ACTS OF VIOLET
"Mesmerizing... This spellbinding effort delivers its fair share of magic."
— Publishers Weekly
Nearly a decade ago, iconic magician Violet Volk performed her greatest trick yet: vanishing mid-act. Though she hasn’t been seen since, her hold on the public hasn’t wavered. While Violet sought out the spotlight, her sister Sasha, ever the responsible one, took over their mother’s salon and built a quiet life for her daughter, Quinn. But Sasha can never seem to escape her sister’s orbit or her memories of their unresolved, tumultuous relationship. Then there’s Cameron Frank, determined to finally get his big break hosting a podcast devoted to all things Violet—though keeping his job hinges on an exclusive interview with Sasha, the last person who wants to talk to him.
As the ten-year anniversary approaches, the podcast picks up steam, and Cameron’s pursuit of Sasha becomes increasingly intrusive. He isn’t the only one wondering what secrets she might be keeping: Quinn, loyal to the aunt she always idolized, is doing her own investigating. Meanwhile, Sasha begins to experience an unsettling series of sleepwalking episodes and coincidences, which all lead back to Violet. Pushed to her emotional limits, Sasha must finally confront the most painful truths about her sister, and herself, even at the risk of losing everything.
Alternating between Sasha’s narration and Cameron’s podcast transcripts, interspersed with documents that offer a tantalizing peek at Violet herself, Acts of Violet is an utterly original, propulsive story of fame, deception, and forgiveness that will make you believe in magic.
Praise for ACTS OF VIOLET
Best Audiobooks of 2022 | Barnes & Noble
25 of the Best Book Club Books for 2022 | Book Riot
The Best Books of 2022 (So Far) | Book Riot
The Best New Books of 2022 So Far | POPSUGAR
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of Summer | Goodreads
Goodreads Employees Share Their Summer Reading Plans | Goodreads
Best Beach Reads of Summer 2022 | She Reads
Best Beach Reads Summer 2022 | KatieCouric.com
23 of the Best Books of Summer 2022 | BookBub
6 Great Audiobooks to Listen to This Month | Vulture
5 New Must-Read Books | USA TODAY
July Must-Listens | Apple Books
Editors Select [July] | Audible
Anticipated July to December 2022 Book Releases | The Nerd Daily
16 Books Bursting with Jersey Pride | New Jersey Monthly
"Mesmerizing... Montimore achieves a thoughtful, panoramic portrait of larger-than-life Violet while underscoring Sasha’s pain as she tries to grieve under an unforgiving public eye. This spellbinding effort delivers its fair share of magic." — Publishers Weekly
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"Margarita Montimore astonishes readers with her authorial sleight of hand in the twisty, genre-defying family drama Acts of Violet, told in multiple formats... Montimore packs in dazzling tricks, but the complex and enduring relationships between the sisters brings the real magic." —Shelf Awareness (starred review)
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"Like an enthralling magic trick itself, Acts of Violet asks readers to suspend their disbelief and rewards them for the effort."
―Booklist
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"A spellbinding tale about magic, sisters, and forgiveness." — BookBub
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"A quick read with irresistible charm, it's a comfort book in every sense of the word, blending mystery, science fiction and family drama to satisfy a craving you didn't quite know you had. In the end, you'll be left with the inkling that there might be some truth to magic after all." —Bookpage
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"Readers will not be able to put down this book as they read about the family situations and the magic that entwines this story." —The Southern Bookseller Review
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"Author Margarita Montimore follows up her 2020 breakout novel 'Oona Out of Order' with the equally imaginative and slightly more complicated 'Acts of Violet'." —USA Today
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"There are three different ways readers come to understand fictional characters: by what they do, what they say, and what other characters say about them. In ACTS OF VIOLET, Margarita Montimore puts on a master class in the third of those options for character development... ACTS OF VIOLET offers fascinating insights..." —Bookreporter
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“Montimore has written a layered story told in fragments of documents, emails, podcast transcripts, and narrated segments that jump through time, place, and voice. It’s a whirlwind of information and characters, much like a magic show with smoke, mirrors, and misdirection consuming the viewer’s attention before the final big reveal…A story of the lifetime bonds of sisterhood.” ―Kirkus
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"Sign me up! Acts of Violet is a story of family, loss, love, and life that is magical in more than one way." —Book Riot
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"Acts of Violet is a novel that’s meant to be heard! The cast and top-notch audio production—including a custom theme song—add a fun and playful element to this heartfelt, twisty tale." — Audible
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“With Acts of Violet, Montimore has once again concocted a story that's wildly imaginative, wholly original, and clever as hell. This novel is as mischievous and mysterious as its magical protagonist—and yet, at its heart, a touchingly sincere look at the meaning of sisterly love.”—Janelle Brown, New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things
“Acts of Violet is fresh, fun and fascinating escapism about the ultimate escape artist—I couldn't put it down as I tried to stay on top of Montimore’s authorial sleight of hand. Acts of Violet is another skillful blend of genres, from moving family drama and twisty thriller to insightful social commentary on fame, feminism, magic and media. Smart, suspenseful and always tantalizing, Acts of Violet will be your perfect summer read.”
—Natalie Jenner, internationally bestselling author of The Jane Austen Society
“Part mystery, part family drama, Acts of Violet is all magic. Best selling author Margarita Montimore brilliantly combines first person narrative, podcast transcripts, personal letters, and more to create a story that’s impossible to put down about what happens when the world’s most famous magician vanishes and leaves her sister to deal with the aftermath. Much like one of Violet’s magic tricks, you’ll find yourself in awe until the final reveal.”
—Kellye Garrett, Agatha, Anthony, and Lefty Award-winning author of Like a Sister
“Intricately woven and masterfully paced, Acts of Violet is the story of a world-famous magician gone missing. Creating characters that are simultaneously self-absorbed and endearing might be a tall order in a lesser writer’s hands, but Montimore rises to the challenge and then some. I read the whole thing in forty-eight hours, so desperate was I to solve this hypnotic, striking mystery. This one is not to be missed.”
—Stephanie Wrobel, author of Darling Rose Gold
“What an original, stylistic story of what’s real and what isn’t. After all, that’s the allure of magic. The twists keep coming in this story that asks how well we actually know the ones closest to us. Once again, Montimore dazzles in a tale of fame, family, and forgiveness.”
―Nancy Johnson, author of The Kindest Lie
“Mortimore’s sophomore novel Acts of Violet is pure magic. A deft execution that will satisfy any true crime junkie. It will leave you believing in the legend that is Violet Volk.”
—Roselle Kim, author of Vanessa Yu’s Magical Paris Tea Shop
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