The Book of Lost Fragrances by M. J. Rose

The Book of Lost Fragrances (Reincarnationist, #4)

by M.J. Rose

A Secret Worth Dying For...

Jac L'Etoile has always been haunted by visions of the past, her earliest memories infused with the exotic scents that she grew up with as the heir to a storied French perfume company. These worsened after her mother's suicide until she finally found a doctor who helped her, teaching her to explore the mythological symbolism in her visions and thus lessen their painful impact. This ability led Jac to a wildly successful career as a mythologist, television personality and author.

When her brother, Robbie—who's taken over the House of L'Etoile from their father—contacts Jac about a remarkable discovery in the family archives, she's skeptical. But when Robbie goes missing before he can share the secret—leaving a dead body in his wake—Jac is plunged into a world she thought she'd left behind.

Traveling back to Paris to investigate Robbie's disappearance, Jac discovers that the secret is a mysterious scent developed in Cleopatra's time. Could the rumors swirling be true? Can this ancient perfume hold the power to unlock the ability to remember past lives and conclusively prove reincarnation? If this possession has the power to change the world, then it's not only worth living for... it's worth killing for, too.

The Book of Lost Fragrances fuses history, passion and suspense in an intoxicating web that moves from Cleopatra's Egypt and the terrors of revolutionary France to Tibet's battle with China and the glamour of modern-day Paris. This marvelous, spellbinding novel mixes the sensory allure of Perfume with the heartbreaking beauty of The Time Traveler's Wife, coming to life as richly as our most wildly imagined dreams.

Reviewed by Terri M. LeBlanc on

3 of 5 stars

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Rose continues to move away from the elements in this series I loved the most--the historical flashbacks. While the story did keep me reading, I wanted more of the flashbacks that connected the individuals in the present. Because of this lack of connection to the past, I found the ending unbelievable and hard to connect to.

Book was a Good Reads First Reads giveaway.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 24 April, 2012: Finished reading
  • 24 April, 2012: Reviewed