So I went to Windhelm and explored a bit, came across Sadri's used wares and solved this ring thing he had. Viola Giordano was wandering around and complaining about the killings, so pretty much alive and kicking. But when I started investigating the Blood on the Ice case she wasn't around anymore. Jorleif keeps telling me to get an earful from Viola, but she is nowhere to be found... The first (few) nights the quest marker hung around Candleheart Hall, but she wasn't there. Waited for days, checked out her house at different times during the day, nothing. Sold the amulet to the guy from the museum, went looking for her again, nothing...

I'm guessing she is dead, but I never killed her or saw her getting killed... This is really sad, especially considering I went on with other quests and have A LOT of time spent after this bug making it impossible to get a previous save loaded... Is there some magical way to get Viola to come back or get around her or is the quest doomed for the rest of my (Skyrim) life? Who else has this Viola gone missing problem?

Have you tried talking to the court mage? It may be possible to skip past talking to Viola if you do.

Do you have a copy of 'Beware the Butcher' in your inventory? If you didn't pick one up at the house, that might be the issue. You can't talk to her without one. She might appear if you add one to your inventory.

Good luck. Notoriously buggy quest.

Tried all that, nothing worked... Been walking around doing all sorts of errands and quests with these journals and that copy of Beware the Butcher, in case I run into her. Nothing.

Jorleif sends me to her and the court mage has no related options yet, they come after talking to Viola, according to the various walkthroughs I've read (you do mean the old guy in the basemant right?)...

Same as the above for me with the exception:

When I had to replace the Gold Ring, it came up as failed as somehow, she detected me from the upper floor. And the Blood on the Ice quest hasn't triggered for me, so I'm in a bad situation now 200+ hours in when she's vanished. Of course, Windhelm has now changed to Imperial Rule.

And Viola has vanished - due to a Dragon Attack I think.

It shouldn't be possible for her to die, at least not before this major quest is finished... Might be an idea for implementing, I'm really really really! not happy with her demise...

I had the same problem, after i couldnt find her i went into the hall of the dead and found her in a coffin. Not sure how she died or why, but you cant upgrade the house in windhelm without completing that quest. 12 grand wasted lol i do have the house and housecarl....he just sits in the only chair there starring at the floor lol

So with the new patch this should be solved. Only I'm not seeing any difference. This only works for new players in 1.5?

The same seems to have happened to me now... I'm rather annoyed.

I have the same thing. She is gone, and I can't continue the quest..

Pity the 1.5 claims to solve, but doesnt... I found her coffin, now still stuck with this quest.

Unfortunately the patches don't fix problems already in progress. They can do nothing to your savefile so if a quest is already bugged, it will stay that way.

Go to Sadri's Used Wares Sadri has a ring he wants returned she'll come back but don't give the ring to her on the street but ask other questions. The ring must be put back in her house after she leaves ( around 9:00 AM ). Otherwise Sadri's quest will hang.