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Reincarnationist #4
Il libro dei profumi perduti
Jac L'Étoile è da sempre in fuga dal passato. Ultima erede di una grande e decaduta famiglia di profumieri francesi, è tormentata dal ricordo di un amore perduto e da misteriose visioni innescate dalle fragranze esotiche che respira fin da bambina. Per liberarsene è fuggita a New York, dove lavora come studiosa di mitologia e autrice televisiva. Ma il passato riemerge quando il fratello Robbie, deciso a tentare il tutto per tutto pur di risollevare le sorti della famiglia, le annuncia di aver ritrovato un antico testo, "Il libro dei profumi perduti", e alcune tracce del leggendario profumo delle anime gemelle, un'essenza in grado di risvegliare memorie di vite trascorse e fornire così la prova della reincarnazione. È l'inizio di un'avventura che costringerà Jac a fare i conti con i propri fantasmi e ad affrontare oscuri nemici per i quali la posta in gioco non sono i sentimenti, ma il potere. Dall'Egitto di Cleopatra alla Francia rivoluzionaria, dalle montagne del Tibet alle catacombe di Parigi, "Il libro dei profumi perduti" è un thriller dell'anima, un susseguirsi di intrighi, passioni e colpi di scena.
430 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2012
198 people are currently reading
6445 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Rose
89 books2,290 followersNew York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.
Her most recent novel, The Last Tiara, will be published Feb 2, 2021
Rose's work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com
The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization's co-president..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 761 reviews
February 8, 2012
I enjoyed this book a great deal. I have a more than passing - okay, voracious - interest in all things mythological and specifically archetypal, this spoke directly to one of my passions. However, that is not by any means the subject of this work. Rose manages to incorporate mythology, psychology, reincarnation, Chinese politics, Tibetan history, the Chinese Mafia in places as far-flung as Paris, along with the science of perfumery, archaeology and metaphysical exploration into one surprisingly coherent whole.
For those of you who cannot stand a story without a love story - it's there. If you want a thriller - it's there. If you want history, ancient and more contemporary - it's there. So is science and a host of other issues that all wind around each other to create one of those intricate Chinese decorative knots, each strand necessary and holding together the whole.
Towards the end, I began to wonder about why not as background had been given for one character in particular, and why two other past-life memory aids kept being mentioned. It finally occurred to me that the author had a previous book entitled The Reincarnationist, and that is the term used to describe the troubling character. I need to do a bit of digging, but I bet he showed up in some of her earlier work. Rest assured, however, this book can and does stand on its own quite well.
For those of you who cannot stand a story without a love story - it's there. If you want a thriller - it's there. If you want history, ancient and more contemporary - it's there. So is science and a host of other issues that all wind around each other to create one of those intricate Chinese decorative knots, each strand necessary and holding together the whole.
Towards the end, I began to wonder about why not as background had been given for one character in particular, and why two other past-life memory aids kept being mentioned. It finally occurred to me that the author had a previous book entitled The Reincarnationist, and that is the term used to describe the troubling character. I need to do a bit of digging, but I bet he showed up in some of her earlier work. Rest assured, however, this book can and does stand on its own quite well.
April 19, 2012
Finished it. Probably against my better judgement.
Overly wrought and complicated, as many threads as the Bayeaux Tapestry. I think it suffered from not having a strong editor. Plot basics, fine. Conversations, a bit wooden. Exposition, way too much pointless and unused details. And just the sheer number of characters thrown on the pages, almost as if let's just see what sticks.
1. Bring in the stepmom for barely two page mention. Why didn't she get some control of the family business? And after Dad's illness we get another character as caretaker.
2. Not just a "we are being followed", but a silly throwaway about converting microwave to electrical energy?
3. "I am a skeptic because I'm a scientist" but really she's just a American reality TV "star".
4. Oooh, the house may be bugged so let's talk in a restaurant and in the garden. But using the house wifi, yes, that's secure.
5. Can we go more than five pages without "ah, soulmates"? Lost in time, together forever, blah, blah, blah. Until you actually get to the point of meh, who cares.
6. Foreshadowing and flashbacks both done with the subtle touch of a cast iron skillet.
7. I keep hearing "Mama, We're all Crazy Now" as the soundtrack.
8. I had a miserable life (but my brother turned out great), so I became the kind of person who goes up to stranger's children to tell them THE TRUTH about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy. It's hard to having such an unlikable protagonist.
9. Let's see: the China "Chinese" guy & his girlfriend & prof & spy & friend/spy, the Paris Chinese girl & her father figure/boyfriend & company, the Paris police, the old and current Egyptologist (one actually being a perfumer), the nun/fiancée, the brother, the father figure/doctor, the really inept spies/mercenaries, the father, the dead mother, the grandparents & aunt, the stepmom, the caretaker, the Egyptian lovers and pursuers, the whole Dalai Lama organization, the fake Dalai Lama people (see previous) who also turn out to be brother's lover-whew, I think I caught most of the list.
10. Only Caucasians call them Triads, but that's what we will call ourselves only a few pages later and throughout the book??
11. 1798, Napolean goes to Egypt. ~1794, Reign of Terror ends. But girlfriend/nun/fiancée dies in the Terror AFTER dude dies in Egypt with Napolean. No evidence of blue British police box so far but would seem to be necessary to explain discrepancy.
12. Dude dies in Egypt but also brought back all this stuff - obelisk, jars, stories, etc. so far only 1 trip to Egypt defined. Brought, not shipped, brought back. Again, missing large blue box that's bigger on the inside.
13. Oh, wait. Not dead. Either of them. See #5, ad nasuem. And really, waltzes back into life in Paris after being dead in Egypt and even the family does not remember?
14. And of course, that free sample of perfume you were supposed to get if you pre-ordered the book. Never got it. Never got a response to the email either. Scamarama.
Yeah, really needed an editor.
Overly wrought and complicated, as many threads as the Bayeaux Tapestry. I think it suffered from not having a strong editor. Plot basics, fine. Conversations, a bit wooden. Exposition, way too much pointless and unused details. And just the sheer number of characters thrown on the pages, almost as if let's just see what sticks.
1. Bring in the stepmom for barely two page mention. Why didn't she get some control of the family business? And after Dad's illness we get another character as caretaker.
2. Not just a "we are being followed", but a silly throwaway about converting microwave to electrical energy?
3. "I am a skeptic because I'm a scientist" but really she's just a American reality TV "star".
4. Oooh, the house may be bugged so let's talk in a restaurant and in the garden. But using the house wifi, yes, that's secure.
5. Can we go more than five pages without "ah, soulmates"? Lost in time, together forever, blah, blah, blah. Until you actually get to the point of meh, who cares.
6. Foreshadowing and flashbacks both done with the subtle touch of a cast iron skillet.
7. I keep hearing "Mama, We're all Crazy Now" as the soundtrack.
8. I had a miserable life (but my brother turned out great), so I became the kind of person who goes up to stranger's children to tell them THE TRUTH about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy. It's hard to having such an unlikable protagonist.
9. Let's see: the China "Chinese" guy & his girlfriend & prof & spy & friend/spy, the Paris Chinese girl & her father figure/boyfriend & company, the Paris police, the old and current Egyptologist (one actually being a perfumer), the nun/fiancée, the brother, the father figure/doctor, the really inept spies/mercenaries, the father, the dead mother, the grandparents & aunt, the stepmom, the caretaker, the Egyptian lovers and pursuers, the whole Dalai Lama organization, the fake Dalai Lama people (see previous) who also turn out to be brother's lover-whew, I think I caught most of the list.
10. Only Caucasians call them Triads, but that's what we will call ourselves only a few pages later and throughout the book??
11. 1798, Napolean goes to Egypt. ~1794, Reign of Terror ends. But girlfriend/nun/fiancée dies in the Terror AFTER dude dies in Egypt with Napolean. No evidence of blue British police box so far but would seem to be necessary to explain discrepancy.
12. Dude dies in Egypt but also brought back all this stuff - obelisk, jars, stories, etc. so far only 1 trip to Egypt defined. Brought, not shipped, brought back. Again, missing large blue box that's bigger on the inside.
13. Oh, wait. Not dead. Either of them. See #5, ad nasuem. And really, waltzes back into life in Paris after being dead in Egypt and even the family does not remember?
14. And of course, that free sample of perfume you were supposed to get if you pre-ordered the book. Never got it. Never got a response to the email either. Scamarama.
Yeah, really needed an editor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2015
Edited 2/16/2012: One of my blog readers was kind enough to forward my review on to the author and she was in turn kind enough to provide me with proof that fantastical is indeed a word.
I stand corrected.
__________________
The Book of Lost Fragrances was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Simon & Schuster, Inc..
Expected Publication Date: March 13th 2012
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
2.5 stars
Storyline
Jac L’Etoile escapes to America after the suicide of her mother. Her brother, Robert, remains in Paris to assist their father with their perfume house; however, following his death the two inherit the company. In order to avoid bankruptcy, Robert (Robbie) feels that they must sell some of the company's product in order to stay afloat but inevitably uncovers something that changes everything. When Jac returns to Paris to assist her brother she finds him missing and a man is dead on the floor of their perfume house.
A side story (which is not mentioned in the summary of the novel) is regarding the debate/battle between China and Tibet regarding the exile of the Lamas. There is a brief reference to this in the very beginning of the novel but it seemed so far-fetched and ill-fitting with the part of the story that had already been told that I felt as if I was reading another book entirely.
The Bad
The main problem I had with this story was that it was just far too much wrapped into too tiny of a package and it failed to keep my attention. I appreciate the concept but the delivery was too messy. China, Tibet, and the living Buddha, Jungian archetypes, Cleopatra, reincarnation and past-lives, Napoleon... need I continue? The concept was there but I feel that it fell completely flat and failed to sufficiently come together and that the plot was too convenient and failed to impress. The pacing of the story was definitely off as the author was either throwing huge chunks of information in at the wrong times or she was changing the point of view far too often for my liking.
The Not So Bad
I really enjoyed the writing style... at times; it was extremely vivid and descriptive. The thing with beautiful writing though is oftentimes if it's not done perfectly then it can feel overdone and/or forced. in this case I did feel it was overdone. Here's an example:
'Up close, the scent was rich and ripe, and he felt himself float away on its wings, away from the tomb, out into the open, under the sky, under the moon, to a riverbank where he could feel the wind and taste the cool night.'
Final Thoughts
I believe that if I was even just a tiny bit more patient then this could have been an enjoyable novel for me. I had difficulty following the numerous complex storylines and the multiple characters involved and just felt that overall too much was shoved into the storyline. The complexity of the story definitely felt forced and lacked a needed flow. As far as how it all came together, I could probably say that it actually did come full circle in the end but by the time everything started making sense it was just far too late for me to really care.
Final comment: the use of the word 'fantastical' left me a bit dumbfounded. Now correct me if I'm wrong but the last I checked that was not, in fact, a word. A real one that is. And considering the usage and the fact that it didn't seem to be made in error makes me only hope that maybe fantastical didn't make it into the final copy of this book.
I stand corrected.
__________________
The Book of Lost Fragrances was kindly provided to me by Netgalley for Simon & Schuster, Inc..
Expected Publication Date: March 13th 2012
Interested in more of my reviews? Visit my blog!
2.5 stars
Storyline
Jac L’Etoile escapes to America after the suicide of her mother. Her brother, Robert, remains in Paris to assist their father with their perfume house; however, following his death the two inherit the company. In order to avoid bankruptcy, Robert (Robbie) feels that they must sell some of the company's product in order to stay afloat but inevitably uncovers something that changes everything. When Jac returns to Paris to assist her brother she finds him missing and a man is dead on the floor of their perfume house.
A side story (which is not mentioned in the summary of the novel) is regarding the debate/battle between China and Tibet regarding the exile of the Lamas. There is a brief reference to this in the very beginning of the novel but it seemed so far-fetched and ill-fitting with the part of the story that had already been told that I felt as if I was reading another book entirely.
The Bad
The main problem I had with this story was that it was just far too much wrapped into too tiny of a package and it failed to keep my attention. I appreciate the concept but the delivery was too messy. China, Tibet, and the living Buddha, Jungian archetypes, Cleopatra, reincarnation and past-lives, Napoleon... need I continue? The concept was there but I feel that it fell completely flat and failed to sufficiently come together and that the plot was too convenient and failed to impress. The pacing of the story was definitely off as the author was either throwing huge chunks of information in at the wrong times or she was changing the point of view far too often for my liking.
The Not So Bad
I really enjoyed the writing style... at times; it was extremely vivid and descriptive. The thing with beautiful writing though is oftentimes if it's not done perfectly then it can feel overdone and/or forced. in this case I did feel it was overdone. Here's an example:
'Up close, the scent was rich and ripe, and he felt himself float away on its wings, away from the tomb, out into the open, under the sky, under the moon, to a riverbank where he could feel the wind and taste the cool night.'
Final Thoughts
I believe that if I was even just a tiny bit more patient then this could have been an enjoyable novel for me. I had difficulty following the numerous complex storylines and the multiple characters involved and just felt that overall too much was shoved into the storyline. The complexity of the story definitely felt forced and lacked a needed flow. As far as how it all came together, I could probably say that it actually did come full circle in the end but by the time everything started making sense it was just far too late for me to really care.
March 16, 2014
I'm not saying this is necessarily a bad book, but I absolutely hated it. Nothing about this book worked for me. I found the writing style to be awkward, graceless and annoying; the writer seems to favor melodrama and short, choppy sentences. Here's an example of both of my complaints:
That section is even more awful reading it the second time. I especially love the "two woeful halves coming together." That is really bad and incredibly funny. I revise my above statement--this is a bad book. It was like a really, really bad romance novel with mysticism, international intrigue, and politics thrown in all together. None of it worked for me on any level. I didn't care about Jac and her missing brother Robbie (what is he, 12 yrs old? Drop the little kid version of your name, Robbie) and Griffin, Jac's old lover. None of them had any damn personalities and they didn't seem to experience feelings of any depth. The writer told me that Jac felt sad or was angry, etc., but I never felt that Jac felt anything. I was not emotionally vested in the characters and could not have cared less what happened to them.
The plot didn't make any sense to me. Robbie found pieces of ancient pottery that a past L'Etoile had taken from an Egyptian tomb. The pottery had once contained a type of perfume that apparently could transport a person who breathed it in into their past lives. But the pottery shards also had importance too as some kind of "memory tool" that would help a person experience his/her past lives. So Robbie wants to give it to the Dalai Lama so he can use it to find his successor. Malachai, who is a past life therapist or some such nonsense, wants the pottery to experience his past lives. There's a Chinese student who's really a Tibetan traveling to France on a secret mission to get the pottery from Robbie to give to the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government is employing Chinese mafia to steal the pottery because they want to suppress the Tibetans by stopping the line of Dalai Lamas. A majority of the book is Jac and Griffin wandering around trying to find Robbie because he disappeared with the pottery. It's all completely ridiculous and pointless and I didn't give a damn who ended up with the freaking pottery.
Jac is an extremely annoying character. I mean, I didn't like any of them, but I found her particularly smack-worthy. She is negative, doubtful, and refuses to recognize that she can experience past lives when smelling this certain rare Egyptian perfume. There's a reason for this of course and I already had that part of the novel figured out before I hit page 100. One of the problems with this novel (and there are many) was the multitude of themes: reincarnation, Tibetan politics, perfume, long-lost lovers, and the (non) suspenseful/thriller plot. If a novel is well-written, I'll believe any kind of weirdo nonsense the writer wants me to believe. But as a reader I never felt that the writer took the time to interest me in these themes and while philosophically I think reincarnation is fascinating, I couldn't buy into it for the novel. Ironically, I am independently interested in reincarnation, perfume-making (although I rarely wear perfume), Tibetan mysticism and the terrible Chinese crackdown of the Tibetan people, but I would much rather read non-fiction books about those topics. For me, the author didn't blend in her myriad of themes well enough to make a decent, engrossing novel.
The pacing of the novel was also jerky. The story was halted over and over again to give the reader some backstory, old memory, past detail--and much of it wasn't germane to the story. This happened so often I began skimming the little trips down memory lane just to save time.
The climax of the novel was decidely anti-climatic and boring. Also the ending is odd in that Jac and Robbie's father (who is mentioned on and off throughout the book but never seemed to be all that important to the story)shows up and there is a reunion scene between him and Jac. I don't really understand the significance of this because even though I know there is some breach between him and his children, throughout the novel Jac doesn't seem to think a whole lot about him and I was surprised by the ending (not in a good way). It was obviously supposed to be very meaningful and moving and blah blah blah but mostly I thought it developed out of no where and again, I could not have cared less.
It is funny that I anticipated the publication of this book so much but was so incredibly disappointed. Because of this, I have decided to adopt a new rule: no buying books until I have read at least the first two or three chapters. I'm tired of buying books that I end up hating so much I can't/won't pass them on to my friends to read. I'll end up donating this one to the local library.
I'm sure many people really liked this book and I'm happy for them. I disliked it intensely and will not recommend it to my friends. I will probably stay away from this author since I particularly dislike her writing style.
There would never be any more sadness. Never any more longing, because they would never again separate. This act sealed their fates. They were two woeful halves coming together. Forming a whole that left no room for air, for fire, for scent or stink, for water, for breath. They were together. Without thought or wisdom or words. They were together. As they had always been, forever, Jac thought in one moment of clarity as she was overwhelmed by the gift of oblivion that only such a deep and painful explosion could render (211).
That section is even more awful reading it the second time. I especially love the "two woeful halves coming together." That is really bad and incredibly funny. I revise my above statement--this is a bad book. It was like a really, really bad romance novel with mysticism, international intrigue, and politics thrown in all together. None of it worked for me on any level. I didn't care about Jac and her missing brother Robbie (what is he, 12 yrs old? Drop the little kid version of your name, Robbie) and Griffin, Jac's old lover. None of them had any damn personalities and they didn't seem to experience feelings of any depth. The writer told me that Jac felt sad or was angry, etc., but I never felt that Jac felt anything. I was not emotionally vested in the characters and could not have cared less what happened to them.
The plot didn't make any sense to me. Robbie found pieces of ancient pottery that a past L'Etoile had taken from an Egyptian tomb. The pottery had once contained a type of perfume that apparently could transport a person who breathed it in into their past lives. But the pottery shards also had importance too as some kind of "memory tool" that would help a person experience his/her past lives. So Robbie wants to give it to the Dalai Lama so he can use it to find his successor. Malachai, who is a past life therapist or some such nonsense, wants the pottery to experience his past lives. There's a Chinese student who's really a Tibetan traveling to France on a secret mission to get the pottery from Robbie to give to the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government is employing Chinese mafia to steal the pottery because they want to suppress the Tibetans by stopping the line of Dalai Lamas. A majority of the book is Jac and Griffin wandering around trying to find Robbie because he disappeared with the pottery. It's all completely ridiculous and pointless and I didn't give a damn who ended up with the freaking pottery.
Jac is an extremely annoying character. I mean, I didn't like any of them, but I found her particularly smack-worthy. She is negative, doubtful, and refuses to recognize that she can experience past lives when smelling this certain rare Egyptian perfume. There's a reason for this of course and I already had that part of the novel figured out before I hit page 100. One of the problems with this novel (and there are many) was the multitude of themes: reincarnation, Tibetan politics, perfume, long-lost lovers, and the (non) suspenseful/thriller plot. If a novel is well-written, I'll believe any kind of weirdo nonsense the writer wants me to believe. But as a reader I never felt that the writer took the time to interest me in these themes and while philosophically I think reincarnation is fascinating, I couldn't buy into it for the novel. Ironically, I am independently interested in reincarnation, perfume-making (although I rarely wear perfume), Tibetan mysticism and the terrible Chinese crackdown of the Tibetan people, but I would much rather read non-fiction books about those topics. For me, the author didn't blend in her myriad of themes well enough to make a decent, engrossing novel.
The pacing of the novel was also jerky. The story was halted over and over again to give the reader some backstory, old memory, past detail--and much of it wasn't germane to the story. This happened so often I began skimming the little trips down memory lane just to save time.
The climax of the novel was decidely anti-climatic and boring. Also the ending is odd in that Jac and Robbie's father (who is mentioned on and off throughout the book but never seemed to be all that important to the story)shows up and there is a reunion scene between him and Jac. I don't really understand the significance of this because even though I know there is some breach between him and his children, throughout the novel Jac doesn't seem to think a whole lot about him and I was surprised by the ending (not in a good way). It was obviously supposed to be very meaningful and moving and blah blah blah but mostly I thought it developed out of no where and again, I could not have cared less.
It is funny that I anticipated the publication of this book so much but was so incredibly disappointed. Because of this, I have decided to adopt a new rule: no buying books until I have read at least the first two or three chapters. I'm tired of buying books that I end up hating so much I can't/won't pass them on to my friends to read. I'll end up donating this one to the local library.
I'm sure many people really liked this book and I'm happy for them. I disliked it intensely and will not recommend it to my friends. I will probably stay away from this author since I particularly dislike her writing style.
April 3, 2012
I have to admit to being a long time fan of M.J. Rose but I think that this is her best yet, although I was, and am, a huge fan of The Reincarnationist. Ostensibly this book it is to be one in a series but I find that this is a solid stand alone book. MJ Rose has an excellent trailer video about the book on her website - and you also find information about about the Joya fragrance that was inspired by the book on her website as well..
This book has all of the elements that make heart sing when I read a book. Fragrance - I am a 'nose' and the industry of fragrance has intrigued me for many years. My memories are tied to scent. What a perfect addition to the book's theme! Other titilalting elements of the book include an ancient artifact from Egypt and the book is set in one of the world's most glorious cities - Paris. This book is a thriller to be sure, but it is also a story about families, love, the creation of fragrance, the bonds between people and how thin the veil between now and then can be. It's an irresistible combination that flows strongly from the first page through to the last gripping scene.
I found this book to be unstoppable, "un-put-downable and thoroughly engrossing from the first page to the last ! You simply can't miss with this book!
This book has all of the elements that make heart sing when I read a book. Fragrance - I am a 'nose' and the industry of fragrance has intrigued me for many years. My memories are tied to scent. What a perfect addition to the book's theme! Other titilalting elements of the book include an ancient artifact from Egypt and the book is set in one of the world's most glorious cities - Paris. This book is a thriller to be sure, but it is also a story about families, love, the creation of fragrance, the bonds between people and how thin the veil between now and then can be. It's an irresistible combination that flows strongly from the first page through to the last gripping scene.
I found this book to be unstoppable, "un-put-downable and thoroughly engrossing from the first page to the last ! You simply can't miss with this book!
September 9, 2016
A French perfumer is commissioned in the 1800s to recreate a scent formula from Cleopatra’s fragrance factory. It is believed that those who smell the euphoric scent find a portal to past lives. The Book of Lost Fragrances—part thriller, part ancient history, and part romance—surprises on many levels.
Martyred Tibetan monks attempting to prove reincarnation. Napoleon. Cleopatra’s secret soul-mate fragrance formula. A modern day near-bankrupt perfume company. The famous 18th century French L’Etoile House of Fragrance. Children cooking up scents to be used as a secret language for the nose. A jazz musician and martial arts instructor tied to the Chinese mafia. A past-life therapist.
All are linked by a secret fragrance.
Jac L’Etoile, haunted by the past and her psychotic episodes, tries to cope when her brother, Robbie, disappears. Preferring to live in reality, Jac reluctantly delves into the hazy history of her family’s two hundred and fifty year old perfume business to find her brother and save their legacy.
Well-known for her erotic thrillers, best selling author, M. J. Rose, produces a new historical fiction suspense novel. Fascinated with reincarnation, as evidenced by her three-book Reincarnationist series, Ms. Rose imbues her new novel with a unique plot line.
This is bold writing with an intriguing, original plot. Ms. Rose is a master of intrigue. Suspense and sensuality build through the novel as the characters embark on separate treasure hunts for the mysterious fragrance. While the plot concept is compelling, the execution is less impressive. The novel is overpopulated, dampening its intensity. The story line digresses into so many changing points of view and scenes that the reading is frustrating. The many elements are fascinating and informative, but don’t relate well to each other. Finally, congruence is found but seems forced. If the reader is patient, the last third of the novel satisfies as an electrifying thriller. The book’s most interesting elements are the art of fragrance making, the reoccurring link to reincarnation, and unexpected rekindled romance.
Atria Books through Netgalley graciously provided the review copy.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
Martyred Tibetan monks attempting to prove reincarnation. Napoleon. Cleopatra’s secret soul-mate fragrance formula. A modern day near-bankrupt perfume company. The famous 18th century French L’Etoile House of Fragrance. Children cooking up scents to be used as a secret language for the nose. A jazz musician and martial arts instructor tied to the Chinese mafia. A past-life therapist.
All are linked by a secret fragrance.
Jac L’Etoile, haunted by the past and her psychotic episodes, tries to cope when her brother, Robbie, disappears. Preferring to live in reality, Jac reluctantly delves into the hazy history of her family’s two hundred and fifty year old perfume business to find her brother and save their legacy.
Well-known for her erotic thrillers, best selling author, M. J. Rose, produces a new historical fiction suspense novel. Fascinated with reincarnation, as evidenced by her three-book Reincarnationist series, Ms. Rose imbues her new novel with a unique plot line.
This is bold writing with an intriguing, original plot. Ms. Rose is a master of intrigue. Suspense and sensuality build through the novel as the characters embark on separate treasure hunts for the mysterious fragrance. While the plot concept is compelling, the execution is less impressive. The novel is overpopulated, dampening its intensity. The story line digresses into so many changing points of view and scenes that the reading is frustrating. The many elements are fascinating and informative, but don’t relate well to each other. Finally, congruence is found but seems forced. If the reader is patient, the last third of the novel satisfies as an electrifying thriller. The book’s most interesting elements are the art of fragrance making, the reoccurring link to reincarnation, and unexpected rekindled romance.
Atria Books through Netgalley graciously provided the review copy.
Reviewed by Holly Weiss, author of Crestmont
November 13, 2020
Sono rimasta un po' spiazzata quando ho scoperto che questo era il quarto libro di una serie, anche perché - dopo un iniziale smarrimento per l'intrecciarsi di diverse storie nei secoli - non avevo alcun problema a seguire la narrazione. Questo perché si tratta di una serie che parla di reincarnazione, ma ogni libro ha una storia a sé.
Questo episodio riguarda un misterioso profumo che riesce a risvegliare, solo nelle persone più ricettive, naturalmente, tutte le loro vite passate, e Jac, discendente da una dinastia di profumieri, è proprio una di queste persone, ma il suo pragmatismo l'ha tenuta lontana dal laboratorio di famiglia proprio per evitare di avere delle crisi che non la fanno sentire normale.
Suo fratello Robbie, però, ritrova dei frammenti di una boccetta su cui ci sono tracce di un profumo magico, proveniente addirittura dall'Egitto di Cleopatra, con una pergamena che chiede al suo amico Griffin di decifrare.
Parallelamente a questa storia principale, viene raccontato il reale tentativo di ingerenza del governo cinese nell'elezione del Dalai Lama - che avviene per riconoscimento da parte di un altro monaco, il Panchen Lama. Nel 1995, il bambino riconosciuto dal Dalai Lama come Panchen Lama fu rapito dal governo cinese nella speranza di poter influire sulla scelta del prossimo leader spirituale tibetano, alla morte dell’attuale Dalai Lama.
Profondamente buddista, Robbie rinuncia a tutte le offerte che gli vengono fatte per i frammenti della boccetta egizia - molte davvero cospicue - perché vuol far dono di quel magico reperto al Dalai Lama.
Ma le proprietà magiche di quei frammenti di vasetto fanno gola a molte persone, e Robbie riceverà la visita di uno strano giornalista che lo minaccia con una pistola.
Quando Robbie scompare improvvisamente e il sedicente giornalista viene trovato morto nel suo laboratorio, Jac lascia New York e corre a Parigi, nella speranza di trovare suo fratello ancora vivo, e disposta a cercarlo anche accanto a Griffin, l'uomo che amava e che l'ha abbandonata tempo prima.
La storia è molto intrigante, ma ho avuto l'impressione che ci fosse troppa carne al fuoco, ragion per cui alcuni retroscena che avrebbero potuto essere approfonditi, sono stati tralasciati, lasciandomi insoddisfatta.
Non so se leggerò i volumi precedenti o i successivi, anche perché le scelte delle case editrici italiane sono state davvero assurde, per cui mi toccherebbe leggere alcuni libri in italiano e altri in inglese. Per esempio, mi risulta che questo è l'unico volume tradotto da Fabbri, mentre i primi due sono stati tradotti da Harlequin, e il terzo, il quinto e il sesto non sono stati tradotti...
Questo episodio riguarda un misterioso profumo che riesce a risvegliare, solo nelle persone più ricettive, naturalmente, tutte le loro vite passate, e Jac, discendente da una dinastia di profumieri, è proprio una di queste persone, ma il suo pragmatismo l'ha tenuta lontana dal laboratorio di famiglia proprio per evitare di avere delle crisi che non la fanno sentire normale.
Suo fratello Robbie, però, ritrova dei frammenti di una boccetta su cui ci sono tracce di un profumo magico, proveniente addirittura dall'Egitto di Cleopatra, con una pergamena che chiede al suo amico Griffin di decifrare.
Parallelamente a questa storia principale, viene raccontato il reale tentativo di ingerenza del governo cinese nell'elezione del Dalai Lama - che avviene per riconoscimento da parte di un altro monaco, il Panchen Lama. Nel 1995, il bambino riconosciuto dal Dalai Lama come Panchen Lama fu rapito dal governo cinese nella speranza di poter influire sulla scelta del prossimo leader spirituale tibetano, alla morte dell’attuale Dalai Lama.
Profondamente buddista, Robbie rinuncia a tutte le offerte che gli vengono fatte per i frammenti della boccetta egizia - molte davvero cospicue - perché vuol far dono di quel magico reperto al Dalai Lama.
Ma le proprietà magiche di quei frammenti di vasetto fanno gola a molte persone, e Robbie riceverà la visita di uno strano giornalista che lo minaccia con una pistola.
Quando Robbie scompare improvvisamente e il sedicente giornalista viene trovato morto nel suo laboratorio, Jac lascia New York e corre a Parigi, nella speranza di trovare suo fratello ancora vivo, e disposta a cercarlo anche accanto a Griffin, l'uomo che amava e che l'ha abbandonata tempo prima.
La storia è molto intrigante, ma ho avuto l'impressione che ci fosse troppa carne al fuoco, ragion per cui alcuni retroscena che avrebbero potuto essere approfonditi, sono stati tralasciati, lasciandomi insoddisfatta.
Non so se leggerò i volumi precedenti o i successivi, anche perché le scelte delle case editrici italiane sono state davvero assurde, per cui mi toccherebbe leggere alcuni libri in italiano e altri in inglese. Per esempio, mi risulta che questo è l'unico volume tradotto da Fabbri, mentre i primi due sono stati tradotti da Harlequin, e il terzo, il quinto e il sesto non sono stati tradotti...
March 10, 2012
M.J. Rose has cemented her reputation as one of our leading writers of suspense, fusing thriller elements with history and a fascination with how the past can affect and alter the present. While reincarnation themes dominate her past few books, including the brilliant THE HYPNOTIST, you don't have to be a believer to sink into her carefully constructed ambiance, often populated by damaged yet hopeful characters seeking redemption in an often chaotic and dangerous world.
In THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES, Rose introduces a new character, Jac L'Etoile -a young woman haunted by her past and the ethereal scents that filled her childhood as heir to the French perfume company, House of L'Etoile. Jac's youth is marred by the pain of her mother's untimely death and a difficult relationship with her family, but after fourteen years of living abroad in the United States, her attempts to flee the past catch up with her when she and her talented brother Robbie inherit the family business. The inheritance is rife with trouble; plagued by financial trouble in a relentless corporation-driven era that is destroying the art of natural perfume making in favor of mass production, the once legendary House of L'Etoile is on the brink of ruin. But when Jac's brother stumbles upon a potentially life-changing secret in the family archives and soon thereafter disappears under frightening circumstances, Jac finds herself thrust into a desperate gambit to find her brother, unravel the mystery of the legendary fragrance of Cleopatra - a possible tool to restore past-life memories - and find a way to confront, and make peace, with her shattered past.
Ms Rose excels, as always, at depicting her troubled heroine's journey as Jac navigates the glamorous boulevards of the City of Lights and the lethal underworld of reincarnation tools and those who will stop at nothing to obtain them. Rose also populates her fast-moving, breathtaking narrative with a host of memorable secondary characters, including assassins and a shadowy figure that her fans will recognize from past books. But it is her meticulous attention to the evanescent, fascinating world of perfume that sets this novel apart. At moments, the very pages of THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES emanate the ambergris and musk of ancient Egypt, so that you find yourself sniffing your fingers for traces of the elusive, lost perfume. In Jac, Rose has also developed her best heroine yet: a woman whose outward fragility conceals an inner courage that propels her into the terrifying catacombs of Paris on a quest that will re-define Jac's belief in, and powers to, retrieve the past, even as her discoveries exact a heart-breaking, personal sacrifice.
Readers of historical fiction, suspense and mystery should flock to this captivating and unusual novel, which is surely destined for the bestseller lists.
In THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES, Rose introduces a new character, Jac L'Etoile -a young woman haunted by her past and the ethereal scents that filled her childhood as heir to the French perfume company, House of L'Etoile. Jac's youth is marred by the pain of her mother's untimely death and a difficult relationship with her family, but after fourteen years of living abroad in the United States, her attempts to flee the past catch up with her when she and her talented brother Robbie inherit the family business. The inheritance is rife with trouble; plagued by financial trouble in a relentless corporation-driven era that is destroying the art of natural perfume making in favor of mass production, the once legendary House of L'Etoile is on the brink of ruin. But when Jac's brother stumbles upon a potentially life-changing secret in the family archives and soon thereafter disappears under frightening circumstances, Jac finds herself thrust into a desperate gambit to find her brother, unravel the mystery of the legendary fragrance of Cleopatra - a possible tool to restore past-life memories - and find a way to confront, and make peace, with her shattered past.
Ms Rose excels, as always, at depicting her troubled heroine's journey as Jac navigates the glamorous boulevards of the City of Lights and the lethal underworld of reincarnation tools and those who will stop at nothing to obtain them. Rose also populates her fast-moving, breathtaking narrative with a host of memorable secondary characters, including assassins and a shadowy figure that her fans will recognize from past books. But it is her meticulous attention to the evanescent, fascinating world of perfume that sets this novel apart. At moments, the very pages of THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES emanate the ambergris and musk of ancient Egypt, so that you find yourself sniffing your fingers for traces of the elusive, lost perfume. In Jac, Rose has also developed her best heroine yet: a woman whose outward fragility conceals an inner courage that propels her into the terrifying catacombs of Paris on a quest that will re-define Jac's belief in, and powers to, retrieve the past, even as her discoveries exact a heart-breaking, personal sacrifice.
Readers of historical fiction, suspense and mystery should flock to this captivating and unusual novel, which is surely destined for the bestseller lists.
August 5, 2012
I picked this book up and put it down several times. Fragrances? Ancient Egypt? Yes, please. But… international intrigue? Thriller? Not my thing. But… fragrance as proof of reincarnation? Paris catacombs? Oh, what the heck. I’d give it a try. I’m so glad I did, because from the first lines of the book I was hooked.
Jac and Robbie L’Etoile have a mess to deal with- their father, in the grip of dementia, has sunk the family perfume business deep into debt. The only way out seems to be to sell the rights and formulas to a couple of the company’s best sellers- but Robbie won’t do it. His attention is consumed by some ancient Egyptian pottery fragments he’s found in the building that holds the family house, perfume lab, and retail store. Imbued with a fragrance over two thousand years old, he feels the scent is the key to remembering past lives. As a Buddhist, this is a very big thing to Robbie: proof of reincarnation. But he’s not the only one who thinks the scent is important; a past life therapist and the Chinese government also want it. What ensues is a mesh of storylines: Robbie disappears, Jac wants to find him, and several people want the shards and their scent.
Some of the storylines are compelling (the search for a missing brother, the ancient fragrance itself, the lamas), some merely interesting (the Chinese Triad members); the characters were all interesting (none are deep, but they are all distinct- and some are not what you think they are at all), and the settings are marvelous. Rose’s strength seems to be in creating an atmosphere that the reader can fall into with all senses. The physical beauty of the house and perfume workshop; the dank, damp mystery of the Paris catacombs; the austerity of the Chinese calligraphy artist’s life; the heat of the Egyptian desert of Cleopatra’s time are all brought vividly to life.
It’s a marvelous mix of the psychological, supernatural and political; a blend you wouldn’t think would work but does, seamlessly.
Jac and Robbie L’Etoile have a mess to deal with- their father, in the grip of dementia, has sunk the family perfume business deep into debt. The only way out seems to be to sell the rights and formulas to a couple of the company’s best sellers- but Robbie won’t do it. His attention is consumed by some ancient Egyptian pottery fragments he’s found in the building that holds the family house, perfume lab, and retail store. Imbued with a fragrance over two thousand years old, he feels the scent is the key to remembering past lives. As a Buddhist, this is a very big thing to Robbie: proof of reincarnation. But he’s not the only one who thinks the scent is important; a past life therapist and the Chinese government also want it. What ensues is a mesh of storylines: Robbie disappears, Jac wants to find him, and several people want the shards and their scent.
Some of the storylines are compelling (the search for a missing brother, the ancient fragrance itself, the lamas), some merely interesting (the Chinese Triad members); the characters were all interesting (none are deep, but they are all distinct- and some are not what you think they are at all), and the settings are marvelous. Rose’s strength seems to be in creating an atmosphere that the reader can fall into with all senses. The physical beauty of the house and perfume workshop; the dank, damp mystery of the Paris catacombs; the austerity of the Chinese calligraphy artist’s life; the heat of the Egyptian desert of Cleopatra’s time are all brought vividly to life.
It’s a marvelous mix of the psychological, supernatural and political; a blend you wouldn’t think would work but does, seamlessly.
July 10, 2013
A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of Seduction by M.J. Rose to read and review, and I found I really enjoyed it. The novel was actually the fifth installment in a series called The Reincarnationist, and even though each book can be read as a one-shot, I'd learned that the protagonist Jac L'Etoile actually first appeared in the previous book. Long story short, I was intrigued enough by her character after reading Seduction that I was motivated to pick up its predecessor, and that's how I came to read The Book of Lost Fragrances.
I went backwards in the reading order, so here we're given a formal introduction of Jac L'Etoile and her brother Robbie, heirs to a preeminent French perfume company. Haunted by memories of her mother's suicide, however, Jac moves to America to become a TV host of a show about mythology, leaving her sibling to take care of the family business.
Like all the other books in the series, this one explores themes around the idea of reincarnation and other paranormal occurrences. While going through the old archives, Robbie stumbles across a collection of ancient pottery shards and a family secret about a scent rumored to enable a person to remember past lives. Robbie has big plans for the discovery, but there are others who would do anything to stop them from happening. When Robbie goes missing, leaving the dead body of a stranger at the scene of the crime, Jac and her former lover Griffin North are drawn into the search, becoming embroiled in politics, suspense, passion, and a mystery that goes back thousands of years.
The first thing I gleaned about this book is that it suffers from a problem I also noticed in its sequel, except to a greater degree -- the fact that there's so much going on! We have multiple plot threads and multiple character points-of-view, and when some of these character perspectives are also past reincarnations, it just makes this book feel even more complicated and jumbled. In addition to Jac, Robbie and Griffin, we also have the story lines about the Panchen Lama, the members of the Chinese mafia, the Parisian police, flashback sequences involving a L'Etoile ancestor and his lover, flashback sequences about an affair in ancient Egypt involving Cleopatra's perfume maker, sections about Jac's past and her psychological disorder, sections focusing on Jac's doctor Malachai...I think I've caught most of them, but it's possible I still missed some.
Despite being called "A Novel of Suspense", I didn't find this to be very suspenseful at all, and I have a feeling this is because all the plot threads going on might have "watered" it down a little. I once saw an interview with M.J. Rose in which she said that booksellers often have trouble categorizing her books, and I can see why this would be the case since this series appears to cross multiple genres, including suspense, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, mystery and paranormal. I loved Seduction because it managed to incorporate all these genre elements and still made it work, but I didn't think it did so much in The Book of Lost Fragrances.
In some ways, the writing and characters feel completely different when I compare the two books, almost like they were written by two separate people. TBoLF felt awkward whereas Seduction was incredible; it's like the latter was a more refined and improved presentation of all the ideas put forth in the former. Perhaps it was because of all the subjects crammed into this novel, ranging from ancient Egypt to Chinese politics to Tibetan Buddhism, and how some of the character perspectives jump all over the place in history. The author tried to weave it all together, but it didn't end up very well. The last few chapters of the book started to fizzle out after what I suppose was the climax, because it still had to wrap up all the other story lines.
Also, Robbie and Griffin had little to no presence in Seduction, which might be another reason why I liked that book so much more. I found both their characters extremely unlikeable in TBoLF; Robbie was more like a stubborn child than a grown man in many ways, and Griffin made for a very frustrating and unsympathetic romantic interest. I have to say though, M.J. Rose can write one hell of a love scene. That one torrid and intense chapter notwithstanding, I still couldn't really get into the Jac/Griffin relationship at all, and that was even with the "eternal love" and "soulmates" angle the book was emphasizing.
Anyway, my opinion would be to save this one, and pick up Seduction instead if you can. And one final note: I half read this and half listened to the audiobook. If I could do it again, I wouldn't have opted for the Whispersync bundle. Phil Gigante is a narrator I've listened to and enjoyed for many books in the past, but I admit was a little surprised he was chosen for this one, since it doesn't seem like a book suited for his voice. He also mispronounces a lot of French words, which was a pretty big distraction.
I went backwards in the reading order, so here we're given a formal introduction of Jac L'Etoile and her brother Robbie, heirs to a preeminent French perfume company. Haunted by memories of her mother's suicide, however, Jac moves to America to become a TV host of a show about mythology, leaving her sibling to take care of the family business.
Like all the other books in the series, this one explores themes around the idea of reincarnation and other paranormal occurrences. While going through the old archives, Robbie stumbles across a collection of ancient pottery shards and a family secret about a scent rumored to enable a person to remember past lives. Robbie has big plans for the discovery, but there are others who would do anything to stop them from happening. When Robbie goes missing, leaving the dead body of a stranger at the scene of the crime, Jac and her former lover Griffin North are drawn into the search, becoming embroiled in politics, suspense, passion, and a mystery that goes back thousands of years.
The first thing I gleaned about this book is that it suffers from a problem I also noticed in its sequel, except to a greater degree -- the fact that there's so much going on! We have multiple plot threads and multiple character points-of-view, and when some of these character perspectives are also past reincarnations, it just makes this book feel even more complicated and jumbled. In addition to Jac, Robbie and Griffin, we also have the story lines about the Panchen Lama, the members of the Chinese mafia, the Parisian police, flashback sequences involving a L'Etoile ancestor and his lover, flashback sequences about an affair in ancient Egypt involving Cleopatra's perfume maker, sections about Jac's past and her psychological disorder, sections focusing on Jac's doctor Malachai...I think I've caught most of them, but it's possible I still missed some.
Despite being called "A Novel of Suspense", I didn't find this to be very suspenseful at all, and I have a feeling this is because all the plot threads going on might have "watered" it down a little. I once saw an interview with M.J. Rose in which she said that booksellers often have trouble categorizing her books, and I can see why this would be the case since this series appears to cross multiple genres, including suspense, fantasy, romance, historical fiction, mystery and paranormal. I loved Seduction because it managed to incorporate all these genre elements and still made it work, but I didn't think it did so much in The Book of Lost Fragrances.
In some ways, the writing and characters feel completely different when I compare the two books, almost like they were written by two separate people. TBoLF felt awkward whereas Seduction was incredible; it's like the latter was a more refined and improved presentation of all the ideas put forth in the former. Perhaps it was because of all the subjects crammed into this novel, ranging from ancient Egypt to Chinese politics to Tibetan Buddhism, and how some of the character perspectives jump all over the place in history. The author tried to weave it all together, but it didn't end up very well. The last few chapters of the book started to fizzle out after what I suppose was the climax, because it still had to wrap up all the other story lines.
Also, Robbie and Griffin had little to no presence in Seduction, which might be another reason why I liked that book so much more. I found both their characters extremely unlikeable in TBoLF; Robbie was more like a stubborn child than a grown man in many ways, and Griffin made for a very frustrating and unsympathetic romantic interest. I have to say though, M.J. Rose can write one hell of a love scene. That one torrid and intense chapter notwithstanding, I still couldn't really get into the Jac/Griffin relationship at all, and that was even with the "eternal love" and "soulmates" angle the book was emphasizing.
Anyway, my opinion would be to save this one, and pick up Seduction instead if you can. And one final note: I half read this and half listened to the audiobook. If I could do it again, I wouldn't have opted for the Whispersync bundle. Phil Gigante is a narrator I've listened to and enjoyed for many books in the past, but I admit was a little surprised he was chosen for this one, since it doesn't seem like a book suited for his voice. He also mispronounces a lot of French words, which was a pretty big distraction.
February 22, 2012
Jac L'Etoile was plagued by periods of mental unrest as an adolescent--haunted by vivid visions and hallucinations--and she's spent years trying to put them behind her. Even though the doctor who finally helped her break through specialized in studying children with past life experiences, Jac has always refused to even consider the idea that her visions could be memories of a previous life. The lone cynic in a family of romantics, Jac has distanced herself from the family perfume business and spends her time tracking down and debunking myths. When her brother Robbie discovers the shards of an ancient Egyptian scent pot, he thinks he's finally found proof to validate an old family legend, a legend that claims the E'Toile's once possessed a scent so powerful it could trigger past life memories and help soulmates find each other.
Jac wants nothing to do with her brother's outlandish ideas, but when he goes missing she learns he's not the only person who believes such a scent exists, and that powerful people will stop at nothing to possess it. Frightened, angry, and confused, Jac turns to the one person who was closest to her brother before he disappeared, her ex-lover Griffin. As she and Griffin piece together the clues to find Robbie and the mythical fragrance, repressed emotions begin to resurface, and so do Jac's hallucinations. With time running out and dangerous enemies closing in, now is not the time for Jac to lose it, but the only alternative is opening herself up to the idea she has long avoided--that she is experiencing memories from past lives. And if she is, can she stop the tragic cycle of her previous lives from repeating?
The story is very imaginative, combining elements from the mythology of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks with Buddhism, reincarnation, and past life memories. It's very cosmopolitan, taking the reader on a ride from New York to China, London, and Paris. I really enjoyed learning how fragrance has played a role in myth and mystery throughout the centuries, and I loved the descriptions of Paris. Rose has a way with description--she knows how to make her settings come to life, and the story is ambitious and suspenseful, but I was a little put off by the structure. There are many different points of view and it takes a while to figure out how all of these different characters relate to each other, so the story felt rather disjointed at times. There are also more than a few info dumps and flashbacks, and I found some of the transitions into past life experiences to be a little clumsy and confusing. And while I was reading, I did not think that this book was setting up for a sequel, but the ending--although emotional and resonant--left me with some big questions and I was disappointed not to get a sense of closure and a potential happy-ever-after. So I started thinking sequel after all, but there's no mention of it on the author's or publisher's sites. So these issues detracted a bit from my enjoyment of the story, but overall I thought The Book of Lost Fragrances was an interesting read and a unique entry into the archaeological thriller genre.
Jac wants nothing to do with her brother's outlandish ideas, but when he goes missing she learns he's not the only person who believes such a scent exists, and that powerful people will stop at nothing to possess it. Frightened, angry, and confused, Jac turns to the one person who was closest to her brother before he disappeared, her ex-lover Griffin. As she and Griffin piece together the clues to find Robbie and the mythical fragrance, repressed emotions begin to resurface, and so do Jac's hallucinations. With time running out and dangerous enemies closing in, now is not the time for Jac to lose it, but the only alternative is opening herself up to the idea she has long avoided--that she is experiencing memories from past lives. And if she is, can she stop the tragic cycle of her previous lives from repeating?
The story is very imaginative, combining elements from the mythology of the ancient Egyptians and Greeks with Buddhism, reincarnation, and past life memories. It's very cosmopolitan, taking the reader on a ride from New York to China, London, and Paris. I really enjoyed learning how fragrance has played a role in myth and mystery throughout the centuries, and I loved the descriptions of Paris. Rose has a way with description--she knows how to make her settings come to life, and the story is ambitious and suspenseful, but I was a little put off by the structure. There are many different points of view and it takes a while to figure out how all of these different characters relate to each other, so the story felt rather disjointed at times. There are also more than a few info dumps and flashbacks, and I found some of the transitions into past life experiences to be a little clumsy and confusing. And while I was reading, I did not think that this book was setting up for a sequel, but the ending--although emotional and resonant--left me with some big questions and I was disappointed not to get a sense of closure and a potential happy-ever-after. So I started thinking sequel after all, but there's no mention of it on the author's or publisher's sites. So these issues detracted a bit from my enjoyment of the story, but overall I thought The Book of Lost Fragrances was an interesting read and a unique entry into the archaeological thriller genre.
March 30, 2012
Original review posted at Layers of Thought.
The latest page-turning stand-alone story in M.J. Rose’s Reincarnationist series. Fragrance plays a key roll in assisting the characters in accessing their past-life knowledge, which creates drama and intrigue in its thrilling pages.
About: Robbie and Jac L’Etoile have inherited their family’s centuries old perfume business that has been passed down through the generations since Napoleonic times. The once flourishing business is in a shambles due to their father’s dementia which has deteriorated to the point where the siblings now have control of the fragrance house. Although close since childhood, the brother and sister are now in conflict about what to do with the business.
Robbie believes he has the method of finding a perfume – a lost fragrance, which will facilitate the smeller to reach a meditative state, assisting them to find their soul-mate. He’s assured himself that an artifact which he has found in his fathers work room will allow him to re-discover the lost element for this special fragrance, one that was created and used during Cleopatra’s reign centuries ago. When Robbie and the artifact disappear, intrigue and drama ensue as a variety of factions and individuals try to find him or to keep him missing.
Thoughts: Interwoven in the story are historical tales including reincarnation-based religious beliefs systems from China, Tibet, and Egypt. It has a multilayered story line and a variety of complex characters, but the plot is surprisingly easy to follow. This is another very readable book in this continuing series, where several of the characters attempt to prove that reincarnation does exist – while others would like it to remain just a paranormal imagining.
M.J. Rose has a very easy-to-read style that is light and slightly flowery, making this book similar to her others - a page turner. The story has a complex story line with a variety of characters which the author handles well, so the reader does not become overwhelmed or needlessly lost. She deals out the story line in small chapters, varying and alternating each character’s story, so it is a book that is easy to dip in and out of. A perfect read for someone who has a few minutes here of there to read.
If you’re interested in a thrilling read, have a curiosity about reincarnation, or like historical fiction and paranormal stories, then this will be a great book for you. You can start here with the series and work your way backwards since M.J. Rose has created a stand-alone in this book. And the series is so easy to read so you just may want to pick them all up. I did. I think that this is my favorite of the series because I liked the inclusion of the reincarnation beliefs and history of Tibet, specifically some of the modern occurrences. I am curious as to where that author will take this series next. Another 4 star for the fourth book in this very readable and thrilling series.
The latest page-turning stand-alone story in M.J. Rose’s Reincarnationist series. Fragrance plays a key roll in assisting the characters in accessing their past-life knowledge, which creates drama and intrigue in its thrilling pages.
About: Robbie and Jac L’Etoile have inherited their family’s centuries old perfume business that has been passed down through the generations since Napoleonic times. The once flourishing business is in a shambles due to their father’s dementia which has deteriorated to the point where the siblings now have control of the fragrance house. Although close since childhood, the brother and sister are now in conflict about what to do with the business.
Robbie believes he has the method of finding a perfume – a lost fragrance, which will facilitate the smeller to reach a meditative state, assisting them to find their soul-mate. He’s assured himself that an artifact which he has found in his fathers work room will allow him to re-discover the lost element for this special fragrance, one that was created and used during Cleopatra’s reign centuries ago. When Robbie and the artifact disappear, intrigue and drama ensue as a variety of factions and individuals try to find him or to keep him missing.
Thoughts: Interwoven in the story are historical tales including reincarnation-based religious beliefs systems from China, Tibet, and Egypt. It has a multilayered story line and a variety of complex characters, but the plot is surprisingly easy to follow. This is another very readable book in this continuing series, where several of the characters attempt to prove that reincarnation does exist – while others would like it to remain just a paranormal imagining.
M.J. Rose has a very easy-to-read style that is light and slightly flowery, making this book similar to her others - a page turner. The story has a complex story line with a variety of characters which the author handles well, so the reader does not become overwhelmed or needlessly lost. She deals out the story line in small chapters, varying and alternating each character’s story, so it is a book that is easy to dip in and out of. A perfect read for someone who has a few minutes here of there to read.
If you’re interested in a thrilling read, have a curiosity about reincarnation, or like historical fiction and paranormal stories, then this will be a great book for you. You can start here with the series and work your way backwards since M.J. Rose has created a stand-alone in this book. And the series is so easy to read so you just may want to pick them all up. I did. I think that this is my favorite of the series because I liked the inclusion of the reincarnation beliefs and history of Tibet, specifically some of the modern occurrences. I am curious as to where that author will take this series next. Another 4 star for the fourth book in this very readable and thrilling series.
March 2, 2012
Disclosure: I received a free ARC e-galley from netGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis from Goodreads: Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances — and of her mother’s suicide — she moves to America, leaving the company in the hands of her brother Robbie. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing — leaving a dead body in his wake — Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.
Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac discovers a secret the House of L’Etoile has been hiding since 1799: a scent that unlocks the mysteries of reincarnation. The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past. The ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past
My Thoughts: I am a huge fan of M.J. Rose and loved her Butterfield Institute books, so was very excited about reading this book. I also love perfumes and scents, so that gave me extra incentive to be excited about reading it. Once I got started reading it, I realized it is part of the reincarnation series, something I hadn’t realized based upon the description, although perhaps I should have! The Phoenix Foundation is present in this book as in all other books in this loosely connected series, where Malachai Samuels strives to gain a memory tool and learn the secrets of his own reincarnation.
However, this story has Malachai only as an adjunct. The main focus of the story is Jac and her brother Robbie, the latest in a line of perfumers that went back to the 1700s. The family tradition had it that Giles traveled to Egypt with Napoleon, where he discovered two jars of unguent, and a scroll outlining how to make it, which scent allowed a person to see their past lives. This story is intercrossed with the story of a young Tibetan man named Xie who was stolen from a monastery when he was 6 and taken to China and brainwashed. He is currently an artist and has been allowed to travel out of China because his calligraphy is to be exhibited in London, Paris and Rome. There are also members of the Chinese mafia involved in the story. Obviously there are a lot of strands to the story, but as long as you are reading with your full mind, they interweave flawlessly. It will help if you have read the earlier reincarnation books by M.J. Rose. I loved all these books and highly recommend them to those who enjoy a good story, especially if you are interested in reincarnation and past lives. Another winner from M.J. Rose!
Synopsis from Goodreads: Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances — and of her mother’s suicide — she moves to America, leaving the company in the hands of her brother Robbie. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing — leaving a dead body in his wake — Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.
Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac discovers a secret the House of L’Etoile has been hiding since 1799: a scent that unlocks the mysteries of reincarnation. The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past. The ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past
My Thoughts: I am a huge fan of M.J. Rose and loved her Butterfield Institute books, so was very excited about reading this book. I also love perfumes and scents, so that gave me extra incentive to be excited about reading it. Once I got started reading it, I realized it is part of the reincarnation series, something I hadn’t realized based upon the description, although perhaps I should have! The Phoenix Foundation is present in this book as in all other books in this loosely connected series, where Malachai Samuels strives to gain a memory tool and learn the secrets of his own reincarnation.
However, this story has Malachai only as an adjunct. The main focus of the story is Jac and her brother Robbie, the latest in a line of perfumers that went back to the 1700s. The family tradition had it that Giles traveled to Egypt with Napoleon, where he discovered two jars of unguent, and a scroll outlining how to make it, which scent allowed a person to see their past lives. This story is intercrossed with the story of a young Tibetan man named Xie who was stolen from a monastery when he was 6 and taken to China and brainwashed. He is currently an artist and has been allowed to travel out of China because his calligraphy is to be exhibited in London, Paris and Rome. There are also members of the Chinese mafia involved in the story. Obviously there are a lot of strands to the story, but as long as you are reading with your full mind, they interweave flawlessly. It will help if you have read the earlier reincarnation books by M.J. Rose. I loved all these books and highly recommend them to those who enjoy a good story, especially if you are interested in reincarnation and past lives. Another winner from M.J. Rose!
January 6, 2013
It's a pity this book didn't come with scratch 'n sniff fragrances. I can hardly think of a book so dominated by the sense of smell, but should that be such a surprise for something titled THE BOOK OF LOST FRAGRANCES whose plot involves many-generations of a family of perfume makers and a possible tie to the legendary ancient perfume "recipe" commissioned by Cleopatra to evoke memories of a person's past lives?
At first glance, it seems an odd choice for a book group. The premise is rather unorthodox, and it's a mystery --apparently #4 in a series -- and mysteries tend to offer thin hooks for discussion. Yet, there are multiple plot lines encompassing various countries (and time periods) including France, Egypt, the US, Tibet, and China.
Moreover, the book has a dizzying group of both fictional and non-fictional characters, with a key scene with the Dalai Lama, so I suspect a book group will not be at a complete loss for talking points, particularly given the reincarnation backdrop, family and love relationships, a Paris setting incorporating the underground world of the catacombs, the author's carefully researched perfume industry information, the China-Tibet political reality, the artist Panchen Lama kidnapping/defection issues, and the connection posed between mental illness/past life memories for the main character.
What I can say about this book is this: it's entertaining, but it's messy. First, the handling of the plot concerning the mental illness treatments over many years by a therapist "friend" (who is also duplicitous) bothered me; the author does present the visions to READERS as past life stories that are simply not accepted by the skeptical modern day character Jac, but she fears she is losing her grip on reality -- and that made me vaguely uneasy.
Second, several threads that seem to be disconnected have to all come together for the ending, typical of a mystery, but that means the reader's focus is disconnected at the beginning when the chapters jump from one group of characters and plot to another.
Third, although mysteries have murders and violence as the fabric of the genre, mixing fictional and real world persons in a mystery with such violent scenes, especially the Dalai Lama scene, evokes discomfort in me. I'm not sure why, but there it is.
Finally, I've not read anything quite like this previously, so kudos to the creative spirit and writing talent of the author. Indeed, if I bumped into another of the author's books, particularly in the right moment, I'd likely grab it, curious to see what else she could concoct for a reader's pleasure!
January 20, 2012
The Book of Lost Fragrances is a captivating historical fiction. It offers a tale of suspense with paranormal elements, religious oppression and a romance that spans the ages. Rose masterfully blends fact and fiction as she takes us from the tombs of ancient Egypt to the catacombs of Paris. I was fascinated by the history and drawn to the characters.
Told from multiple points of view we travel from past to present as different groups search for the fragrance of lost souls. Believed to have been created by the perfumer of Cleopatra, this scent is said to help one remember their past lives. The main characters are Jac and Robbie L’Etoile. They are heirs to one of the oldest perfume companies in France; The House of L’Etoile. Their family business is in financial trouble when Robbie uncovers pottery with hieroglyphics. He asks his friend Griffin to decipher the ancient writing. When Robbie ends up missing and a man is found dead, Jac returns to Paris to search for her brother. Despite a painful past relationship, Jac and Griffin work together to find Robbie. We also meet a doctor who believes in past lives, Tibetan monks, a young man believed to be a reincarnated lama and members of the Chinese mafia and government. All of them are seeking the shattered remains of pottery. Each has a reason for wanting them and some of them will stop at nothing to obtain it.
While at times the leaping from past to present and the multiple POV’s had me re-reading the beginning of a chapter, I urge you to read on. This seems to be a trend in a lot of books I have read of late and Rose beautifully weaves all of these chapters and timelines into a tale I will not soon forget. The characters have depth and I quickly became invested in their tale. I found the history of perfume, Tibet, Egypt and France to be fascinating. I even stopped reading to goggled some of the subjects. I became completely engrossed in this tale and was moved by the outcome.
I want to thank netGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
Told from multiple points of view we travel from past to present as different groups search for the fragrance of lost souls. Believed to have been created by the perfumer of Cleopatra, this scent is said to help one remember their past lives. The main characters are Jac and Robbie L’Etoile. They are heirs to one of the oldest perfume companies in France; The House of L’Etoile. Their family business is in financial trouble when Robbie uncovers pottery with hieroglyphics. He asks his friend Griffin to decipher the ancient writing. When Robbie ends up missing and a man is found dead, Jac returns to Paris to search for her brother. Despite a painful past relationship, Jac and Griffin work together to find Robbie. We also meet a doctor who believes in past lives, Tibetan monks, a young man believed to be a reincarnated lama and members of the Chinese mafia and government. All of them are seeking the shattered remains of pottery. Each has a reason for wanting them and some of them will stop at nothing to obtain it.
While at times the leaping from past to present and the multiple POV’s had me re-reading the beginning of a chapter, I urge you to read on. This seems to be a trend in a lot of books I have read of late and Rose beautifully weaves all of these chapters and timelines into a tale I will not soon forget. The characters have depth and I quickly became invested in their tale. I found the history of perfume, Tibet, Egypt and France to be fascinating. I even stopped reading to goggled some of the subjects. I became completely engrossed in this tale and was moved by the outcome.
I want to thank netGalley and Simon & Schuster for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.
February 20, 2012
What do modern Tibet, Cleopatra’s Egypt, revolutionary France, contemporary Paris, reincarnation, the Chinese mafia, the Dalai Lama, the catacombs, perfume production, and Greek mythology have to do with each other? Read The Book of Lost Fragrances and you will find out. Danger, deeply held beliefs, philosophical contemplations, broken hearts and unbreakable hearts, murder and theft: this book has a lot to offer.
All these strands take a while to lay out, and despite some excellent atmospherics, the opening chapters went a little slowly for me—background on myth and past life memories and other topics that I could have done with a bit more efficient introduction to, although they are all interesting topics. Then M. J. Rose introduced danger, and the thrill in the thriller kicked in. You do not want these bad guys coming after you—I won’t tell you who they are, that would be spoiling some of the fun.
On the whiff of a scent this book floats back and forth in time and memory. It combines the fun of a thriller with the allure of romantic historic settings. Despite the number of plot threads, Rose still has time to build complicated, conflicted characters. Jac, the beautiful, cynical woman at the center of the novel, comes from a long line of parfumiers from the House of L’Etoile. As a troubled teenager she rejected her father and his mystical beliefs about scents. She is determined to escape the violent visions she calls hallucinations that have haunted her life, and she devotes her career to uncovering the historical realities behind Greek mythology. But a dead man, an old flame still burning in her heart no matter what she wants and her brother’s dreams drag her back into this perfumed world. Love and loyalty are central themes in this book, and Rose gives them a sophisticated treatment, not an easy thing to do with such old stand-bys. The Book of Lost Fragrances offers a satisfying mix of food for the brain and pure entertainment.
All these strands take a while to lay out, and despite some excellent atmospherics, the opening chapters went a little slowly for me—background on myth and past life memories and other topics that I could have done with a bit more efficient introduction to, although they are all interesting topics. Then M. J. Rose introduced danger, and the thrill in the thriller kicked in. You do not want these bad guys coming after you—I won’t tell you who they are, that would be spoiling some of the fun.
On the whiff of a scent this book floats back and forth in time and memory. It combines the fun of a thriller with the allure of romantic historic settings. Despite the number of plot threads, Rose still has time to build complicated, conflicted characters. Jac, the beautiful, cynical woman at the center of the novel, comes from a long line of parfumiers from the House of L’Etoile. As a troubled teenager she rejected her father and his mystical beliefs about scents. She is determined to escape the violent visions she calls hallucinations that have haunted her life, and she devotes her career to uncovering the historical realities behind Greek mythology. But a dead man, an old flame still burning in her heart no matter what she wants and her brother’s dreams drag her back into this perfumed world. Love and loyalty are central themes in this book, and Rose gives them a sophisticated treatment, not an easy thing to do with such old stand-bys. The Book of Lost Fragrances offers a satisfying mix of food for the brain and pure entertainment.
April 30, 2015
Once again, I am fascinated and impressed with Rose's knowledge of reincarnation. By now, everyone knows about my interest and belief in the subject and I truly never tire of reading about it, whether it be in a fictional context or in non-fiction (although some may argue that it's all fictional). What I like about Rose's portrayal of the subject is her incorporation of it with history, as well as the current events of the day.
In this book, the fourth installment in The Reincarnationist series, we are treated to ancient Egypt, another subject of endless fascination for me, and the culture's use of fragrance as a link to past lives, particularly during the Ptolemaic period. From there, we are whisked forward to present day China and the endless struggle between Tibet and the Chinese government to control the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama. As usual, there is mystery and intrigue, which adds a suspenseful element to the story. For me though, the historical aspects of the story are sufficient to keep my interest. Add in a bit of alchemy, and you have a well-rounded and interesting story of history, science, and mysticism.
The beauty of this series is that you really can read the books without having read the earlier books. I still have not read the first and second books in the series (although they are on my shelf), but I had no problem reading the third, The Hypnotist, and the fourth (this one) books as stand alone novels. Rose is a talented author, with a gift for writing about a subject of which she is clearly passionate. I sincerely look forward to any and all future offerings from her, whether it be more books in this series, or a new set of books down the road.
In this book, the fourth installment in The Reincarnationist series, we are treated to ancient Egypt, another subject of endless fascination for me, and the culture's use of fragrance as a link to past lives, particularly during the Ptolemaic period. From there, we are whisked forward to present day China and the endless struggle between Tibet and the Chinese government to control the reincarnation of the next Dalai Lama. As usual, there is mystery and intrigue, which adds a suspenseful element to the story. For me though, the historical aspects of the story are sufficient to keep my interest. Add in a bit of alchemy, and you have a well-rounded and interesting story of history, science, and mysticism.
The beauty of this series is that you really can read the books without having read the earlier books. I still have not read the first and second books in the series (although they are on my shelf), but I had no problem reading the third, The Hypnotist, and the fourth (this one) books as stand alone novels. Rose is a talented author, with a gift for writing about a subject of which she is clearly passionate. I sincerely look forward to any and all future offerings from her, whether it be more books in this series, or a new set of books down the road.
March 25, 2022
Lo mejor que tiene este libro son sus descripciones, la autora tiene una excelente manera para describir todos y cada uno de los escenarios que intervienen en esta historia, el aroma y las fragancias son también perfectamente descritos, con lo cual es posible también imaginarte rodeado de tan aromáticas fragancias.
El libro de las fragancias perdidas abarca un amplio espacio de tiempo pasando a través del Egipto de Cleopatra, hasta las historias del Dalai Lama en el Tibet, el elitismo exclusivo de París, hasta sus oscuras catacumbas.
La historia nos cuenta la búsqueda de esta fragancia que es capaz de reunir dos amantes a través del tiempo, la conspiración de la autoridades chinas por desacreditar al Tibet, y una carga bastante agradable de Intriga y Suspenso, que te mantienen interesado en cada nuevo giro en la historia.
El libro de las fragancias perdidas es una novela esencialmente de suspenso, un Thriller que combina secretos históricos con el presente, todo ello sustentado sobre una atmósfera con ciertos toques góticos. Pocos hilos de la historia quedan sin terminar y las diferentes tramas que conforman la novela acaban unidas al final sin grietas ni contradicciones.
Un excelente libro, pierde algunos puntos debido a la velocidad con la que salta de una historia a otra, y en ocasiones perdiendo alguna conexión, sin embargo parece que la Autora previendo estos posibles fallos, logra en los últimos capítulos, reunir a todos sus personajes y concluir su historia con singular maestría.
El libro de las fragancias perdidas abarca un amplio espacio de tiempo pasando a través del Egipto de Cleopatra, hasta las historias del Dalai Lama en el Tibet, el elitismo exclusivo de París, hasta sus oscuras catacumbas.
La historia nos cuenta la búsqueda de esta fragancia que es capaz de reunir dos amantes a través del tiempo, la conspiración de la autoridades chinas por desacreditar al Tibet, y una carga bastante agradable de Intriga y Suspenso, que te mantienen interesado en cada nuevo giro en la historia.
El libro de las fragancias perdidas es una novela esencialmente de suspenso, un Thriller que combina secretos históricos con el presente, todo ello sustentado sobre una atmósfera con ciertos toques góticos. Pocos hilos de la historia quedan sin terminar y las diferentes tramas que conforman la novela acaban unidas al final sin grietas ni contradicciones.
Un excelente libro, pierde algunos puntos debido a la velocidad con la que salta de una historia a otra, y en ocasiones perdiendo alguna conexión, sin embargo parece que la Autora previendo estos posibles fallos, logra en los últimos capítulos, reunir a todos sus personajes y concluir su historia con singular maestría.
February 18, 2017
First of all, I hate it when I think there are 50 pages to go and it ends up being a Glossary. I turn the page and - oh no, that was the end! It totally messes up the level of commitment left over.
In spite of feeling like there should be more, this was an evocative, sensuous read. Looking back, I would rate the suspense story as a 3, but the language was thick with such vivid scenes that I felt it was more as I was reading. From the mouth-watering scent of Parisian bakeries to the stench of death in the catacombs, the descriptions are lush.
It is full of scents and elusive memories, echoes of past times and lost loves. Coupled with the mystical experiences of scent and memory, the modern-day struggles of the Tibetans and their reincarnated lamas become much more than political. The mystery and intrigues surrounding an ancient Egyptian artifact coalesce in Paris, a city with layers of history. This is a mesmerizing tale of suspense brought to life by the intricacies of perfume.
In spite of feeling like there should be more, this was an evocative, sensuous read. Looking back, I would rate the suspense story as a 3, but the language was thick with such vivid scenes that I felt it was more as I was reading. From the mouth-watering scent of Parisian bakeries to the stench of death in the catacombs, the descriptions are lush.
It is full of scents and elusive memories, echoes of past times and lost loves. Coupled with the mystical experiences of scent and memory, the modern-day struggles of the Tibetans and their reincarnated lamas become much more than political. The mystery and intrigues surrounding an ancient Egyptian artifact coalesce in Paris, a city with layers of history. This is a mesmerizing tale of suspense brought to life by the intricacies of perfume.
December 23, 2011
I really enjoyed this book for multiple reasons. First, it had one of the most unusual storylines that I think I have read all year. Second, it was intelligently written AND engrossing. Third, I loved how the characters were written. This book reminded me a tiny bit of Jennifer Donnelly's book, Revolution. This is an author who I have had several of her books on my TBR list for a while and they always kept being bumped down the list for other books. I will def. be moving her books back up the list!
A very important note, pay very close attention to the settings in the chapter. They do pull everything together at the end, but it is extremely important to note where everything that is going on in each chapter.
A very important note, pay very close attention to the settings in the chapter. They do pull everything together at the end, but it is extremely important to note where everything that is going on in each chapter.
January 6, 2012
This was an eGalley ARC, and I don't normally bite the hand that feeds me advance eBooks (okay, they do expire so I don't actually own anything at the end), but this one fell somewhat short of my expectations. The writing was much too melodramatic at times, choppy narrative at others; it seemed like every few pages was a digression for a lengthy explanation about another factoid, which really hurt the pacing.
I really liked the narrative when it switched to past lives, I just wish the strength of the story at those points was carried through to the modern day sections.
Great premise, I had been really looking forward to this one. :(
I really liked the narrative when it switched to past lives, I just wish the strength of the story at those points was carried through to the modern day sections.
Great premise, I had been really looking forward to this one. :(
December 20, 2017
Mystery wrapped in history wrapped in suspense
The Book of Lost Fragrances is a mesmerizing romp through ancient Egypt, Revolutionary France, and the modern day struggle to keep a family perfume business alive. The way Rose weaves in these different worlds, in addition to the quest for a Dalai alma, is masterful and imbued with intrigue. The research and story combine to hold one spellbound, and the end cannot be guessed, even though the clues were always there. A satisfying read that will linger in my mind like the perfumes of Le Etoile. bravo MJ Rose.
The Book of Lost Fragrances is a mesmerizing romp through ancient Egypt, Revolutionary France, and the modern day struggle to keep a family perfume business alive. The way Rose weaves in these different worlds, in addition to the quest for a Dalai alma, is masterful and imbued with intrigue. The research and story combine to hold one spellbound, and the end cannot be guessed, even though the clues were always there. A satisfying read that will linger in my mind like the perfumes of Le Etoile. bravo MJ Rose.
December 23, 2011
Somehow or another, M. J. Rose has managed to seamlessly blend many different genres together and make it work wonderfully well. It is an adventure story, a love story and a historical story, taking the reader through the times of Cleopatra, the catacombs of Paris and the present day problems of the Tibetans with China. It is an entertaining treasure hunt, using fragrance and scent, instead of written clues. Absolutely brilliant!
ARC from Net Galley.
ARC from Net Galley.
June 17, 2015
Adding this to my top 10 books. Wow is all I can say. Ancient Egypt, Tibetian Buddhism, China, Paris, past lives, all are excellently woven in a fictional story that depending on your belief system holds a truth that has survived beyond the ages. Beautifully written, historical facts make this effort by M.J. Rose a stride out in front winner. If reincarnation is of interest to you then you will be richly rewarded with every turn of the page.
August 13, 2018
Me encantó la historia 💕
April 28, 2012
Recently, I had the opportunity to pick up a Galley of MJ Rose’s The Book of Lost Fragrances. Lately, I seem to have been spending a lot of time with books of the paranormal, dystopian, or fantasy genre, so I was surprised when I read about this book and couldn’t get it off my mind. The synopsis was awesome and pulled me in right away. Here’s the synopsis from Amazon.com:
“A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra–and lost for 2,000 years.
Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances–and of her mother’s suicide–she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it’s financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing–leaving a dead body in his wake–Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.
Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L’Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation – or is it just another dream infused perfume?
The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.”
So, let me cut to the chase…this book not only sounded amazing in the synopsis-It was amazing! MJ Rose proves herself to be a master storyteller as she weaves the past and present together. As a reader, I found myself falling in love with the main characters Jac, Robbie, and Griffin. When it comes to romance, this isn’t your classic fairytale romance. It’s beautiful and delicious and a bit messy. That being said, it’s the kind of love little girls dream of despite the messiness. I could imagine myself in the room with Jac and Griffin-feel their pain and love-get sucked into what is clearly a mystery in and of itself. There are a couple of love scenes in which MJ Rose wraps you up in her words as easy as it is to get wrapped up in your own sheets! I found myself transported into each scene and having to catch my breath where Jac and Griffin were concerned.
The story line weaves itself through New York, Paris, China, Tibet, and Egypt. As much as I hungered to find out more about Jac and Griffin, I found myself tearing through the pages in order to figure out just what was happening with Robbie and the mysterious fragrance. Which brings us to the smells. First, let me say I had no idea there was so much to fragrances! And while MJ Rose allowed me to see and understand bits and pieces of a life of a perfumer, what she did even better was allow me to smell the different scents through the use of her words and descriptions. It has made me much more aware of the smells around me as I go throughout my day.
Rose introduces characters from the past and the present that you crave to know more about. Giles L’etoile, Marie-Genevieve, Xie, the Dali Lama, and yes, even Valentine…all of these characters find their way in and out of the story line helping to create several storylines at once. Each one stands on it’s own and adds another layer to the other at the same time.
This book is full of suspense, mystery, and romance. The Book of Lost Fragrances doesn’t need fantasy or the paranormal to make it wonderful. It creates enough magic all on its own. Published by Atria Books, and released on March 13, 2012, I give it 5 out of 5 books.
“A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra–and lost for 2,000 years.
Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances–and of her mother’s suicide–she moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it’s financial problems. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing–leaving a dead body in his wake–Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.
Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac becomes haunted by the legend the House of L’Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation – or is it just another dream infused perfume?
The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.”
So, let me cut to the chase…this book not only sounded amazing in the synopsis-It was amazing! MJ Rose proves herself to be a master storyteller as she weaves the past and present together. As a reader, I found myself falling in love with the main characters Jac, Robbie, and Griffin. When it comes to romance, this isn’t your classic fairytale romance. It’s beautiful and delicious and a bit messy. That being said, it’s the kind of love little girls dream of despite the messiness. I could imagine myself in the room with Jac and Griffin-feel their pain and love-get sucked into what is clearly a mystery in and of itself. There are a couple of love scenes in which MJ Rose wraps you up in her words as easy as it is to get wrapped up in your own sheets! I found myself transported into each scene and having to catch my breath where Jac and Griffin were concerned.
The story line weaves itself through New York, Paris, China, Tibet, and Egypt. As much as I hungered to find out more about Jac and Griffin, I found myself tearing through the pages in order to figure out just what was happening with Robbie and the mysterious fragrance. Which brings us to the smells. First, let me say I had no idea there was so much to fragrances! And while MJ Rose allowed me to see and understand bits and pieces of a life of a perfumer, what she did even better was allow me to smell the different scents through the use of her words and descriptions. It has made me much more aware of the smells around me as I go throughout my day.
Rose introduces characters from the past and the present that you crave to know more about. Giles L’etoile, Marie-Genevieve, Xie, the Dali Lama, and yes, even Valentine…all of these characters find their way in and out of the story line helping to create several storylines at once. Each one stands on it’s own and adds another layer to the other at the same time.
This book is full of suspense, mystery, and romance. The Book of Lost Fragrances doesn’t need fantasy or the paranormal to make it wonderful. It creates enough magic all on its own. Published by Atria Books, and released on March 13, 2012, I give it 5 out of 5 books.
August 10, 2017
Questo è un libro molto contraddittorio, in quanto ha degli aspetti molto belli e altri decisamente negativi.
La trama è molto avvincente e il libro prende molto, per cui, nonostante la lunghezza, si legge abbastanza velocemente. È molto particolare e decisamente diversa da ciò che mi aspettavo dopo aver letto la quarta di copertina.
La trama, però, ha anche alcuni aspetti negativi, a partire dal fatto che la parte davvero d'azione è molto corta e la parte di preparazione all'intero libro è abbastanza lunga.
Molto carina la storia della reincarnazione, anche se ho trovato che in alcuni punti si sia persa un po' facendo confusione nelle varie epoche.
I veri problemi del libro iniziano con i personaggi: ce ne sono davvero, ma davvero troppi! È facilissimo perdere la concezione di chi sia che sta parlando o di chi sia "in squadra" con chi.
Che poi, questi personaggi non è che siano proprio un granché, anzi. A partire dalla protagonista, che è un personaggio piatto e della quale non mi è piaciuta nemmeno una scelta e la sua incapacità di accettare quello che accade, ma di pensarla come vuole e pretendere anche di avere ragione lei, come fosse il capo del mondo.
Infine l'aspetto davvero peggiore del libro: i continui errori che sono presenti. E non sto parlando di errori grammaticali, bensì del fatto che in una pagina viene detta una cosa e tre pagine dopo c'è scritto l'esatto contrario. Un esempio molto banale: l'età della protagonista e di suo fratello. Infatti inizialmente viene detto che lui è il più grande, di due anni, e poche pagine dopo lei sta guardando una foto dove lei ha tre anni e lui è un neonato di pochi mesi.
Nel complesso un libro carino, ma nulla di eccelso.
La trama è molto avvincente e il libro prende molto, per cui, nonostante la lunghezza, si legge abbastanza velocemente. È molto particolare e decisamente diversa da ciò che mi aspettavo dopo aver letto la quarta di copertina.
La trama, però, ha anche alcuni aspetti negativi, a partire dal fatto che la parte davvero d'azione è molto corta e la parte di preparazione all'intero libro è abbastanza lunga.
Molto carina la storia della reincarnazione, anche se ho trovato che in alcuni punti si sia persa un po' facendo confusione nelle varie epoche.
I veri problemi del libro iniziano con i personaggi: ce ne sono davvero, ma davvero troppi! È facilissimo perdere la concezione di chi sia che sta parlando o di chi sia "in squadra" con chi.
Che poi, questi personaggi non è che siano proprio un granché, anzi. A partire dalla protagonista, che è un personaggio piatto e della quale non mi è piaciuta nemmeno una scelta e la sua incapacità di accettare quello che accade, ma di pensarla come vuole e pretendere anche di avere ragione lei, come fosse il capo del mondo.
Infine l'aspetto davvero peggiore del libro: i continui errori che sono presenti. E non sto parlando di errori grammaticali, bensì del fatto che in una pagina viene detta una cosa e tre pagine dopo c'è scritto l'esatto contrario. Un esempio molto banale: l'età della protagonista e di suo fratello. Infatti inizialmente viene detto che lui è il più grande, di due anni, e poche pagine dopo lei sta guardando una foto dove lei ha tre anni e lui è un neonato di pochi mesi.
Nel complesso un libro carino, ma nulla di eccelso.
March 13, 2012
I am quite surprised by how much I liked this book. The title really intrigued me when I saw it on Netgalley.com and I decided to give it a try. It had something for everyone. There was mystery, intrigue, politics, fantasy, action, romance and adventure. I don’t much care about the romance part of it but, in some ways it is the crux of the story. In other ways, it is a byproduct of one of the key elements of the story. I am not sure how I feel about the ending but, I can say that even if it did not end exactly as I expected there was something unexpected and wonderful at the end.
One of the best things about this book is having multiple locations in the story like Paris, France, along with China, Tibet, and even Egypt. What makes it even more interesting is that the story is told in multiple periods in most of these locations. There is a historical aspect of the book and I like how some of the past is revealed. I don’t think I have ever read a book that covers the topic of reincarnation or Tibet. The relationship between China and Tibet is one of the main storylines of this book and is a merging of fiction based upon fact and M. J. Rose did a good job on the research of the political situation and the life of Tibetan monks and nuns. There was a good history given of fragrance creation and it was I am quite surprised by how much I liked this book. The title really intrigued me when I saw it on Netgalley.com and I decided to give it a try. It had something for everyone. There was mystery, intrigue, politics, fantasy, action, romance and adventure. I don’t much care about the romance part of it but, in some ways it is the crux of the story. In other ways, it is a byproduct of one of the key elements of the story. I am not sure how I feel about the ending but, I can say that even if it did not end exactly as I expected there was something unexpectfascinating learning about Cleopatra and her relationship to perfumes. I had no idea that there were Tibetan nuns. I thought nuns were typically Catholic. It was great to read about Buddhism and the relationship between China and the intricacies of reincarnation.
The characters and their development play a huge role in this book. The author did an excellent job describing the trials of mental illness and the effects it can have on a family. Another great aspect of this book was the in-depth history of the L’Etoile family and their perfume boutique and how the family created the perfumes by hand. There was a good history of each generation as they created the perfumes. Of particular interest was one of the ancestors, Giles, and the time he spent time in Egypt and how one of his discoveries affected the lives of future generations of L’Etoiles.
I was a bit worried that the book was more on the romance side and not something I would enjoy, but, I did stick with it and I was so happy I did by the end of the book. The author did a good job of covering all of the topics and it was very well written. I was a little confused in one of the areas where the past converged on the present, how it happened, and who was actually involved. Despite that, I think that she will attract a large, diverse group of readers and few will walk away from it not finding something they loved about it. For me it was the intrigue, history and art in Paris.
Review can also be found at http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...
One of the best things about this book is having multiple locations in the story like Paris, France, along with China, Tibet, and even Egypt. What makes it even more interesting is that the story is told in multiple periods in most of these locations. There is a historical aspect of the book and I like how some of the past is revealed. I don’t think I have ever read a book that covers the topic of reincarnation or Tibet. The relationship between China and Tibet is one of the main storylines of this book and is a merging of fiction based upon fact and M. J. Rose did a good job on the research of the political situation and the life of Tibetan monks and nuns. There was a good history given of fragrance creation and it was I am quite surprised by how much I liked this book. The title really intrigued me when I saw it on Netgalley.com and I decided to give it a try. It had something for everyone. There was mystery, intrigue, politics, fantasy, action, romance and adventure. I don’t much care about the romance part of it but, in some ways it is the crux of the story. In other ways, it is a byproduct of one of the key elements of the story. I am not sure how I feel about the ending but, I can say that even if it did not end exactly as I expected there was something unexpectfascinating learning about Cleopatra and her relationship to perfumes. I had no idea that there were Tibetan nuns. I thought nuns were typically Catholic. It was great to read about Buddhism and the relationship between China and the intricacies of reincarnation.
The characters and their development play a huge role in this book. The author did an excellent job describing the trials of mental illness and the effects it can have on a family. Another great aspect of this book was the in-depth history of the L’Etoile family and their perfume boutique and how the family created the perfumes by hand. There was a good history of each generation as they created the perfumes. Of particular interest was one of the ancestors, Giles, and the time he spent time in Egypt and how one of his discoveries affected the lives of future generations of L’Etoiles.
I was a bit worried that the book was more on the romance side and not something I would enjoy, but, I did stick with it and I was so happy I did by the end of the book. The author did a good job of covering all of the topics and it was very well written. I was a little confused in one of the areas where the past converged on the present, how it happened, and who was actually involved. Despite that, I think that she will attract a large, diverse group of readers and few will walk away from it not finding something they loved about it. For me it was the intrigue, history and art in Paris.
Review can also be found at http://LadyTechiesBookMusings.blogspo...
January 4, 2013
Honestly, I just wasn't impressed with this book! I tried to get all excited about it! I really did! I checked it out 4 times from the library before I got to read it, I was that determined. Alas... it was mediocre at best. Now of course this is only my opinion and that isn't worth anything. You must also recognize that you can read a book and dislike it and then read it again in a couple of years and it's suddenly fabulous! This is not something I'll reread.
The premise is that somewhere, lost in the annals of time, is a perfume that makes the wearer... I guess "smeller" is more the truth... remember their past lives and by doing so you can avoid pitfalls and regrets. There was a TON of research done for this book and it was done well! So much so that it makes me want to research the perfume industry too! That part I liked. It was the actual characters that just didn't grab and hold me. They were nice people, in the end I just couldn't care what happened to them and that is so sad to me. I really tried to like the book. I liked the subject, I liked the idea of the characters, there was just so much that wasn't resolved, so many rabbit trails I would have liked to follow but wasn't allowed to. The book is touted a "a novel of suspense" but there wasn't much suspense that I could find!
Lastly, when I took the time to think about it, I wouldn't want to know my past life. I wouldn't want to know the decisions I took that made things better or worse. I want to live this life fully, without having to carry that knowledge!
So there you have it. I'm sure this book will be immensely appealing to some, I'm just not that some. :-)
From Goodreads.com:
The Book of Lost Fragrances
Read
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
View a preview of this book online
The Book of Lost Fragrances (The Reincarnationist #4)
by M.J. Rose (Goodreads Author)
3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 1,111 ratings · 384 reviews
A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra—and lost for 2,000 years.
Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances—and of her mother’s suicide—she moves to America, leaving the company in the hands of her brother Robbie. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing—leaving a dead body in his wake—Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.
Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac discovers a secret the House of L’Etoile has been hiding since 1799: a scent that unlocks the mysteries of reincarnation. The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.(
The premise is that somewhere, lost in the annals of time, is a perfume that makes the wearer... I guess "smeller" is more the truth... remember their past lives and by doing so you can avoid pitfalls and regrets. There was a TON of research done for this book and it was done well! So much so that it makes me want to research the perfume industry too! That part I liked. It was the actual characters that just didn't grab and hold me. They were nice people, in the end I just couldn't care what happened to them and that is so sad to me. I really tried to like the book. I liked the subject, I liked the idea of the characters, there was just so much that wasn't resolved, so many rabbit trails I would have liked to follow but wasn't allowed to. The book is touted a "a novel of suspense" but there wasn't much suspense that I could find!
Lastly, when I took the time to think about it, I wouldn't want to know my past life. I wouldn't want to know the decisions I took that made things better or worse. I want to live this life fully, without having to carry that knowledge!
So there you have it. I'm sure this book will be immensely appealing to some, I'm just not that some. :-)
From Goodreads.com:
The Book of Lost Fragrances
Read
didn't like it it was ok liked it really liked it it was amazing
View a preview of this book online
The Book of Lost Fragrances (The Reincarnationist #4)
by M.J. Rose (Goodreads Author)
3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 1,111 ratings · 384 reviews
A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra—and lost for 2,000 years.
Jac L’Etoile has always been haunted by the past, her memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up surrounded by as the heir to a storied French perfume company. In order to flee the pain of those remembrances—and of her mother’s suicide—she moves to America, leaving the company in the hands of her brother Robbie. But when Robbie hints at an earth-shattering discovery in the family archives and then suddenly goes missing—leaving a dead body in his wake—Jac is plunged into a world she thought she’d left behind.
Back in Paris to investigate her brother’s disappearance, Jac discovers a secret the House of L’Etoile has been hiding since 1799: a scent that unlocks the mysteries of reincarnation. The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion, and suspense, moving from Cleopatra’s Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet’s battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. Jac’s quest for the ancient perfume someone is willing to kill for becomes the key to understanding her own troubled past.(
September 12, 2016
The Book of Lost Fragrances is the epitome of what I enjoy the most about M.J. Rose's works: fascinating historical facts mixed with thought-provoking spirituality and exciting storylines to form a potent elixir of a novel. Like the most complex perfumes, this book had layers of intrigue, most ostensibly involving the Chinese suppression of Tibetan Buddhists and a French family of perfumers' personal and financial troubles. These two initially separate narratives eventually collide in thrilling action which centers around an ancient legend of a perfume with unique, magical properties.
These sections, where Rose describes scents and their powerful associations, transported me. If words could have aromas, then Rose's writing is lyrical fragrance.
The magical perfume at the heart of the novel, and one which everyone is desperately searching for, at whatever cost, is that of "âmes souers" or the scent of soul mates. Rose weaves a legend that Cleopatra, still in love with the dead Julius Caesar, commissions a very special concoction, that which will allow her in her future lives the ability to find her soul mate, Caesar, no matter where or when, through scent.
The mixture of memory, scent, and love is a powerful and heady combination. The passages dealing with doomed lovers through the centuries were the most moving for me. For instance, this image of a woman pining for the man who broke her heart and buying bottles of his scent because she's still in love with him.
"Jac thought the scent promised stories, too, but based on its essences. Its ingredients were as old as the Bible: bergamot, lemon, honey, ylang ylang, vetiver, civet, and musk. Rich florals and animalic accords that blended together to create a particular scent that for her would always be associated with Griffin. With their time together. With wonder. With falling in love. With a cessation of loneliness. And then with anger and brutal grief.
"Long after they'd broken up, she still scanned tables at flea markets and auctions on eBay, buying up even half-empty bottles. In the recesses of the armoire in her bedroom, she had a cache of eight bottles. Even sealed packaging, even in the dark, cologne evaporated. Like moments in your life. Time fades the details."
"The powerful musk embraced and enveloped her, lulled her into believing that she was still with Griffin---that she'd once more found the soul she was truly connected to."
Along with the poignant love stories of soul mates found and lost, The Book of Lost Fragrances is charged with multiple, exciting plots and backed by meticulous research. Throw in exotic Ancient Egypt, the glamour of Paris, as well as its macabre catacombs, and you've a wonderful, fictional concoction.
These sections, where Rose describes scents and their powerful associations, transported me. If words could have aromas, then Rose's writing is lyrical fragrance.
The magical perfume at the heart of the novel, and one which everyone is desperately searching for, at whatever cost, is that of "âmes souers" or the scent of soul mates. Rose weaves a legend that Cleopatra, still in love with the dead Julius Caesar, commissions a very special concoction, that which will allow her in her future lives the ability to find her soul mate, Caesar, no matter where or when, through scent.
The mixture of memory, scent, and love is a powerful and heady combination. The passages dealing with doomed lovers through the centuries were the most moving for me. For instance, this image of a woman pining for the man who broke her heart and buying bottles of his scent because she's still in love with him.
"Jac thought the scent promised stories, too, but based on its essences. Its ingredients were as old as the Bible: bergamot, lemon, honey, ylang ylang, vetiver, civet, and musk. Rich florals and animalic accords that blended together to create a particular scent that for her would always be associated with Griffin. With their time together. With wonder. With falling in love. With a cessation of loneliness. And then with anger and brutal grief.
"Long after they'd broken up, she still scanned tables at flea markets and auctions on eBay, buying up even half-empty bottles. In the recesses of the armoire in her bedroom, she had a cache of eight bottles. Even sealed packaging, even in the dark, cologne evaporated. Like moments in your life. Time fades the details."
"The powerful musk embraced and enveloped her, lulled her into believing that she was still with Griffin---that she'd once more found the soul she was truly connected to."
Along with the poignant love stories of soul mates found and lost, The Book of Lost Fragrances is charged with multiple, exciting plots and backed by meticulous research. Throw in exotic Ancient Egypt, the glamour of Paris, as well as its macabre catacombs, and you've a wonderful, fictional concoction.
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