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

Book: The Book of Lost Fragrances by MJ Rose
Published by Atria Books; March 13, 2012

384 pages

Format: ebook/Arc

Genres: Historical Fiction/Mystery/Supernatural

I received this book in exchange for an honest review via HF Virtual Book Tours.

Synopsis via 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

I really liked how varied this book was. The early scenes set in Egypt drew me in immediately. I was almost sorry that the story moved to present day for awhile. I wasn’t sad for long, there is so much in this book to love.

I really liked that Jac is a complex character. She has some issues and she’s not a perfect person. It really sets up the book nicely; makes it more believable. Perfect characters sometimes drag a story down.

There is so much going on in this novel, so many characters to keep straight. I really liked that there was a sub plot involving monks in different parts of Asia. That part stuck out to me because I had recently been discussing a similar history with a friend of mine; to see it in a book was a wonderfully odd coincidence.

I think that regardless of what genres are preferred by a reader, this novel will have something for everyone. There’s history, romance, mystery. It’s all beautifully woven together and the imagery used is amazing. It will keep you turning until the final pages. I was concerned about it being part of a series, as I had not read the others. However, it can easily be read as a stand alone.