The Secret Life of Violet Grant

By: Beatriz Williams

Narrated by: Kathleen McInerney

Passion, redemption, and a battered old suitcase full of secrets: the New York Times-bestselling author of A Hundred Summers returns with another engrossing tale of lost love and female ambition that crosses generations.

Manhattan, 1964. Vivian Schuyler, newly graduated from Bryn Mawr College, has recently defied the privilege of her storied old Fifth Avenue family to do the unthinkable for a budding Kennedy-era socialite: break into the Mad Men world of razor-stylish Metropolitan magazine. But when she receives a bulky overseas parcel in the mail, the unexpected contents draw her inexorably back into her family’s past, and the hushed-over crime passionnel of an aunt she never knew, whose existence has been wiped from the record of history.

Berlin, 1914. Violet Schuyler Grant endures her marriage to the philandering and decades-older scientist Dr. Walter Grant for one reason: for all his faults, he provides the necessary support to her liminal position as a young American female physicist in prewar Germany. The arrival of Dr. Grant’s magnetic former student at the beginning of Europe’s fateful summer interrupts this delicate détente. Lionel Richardson, a captain in the British Army, challenges Violet to escape her husband’s perverse hold, and as the world edges into war and Lionel’s shocking true motives become evident, Violet is tempted to take the ultimate step to set herself free and seek a life of her own conviction with a man whose cause is as audacious as her own.

As the iridescent and fractured Vivian digs deeper into her aunt’s past and the mystery of her ultimate fate, Violet’s story of determination and desire unfolds, shedding light on the darkness of her years abroad . . . and teaching Vivian to reach forward with grace for the ambitious future––and the love––she wants most.

Critic reviews

Praise for THE SECRET LIFE OF VIOLET GRANT

“A riveting tale of murder and adultery.” —US Weekly

“Another absorbing page-turner filled with romance and secrets…. Violet’s narrative will captivate readers with its intrigue and the protagonist’s struggles…” —Library Journal

“Williams conjures up another substantive beach read steeped in history and familial intrigue.... Readers will love wallowing in the twists and turns of this irresistibly luxurious tale.” —Booklist

Well developed characters

The characters were very well developed in the book with respect to their personality and the readers ability to visualize them. However, the personality of Violet doesn’t match the personality of an intelligent, female, early pioneer in science. The story was interesting. The reading voice and accents were terrible.

intriguing

very interesting story regarding history mystery and romance Love how the author moves back and forth in history and then brings it all together...

a cute story

Was a good recommendation by audible. as with her other book, 100 summers, it takes a couple of hours to get engaged with the story & characters. however it paid off handsomely.

slow to start

slow to start but it caught by interest. narration could have been better thank you

Excellent audio book

Loved this book! So interesting to learn about happenings in 1914.The narrator -Kathleen McInerney should receive awards
for her voice and performance skills.if I were a writer,I would definitely seek for her to narrate my books.
Anxious to order Book # 2 in this series. Cindy B.