The Pucelle Connection

Genevieve Lenard #6

by Estelle Ryan

Mediaeval books. Murdered priests. Bioweapons. 
Renowned nonverbal communications expert Doctor Genevieve Lenard's search for an international criminal is interrupted when her team receives an antique book. At first the book is dismissed--until they discover similar books gifted to people who are now dead.

Genevieve's inner strength is put to the ultimate test when someone close to her also falls victim to the vengeful actions of an unsound mind. Barely coping with the emotional maelstrom and her doubts about her own continued involvement in the team, she looks for connections between their original case, the books and the many suspicious deaths they uncover.

But the cost might be too high for Genevieve as she rushes to stop the person set on destroying as many lives as possible.

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction, Crime, Suspense, Art, Contemporary

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 5, 2015

About the author

Estelle Ryan was born in South Africa and spent her childhood being surrounded by African beauty, nature and diversity of cultures. Her first trip to Europe at the tender age of 16 transformed her world into a much larger place, endless in its possibilities and places to explore. For most of her adulthood she’s travelled all over the world, lived on a few continents, explored numerous cultures and still is insatiable in the quest to still the hunger for more life experiences.

She’s written for numerous international magazines, was the editor of a European lifestyle magazine and has seven romance novels published under a pseudonym. With her interest in international politics, arts, crime, behavioural psychology, criminal psychology and music, she decided to combine all these elements in her writing. And so Genevieve and the team came into being.

She is an unabashed coffeeshopaholic. Good coffee, ambience and music in the perfect combination is all that is required to turn a mundane coffee shop into her 'office'. The appropriate coffee shop is chosen depending on the mood, the weather, the type and amount of work that needs to be done, and of course the craving of the day. All of her books have been written in numerous coffee shops all over the world.

Reviews

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

As much as I love the Genevieve Lenard series, this one was mixed for me. I loved the growing richness of the “family” and how Genevieve works to understand her neurotypical friends. But this plot just seemed to have more holes in it than previous storylines. The strength continues to be in the character development. For this reason, I'll round up to four stars.

[Dolly Sandor · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a wild ride!! I wanted to read The Pucelle Connection in one sitting but my eyes did not cooperate!!

What I liked: This series has completely captured my attention. It's unique, well written and from I can see, extremely well researched. The characters grow a bit with each addition to the series and not always in a good way, which would just be boring.

Doctor Genevieve (Jenny, to a select few) Lenard is one of the most intriguing lead characters I've ever been introduced to. She's special in so many ways but calls herself as non-neurotypical and regular people neurotypical. What she is technically is autistic. She can function but there are some things that will set off a "zoning out" phase. She's also evolving since the core cast of characters entered her life. I don't know if this happens in real life with autistic people but it sure is a great way to develop Jenny's character.

By no means is she ever going to be considered "normal" by society but the cast around her, know and love her as she is. It can and does cause some problems with the relationships but they are worked out in a logical way and not as a fairy tale type of resolution.

It's also great to see her in love with Colin and caring for her inner circle. Most of the time, Jenny isn't sure of why she feels as she does, but accepts that her life is changing and she is no longer wrapped in a cocoon of isolation. Caring for her friends does cause her some problems though as she just wants everyone well and safe.

Another benefit to this series is I'm learning more and more about Art. I always thought it was above my head and I could just appreciate what I see. I'm learning about different artists and their specialties and why most of them are so highly regarded in the Art world.

What I didn't like: The only thing that got on my nerves a bit was the over use of the word "neurotypical" to explain the "normal" characters versus Jenny being autistic.

If you're looking for something different in the suspense/mystery/romance arena, you should definitely give this series a try. You need to start at the beginning to truly appreciate how this Ms Ryan has not only moved the series forward but developed the characters!!

Highly Recommend!!!!

[Paula Howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pucelle Connection becomes very personal to Jenny when someone she loves has been targeted. Nikki has become terribly sick and they can't find the cause. As usual, Jenny, and the team begin to connect the dots of multiple events to figure out the cause of the sickness. Nikki isn't the only one.

It gets the team to think about the fact they are like a family. None of them have any family to speak of.... it is just them. How do they go about creating a family and having the legal right to determine medical decisions. Interesting.

Another great story by Estelle Ryan.

[Arnaud · Rating 5 out of 5]

And I thought the previous one was intense

Ha! When Estelle Ryan decides to follow one story arch from volume 5 straight into the next in volume 6: you know you're in for a treat :-) This story was as intense as the previous one, and Dr. Lenard under rapid fire of stressors of all kinds! Mixing art and biohacking, the story takes us on a wild ride with the team stretched as thin as can be to chase whoever is after the team itself!

[Danyel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still a compelling lead character. I am already looking forward to the next installment, not to read about the art mystery I'm sure it will be based on, but rather to revisit the Doc and her pleasantly oddball team.

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first few books in this series, but this one bothered me on several accounts. I found the premise too elaborate and difficult to believe, and I find Genevieve's difficulties with the "neurotypical" too frequent and too repetitive.

[anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

i liked this book. i was pleasantly surprised when they caught the bad guy. i thought that artist involvement was obvious from the start when they were mentioned. the ending was very bitter sweet.

[Dlmrose · Rating 3 out of 5]

read in Strasbourg

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doctor Genevieve Lenard and a team of four others work to solve crimes directly answering to the French king. Here, the team is searching for a bad guy when they find a pattern of murdered business rivals, then murdered priests. There seems to be little to go on besides a Gothic connection when a cared-for person near the team is affected. Tech and biology come into play, as well as art as usual. The pursuit intensifies.

Author Ryan's pacing and the evolution of the case are very good, as in all the previous “Connection” books in the series, but that's the icing on the cake of the team members' characters, five people of different backgrounds who work together with each one's unique skills and place in the group shining when needed. They and their often funny personal interactions make continuing reading the series a dependable pleasure.

[john r shell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another top mystery

Liked the turn of events toward the end of the story. Have read all her books up to this one. All are excellent.

[Sherry Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this latest installment of the adventures of Dr. Genevieve Lenard, renowned nonverbal communications expert and investigator of art crimes in France, author Estelle Ryan has continued a fine series with a fascinating sleuth. The mystery centers around antique illuminated books, which are all created by the same artist and all found in the possession of people who are now dead. What is the connection and what does it mean when Genevieve's team receives one of the books?

As usual, Ryan takes us into some aspect of the art world, in this case, the work of master illuminator Jean Pucelle. The clues hidden in the art are delicious. The race to solve the clues and stop more deaths stretches her team to the limit. But the true fascination is watching Genevieve as the weight of change, love, and fear test her inner strength. She begins to doubt her involvement with the team.

Ryan does a masterful job of pulling back the veil on the world of autism, further strengthening the dynamics of Genevieve's team-turned-family, and still holding the tension of a great mystery. Bravo.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgettable character

I wish I was a writer when I read a book like this (and the others in this series) because it would be easier to come up with an adequate description of how good this book is. Estelle Ryan has created an unforgettable set of characters but the best of all is Dr. Genevieve Lenard. Ms. Ryan has done the best job I have ever seen in helping us see the world from the perspective of a person with Asperger's syndrome and doing it in such a way that we see her as a person and not as a diagnosis. I love the character of Genevieve Lenard and what's more, I respect and admire her. I love her mind, I love the way she looks at the world, and I love the way she struggles to adapt to the people around her. She is a brilliant and courageous character who also happens to get involved in some of the most interesting mysteries. The only thing I hate about these books is that they end and I'm left waiting for the next one.

[Nadine · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted to both put this book down...and read it in one setting. I wanted to put it down so I could catch my breath from the intense emotions and events in the book...but I needed to read it as fast as possible to make sure my "book friends" Genevieve, Collin, Francine, Vinnie, and Nikki were safe.
This is book 6 in the series and thus far I have read them all and never been disappointed. I love learning about art, autism and love all the anatomical words used to describe people reactions. I have fallen in love with the characters and enjoy watching them change just a little in each book. Thanks for a wonderful read.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

While the characters remain fun, they have become too superficial. Too much repetition in describing roles within the texts. The plot/story-line took way too long to develop and I am not sure I even ever understood what it was. Probably done with this series.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this series, but I wish that Estelle Ryan would employ a copy editor. That would prevent her from having Genevieve correct people's grammar in one paragraph and then use a phrase like "increasingly more" in the next.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I need to slow my pace on reading this fabulous series; otherwise, I'll be finished before the year, because they are that entertaining! As with the previous six titles, each of the many characters continues to grow and develop and evolve, as if they were real people. Having worked with many autistic teens, I appreciate Ryan's thoughtful development and portrayal of Genevieve. I also appreciate how the others interact with Genevieve, as Ryan portrays that realistically well, too.

I also enjoy the different art aspects of each title, but this one is one of my favorites--books of hours and Gothic architecture, plus murdered priests, biological weaponry, and confronting an evil nemesis. I work in an archives, currently preserving and conserving our book collection, so the descriptions of the different books of hours appealed to me greatly. Weaving Strasbourg into the plots, so that it is more than a setting, is also a Ryan talent. Ryan's writing style stresses me simultaneously with the characters, so I appreciate the ability to connect with and invest time thinking about what and how they contribute to the overall plot. I'm looking forward to number 7 in the series, but I do hope it's not as sinister as 5 & 6!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so rediculously good! I finished it and immediately read it over again. I read it twice in five days because I did not want to put it down.

Genevieve's reaction to Nikki passing out in her kitchen was so heaetfelt and heroic for her. Nikki makes her feel things that she doesn't understand. She goes above and beyond to ensure her well being and letting her know she is loved.

My other favorite parts are the car wreck and both Genevieve and Colin's emotional distress for each other, the hazmat shower, the climax scene in R&R, and the signing of the documents.

There was plenty of page time for everyone, enough romance to make my heart go pitter patter, enough action to make my eyes go wide.

I don't want to leave this family ever.

[Patty Chang · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this series, but not for not your typical reasons. The characters are interesting but pretty cartoonish and cliche. But I am very sympathetic to the non-neurotypical aspects of the main character and her gradual realization that she has found a bunch of misfits who value her precisely for her uniqueness. Don't all outsiders wish to be accepted for who they are? This series speaks to precisely this need in us and that's why I am drawn to it and comforted by it. This is a 3 star book but one of the few series I have reread because I need that sort of comfort. The plots are also interesting, especially if you like art

[BRT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Always entertaining, this entry in the series finds Dr. Lenard and her team tracking down a serial killer using beautiful books. A bit less violent than their recent adventures, this story focuses more on the research the team does. There's also more attention to the interaction of the group with Dr. Lenard's non-neurotypicalism. As I've mentioned before, it amazes me that she's found six people willing to tolerate the traits of her NNT, where blunt statements of fact & reason come across as rudeness and intolerance. (Think t.v.'s Bones at her obnoxious, arrogant best.) As the team works more intensely on a case, some issues do arise that shock Dr. Lenard's assumptions to her core.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy this series very much, hence the 4 stars. The information on artists and artwork and often history is interesting and leads me to do some research. As someone who has worked with and among persons with autism from early age to peers, I enjoy Estelle Ryan’s presentation of various behaviors that are often reflective of autism while keeping in mind that there is no person with autism that is “typical”. As a dear friend and colleague always said, “ If you have worked with one person with autism (or TBI or stroke or cerebral palsy, etc) then you have worked with one person with autism.”
And of course, there is the Mozart...

[Linda Lassman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find all of Ryan's books in this series to be absorbing and compelling. What made this one especially involving to me was the aspect of the exposure to disease and the steps taken to prevent exposure. The one comment that really struck me was Manny's complaint about having to wear a face mask, that he couldn't understand how anyone could bear to wear them for hours on end. I had to go back to confirm the publication date, 2015, 4 years before the COVID outbreak, because my first reaction was to laugh at the irony of that statement in light of what eventually came to pass--something that neither Ryan nor Manny could ever have predicted.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 6th book in the series featuring Dr. Genevieve (Jenny) Lenard. I haven't read one of these books in a while and this was a great one. Phillip (Dr. Lenard's boss ) receives a special book. Jenny and Colin are also investigating a murderer from the past. The plot is complicated but interesting There appears to be a serial killer of priests, people becoming sick and companies making huge financial gains for unknown reasons. Book starts a little slow but picks after a few chapters. I liked it.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very unique series.

I am really enjoying this unique series from Estelle Ryan. They’re not your usual police procedural or crime novel with blood running in the streets and detailed sex scenes. Not to say there’s no violence- there is. The villains are creepy and the trail to solving the mysteries are complex. This group of characters really grows on you. Not quite a stand alone book. It would be better to start from the beginning to have a complete grasp of the characters.

[Melanie R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Great book in the series

I enjoyed the Pucelle Connection. I enjoy the dynamic between the team members and how each of them have their strengths and all are involved in solving the cases they are working on. The relationship between Genevieve and Colin is beautiful and they are lucky they found each other and created their “family”. I also love the little bit of art history you get as background for the cases.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fine entry in this series . . . . not art thefts this time, but art books and priests and businessmen dying. As usual, the characters are the best part. In this one the plot was a bit contrived, I thought, but it was an enjoyable read nevertheless. And I've already got the next one in my TBR queue. :)

[Susan Clair Holt · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pucelle

This series is great. A. PhD that is an expert of nonverbal communication that has learned this to better understand people. She is a high functioning autistic woman who"s colleges are a cop a hacker, a criminal and an art thief. She solves the crimes put before her with the gang giving her the information she needs to solve an almost impossible puzzle.

[Jacki Beights · Rating 5 out of 5]

Missed reading this series

It's been so long since I've read one of the Genevieve Lenard series books, I didn't realize how much I missed the characters, the dynamics between those characters, and the fun of their interactions.I think I've read 6 so far and I'm going to turn around and read another one right now. I am one happy reader.

[Jim Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series continues at its very high level.
The team is personally involved in resolving this close-to-home mystery. Cunningly forged books from the past seem to be connected to the Gothic Cathedrals in Strasbourg with fatal results for their resident priests. By whom, why, and how are these deaths being caused?

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this series and love all the characters. There is plenty of suspense but not too heavy on the violence. Lead character has a high functioning form of Autism which adds a great spin on things.
Glad the author is still writing this series!

[Trina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Each book I finish, I find myself more and more immersed with these characters. At the end of The Pucelle Connection, I could almost feel Genevieve's distress. I am in love with all the characters and can't wait to start the next one.