Haunting Violet

May 23, 2011
Harvey (the Drake Chronicles) delivers a fun adventure in the form of a Victorian mystery novel that captures the feel (and the flaws) of the age. At the height of the Spiritualist movement, 16-year-old Violet's mother is a con artist, taking advantage of Spiritualists like rich Lord Jasper, to whose estate they've been invited. Violet and Colinâan orphan taken in by her motherâassist in the cons, but Violet is surprised to learn that she can actually see the dead, and that the voiceless ghost of a teenager named Rowena wants Violet's help in bringing her killer to justice. Other complications include Violet's attraction to Colin (which conflicts with her mother's social climbing), an upper-class suitor, and Rowena's bratty (and very much alive) twin sister. Aided by her gossip-loving best friend, Violet unravels a complicated series of secrets, endangering her social standing and her life in the process. Harvey's writing is witty and brings headstrong, irreverent Violet to life ("Never mind finding an eligible bachelor, I mean to find a murderer"). The mystery is relatively uncomplicated, but the social complications drive both plot and character development. Ages 12âup.

November 1, 2011

Gr 7 Up-This novel is a mixture of mystery and historical fiction, with added bonuses of mediums, ghosts, and teenage love, all set in the backdrop of Victorian society. Violet Willoughby has participated in her medium mother's fraudulent seances since she was nine. Now 17, she is used to seeing her mother scheme rich widowers and old men out of their savings, and she is skeptical about the supernatural. However, on a visit to the country estate of Lord Jasper, Violet encounters the ghost of a girl her own age who is seeking help. Violet must find out what happened to Rowena, who died the year before, and she must do so quickly, before Rowena's twin sister suffers the same fate. She turns to Colin, her mother's assistant and the one boy she's grown to love, to share her visions. Also, there is a chance that Violet could escape her mother's wrath by marrying a gentleman of means. This all could be jeopardized if her secret ability is known. With the help of Colin and a friend, she may be able to accept her strange talent, prevent another girl from dying, and save her chances for a future free of lies. Readers will connect with Violet, who is struggling with coming to terms with her self-identity.-Shannon Seglin, Patrick Henry Library, Vienna, VA

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