This novel tells the story of Violette, a cemetery caretaker in a small town in Burgundy(France). Visitors, both occasional and regular, come to her home to warm up and chat. We discover her past through a poignant narrative, tinged with humor and suspense. Through Violette, numerous themes are explored: how to create a family when you haven’t known a family home, how to love when you haven’t been loved, how to survive after a tragedy, and how to regain confidence in yourself and others. During the narrative—sometimes a little confusing due to the flashbacks—we encounter some very likeable, even endearing, secondary characters: the unconventional cemetery workers, an open-minded priest, a police officer, and many others who accompany Violette on her quest for a peaceful life.

Reading this novel brought me great pleasure: I enjoyed discovering Violette’s secrets and her evolution throughout the story. I was deeply moved by this complex and compelling character. I appreciated the details, the typically French touches (music from my era…). It’s a beautiful story about humanity.

Valérie Perrin is a French novelist born in 1967. She is also a screenwriter and has collaborated on numerous films with the renowned French director Claude Lelouch, to whom she has been married for several years. Her novels are beautiful stories of life. She has written two other novels that also deeply moved me: “Forgotten on Sunday” and “Three.”

Irene-Marie, April 2026

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