secrets of sisters and the magic that binds them together in this easy read by Margarita Montimore.

3.5 stars

I love love loved Oona out of Order and was incredibly excited to see another book by Montimore. This is the story of Violet who is a magician and disappeared many years ago. The book goes back and forth between then and now and a podcast and the sister's life to talk about what happened so we can be swept away in the mystery of what's going on. I thought it was very readable and I really felt most interested in the sisters and invested in their well being. In the end, I didn't think the story was as interesting or meaningful for me. If there was more about their relationship and childhood vs the magic content, I think I would have loved it more.

The audio was absolutely fantastic with a full cast of characters.

with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH. The performance is extraordinary, merging a podcast about the disappearance ten years before of a captivating female magician whose tricked defied explanation, and the POV of the sister of the magician. Violet Volk was unlike anyone else and became a self-help guru and a feminist icon. After a hiatus from performing, she had a one-night-only show at a theater in her hometown and disappeared during a trick, but failed to ever reappear. Is she alive, is she dead, was it her idea or someone else's? And what did it do to the people left behind? Volk's superfans call themselves the Wolf Pack and think Violet's sister Sasha is cold and unfeeling because she won't air her emotions and fears and grief publicly. But they don't understand her at all. And now people are trying to say Violet's back. Are they right? This is utterly captivating.

This as a story is so mysterious and wonderful, but it as an audiobook is another world. This type of story is where audiobooks really shine and come to life especially with the podcast element so central to the story. This is one you don’t want to miss!

The audiobook with a full cast is great, and works well for this type of book which switches quickly between POVs and media (podcast, email, book excerpt, narrative). But, the story just didn't grip me and some of the characters were quite unlikeable.

As a big fan of Oona Out of Order, I was so excited to get the chance to read and review Montimore’s newest book. Acts of Violet is magical, literally.

I highly recommend this as an audiobook. The story is told by a full cast of narrators which gives it a realistic feel that’s unique from standard print copies. I really enjoyed the cast and recommend listening at a speed no higher than x1.75 to maintain the realistic feel and emotions (the narration is often accompanied by the sound of pages being turned like a newspaper, the snap of fingers, etc. so it really is a full production)

I was very drawn in by the mystery and allure of Violet Volk, and the scenes written like a podcast was so fun and entertaining (I’m a major podcast listener and it was great to see that in a book!) The mystery and tale that unfolds kept me glued to my headphones as I tried to finish up the story while also completing tasks around the house! So good.

The audio production was superb and really enhanced the story.

I did find it distracting and a little weird that so many peoples names were an LA place or street, eg driscall, mulholland, Serrano.

I would have liked the book so much better without the supernatural aspects. I would have preferred to stay out of that and had a normal, real-world explanation even a grey or lame one.

I also became very tired of the story around 70%. The pacing slowed too much with too much repetition. I would have liked a wrap up much sooner, especially with how it actually wrapped up.

I loved Oona Out of Order and was very excited to read this one based on the synopsis. Sadly, I was a bit disappointed.

First of all, the audio is AMAZING and so we’ll done. It is full cast with multiple narrators and side effect noises. Bravo!

The story, however, was not what I expected.

Most of the story is a podcast, interviews, and articles written about Violet Volk, master magician who disappeared 10 years prior during her act. The rest of the story is mostly told through the eyes of her sister who is not her biggest fan.

The first 25% was intriguing and a great intro to the story.

The second 25% kept the story rolling and kept me excited.

Sadly, the second half was the same stuff repeated over and over. I wanted to see more investigation into what happened but it was more stories about her life and childhood.

Sadly, nothing really seemed to happen. I liked the story as a whole and the writing style seemed unique and fun but I don’t feel like I got much closure.

Review will be posted to my Instagram page closer to PubDay.

Ten years ago Violet Volk, an iconic and controversial magician of the 90s, goes missing as a part of her act, leaving her fans and many other obsessing over what happened. Her sister Sasha, is everything Violet wasn't; responsible, down to earth, and always doing the right thing. As the anniversary of Violet's disappearance draws near, Cameron, a popular true crime podcast host, reaches out to Sasha, in hopes she will be interviewed to help close the gaps in her disappearance. What Cameron don't know is the animosity behind Sasha and Violet's relationship and the dirt that get's dragged up every time Sasha get's re-involved in her sisters chaos.

OMG THIS BOOK WAS INCREDIBLE! Truly a work of art. I'm so glad I got the audio version because it enhanced the story so much! The different narrators, the different sound effects and realistic way it made you feel like you were listening to a podcast and in the story in real life. The back and forth between characters perspectives and timelines were so well put together. It was like putting a puzzle together. I love the way Margarita Montimore weaves in this magical realism and makes you doubt everything about science and common sense.

Thank you Netgalley, Flatiron books, and Macmillan Audio for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases 7/5!

This book reminded me how much I love a full cast narration and a multi-format audio book – it was creative and interesting, and great for anyone who wants a lighthearted and subtle dip into magical realism. In this book we meet Violet Volk, a globally known magician who vanished mid-performance 10 years prior, and the people closest to her as they attempt to piece together what may have happened that day.

Violet’s sister, Sasha, is the main perspective closely followed by her family (husband Gabriel and daughter Quinn) and a podcaster, Cameron, who is doing a deep dive into Violet’s disappearance. The audio book is so good for this book and makes the podcast portions feel so authentic and brings each character’s perspective to life. I enjoyed that there were multiple theories to what happened with Violet and all of them seemed plausible, but that the book never took on a serious mystery tone. It was playful and fun to unpack and solve.

I suspect this will be quite popular, especially for readers who enjoyed the light and quirky writing in Oona Out of Order. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my review – I had fun listening to it!

This book was a real pleasant surprise! I love when an audiobook has a full cast, and The Acts of Violet has just that! Similar to “Good Girl’s Guide to Murder,” this book has a podcast component that works really well in the audiobook format. While this book has magic, it is really about sister bonds and the consequences of being in the spotlight. There were some moments in the final chapter that I found a little annoying, but this was a solid book overall!

It was easy to keep turning the page in this magical, mysterious novel. After pop-culture icon and magician Violet Volk vanishes in the middle of her own disappearing act, her estranged sister is left to pick up the pieces of their flawed and strange childhood, all while dealing with the intensity of the media and Violet's cult following. There are twists and turns, misdirection, and layers of mystery the author reveals in pieces via vignettes of interviews, correspondences, first-person narration, and podcast transcripts. Much like watching a magic act, reading Acts of Violet keeps you wondering how it all works.

The characters are likeable and witty, with flaws and quirks that make them human. While the story takes many a sidebar to over-explain some key concepts of the world and backstory, or demonstrate how 'woke' the characters are, it always comes back to a through line that leaves me invested in what happens to the people involved.

The narrator for the main character does a great job with the nuances, tones, and diversity of patterns of speech, giving a unique voice to each of the many characters. Some voice modifiers are used when "anonymous" speakers leave voice mails, and keyboard clicking effects provide context to internet correspondences and blog posts. There are so many different stories that there is a cast, each voice offering something unique to the story. While it can be tedious to hear the email headers read and re-read ("re: re: re: .... To: From: etc), it is fun to piece together the story through so many different media sources, just as the secondary thread of the novel, the "Strange Exits" Podcast, must have to do for their research into the disappearance of Violet Volk.

The story asks, what does fame do to a person? How and when should we separate the art from the artist, if at all? How do we grieve loss? What does privacy look like in the digital age? And how do we address inter-generational trauma? Acts of Violet is a witty summer mystery, and a great escapist novel into the lives and secrets of two estranged sisters and their families.

After reading, and loving, Oona Out of Order last year I was so excited to listen to this audio. It had a great cast of narrators. I liked the different mediums used throughout which were especially fun on audio. These included podcasts, interviews, e-mails and letters. The story was so intriguing and pulled me in immediately as we try to determine what happened to famous stage magician Violet Volk who disappeared on stage while performing her act 10 years ago and has not been seen since. As the 10 year anniversary approaches, there is renewed interest in her disappearance.

I liked all of the different points of view in the story and especially on audio. It kept my interest with the shorter chapters and the mystery surrounding Violet's disappearance. I liked finding out the history and the family dynamic of the two sisters. The story was interesting and was told in a way that I could not wait to see how it ended. The ending felt abrupt and that was the only issue for me.

This was a very unique and interesting story and I thoroughly enjoyed it!



Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for access to this audiobook.

Violet is a world famous magician who's has gone missing, is presumed dead, and it's not clear if she faked her own death. It's coming on the 10 year anniversary of her disappearance and memorial tribute is planned. Her sister is doing her best to get through it, but odd things start happening. This audio version is narrated by multiple people and has voice effects to include radio sound, newspaper readings, and different voices for all they main characters. It is very well recorded, among the best audio books I've listened to!

This one had a lot of narrators in this fast paced mystery about a magician who pulled the ultimate trick and disappeared for real...during her act. It is now the 10 year anniversary of her disappearance and all the fans and fanatics are gathering, including reporters and podcasters along with the Wolf pack (those are her fanatics) all with their own theories on the mystery of her disappearance. Violet's sister, Sasha, has always had a hard time with this and now her sleepwalking has escalated and she is waking up in crazy places. There are several hints throughout there is something else going on so play close attention here. I found this one intriguing and had a hard time putting it down. I recommend this one and hope you enjoy it too.

Clever, witty, & deeply introspective, "Acts of Violet" surprised me as one of my favorite listens this year. Violet Volk, the famous stage magician, self-help guru, & pop-culture icon, disappeared ten-years ago preforming in her hometown. No one has seen her since--not even her sister Sasha. The mystery of Violet's disappearance is deeply entrenched with her tumultuous, exciting magic show, dysfunctional relationships, and two-faced personality. As readers, we hear about Violet's life and disappearance through a range of mediums including podcasts, journal entries, emails, interviews, & newspaper articles.

Personally, this book, especially as an audio-book, blew me away. The grudging love-hate relationships between Violet and the people in her life was fascinating. I was enamored, and at times disgusted, by Violet's razor-sharp humor, damaging jokes, & toxic behavior. But I couldn't look away. I eagerly waited for each new morsel about Violet through the eye's of the people she left behind.

I also admired Montimore's exploration of unusual formats (such as emails) and seamless transitions between POVs, decades, and memories. While Montimore explores a range of genres, the book is well-pulled together--feeling cohesive, mysterious, and impactful.