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    The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense
    The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense
    The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense

    Written by M.J. Rose

    3.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    From the internationally bestselling author, a lush and imaginative novel that crisscrosses time as passion and obsessions collide

    Florence, Italy—1533:

    An orphan named René le Florentin is plucked from poverty to become Catherine de Medici’s perfumer. Traveling with the young duchessina from Italy to France, René brings with him a cache of secret documents from the monastery where he was trained: recipes for exotic fragrances and potent medicines—and a formula for an alchemic process said to have the potential to reanimate the dead.

    In France, René becomes not only the greatest perfumer in the country, but also the most dangerous, creating deadly poisons for his Queen to use against her rivals. But while mixing herbs and essences under the light of flickering candles, René doesn’t begin to imagine the tragic and personal consequences for which his lethal potions will be responsible.

    Paris, France—The Present:

    A renowned mythologist, Jac L’Etoile—trying to recover from personal heartache by throwing herself into her work—learns of the sixteenth-century perfumer who may have been working on an elixir that would unlock the secret to immortality. She becomes obsessed with René le Florentin’s work— particularly when she discovers the dying breaths he had collected during his lifetime.

    Jac’s efforts put her in the path of her estranged lover, Griffin North, a linguist who has already begun translating René le Florentin’s mysterious formula. Together they confront an eccentric heiress in possession of a world-class art collection, a woman who has her own dark purpose for the elixir…for which she believes the ends will justify her deadly means.

    This mesmerizing gothic tale zigzags from the violent days of Catherine de Medici’s court to twenty-first-century France. Fiery and lush, set against deep, wild forests and dimly lit chateaus, The Collector of Dying Breaths illuminates the true path to immortality: the legacies we leave behind.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherBrilliance Audio
    Release dateApr 8, 2014
    ISBN9781455869497
    Author

    M.J. Rose

    M. J. Rose is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than eighteen novels, including The Book of Lost Fragrances and Cartier’s Hope. Among other awards, more than ten of her novels have appeared on the Indie Next List. The Fox TV series Past Lives was based on M. J.’s novel The Reincarnationist. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages. She is also the founder of AuthorBuzz.com and the cofounder of 1001DarkNights.com and Blue Box Press.

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    Reviews for The Collector of Dying Breaths

    3.5/5

    67 ratings15 reviews

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    • 5/5
      Great book. Interesting storyline that flows well. I would recommend it for anyone who likes historical fiction.
    • 4/5
      The Collector of Dying Breaths is the third (and final?) book in this reincarnation series. It continues the story of the House d'Etoile, a family business that makes delightful perfumes and has done so for hundreds of years. In this generation it is Jac and her brother Robbie left. Robbie is actively working at the House when he suddenly falls ill. Jac rushes to his side to have him die but only after getting her promise to finish the project he was working on with some people outside of Paris. She is reluctant but needs a distraction from her grief. When she learns the full scope of what is involved - the reanimation of a soul using a person's dying breaths - she is both repelled and drawn to the project. Could she bring back her brother?She soon learns that all is not as it seems and her brother seems to be guiding her from wherever he has gone after he died. Her former lover Griffin is also there to help her but she fears that she is bound to be the cause of his death. In their past lives - well, let's just say things didn't go well. In the midst of all of her research she is having flashbacks to the time of Catherine de Medici and her perfumer, Rene le Florentine. Will she be able to do what is needed and keep Griffin safe?I enjoyed the first two books in this series and this third book was a worthy wrap up to the tale. It was written in a way to stand alone but I feel it would be far better enjoyed with the full stories of the previous books known to the reader. They just add so much depth to the whole experience of reading The Collector of Dying Breaths. This tale is at time morbid, disgusting, celebratory, sad, romantic and suspenseful. That is a lot for one story and yet it is all there in this one novel. I found myself very involved in the tale hoping for a happy ending for Jac and Griffin and wondering 'til the very end what would happen. I'm not going to tell you here - you'll have to read the book! I do admit that there were times I wanted to thwack Jac in the back of the head with the way she approached her relationship with Griffin and her stubbornness over her "flashbacks." But with that small quibble put away I truly enjoyed my travels to 16th century Italy and France and the impacts the actions had on the present.If you're looking for an enjoyable novel to take you away from the boring everyday this one will take you on an adventure like you've not been on before. Just be ready to learn about making perfume - utterly fascinating - and the lengths some people will go to keep what they have.
    • 5/5
      The Collector of Dying Breaths: A Novel of Suspense is a lush gothic tale of a mythologist, Jac L’Etoile, who investigates mysteries, usually with historic backdrops.My take on it: Perfume + suspense + history = a magical 5-star book to savor.My admiration for the author's work — and her gumption — goes way back. Several years ago, I heard about how M.J. had self-published a novel, Lip Service, long before it was fashionable — or easy — to do so. She was a pioneer who believed in her work, and had the professional skills to market it.
    • 3/5
      The Collector of Dying Breaths is the 6th book in M.J. Rose's Reincarnationist Series and her 14th book overall. This is the first book I've read in the series, but I didn't feel that my enjoyment of the book was impeded by not having read the first five. If anything, it made me want to go and read the previous books. It's obvious there's some juicy back-story here.

      The action alternates between current day and 16th century France. The contemporary hero is a woman named Jac, a successful mythologist who is a member of a very old and prestigious perfuming family. She's also a "memory tool, able to tap into other people's past lives." After her brother dies while trying to recreate a formula to reanimate people's dying breaths, she grudgingly takes on the project.

      The hero in the historic portion of the story is a man named René le Florentin. Rene was an orphan raised in an Italian monastery. He becomes Catherine DeMedici's perfumer and sometime poisoner. Rene also carries on his mentor's work of trying to create a formula that will reanimate dying breaths.

      Both stories revolve around the heroes as they try to figure out the formula that will reanimate the souls of dead loved ones and deal with pushy (slightly psychotic) bosses and unscrupulous rivals. It's an old desire, this desperation to bring loved ones back. The tension mounts in both stories as the characters race against time to make the formula work.

      There's also some intriguing history woven in, such as the character of Isabeau, René le Florentin's love interest. Isabeau is a fictional character, but she's based on the "flying squadron" of women who were trained spies for Catherine de Medici. These women romanced men in power to get their plans and secrets so that Catherine could use them to her benefit. When Isabeau and Rene first meet she says, "I can't put on armor and go fight for my husband's honor the way his brother did, but I can fight this way."

      The writing can be a bit purple at times, but overall this is an entertaining, fast-paced historical thriller/romance.
    • 4/5
      In The Collector of Dying Breaths, we are taken to 16th Century France where a monk believes he has created a formula to collect a person's dying breath and supplant that breath into a living body, reigniting that soul. And so, the author approaches reincarnation from a different angle and it's brilliant.

      Jaq, our recurring heroine in the series, has experienced a great loss and so the concept of capturing someone's dying breath intrigues her, while she is wary at first. She encounters an heiress who has her own reasons for wanting to know the secret, but Jaq has an agenda of her own.

      Intertwined with the modern day story, we have the apprentice of the now deceased monk working closely with Catherine de Medici herself, not only as a scent maker, but as a creator of the deadly poisons with which Catherine is known to have dispatched her enemies. As usual, the author seamlessly moves back and forth from one era to the other and instead of feeling like two separate stories, they play off and compliment each other. As the reader, we never feel like we're in one time or the other, but made a part of both times.

      I always look forward to a new book in this series because each book can really be read as a stand alone. The reason for this is that the author always connects the present, continuing characters and their lives to a certain era in the past and it works beautifully. I look forward to where and when the author will take us to next.
    • 4/5
      Had no idea this was part of a series... it absolutely stand on its own. Interesting story, fairly well written.
    • 3/5
      I’m surprised the writing is on of my least favorite parts of this book, because at the beginning it was fantastic. The first few pages introduce us to René’s story. The writing is lush and beautiful, haunting even, with the author sharing just enough information that I was hooked. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel that way for the rest of the book. The dialogue and Jac’s thoughts often seemed melodramatic to me. There were a handful of long info dumps, often with information about Jac’s past, which I found dry. They were helpful though, as I never felt lost jumping into this sixth book in a series. There was also a section with three sex scenes in a row, which were well written but didn’t all seem necessary to me and so slowed the plot. The writing may also have kept me from feeling very immersed in the book. I was curious about what was going to happen next, but I didn’t feel compelled to keep going until I found out.

      Although the writing wasn’t my cup of tea, everything else about this book really worked for me. Reincarnation is an old idea, as are the suspicions that Catherine de Medici kept a poisoner. In this book, the author completely refreshed these ideas, treating them in a new and fascinating way. Better still, they are rooted in history, with a historical note available to help the reader sort out fact and fiction. The characters were another strength of the book, very complex and intriguing. René and Jac both face some tough moral choices and don’t always make the best decisions. They are understandable decisions though and help flesh out their characters. Several of the relationships are very complicated, including René’s relationship with Catherine and the relationship of a step-brother/step-sister pair who get involved in the present day quest. Jac’s relationship with her brother isn’t as complex, but it’s heartwarming and a great addition to the story. The plot was a tad predictable, but still fun and full of action. Even though the writing could be better, I would recommend this to fans of books such as The DaVinci Code for it’s great characters, interesting historical background, and nice helping of drama and adventure.

      This review first published on Doing Dewey.
    • 4/5
      This is a wonderful story that jumps through time, has such a unique premise, and is so well written that once you begin you can't walk away. Couldn't recommend it more.DP Lyle, award-winning author of the Samantha Cody and Dub Walker thriller series
    • 4/5
      Title - The Collector of Dying BreathsAuthor - M J RoseStory Summary - In modern day, Paris, France, Jac L'Etoile, heiress to a perfume empire is mourning the loss of her brother. With his loss she finds herself alone in the world. In her pain she immerses herself in her work and comes upon a sixteenth century perfumer for Catherine de Medici who searched for the secrets to immortality. Rene' le Florentin is a monk, wanted for murder, who becomes perfumer to the very queen of France. Along the way he searches for the secrets that his teacher sought before him. "..It is with irony now, forty years later, to think that if I had not been called a murderer on the most frightening night of my life, there might not be any perfume in Paris today. And that scent - to which I gave my all and which gave me all the power and riches I could have hoped for - is at the heart of why now it is I who call myself a murderer..." Rene's quest, is to collect the dying last breaths of people and then to somehow place them inside another so that the dying may somehow live again. In this way, they will be immortal. Jac has her own secret. An ability she has had since she was a child. An ability to re-live the past lives that have gone before her. To be one with those she believes she was re-incarnated from. Believing that somehow Rene's dying breathes may hold the key to her own gifts, Jac begins to research Rene's discoveries and with the help of financial backers, begins to recreate the formula Rene had kept hidden all this time. But the backers behind Jac are not who they seem and soon she finds herself in greater peril. But is it the human threat or the true secret of the dying breaths that Jac should fear the most.Review - The is an excellent novel by M J Rose. Meticulously researched and with the attention to detail that is a standard in all her novels. The back and forth narrative between Jac and Rene is also intriguing as it intersects two separate tales with the main theme. Occasionally in Rose's novels the details have a tendency to bog down the story but that is not the case with the Collector of Dying Breaths as the novel moves along at a strong clip. Rene and his rise to prominence is told with drama and tension as he battles his way out of a murder charge to freedom from a monastery to the very courts of France. Where he becomes a confidant and powerful ally of the queen Catherine de Medici. A position that at one moment brings him much acclaimed and joy and in the next, the greatest tragedy of his life. Jac, driven by her loss, struggles to understand he mystery of the dying breaths with the hope that they might bring. In her case, the journey is one of self discovery, fraught with danger and pain. A very well written and enjoyable novel.
    • 4/5
      The Collector of Dying Breaths is the third (and final?) book in this reincarnation series. It continues the story of the House d'Etoile, a family business that makes delightful perfumes and has done so for hundreds of years. In this generation it is Jac and her brother Robbie left. Robbie is actively working at the House when he suddenly falls ill. Jac rushes to his side to have him die but only after getting her promise to finish the project he was working on with some people outside of Paris. She is reluctant but needs a distraction from her grief. When she learns the full scope of what is involved - the reanimation of a soul using a person's dying breaths - she is both repelled and drawn to the project. Could she bring back her brother?She soon learns that all is not as it seems and her brother seems to be guiding her from wherever he has gone after he died. Her former lover Griffin is also there to help her but she fears that she is bound to be the cause of his death. In their past lives - well, let's just say things didn't go well. In the midst of all of her research she is having flashbacks to the time of Catherine de Medici and her perfumer, Rene le Florentine. Will she be able to do what is needed and keep Griffin safe?I enjoyed the first two books in this series and this third book was a worthy wrap up to the tale. It was written in a way to stand alone but I feel it would be far better enjoyed with the full stories of the previous books known to the reader. They just add so much depth to the whole experience of reading The Collector of Dying Breaths. This tale is at time morbid, disgusting, celebratory, sad, romantic and suspenseful. That is a lot for one story and yet it is all there in this one novel. I found myself very involved in the tale hoping for a happy ending for Jac and Griffin and wondering 'til the very end what would happen. I'm not going to tell you here - you'll have to read the book! I do admit that there were times I wanted to thwack Jac in the back of the head with the way she approached her relationship with Griffin and her stubbornness over her "flashbacks." But with that small quibble put away I truly enjoyed my travels to 16th century Italy and France and the impacts the actions had on the present.If you're looking for an enjoyable novel to take you away from the boring everyday this one will take you on an adventure like you've not been on before. Just be ready to learn about making perfume - utterly fascinating - and the lengths some people will go to keep what they have.
    • 5/5
      The Book of Lost Fragrances, Seduction and now Collector of Dying Breaths, M.J.Rose has done it again. Combining alchemists and perfumers in the perfect combinations to find the secret of using dying breaths to bring back a loved one. Is it possible?? I have no clue but reading these books sure makes the reader think that anything is possible. Alternating from 1573 in Barbizon France to present day, this is a dual story of Rene le Florentin, perfumer to Catherine de Medici and my favorite character Jac L'Etoile who is drawn into the life of Rene through her dreams and visions. This is a compelling and intriguing blending of mystery, murder, passion and the unknown of which only M.J. Rose can do. It certainly kept my attention as her books always do and I was totally drawn into the story. The author takes the impossible and brings it to life. This is a very well researched continuation in a wonderful series. I highly recommend it and give it 5 stars!!
    • 2/5
      This book alternates between Rene le Florentin in the 16th century and Jac, a modern day myth buster and perfumer. Rene, taught by a great perfumer, is charged with his death. Rescued by Catherine de Medici, he quickly becomes her personal perfumer and poisoner. Jac, who suffers from past life flashbacks, is trying to create a potion to reanimate someone's dying breath.This is a book in a series. As many of Rose's other books, I found the story set in the past infinitely more interesting than the present day story. For the present day story, the characters seemed more like caricatures than real people. They just weren't believable. Overall, not something I would re-read or recommend.
    • 4/5
      Another wonderful read from M. J. Rose. I really enjoy all the books from this series. This book does feature Jac from L'Etoile from Seduction and The Book of Lost Fragrances. If you have not read either of these books that is ok as the author does a nice job of making this book allowable to be read as a stand alone novel. This series is my favorite time travel period series. M. J. can really make both the past and present as equally interesting. However this time it was the past that I was the most intrigued by. Just wished that more of the focus was spent on the past and Rene. He was a big part of the present and his story was muted. I felt that Jac with her remorse for her brother was not as strong as she has been in the past. Plus, I understand her grief for her brother but after a while I grew tried of her and wanted her to snap out of her dark cloud. Ok so maybe I am stretching it a bit here as it did not go on that long but you get the picture. The easy flow from past to present was great. Don't let the size of these books deceive you as they are quick reads. As I read more about these books and the fragrances, I want to go and check out how to make one of my own. I have to say that this book is probably one of my top favorites in this series.
    • 4/5
      A Myrt's Review The Collector of Dying Breaths by M. J. Rose A Rich Mélange of Genres Romance, Renaissance era history, mystery, suspense, intrigue, love. grief, past lives, after life are all intertwined around lead character, Jac L’Etoile, the daughter of a dynasty of perfumers. Jac, at the request of her dying brother, takes over in a project that traces back to Rene Le Floretin, the master perfumer to Catherine de Medici. Rene was developing a formula to use a person’s dying breath in a mixture to put their soul back in a new body. Sort of a directed reincarnation. Funded by an eccentric pair of siblings, working with her former lover, Griffin, a linguist, using notes belonging to Rene and working out of a secret chamber of Rene’s, Jac tries to recreate and complete his intended process of bringing back life to selected jars of dying breaths including her brother’s. The book moves between Jac’s current efforts and events in the life of Rene Le Floretin. However, Jac is actually channeling the memories of Le Floretin. Apparently, Jac has a history of having past life memories, not just her own but OTHER people’s past lives. Jac makes Shirley MacLaine look like a wannabe. BUT despite the years of encouragement to believe from her brother AND her former shrink, Jac has been resistant to accept these memories throughout the years preferring the angst that she must be having incredibly detailed hallucinations about things she knows nothing about because of some sort of brain malady. (I’m not a believer in reincarnation but I think I would have run with the past life scenarios over mental instability.) But, Jac finally stops resisting her unwanted memories and draws on them to try and get closer to deciphering and duplicating Le Floretin’s work. In essence (going with the theme here), we have two different timelines running along side each other both searching for an answer to prolonging life to save a love. The story offers interesting side trips in the methods for making perfume - and poisons. It stirs thoughts on what is a soul and the different ways to view living forever - either through life after life or in one finite lifetime moving to a single afterlife. There is more than one love story and a question involves whether a love can be fated to always fail. The two timelines come together at the end in a very satisfying resolution. I enjoyed this book on many levels. I will never smell a scent again without picturing the efforts and materials that went into creating it. In particular, for the view in Catherine de Medici’s life via her devoted perfumer/poisoner, Rene. I was interested by the concepts of past lives and reincarnation. The collection of dying breaths and their use in a formula to bring a soul to new life and how that would actually work intrigued me. The past and present storylines interchanged easily, although I would have wished for more time in Rene’s world. And I rooted for soul mates to beat fate in the end. I would recommend it as a good interesting read with a variety of views to focus on. The Collector of Dying Breaths is the third book in a series about Jac L’Etoile. I have not read the other books and feel this book can be read as a stand alone. I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
    • 3/5
      The Collector of Dying Breaths takes place in two time periods. The first is modern day France and the second is in France during the 16th century. The sections in the middle ages revolve around Rene le Florentin, master perfumer to the Queen, Catherine de Medici. Rene uses his craft to create perfumes, lotions, and poisons for the Queen. His main obsession, however, is to discover the perfect combination of ingredients which can be combined with a person's dying breath to reanimate the soul of the deceased. The twenty-first century story centers on Jac, a young woman highly skilled in the art of perfumery, who is also drawn into finding the perfect formula to mix with a dying breath. Jac has reoccurring episodes in which she slips into fugue states and enters past lives, including that of Rene le Florentin's lover. There are erotic love scenes and intrigue in both settings.I did not find the plot of of the novel interesting. Although Rene's story was mildly engaging, Jac's was not. Toward the end of the story it is mentioned that Jac experienced past lives from three different time periods, but if they were mentioned in the book they weren't memorable, since I can't recall two of them at all. Like Jac, there are strong hints in the book that Melonie may have lived in another time period, but that is never explained either. The part of the story that did interest me involves the history and craft of perfume making. It is a topic I never considered before and I enjoyed reading about it.