Going to Paris is Colette Iselin's dream come true. When
people start losing their heads in a series of gruesome
murders, Colette's perfect trip turns into a nightmare.
Because somehow she's connected to all the victims and she
keeps seeing a strange woman who looks like Marie
Antoinette, which is impossible. Or is it? With the help of
their very charming French tour guide Jules Martin, Colette
digs through her ancestry to discover dark secrets that link
her to the French Revolution and the death of Marie
Antoinette.
MARIE ANTOINETTE, SERIAL KILLER by Katie Alender is a
thrilling ride through the beautiful streets of Paris and
into the haunting French Revolution. The historical details
flow seamlessly into the story, giving enough to imbue the
story with the horrors of betrayal but without slowing the
pace. Colette is definitely sympathetic to the French
aristocracy and the history is colored by that. This is the
Paris for the aristocratic, the wealthy, but there is a
balance offered through the eyes of the Jules who takes a
special interest in Colette.
The setting is wonderfully seen through Colette's teenage
eyes. France to a teenage girl is endlessly romantic and
gorgeous. The sweet romance that develops between Colette
and Jules couldn't be complete without the quintessential
romantic trip to the top of the Eiffel Tower. Even knowing
it was going to happen didn't detract from the sweetness of
the moment.
Colette is a strong character because, from the beginning,
we see her vulnerability and fears and her ability to work
through them to do what must be done. Colette isn't perfect.
She's not a good sister, slightly shallow, and a bit snobby.
She's also funny, considerate, and intelligent. It's working
through her flaws, recognizing her strengths and weaknesses
that make her so much fun to see Paris through.
This is a story though of betrayal and revenge. The
interspersed scenes where Marie Antoinette stalks her
victims heighten the tension as each death brings the Queen
closer to Colette. With every clue Colette gathers, the
Queen's ghost looms closer. My one real complaint about the
story is connected with the title. Using the word serial
killer and employing the media to hype the 'murders' felt
forced.
MARIE ANTOINETTE, SERIAL KILLER engages the reader from the
first page. Colette's refreshingly honest voice keeps the
story from falling into clichés. It also adds some
surprising laughs. It's a fun book. I love the balance of
creepy atmosphere with the sweetness of blossoming romance
and painful character growth.
Paris, France: a city of fashion,
chocolate croissants, and cute boys. Colette Iselin is
thrilled be there for the first time, on her spring break
class trip.
But a series of gruesome murders are
taking place around the city, putting everyone on edge. And
as she tours the sights, Colette keeps seeing a strange
vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who
looks like Marie Antoinette.
Colette knows her
status-obsessed friends won't believe her, so she seeks out
the help of a charming French boy. Together, they discover
that the murder victims are all descendants of people who
ultimately brought about Marie Antoinette's beheading. The
queen's ghost has been awakened, and now she's wreaking her
bloodthirsty revenge.
And Colette may just be one of
those descendants . . . which means she might not make it
out of this trip alive.
Acclaimed author Katie
Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of
betrayal, glamour, mystery, history--and one killer queen.
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