A Grave Calling

by Wendy Roberts
A Grave Calling cover
Good Books rating 4.17
Technical
  • ID: 5166
  • Added: 2025-10-22
  • Updated: 2025-10-22
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
kirkusreviews.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
disturbing 3.50

The book is a dark and gruesome tale of a man with an exceptional sense of smell, which leads him to commit horrifying acts. The vivid descriptions and intricate plot make it a fascinating but disturbing read.

Perfume is a historical fantasy novel set in eighteenth-century France, following the life of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, who is born with an extraordinary sense of smell. The story is divided into four sections, each focusing on a different stage of Grenouille's life. From the beginning, the book is dark and gruesome, with Grenouille's unique ability leading him to commit violent acts. The descriptions of the world around him are vivid and almost overwhelming, making the book both fascinating and disturbing. The plot is intricate and at times absurd, but it holds the reader's attention throughout. While the main reaction to the book is one of disgust, it is definitely intriguing and not a pleasurable experience. The book is recommended for those prepared for a weird and disturbing experience.

Quick quotes

    Oh, what a strange, strange book this was.

    It’s such an indulgent book but in the most disturbing way possible.

    It was an intricate plot and I found the book really fascinating, in a strange way, but it was almost too weird for me.

app.thestorygraph.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
engaging 4.50

The reviewer found the book engaging and well-written, with a compelling mystery and a strong sense of place. They appreciated the protagonist's development and the book's exploration of grief and healing.

The reviewer was drawn into the story from the beginning, praising the author's ability to create a vivid and atmospheric setting. They found the mystery to be well-crafted and suspenseful, with a satisfying resolution. The protagonist's journey was particularly compelling, as they grappled with loss and found a way to move forward. The reviewer also appreciated the book's exploration of themes like grief and healing, which added depth to the story. While they found some of the secondary characters to be less developed, they felt that the overall narrative was strong and engaging. They would recommend this book to fans of mystery and suspense, as well as those who enjoy stories with emotional depth and well-drawn protagonists.

Quick quotes

    The writing is beautiful and evocative, with a strong sense of place.

    The protagonist's journey is compelling and well-drawn, with a satisfying arc.

    The exploration of grief and healing adds depth to the story and makes it more than just a mystery.

goodreads.com · Unknown · 2025-10-24
haunting 4.50

Patrick Süskind's 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' is a haunting and unforgettable novel that weaves olfactory obsession with psychological horror. The story of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man with an extraordinary sense of smell but no scent of his own, is both disturbing and captivating, exploring themes of obsession, isolation, and the human desire for love and admiration.

Patrick Süskind's 'Perfume: The Story of a Murderer' is a masterwork of Gothic horror that combines beautiful prose, philosophical inquiry, and psychological depth. The novel follows Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, a man with an extraordinary sense of smell but no scent of his own, as he becomes obsessed with capturing the perfect scent. This obsession leads him down a dark path of murder and manipulation, exploring themes of obsession, isolation, and the human desire for love and admiration. Despite Grenouille's monstrous actions, readers are drawn into his story, fascinated by his passion and cunning nature. Süskind's prose is both lyrical and lush, particularly in its descriptions of scent, making the intangible vividly present. The horror of 'Perfume' lies more in its atmosphere and philosophical implications than in graphic violence, offering a chilling exploration of the human condition.

Quick quotes

    This perfume was not like any perfume he had known before. It was not a scent that made things smell better, not some sachet, some toiletry. It was something completely new, capable of creating a whole world, a magical rich world, and in an instant you forgot all the loathsomeness around you and felt so rich, so at ease, so free, so fine…

    For the first time, it was not just that his greedy nature was offended, but his very heart ached.

    He would be the omnipotent god of scent, just as he had been in his fantasies, but this time in the real world and over real people. And he knew all this was within his power. For people could close their eyes to greatness, to horrors, to beauty, and their ears to melodies or deceiving words. But they could not escape scent.

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