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 deat...

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 FRAGRA...

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 th...

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 discove...

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 un

Mystery wrapped in history wrapped in suspenseThe 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...

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

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

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’Etoil...

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 r...

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: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 fo...

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

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,

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,