The Coral Thief:A Novel
by Rebecca Stott
$15.00
by Rebecca Stott
$15.00
Publisher: Spiegel & Grau (May 4, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385531486
ISBN-13: 978-0385531481
Annotation/Flashtalk:
Would you trust the word of a beautiful woman who stole your most important possessions? Can you trust a thief when she says she will return your property, but then suddenly goes silent? Will you risk your career on her word? Find out what Daniel Connor does when faced with the formidable Lucienne Bernard in The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott.
Summary:
Set in post-Napoleonic Paris, Daniel Connor is on his way to study and work at the Jardins des Plantes under the tutelage of Dr. Cuvier, one of the leading naturalists in Paris. Daniel was bringing with him some coral specimens and a manuscript from his previous professor Jameson. On the coach ride into Paris Daniel meets a fascinating and educated lady named Lucienne. Making the mistake of falling asleep, Daniel’s belongings go missing; he can only assume they have been stolen by Lucienne.
When he reaches Paris he attempts to locate her, when he is unable to do so, he reports the theft to the Paris police. So fascinated by his story, the chief inspector Jagot takes up his case personally. He warns Daniel that Lucienne is a dangerous woman and he must report any contact with to him immediately.
Lucienne does eventually reach out to contact Daniel in order to arrange to return his things; however, their meeting is postponed for an urgent matter takes Lucienne away from Paris. Just when he is about to give everything up and admit failure Lucienne contacts him again. She returns just enough of Daniel’s belongings to get him back into the good graces of Dr. Cuvier, whom he has been putting off for over a month by saying he is ill. Daniel begins work at the Jardines and continues to see Lucienne without a word to Jagot.
Later Daniel learns of the history between Jagot and Lucienne and what sort of danger Lucienne is in. Jagot is blackmailing Lucienne and threatening to kidnap her daughter, Delphine if she does not break into the Jardines and steal the Satar diamond. Together with Lucienne’s friends, Daniel and Lucienne plot a way to secure a safe passage for Lucienne and Delphine out of Paris.
Throughout the story we are treated with a look into the goings on of post-Napoleonic Paris as the treasures once stolen by Napoleon are returned to their rightful owners, to the debate between evolutionists and naturalists in this revolutionary time of science, and to a diary-like accounting of Napoleon’s own exile.
Genre/Subgenre: Historical Fiction/Science/Romance
Evaluation: 4-stars.
