Sepulchre - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
From the author of the New York Times bestselling novel Labyrinth comes another haunting tale of secrets, murder, and the occult set in both nineteenth-century and twenty-first-century France.

I n 1891, young Leonie Vernier and her brother Anatole arrive in the beautiful town of Rennes-les-Bains, in southwest France. Theyve come at the invitation of their widowed aunt, whose mountain estate, Domain de la Cade, is famous in the region. But it soon becomes clear that their aunt Isoldeand the Domainare not what Leonie had imagined. The villagers claim that Isoldes late husband died after summoning a demon from the old Visigoth sepulchre high on the mountainside. A book from the Domains cavernous library describes the strange tarot pack that mysteriously disappeared following the uncles death. But while Leonie delves deeper into the ancient mysteries of the Domain, a different evil stalks her familyone which may explain why Leonie and Anatole were invited to the sinister Domain in the first place.

More than a century later, Meredith Martin, an American graduate student, arrives in France to study the life of Claude Debussy, the nineteenth century French composer. In Rennesles- Bains, Meredith checks into a grand old hotelthe Domain de la Cade. Something about the hotel feels eerily familiar, and strange dreams and visions begin to haunt Merediths waking hours. A chance encounter leads her to a pack of tarot cards painted by Leonie Vernier, which may hold the key to this twenty-first century Americans fate . . . just as they did to the fate of Leonie Vernier more than a century earlier.

Customer Reviews: Read 25 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

A Worthy Second Effort April 9, 2008
29 out of 31 found this review helpful

I purchased Sepulchre from Amazon UK so got to read it well before the US release. I too disagree with some of the harsh criticism that Mosse's book received. Part of the joy of reading period historical fiction is becoming part of the atmosphere. You can't do that in a few pages. You need to set the scene, create interest in characters and situations and come to understand where the author is taking you.

I found Sepulchre to be more similar to The Historian than to Labyrinth. A fairly complex plot over several time periods and places requires a depth of material. I found the descriptions of Paris excellent and in fact purchased Zola's Debacle after reading one of the character's discussion of the work. The action in the Carcasonne region is compelling.

I did not find the characters at all one dimensional. All express feelings and reactions that are well within the expected range. The story line is always interesting. Perhaps the reader needs some familiarity with French fiction of the period, like Victor Hugo's works to fully understand what Mosse is attempting. Also, the subject area should be very familiar to readers of recent fiction as it has been used in the DaVinci Code, The Templars and several other stories. The rich historical venue is a perfect setting for Sepulchre.

I found Mosse's second novel to be a fascinating addition to understanding the Church's purge of the Cathars and the treasures and threats that area possesses. Summer is coming. Sit on your favorite chair, take a cold drink and be prepared to be totally entertained by Sepulchre. I was.

5 out of 5 stars

An Intelligent Reader's Mystery April 7, 2008
14 out of 17 found this review helpful

I disagree with the other reviews completely. I thought this novel was superior to Labyrinth which I also enjoyed. This story moves seamlessly back and forth between the 1800s and the current time with two intertwined stories and heroines. The female characters are strong and interesting. Ms. Mosse took her time with the details which make this ghost story almost seem possible! Would love to see this one as a movie. The imagery and locale would be delightful to see on the big screen. Not a single boring moment in this entire novel! I'll be recommending this one to all my reading friends.

5 out of 5 stars

Great Reading April 22, 2008
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Excellent reading. Fast paced book. Good plot. No complicated story lines. Stayed on track without getting the reader lost. Comparing Sepulchre to Labyrinth, most historical pieces do sound alike in some aspects especially if they are going from past to present. But, I feel Kate Mosse pulled it off again. This book is well worth reading and purchasing for your collection. Great book.

4 out of 5 stars

Mixed feelings April 26, 2008
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

There were things I enjoyed about this book and things I didn't. I have not read Labyrinth so I can't compare it to that book.

I did enjoy the historical detail and the descriptions of the places. I wouldn't have minded even more detail on the Visigoths. I didn't enjoy the frequent untranslated French phrases; many times I could guess what they meant but often I was in the dark.

When I realized the novel centered around a set of tarot cards, I worried that it might be a little too "woo-woo" for me. It came close, but so much of the book was about the threats from human evil that the supernatural parts were tolerable. However, I didn't think the author explained how the ancient set of cards along with Leonie's picture cards were able to be reproduced if they were buried.

I have mixed feelings because I liked the book enough to finish reading it, but probably wouldn't recommend it to my friends.

4 out of 5 stars

interesting horror thriller April 2, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

In 1891 siblings Leonie and Anatole Vernier leave Paris to visit their Tante Isolde at her Domain de la Cade estate in the mountainous south France. At her widow aunt's place, Leonie overhears the villagers' whispers of the devil's abode and finds an interesting journal in which her late uncle studied the occult and mentions a special tarot card deck and a Visigoth tomb. Fascinated the teen searches for both while unknown to her someone wants to kill her and her loved ones while she begins to worriedly wonder why her Tante invited them.

In 2008 biographer Meredith Martin seeks to complete her latest book on renowned French composer Debussy when she finds a replica of the tarot cards that Leonie sought. What is frightening is that some of the cards contain pictures that eerily look like her. She makes inquiries which lead her to Domain de la Cade converted to a hotel; yet like over a century ago hosts a battle between the forces of good and evil.

Although too many passive sidebar discussions slow down the overall plot, fans will enjoy this interesting horror thriller as the good vs. evil war occurs twice due to the linking tarot cards. Readers will feel the changes in outlook of the lead females of each era as they start off with youthful enthusiastic curiosity that changes to outright fear; their identical reactions make for a fine but cluttered thriller.

Harriet Klausner

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