The Violence Audiobook By Delilah S. Dawson cover art

The Violence

A Novel

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Violence

By: Delilah S. Dawson
Narrated by: Hillary Huber
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $22.50

Buy for $22.50

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

How far would you go to be free? Three generations of women forge a new path through an America torn by a mysterious wave of violence in this “chilling [and] dizzyingly effective” (The New York Times Book Review) novel of revenge, liberation, and triumph.

“A compulsively readable fusion of domestic thriller and modern horror.”—Kameron Hurley, author of The Light Brigade

“A novel that defines this era.”—Stephen Graham Jones, New York Times bestselling author of The Only Good Indians

FINALIST FOR THE ITW THRILLER AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times

They call it The Violence: a strange epidemic that causes the infected to experience sudden bursts of animalistic rage, with no provocation and no memory of their crimes. While it tears the nation apart, one woman sees something unlikely in the chaos—an opportunity.

Chelsea Martin has been a prisoner in her own home for too long. Her controlling husband has manipulated her for years, cutting her off from all support. Her narcissistic mother is no help, and her teen daughter is realizing she might be falling into the same trap when her once adoring boyfriend shows a dark side.

But when the Violence erupts, Chelsea creates a plan to liberate herself and her daughters once and for all.

What follows is a shocking and thrilling journey as three generations of women navigate a world in which they are finally empowered to fight back. Somewhere along the journey from her magazine-ready Tampa home to the professional wrestling ring, Chelsea becomes her own liberator, an avatar of revenge and hope, and a new heroine for a new world.

©2022 Delilah S. Dawson (P)2022 Random House Audio
Action & Adventure Dystopian Science Fiction Suspense Thriller & Suspense Fiction Thriller

Critic reviews

"Dawson’s thriller is a surprising, exhilarating journey of three generations of women navigating a changing world.”The Washington Post

“Every summer needs a superb thriller, and this is it. A story of three generations of women making their way through an America ravaged by violence, this is also a wonderful narrative about liberation and perseverance.”The Boston Globe

“Dawson’s prose is a kind of knife work: short, sharp stabs after agonies of teeth-clenching tension. . . . Dizzyingly effective . . . It’s impossible not to read.”The New York Times Book Review

What listeners say about The Violence

Highly rated for:

Gripping Story Excellent Narration Creative Concepts Emotional Journey Satisfying Conclusion
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    272
  • 4 Stars
    102
  • 3 Stars
    41
  • 2 Stars
    15
  • 1 Stars
    11
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    297
  • 4 Stars
    74
  • 3 Stars
    24
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    6
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    239
  • 4 Stars
    105
  • 3 Stars
    38
  • 2 Stars
    9
  • 1 Stars
    14

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I liked it a lot!

I didn't expect much going into this book but it was really good. More suspenseful than you might expect the narrator was fantastic as always.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Could have been better

The premise of the Violence was very interesting. I really enjoyed the characters (especially Patricia). However there was too much naval gazing (especially in the last quarter), too many cliches and politics.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this book!

It was totally different and entertaining. I couldn't stop listening and liked the ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing!

I loved this book. Such a great commentary of life these days and the struggle of those abused

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Character development

An unrealistic situation but a very realistic reaction by most of the characters. Loved the changes in many of the characters. The ending was a little too pat. But oh so satisfying! Bad guy gets his and those who grew survived happily ever after.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Holy cow patties Flirida Woman!

I will give nothing away outside of the title of this review. Smart, current, scathing social commentary, gut-wrenching, compelling, disturbing and uplifting.

The narration is outstanding and this is a near perfect listen. I only write near perfect because I don't believe in perfection.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

A good story

I was really loving this story in the beginning. The three points of view from the mother, grandmother, and eldest daughter were so great. I loved that they had so many echoed experiences. The book started to get shaky for me when the family split up. It hit a bit of a hump in the middle that it struggled to come back from. I am satisfied with the end of this and there are so many great quotable lines but in the end I wish it hadn’t lost the momentum it had in the beginning.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Pretty good

It was a pretty good story. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. Read it, go!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Unlike anything I've read before

The author really put together a fabulous tale. Although the VFR angle was a little off the rails, somehow it worked. Narration was excellent.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

So much more than the title suggests

Wow. So many complex themes wrapped in a journey of self-discovery and suffused with deep emotions and revelations. I felt both empowered and saddened by the struggles faced by the main characters. The narrative style and shifting perspectives made me feel both omniscient and clueless as to what might happen next. A passionate and strong performance by the narrator was a perfect compliment to the story. Highly recommend!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful