Author: Katie Alender (Twitter)
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Date: September 24, 2013
Genre: YA, Thriller, Mystery
Pages: 304
Source: Publisher
Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realizes she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger...
Colette really just wanted to enjoy a holiday with her best friends in the City of Lights, but she got a whole lot more than she bargained for. All she'd expected was a chance to escape her tumultuous family life at home, bask in the beauty of the city and, of course, see all the cute guys. But her trip is overshadowed as Colette continues to see an odd vision of a historical woman parading around in a ball gown and wig. She knows it's not possible, and she knows she'll be risking her own social status, but could it possibly be who she thinks it is?
First and foremost, there is nothing greater than a novel that takes the past and brings it alive through its pages. Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer offers readers a true glimpse into the bright, beautiful and dangerous history of Paris. Author, Katie Alender, offers readers a chance to absorb the magnificent culture of France, merging it beautifully with modern-day nuances, grisly details and a story worth reading. Rich, vivid and alive, Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer is sure to melt the heart of many a historical fiction lover.
I had a really difficult time formulating this review because, for the most part, I really enjoyed this book. However, it kind of left two vastly different tastes in my mouth. I'll begin with what I loved. Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer does an absolutely stellar job of bringing Paris alive through the rich imagery, spot-on descriptions and true feeling for the City of Lights. From Versailles, to the Louvre and more, the book puts you in the actual locales so that we experience the environment as though we're actually there in person. Furthermore, the book doesn't shy away from the eerie and macabre details of the victims' deaths, which makes it a hearty thriller in its own right. And, funny enough, I love a good thriller that stays true to its title. Now, I did have a few issues with the novel though. Colette was an extremely unlikable character in the beginning, and her clique of girls was cruel, snide and altogether unpleasant, which made it extremely difficult for me to feel any sort of empathy for her situation. Now, trust me, I understand why she blindly followed the mean girls. She feared losing her status, but it makes it difficult to like a character when, at first, we aren't privvied to any redeeming qualities. There was some definitive character growth in the end though, so I'll give it that. I guess my real issue with Marie Anoinette, Serial Killer lies within the title itself. The synopsis teases a mystery, which immediately piques my interest, but it didn't take long to realize that the title of the book actually reveals the meat of the mystery anyway. Perhaps it's just me, but I find that to be an incredibly risky and, unfortunately, poor move. The book did, however, have a strong highlight in the sweet love interest, Jules, and I felt that he added another dimension to the otherwise shallow characters.
Overall, I was decidedly entertained by Marie Antoinette, Serial Killer despite its flaws. I wanted more, but perhaps that's just the picky blogger in me. I give it a 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA, especially those who enjoy historial fiction and thrillers.
I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.
