The Perfume Collector

A Novel

By: Kathleen Tessaro

Narrated by: Heather Wilds

Length: 12 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

An inheritance from a mysterious stranger...< /p>

An abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank of Paris...

And three exquisite perfumes that hold a memory...and a secret.

London, 1955: Grace Monroe is a fortunate young woman. Despite her sheltered upbringing in Oxford, her recent marriage has thrust her into the heart of London's most refined and ambitious social circles. However, playing the role of the sophisticated socialite her husband would like her to be doesn't come easily to her; and perhaps never will.

Then one evening a letter arrives from France that will change everything. Grace has received an inheritance. There's only one problem: she has never heard of her benefactor, the mysterious Eva d'Orsey.

So begins a journey that takes Grace to Paris in search of Eva. There, in a long-abandoned perfume shop on the Left Bank, she discovers the seductive world of perfumers and their muses, and a surprising, complex love story. Told by invoking the three distinctive perfumes she inspired, Eva d'Orsey's story weaves through the decades, from 1920s New York to Monte Carlo, Paris, and London.

But these three perfumes hold secrets. And as Eva's past and Grace's future intersect, Grace realizes she must choose between the life she thinks she should live and the person she is truly meant to be.

Illuminating the lives and challenging times of two fascinating women, The Perfume Collector weaves a haunting, imaginative, and beautifully written tale filled with passion and possibility, heartbreak and hope.

©2013 Kathleen Tessaro (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

Critic reviews

"[L]ush, descriptive imagery and admirable authenticity.... [A] bewitching, compelling novel, full of dark desires, long-buried secrets, revisited memories, and new opportunities." ( Booklist)

"A colorful, stimulating journey through time." ( Kirkus Reviews)

"Dazzles the senses." ( Publishers Weekly)

A wonderful book!

Any additional comments?

This is a terrific read, especially if you're interested in vintage perfume. The story revolves around so much more than perfume, though. It's got interesting plot twists, well drawn characters, and a real sense of someone finding out about who they are as a person and discovering personal freedom. The writer also has a knack for capturing the mannerisms and little nuances of people in a past time. I never discovered a dull stretch or unbelievable plot line in the entire book, and it was so easy to get through. I actually looked forward to getting on the bus for my daily listen!

Decent

It was hard to get started. The story was slightly predictable. Good for what it was though.

Predictable But Still Interesting

Though the storyline was entirely predictable from very early on, it was still interesting to watch it unfurl.

The narration was okay, thought it was terrible at first, but got used to it. Her French accent is appalling, and every man sounds the same.

intriguing story.

I didn't want it to end. I began to care about all the characters especially grace. some reviews didn't care for the narrator. the voice she's uses for the narrative is a little flat especially at the beginning but her character voices are good. I would listen to it again.

Exceptional character development

Very good book. Well written and very well read with each character in a different voice. Easy to listen to

Narration

The performance rating would have been higher, however the wrong accent for characters came in and out throughout the book.

Yes--A good story awaits you if you can tolerate the narrator...

I was drawn into the heart of the story and the lives of the main characters through the writer's lovely, mellifluous writing style.
The authors' wonderful writing was strong enough to overcome a strangely cadenced reading of the text.

The narrator's style was stilted and affected; at times she had trouble, confusing her voices/accents within dialogues. I'm left to wonder if she did this work with no constructive criticism or correction.
Fortunately, I decided it was worth trying to ignore the narrator's
style issues/mistakes to simply enjoy an interesting story.

Great book to just escape

Very fun storyline and good narration. Great book to just disconnect and enjoy. Characters are interesting and believable.

Intriguing Story

This is quite a different story about the lavish lifestyle of the rich and the contrasting struggles of the poor in New York City prior to WWII. It is also the story of the women who had to navigate this time in the shadow of men. The characters are interesting and well developed and the setting described in colorful detail. An added bonus is the reader learns about the history of the perfume industry! Great book about an interesting time in history!

Loved this!!

This story is a unique way of presenting a post WWII story into the 1950’s using an interesting subject…..perfume! I loved it, even though I guessed it pretty early on.