Sepulchre
Book Club Reading Lists

Book Club Reading Lists: Sepulchre

Rennes-les-Bains is the site of an intriguing and century-long story, blurred between Leonie Venier of 1891 and Meredith Martin of 2007. The connection starts off vague, at best, but as the story progresses the lives of these two women intersect in ways that transcend time.

Leonie is only seventeen when she and her beloved brother, Anatole, set out for the "midi" of France, far from their modern home in the heart of Paris. Upon their arrival and meeting of Tante Isolde, an aunt young enough to be their sister, the lives of these young Venier's are forever changed. Leonie quickly discovers the secretive, somewhat frightening, past of her late Oncle Jules while Isolde and Anatole battle their own demon in the form of a real-life monster, Victor Constant.

Although Meredith Martin grew up, from the age of eight, in a loving, stable home, she is never fully at peace with who she is and where she came from. That her birth mother drowned herself and was thought crazy by most, weights heavily on Meredith's mind. Her fascination with composer Claude Debussy sends her on a quest through the mountain region of France where she will not only learn startling facts about her ancestors but also grapple with the very real possibility that she is falling in love with a man whose own uncle may or may not be a killer.

So ensues a breathless adventure as the lives of these two young women intertwine time and time again.

Book Club Reading Lists: Sepulchre Opinion

Sepulchre might just be the best book I've read so far in 2009. It is masterfully written, the story is compelling, the characters more brought to life than people whom I come into contact with on a daily basis.

Mosse is able to subtly blend the past with the present, a love story with a scandal, an act of chance with the laws of destiny and fate; in short, there is nothing left out of this book. From turn-of-the-century composers and with the flick of a page, murder, this novel will keep you voraciously reading straight through to the end.

Any reader that doesn't fall in love straightaway with Leonie is missing the true siren call of this story. She is the heroine of all heroines. She is sometimes selfish, as any teenage girl might be, but more often than not her first thought is for those she loves. Leonie is willing to sacrifice anything to protect what is precious to her. In a time where a duel for honor settled scores, and women did not walk down the street unchaperoned, this young woman will steal your heart with her courage and tenacity. And I feel quite certain she will keep it long after the last page is turned.

Book Club Reading Lists: Sepulchre Discussion Questions

1. Did Constant's obsession seem believable to you? Why or why not?
2. Do you believe in Tarot readings? Was your immediate response to this question a strong one in either direction? Why do you think?
3. Explain the mysterious circumstances behind Audric Baillard's story.

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