The Book of Lost Fragrances by MJ Rose

A sweeping and suspenseful tale of secrets, intrigue, and lovers separated by time, all connected through the mystical qualities of a perfume created in the days of Cleopatra--and lost for 2,000 years.

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 moved to America. Now, fourteen years later she and her brother have inherited the company along with it's financial problems. 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 becomes haunted by the legend the House of L'Etoile has been espousing since 1799. Is there a scent that can unlock the mystery of reincarnation - or is it just another dream infused perfume?

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.

Although The Book of Lost Fragrances is not purely a historical novel, it encompasses historic facts and lore from ancient Egypt and Greece. The subject matter also touches on past lives and the possibility of reincarnation. Beyond that, it is mostly contemporary, taking the reader from New York to the Europe, and the Far East.

Facts about fragrance and how it is produced both in ancient times and today was rather fascinating. The author truly delved deeply into her research to be able to describe fragrances and practices in such detail. The story is a good one, albeit a little difficult to read due to numerous characters and flashbacks. I suspect by the way the book ended, that there might be a sequel in contemplation. A bit archaeological, a bit suspenseful, and a bit mystical, The Book of Lost Fragrances is an ambitious, but fascinating read. It will be released on March 13, 2012. You can pre-order it now on Amazon!