ISBN? - 9781444724288Publishing? - 2012 by Sceptre (first published 2011)Genre? - Historical / MysteryCharacters? - Jean-Baptiste / Ziguette / Jeanne / Armand / Marie / LecoeurSetting? - Paris (France)Series? - N/ATitle? - Purifying a putrid cemeteryCharacter Analysis? - I liked how all of the characters weren't introduced at once. We got a chance to know and understand Jean-Baptiste before others were introduced. However, other characters then seemed very weak in comparison.General Analysis? - For book club we always seem to get books which have won an award but I find that these are the most disappointing. This one was in that category. It was slow to start and there was too much description and padding where there didn't need to be.Recommended? - No Three and a half Stars.Jean-Baptiste Barrat, a young engineer of modest means, in pre-revolutionary France, is charged with removing the Les Innocents Church cemetery. The overcrowded cemetery is fouling both the air and water of the surrounding Paris neighborhood. He meets some interesting characters in his quest to make the site pure and discovers that not everyone is happy with his project. Recommended.
Imagery very good, an olfactory story, a bit like Perfume:The story of a Murder. An enjoyable read.
—nita_fsc
Interesting book and an engaging story, but not one that will be memorable for long
—allly
A line in this book upset me and I couldn't continue reading it.
—GisellaQr
beautifully written and well formed characters
—shawnyy
