The Book of Lost Fragrances by M.J. Rose: Book Review

The Reincarnationist series created by M.J. Rose are filled with such intrigue, emotion and suspense that I cannot put her books down!  The Book of Lost Fragrances takes us into the fantastical world of perfumery and mythology.  Jac L'Etoile broke away from the family business of creating award-winning perfumes to become a leading expert on mythology.  Her cable show travels the world discovering the truth behind the myths.  

When her brother Robbie disappears from The House of L'Etoile in France, Jac must set aside her feelings about the perfumery in order to track down her brother. Although the siblings are close, they were raised apart after their mother's tragic death inside The House of L'Etoile.  Robbie stayed with their father in France while Jac came to America to live with her aunt. 

While searching for her brother, Jac is unaware that the Chinese Government is on her tail.  Robbie disappeared with information about a fragrance that can help a person recall his or her past lives.  If the Dalai Lama of Tibet is given the fragrance, then reincarnation can be proven and the Chinese Government will have lost their hold over Tibet.

This book was so fascinating, leading us through Napolean's time, Cleopatra's personal perfume priest to modern-day world-wide intrigue.  The Book of Lost Fragrances is the very epitome of what I love about historical fiction/suspense.  There was history - who knew so much went into creating perfume! And the fact-based anecdotes about Cleopatra and Napoleon added to the drama.

There was intrigue - I was recently reading my daughter's Global Issues textbook about the Free Tibet movement on college campuses.  So when the Dalai Lama and the Chinese Government entered into the pages of The Book of Lost Fragrances I was somewhat aware of the issues.  Reading about the controversy and people grounded what I had already learned and made it much more personal.

There was love - although love was not the focus of the book, it was a secondary player.  Each time the lost fragrance was inhaled we were taken back to earlier L'Etoile's and his soul-mate....and the tragic endings to each. 

Each of the books in The Reincarnationist series reads well as a stand-alone novel.  And in my opinion, The Book of Lost Fragrances is the absolute best one so far - and that's saying a lot because I loved The Reincarnationist, The Memorist and The Hypnotist.  Many times a series has a tendency to become almost cookie-cutter plot - not so with The Reincarnationist series.  I inhaled it! Rose has a special gift for creating characters you can fall in love with while developing an intricate plot that leaves you thirsting for more!

Author's Site | Buy the Book

Publisher: Simon and Schuster | Published: March 13, 2012

Genre: Suspense | 384 pages | ISBN: 978-1451621303

 M.J. Rose is the international best selling author of eleven novels and two non-fiction books on marketing.  Her fiction and non-fiction has appeared in many magazines and reviews including Oprah Magazine. She has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, 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 Renincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and runs the blog- Buzz, Balls & Hype.  She is also the co-founder of Peroozal.com and BookTrib.com.

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Many thanks to the publisher for the complimentary review copy.