Sarah is a new wife, trying to fit in her new home and life with a new mother in law. When things take a more sinister turn, she wonders if it's just in her head....
Great short story, the suspense builds and engrosses the reader! Enthused to read the other short stories by Green! ( )

Monster-in-law Martha knows the best way to make your violets grow big and strong is to do lots of judicious pruning so when her son brings home a new wife, Martha knows exactly what must be done. This is a short story, full of memorable characters and a great twist at the end. Nicely done! ( )

A strange short novel. Reminds me of Hitchcock or Twilight Zone.
Very short, but keeps your interest. ( )

A disturbing novella with a female heroine and a female villain. Sarah from a broken home in Chicago has met Todd ,who was brought up in a midwest isolated farm, at college ,married him and gone to live with his widowed mother. In Martha ,the mother we meet a character straight out of a De Maurier novel ,who can do no wrong in her son's eyes but who is not too happy with a new daughter-in law appearing at the farm. Thus begins the menace and horror that the author intertwines in her plot development. A very enjoyable read which I had to finish at one sitting. The tension leading up to the end of the novella enshrines a wonderful twist and I will be very careful with gardening equipment in future. ( )

Reviewed for Member Giveaways.

I really enjoyed this quick read. I would have actually preferred a few additional pages - perhaps some of Martha's back story as she was certainly an interesting character. There are hints at wierdness - the eponymous violets and Martha's disappearing act into her bedroom watching endless game shows, but nothing to spoil the unexpected ending. There is a foreword in this little novella, a great little read in its own right which discusses women authors within the horror genre. Additionally sneak previews of other works by the author make this a nice little package all round. Interestingly, LT predicted that I wouldn't like this book - no idea why? 4/5 *s from me. ( )