Mar 03 2009
Sepulchre by Kate Mosse - a review
It took me a while to find a book and actually finish it. Well, actually find the time to finish it is what I should say. I found Sepulchre, a novel by Kate Mosse. The novel is split between the 1890’s and 2007. In 1891, we meet Leonie Vernier, a young girl who lives in Paris with her mother and her brother, Anatole Vernier. An invitation from her aunt, Isolde Lascombe, prompts a visit to Carcassone with her brother. They visit their aunt at her home - the Domaine de la Cade. In the modern day, we meet Meredith Martin, who has travelled to France to research a biography of Claude Debussy. While there, she takes the opportunity to learn more about her biological mother. In conducting this search, she learns of her connection to Leonie Vernier and the mystery surrounding the Domaine de la Cade.
Rumor has it that this second novel of Mosse’s received lots of harsh criticism - criticism that was perhaps uncalled for. I loved how Mosse set the scenes - both in the modern day and in the past. It was almost as if I were there - I could see the sights and smell the scents and taste the tastes that her characters did. Their feelings were mine. The plot was complex and multilayered and sometimes required me to map things out. But that was part of the richness of the novel. The language is deceptively simple, considering the complexity of the plot and the depth of the character development.
I was also impressed by the use of tarot in the telling of this story. It was obvious that Kate Mosse did her homework when researching and writing and the thoroughness took my breath away.
This book was wonderful. In fact, it was much better than her first book, Labyrinth, and I would highly recommend that you read it.
Book 8/100
