Review of 'Unsinkable by 'Jenni L Walsh

Review of 'Unsinkable by 'Jenni L Walsh

Release date: January 9th, 2024

Publisher: Harper Muse

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REVIEW

I absolutely loved this novel! It really captivated me. I just could not stop reading it. Two fantastic story threads of two unsinkable women who faced life-changing events. Anything that includes the Titanic is always of great interest for me. And this book took me on a very different journey from others. It was a very pleasant surprise! The cover first caught my attention and then the first page pulled me in. This is a remarkable novel I will never forget.

Unsinkable by Jenni L Walsh is a book about bravery, survival, family devotion, second chances and enduring love. It covers both the First and Second World War in two timelines. Each thread is equally engaging. There are tie ins between the two but these are woven together more towards the end with wonderful revelations and surprises.

The older timeline surrounds the character of Violet who is actually a real woman of notable history. She worked on the three sister ships that met disaster: Olympic (1911) Titanic (1912) and Britannic (1914). These were all designed to be the largest, safest and most luxurious of their time. But, as we know, things did not turn out as expected. Violet was a ship stewardess and later a ship’s nurse during the First World War. She was on the Olympic when it collided with the British warship HMS Hawke. Despite damage, they were able to make it back to port without sinking. After repairs, the ship went back into service and Violet continued to work on it another seven months until she was transferred to the Titanic. And yes, as we know it sank. She was saved again after being ordered into a lifeboat. But not with empty arms for she was handed a baby to take to safety. This novel draws upon these facts and expands upon them with some creative license. Personally, I liked how the author used this information.

Then World War I breaks and the Britannic is turned into a hospital ship and Violet returns to the sea when an unexplained explosion occurs sinking the ship in the Aegean Sea within fifty-five minutes. Violet and other passengers nearly die from the shredding propellers. She jumps out of the lifeboat, injures her head but survives again. It took a lot of courage to keep returning to the sea considering all her near death experiences. But she remains dedicated to caring for her family. She sacrifices much, including abandoning her own dreams. Violet keeps going back to the sea to faces her fears. I admire her tenacity. And Ms Walsh paints a vivid and intriguing picture of this woman’s resilient character.

The second timeline with Daphne (and her various undercover names) is a fictional woman but the inspiration behind her creation is fascinating. She has survived many calamities. Starting from babyhood. Her mother has tragically died. She grows up under a very successful father. His accomplishments have made her competitive. And she is constantly seeking his approval and attention. You might say she is an active overachiever: well schooled and is great with languages. The author’s notes inform us she is based on a number of women who were part of the Special Operations Executive, French Section (SOE F). Ms Walsh has combined their backgrounds, experiences and accomplishments. This was no small task but I feel she has pulled this off seamlessly and Daphne becomes an admirable representative of all these heroic women. The journey through this woman’s life is quite a wild ride! But it is extremely fascinating and kept me glued to the pages.

Both women are strong, unsinkable and motivated. But both want to please their fathers. Violet promised her father to always care for the family and so she sacrifices everything to stick to this course. Daphne is motivated by her desire to impress her father so she throws herself into dangerous situations where she can be brave and heroic. Daphne sees this as the only way to keep from being invisible to her father.

This is a brilliant piece of fiction for lovers of the Titanic. You will be drawn to Violet’s story but also be fascinated by Daphne’s WWII heroics. I loved this novel from start to finish and highly recommend it. 5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Harper Muse and Netgalley for my review copy.

 

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