Let me try to convince you to read this book, but let me also convince you to try the *audio* version, because, wow! I was lucky enough to receive an early copy of the audio version and I couldn’t stop listening to it.

What I loved:
✨The audio weaves a tale using typical narration, but also includes a podcast that plays JUST like a podcast, with interviews and different narrators voicing the guests. It was constantly flipping between the two methods, which drove the story forward at a solid pace.

✨The book is centered around a mysterious disappearance, which is described using the devices above. I loved trying to figure out what happened to violet during her last show!

✨ Throughout the book there were signs the narrator saw related to her missing sister, and a lot of these gave me chills. They were well placed and not at all cheesy.

I gave this 4⭐️ because the ending was a little too anticlimactic for me, but this was a solid, enjoyable story. If you’re picking this up and you enjoy audio books, I HIGHLY recommend the audio version. You won’t be disappointed!

I received an advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Margarita Montimore did NOT disappoint!! I really enjoyed reading Acts of Violet. It's a novel about a female magician who disappears, and we see her family ten years later. I loved the mixture of podcast episodes, news articles, traditional dialogue, and letters. This mix of writing kept my interest and wanting to figure out what happened! I was not expecting the ending, but I think it did a good job of wrapping up the book. It was a tense read, and gave great insight into how someone going missing affects so many others' lives. I also listened to the audiobook as I read along, which was the perfect way to read this book. The narrators were lively and kept things moving along. This would be a great book for fans of mystery and also family sagas.

I will share on Storygraph and my Instagram (@readingtomydogs)

4⭐ for originality.
I am a big fan of magicians, so I was excited for this one.

Violet is a famous magician that mysteriously vanished during an act. Was it intentional or did something sinister happen?
Now it's the 10 year anniversary of her disappearance and people want answers, well most people. Her estranged sister, Sasha, isn't too keen on learning what happened to Violet. Nor is she keen on speaking to Cameron, the podcast host. Can he convince her to be interviewed and maybe solve this mystery together?

The podcast transcripts of what fans and haters thought of Violet was my favorite part.

I am so glad I listened to this one! I enjoyed everything about the audio, especially the extra sound effects that made the story come alive. Fabulous performance by Brittany Pressley, Amy McFadden, Dan Bittner, Fred Berman, Hillary Huber, Johnny Heller, Katharine Chin, Ramon de Ocampo, Suzanne Toren, and Alejandro Ruiz. I love when there are multiple narrators because it makes the story flow along nicely. A pretty long listen at 11 hours and 9 minutes and easy at 2x. Definitely listen to this one if you can.

Overall, I was really invested in the story and I just had to know what happened to Violet. I am happyish with how it all played out. I'd be excited to read/listen to more work from this author in the future.

Violet, a famous magician, disappeared 10 years ago, leaving behind a family that she was estranged from and a dynamic celebrity life. For years, her fans have created a following around her and speculated about her disappearance. Now after 10 years, a podcast is rehashing her life and career. Her sister, who has unresolved feelings regarding her missing sister, is once again thrust into the limelight unwillingly even as she tries to figure out a way to help her family move on in a healthy way.

I loved this book! It is written in a unique format using interviews, letters, podcasts, and Sasha's POV to paint a picture of Violet's life, career, and relationships. I feel like the format worked really well and I definitely felt engaged. This book is really about how Sasha perceived and felt about her sister and how Violet's professional success caused conflict in her personal life. All the characters are human in their own way.

Unfortunately, the ending is really rushed and a bit unsatisfying. But the ride to the end was addicting. The audiobook is excellently produced with a bit cast and really made it hard to put down. I definitely enjoyed the journey. Would recommend!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the advanced audiobook!

I loved "Oona Out of Order" by this author, Margarita Montimore, so I was excited to get my hands on her latest novel. "Acts of Violet" has the hints of what I like to call "believable" magic realism that I really enjoy and I was intrigued from the very beginning. The book genre played it cheeky by putting the "magic" right there in front of you. Clever. And I really enjoyed the multiple points of view. The audiobook listened like a podcast, because well, it was written AS a podcast! A podcast within a story. A story that weaves and turns and flips and you aren't really sure where it's going until you're there.

Beautifully written, as I had hoped. But Violet herself? Not all that likable! Violet is... was? Is a superstar magician in the boys club that is show magic. She skyrockets to the top with her outlandish style, insane tricks, and over-the-top shows. But when she mysteriously disappears, what is left in her wake is a sad story of family, grief, betrayal, and secrets. Her sister, Sasha, is faced with the tenth anniversary of Violet's disappearance and must deal with the grief all over again. This time, with an overzealous journalist trying to get the scoop for his new podcast "Strange Exits". Strange it is! But what really happened? Maybe we will never know.

Overall, a very entertaining listen with the uniqueness I would expect from Montimore.

So disappointed.

What I liked:

I was intrigued by the story from the beginning. It's the story of magician Violet Volk, who disappeared mid-act ten years previously, and no one knows what happened to her, not even her sister Sasha. Podcaster Cameron Frank is exploring the circumstances surrounding her disappearance, and won't stop until he uncovers the truth.

I love the podcast angle, and as I listened to the audiobook version of this, the production value is stellar. There are multiple narrators and different effects used for the podcast, telephone interviews, etc. This made the book come to life and I was truly intrigued and captivated...for the first 75%.

What Didn't Work

This is a very slow unraveling, very slow. It's more of a character study of Sasha and the effects Violet's career and disappearance have had on her life. We go around in circles for a long time with Sasha's sleepwalking, anxiety, and everything going into the troubles she's having in her life.

This would not have been so awful had the payoff in the end been worth it. But it WAS NOT. The ending sucked big time. The "closure" is not satisfying to me in the least, and I honestly couldn't figure out what the author was going for here.

Lots of people have really enjoyed this book, and for the production value, I really liked it too. The plot just went in a bizarre direction that I didn't care for at all and couldn't justify a higher rating with that nonsense. It felt like a huge waste of my time.

Looking for an audiobook that you won’t want to stop listening to? Acts of Violet will fit this bill. Told from multiple perspectives, with podcaster Cameron leading the way, we learn about the 90s phenomenon magician Violet Volk and all the incredible and destructive things she leaves when she disappears during one of her shows. I’m

I loved the format of this book and the path it takes to tell not only Violet’s story but also of her sister Sasha. I truly felt like I was listening to a podcast when the book hit those chapters. Violet and her relationship with her sister was fascinating but really caught my attention was Sasha herself and what was really taking place with her.

There are a host of narrators and honestly they all did a fabulous job of telling this story. I would highly recommend picking this up in audiobook format - I guarantee you won’t be disappointed as it’s an intriguing story with an incredible cast of narrators.

Thank you Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for my ALC!

Acts of Violet is a paranormal mystery, with a flavor of a "true crime" podcast which is presented extremely well in the audio book. I sometimes forgot I wasn't listening to a true crime podcast, it was so well done.

Sasha's very famous sister Violet vanishes ten years earlier and the anniversary of her death has increased the hype surrounding the speculation about what really happened. As Sasha tries to maintain her low profile, her very curious daughter as well as a nosy reporter both continuously push her to be more forthcoming with what she knows.

This was a fast-paced listen and I loved the presentation of the audiobook. Pure entertainment.

This is the absolute best audiobook format since Daisy Jones and the Six. The number of narrators + the sounds all add to the story and really made it an immersive experience. The story bounced around between a podcast, emails, writing, and story telling. It was very engaging. I really appreciated how so many aspects of Violet’s life before her disappearance as well as things happening since her disappearance were balanced. My only letdown was the end. So much was speculation throughout the story but the payoff was rather whomp whomp. (Without giving it away) I really enjoy Ms. Montimore’s writing and look forward to more from her. Thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of the audiobook for review.

I read Montimore's Oona Out of Order within weeks of its publication in 2020. Before I started blogging, I tended to simply rate books on bookish sites and in my own notes, not write a full-blown review (which is time-consuming, dontcha know?), so my only written comment about it was on Litsy, which requires one to say something: “I'm not sure quite how I feel about this yet. Let's give it a 3.5/5 and let it rest a bit, shall we?” Not helpful, Debby—not helpful. Still, 3.5 is a good rating from me. That's something! Anyway, Montimore's upcoming Acts of Violet also earns a fine rating from me, though not an extraordinary one.

This work is especially well-served by reading with one's ears because it varies in style from chapter to chapter, told as regular narrative, podcasts, interviews, and letters. The audio edition boasts 10 narrators, which also enhances the variety of chapter formats. I'm not a podcast follower or true-crime fan—if you are either/both, the audio edition of this book may be especially fun for you. Mystery is the predominant genre.

In addition to Violet, Sasha, Quinn, and Cameron, as mentioned in the publisher's summary, Sasha's husband/Quinn's dad is a key character, and there are several segments featuring an older magician who perhaps served as a mentor to Violet. Overall, my favorite chapters were those in the present day, primarily starring Sasha and her family.

Thank you, NetGalley and Macmillan Audio, for the audio ARC of the book in exchange for an honest review. Publication is expected July 5.

It's been ten years since Violet Volk's mysterious disappearance from her last magic show. She vanished--as expected--but failed to reappear. Where did Violet go? Was there foul play involved? Is she still alive? And who really was (is?) Violet Volk? Does anyone know?

I wholeheartedly recommend listening to the audiobook version of this one. Told through an assortment of podcast recordings, emails, articles, letters, interviews, blog posts, book passages, faxes, and Sasha's (Violet's sister's) point-of-view, the full cast on the audiobook brings the book to life, making those transitions between different types of media and different characters easy--and interesting--to follow.

I was hooked from the beginning, easily pulled into the mystery and intrigue of what happened to Violet and who she was--both as a person and in relation to those in her orbit. I was engrossed in the impact having Violet as a sister had on Sasha and her immediate family and in how the public in general, and Violet's fans in particular, responded to Sasha. I was drawn into Sasha's story.

Due to the nature of the storyline and how it is told, there remains a degree of ambiguity. Who is telling the truth on the podcast and through various media postings? Who is withholding information? Whose testimonies are influenced by and prejudiced based on their relationships and interactions with Violet? If you like puzzles, true crime or suspense podcasts, mysteries, or morally grey characters, this book is for you.

5 Stars.

I received an ALC from Macmillan Audio via NetGalley. Review opinions are my own.

THIS BOOK SHOULD BE LISTENED TO BECAUSE THE AUDIO IS AMAZING,
I think this was one of my favorite listens this year! World famous magician Violet Volk vanishes during a performance a decade ago and years later is still nowhere to be found. There are sightings of her, and she's still being talked about, which makes moving on really hard for her sister Sasha who had a troubled relationship with her. On top of a vigil there is also a podcast gaining traction about Violet's life and disappearance and the podcast host Cameron really wants an interview with Sasha. Meanwhile some unsettling things start to happen to Sasha that sets her on edge. The story alternates between Sasha's narrative and Cameron's correspondence with people who knew Violet and his podcast.
The audio elements and the full crew is just excellent. If you like podcasts, listen to this. If you don't like podcasts still listen to this. But I guess you can also just read it, i'm sure that's awesome too!
Thank you so much Macmillan Audio and Netgalley for the audio ARC of this one, it was very entertaining!

A magician who disappears at the end of her performance sets off a barrage of speculation, conspiracy theories, and also causes a rift between a mother and her daughter. Violet Volk, an outspoken and flamboyant magician has made an impression on many. To her fans she's the greatest magician, some even said she was magic. To her sister, she was a source of frustration. To a podcaster, she was his gateway to success as her disappearance 10 years prior still delivers a consistent listening audience. This book has many twists, and you don't quite know what to make of Violet as the book is written from many perspectives - except for Violet's. Violet's mysterious silence throughout the book creates a tension that keeps you reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to listen to this eARC early. If you're going to read this book I highly recommend the audiobook because its awesome! There are a lot of different voices, including a podcast element, and it really comes to life and makes the mystery of the story have an added punch. This book is about a magician named Violet. She was a huge celebrity and one of the best magician's in history, but she disappeared mid-act and has not been seen since. The story follows her sister, Sasha, and all the people who are still searching for Violet. Sasha has a lot of resentment towards her sister and is content with having her gone, but believes she's still alive. The whole book is learning more about Violet and Sasha's past, Violet's magic, and the many theories about what happened to her. I honestly had no idea for most of the story and I loved that tension. I loved getting to know Sasha and her daughter, Quinn, as well as her husband. I've honestly never read/listened to anything like this and at times I thought it could be a 5 star. However, there were pacing issues at a few points (knocked it down to potentially 4.5) but the ending made this book either a 3.5 or 4. The ending happened so fast, gave no explanation and felt really silly. This book had such strong potential but just didn't quite make it.
SPOILER ALERT:
She was alive and comes back to her sister and it was just because she wanted her sisters domestic life and to be like Houdini but better. It didn't explain how she left, what she's doing now, what's going to happen in the future, etc. Such a let down.

Violet Volk disappeared years ago, and one true crime podcaster is ready to solve the case. Except his best lead, Violet's sister Sasha, refuses to give an interview. Sasha is so over her sister's disappearance and just wants to be left alone. But people (including her daughter) just won't let it go, and recently Sasha's been experiencing some inexplicable events that make her begin to question just what DID happen to her sister...

If you're going to read this book, I HIGHLY recommend the audiobook version! It's so much fun to listen to the "podcast" and hear the voices of all the characters. It's a fun read overall, although the ending wasn't really my favorite. If you liked Oona Out of Order, are at all interested in magic realism, or enjoy true crime/podcasting stories, this one is definitely for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this audio-arc in exchange for my honest review!

4.5 stars. Violet Volk is notorious for her successful career as a magician, but the circumstances surrounding her mysterious public disappearance has left her fans utterly baffled. Violet’s life is an enigma to those who followed her career, but even her own family can’t fully grasp who the real Violet is. If you’re looking for an audiobook for those summer strolls, ACTS OF VIOLET will certainly deliver. The story truly came alive with a full cast audio recording. The podcast transcripts and background sound effects added so much to the story. I’d highly recommend this format!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this novel.

Violet Volk is considered one of the most preeminent magicians of all time transcending even the most infamous of all: Harry Houdini. However, Violet vanished during an act 10 years ago and hasn't been heard of since. Her sister has mostly moved on but when contacted by an investigative podcast host, she is brought back to everything she had tried to put behind her. I listened to the audio version of this novel and found it to be incredibly entertaining. The multiple narrations were phenomenal and the story itself felt like a podcast. Definitely enjoyed! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook.

Violet Volk was a mind-blowing magician who had an amazing career where she reigned over a male-dominated industry. She became a legendary pop icon. Unfortunately, her private life was not as amazing. Her relationships with her family suffered and she was unable to make friends outside of her employees. Her financial affairs were also a disaster. When the book opens it’s been 10 years since her last performance where she vanished without a trace. During that time her sister and her sister’s family have suffered a great deal. Her disappearance was an international incident and the looming 10 year anniversary has the VV fandom whipped into an absolute frenzy.

I really liked this book!! It’s got a good mystery and the family dynamics are interesting. Violet is talented and driven but the downside of fame isn’t sugarcoated. Also, it’s very topical about the harassment and discrimination women have historically faced in the world.

The book is written from several perspectives. The sister gives a first person narrative. Then there are email conversations, podcasts, letters, and news articles. It’s presented by a full cast of narrators and the result is best audiobook production I’ve ever heard.

Thanks to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for an advanced copy of this book. It will be released on 7/5/22.

What happens when a magic acts goes wrong which leads to the disappearance of a world famous magician? Acts of Violet tells this story through a cast of self-absorbed yet very endearing characters. The description of the book was very intriguing, drawing me in.
I listened to the book and enjoyed the format of emails, interviews and podcast episodes sprinkled throughout the story. As I listened though, I just never really connected with the story, I found myself bored with it. I waited through the buildup expecting a killer ending. Unfortunately, the ending didn’t clinch it for me. For me Violet just wasn’t a character I really connected with.
Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

First off, this book is normally not something I would probably choose. But I'm trying to broaden my horizons and I'm so glad I did!

Secondly, it's going to be hard to review this book without giving something away and I don't want to spoil it, so if this seems vague - well, it is!

Violet Volk, world fameous magician, disappeared nearly ten years ago while performing. She hasn't been seen from since. The ten year anniversary vigil is coming up. Violet's sister, Sasha, is still upset over Violet and isn't handling this anniversary well. As the story unfolds, in a dual timeline, we learn that Sasha both loves and hates her sister. Things come out, from childhood to adulthood, and give us a good picture of who Violet was and that maybe she actually did possess magic. But was she the only one with powers?

This book mixed emails, podcast transcripts, and newspaper articles, in with the narrative and it worked amazingly well. You didn't know who you could trust and that mkes the book even more interesting. We hear from the over zealous podcaster, the husband, other magicians, Sasha's daughter and husband, even Sasha herself.

It was definitely an interesting book with a lot of mystery and magic! The audio was well done!

Many thanks to Netgalley and MacMillan Audio for an advance audio copy in exchange for my honest review!