As someone who does judge a book by it's cover let me say that I love this cover. The palatte is lovely. The perspective is perfect. It's as though you are trying to see around something but you aren't quite able to. There is a slightly femine or romantic feel to the cover that you could argue might discourage some sales (from men) and that is not good but I still love it.
The Ghostwalk also gets an A+. It made me read that book. It's a first rate example of a mystery cover that can appeal to both sexes. It also sets the book up very well. No question with that cover that you are in for suspence, intrigue and danger.
The book of the day today--another snowy day by the way-- is The Coral Thief . It's book number 2 from Rebecca Stott. Her first book, Ghostwalk came out a couple years ago and did very well. Ghostwalk is a back and forth in time mystery surrounding Issac Newton's real life ventures in alchemy. It was very interesting and had fabulous atmosphere. Do you remember it?
I finished The Coral Thief over the weekend and I must say Ms Stott can write. I was glued to Coral. It's 1815 and Danial's mysterious adventure in Paris as Napoleon is being shipped to Saint Helena is beginning. Danial is an anatomy student looking to buck the family plan and become a naturalist. He's traveling to Paris with letters of introduction, rare coral specimens in trusted to him by his professor and a priceless manuscript in hopes of capturing the attention of a famous naturalist. Unfortunately he has discovered that the beautiful woman who shared his stagecoach, Lucienne, has stolen his treasures.
And so the cat and mouse of it all begins.
Daniel's chase after his missing valuables and credentials takes him from the highest to the lowest in Paris and here is where Stott really shines. The intricate plot and the pace of the novel is dead on, but it is the sense of place that the author creates that is completely outstanding. You are there. 1815 Paris is real. You feel the weight of every locked door, smell every dank place and tense up with each pounding foot step.
This is an entirely successful historical mystery. I think you'd like it, Lily. It is thrilling, engaging, surprising and educational. But don't worry about the educational part you won't even know that it's happening.
Happy
P.S. In case you don't remember these 2 bokks and many thousands of others are available at your fabo local independent bookstore.
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