The Coral Thief

Starred review from July 20, 2009
At once an engrossing historical, a love story about an unlikely passion and a novel of ideas that lucidly presents philosophical speculation about natural science, Stott's second novel (after Ghostwalk
) is a powerful offering from an immensely talented writer. Narrated by young Englishman Daniel Connor, fresh out of medical school and traveling to a coveted research position in post-Napoleonic Paris in 1815, the novel begins with his realization that his scientific credentials, including a priceless coral specimen, have been stolen by the beautiful woman who sat next to him in the coach. She turns out to be Lucienne Bernard, a notorious thief being pursued by the chief of the Bureau de la Sûreté, Henri Jagot (based on a real figure and bound to make readers think of Javert). A cat and mouse game ensues, as Jagot tries to enlist Connor to trap Lucienne, but Connor falls deeply in love with the philosopher-thief and eventually makes a decision that might cost him his career, his freedom and his spiritual beliefs. Vividly atmospheric, propulsive and intricately plotted, this is a surefire page turner with literary heft and wide appeal.

Starred review from August 15, 2009
Stott (Ghostwalk, 2007, etc.) once again juxtaposes science with a tale of love, mystery and intrigue, setting this volatile mix against a backdrop of critical events in post-Revolutionary France.

Daniel Connor, whose dark curls and handsome face invite comparisons to the boys painted by Caravaggio, meets fascinating intellectual Lucienne and her small daughter Delphine in coach en route to Paris in 1815. The Emperor Napoleon has been vanquished and is on a ship bound for his place of exile on the island of Saint Helena, leaving behind a changing city. Former master criminal Jagot has risen to a position of power with the police, and this cunning, ruthless man has more than a passing interest in the exotic Lucienne. Daniel, a medical student, hopes to escape his tedious existence by landing a position as an assistant to the famous French naturalist Georges Cuvier; he carries with him letters of introduction, scientific notebooks, a priceless manuscript, some corals and a mammoth bone. His future in Paris looks grim when he awakes at the Barrier of Saint Denis on the city's outskirts to find Lucienne and Delphine gone from the coach, along with his irreplaceable papers and specimens. After filing a complaint with Jagot at the Palais de Justice, Daniel discovers that Lucienne is not a thief (exactly), but she's also not everything she seems. Her fascination with"transformism" (the philosophy of evolution) both compels and repels the classically educated Daniel. But he is increasingly drawn to the much older Lucienne, a survivor of the Revolution who"was perpetually both whispering secrets and withholding them." Despite misgivings, Daniel risks his future in a gamble that will forever change the way he thinks.

Skillfully embeds early 19th-century culture, history and attitudes into a story that flows like the Seine and floods the senses.

(COPYRIGHT (2009) KIRKUS REVIEWS/NIELSEN BUSINESS MEDIA, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.)

Starred review from September 15, 2009
In 1815 on his way to Paris, young medical student Daniel Conner is robbed of his letters of introduction and his rare coral samples by a mysterious woman. Thus begins his frantic search for his belongings and the thief in postrevolutionary Paris. To restore his name and appointment at the famous Jardin des Plantes botanical garden and museum, Daniel is drawn into an underground of thieves, philosophers, students, artists, and thugs. When he finally tracks down Lucienne, the beautiful coral thief, Daniel becomes intoxicated with her mystery and her vast knowledge of the natural world. As he learns about Lucienne's dark secrets, Daniel is slowly pulled into a daring heist to steal a precious diamond hidden in the museum where he works. VERDICT Like Catherine Delors's "Mistress of the Revolution", this strong historical novel by the author of "Ghostwalk" contrasts the era's passion for science, philosophy, and history with its desire for love, devotion, and beauty. The prose is elegant and well paced, and the plot is filled with exciting twists and turns. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 5/1/09.]Ron Samul, New London, CT

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from September 1, 2009
Just as she did in her critically lauded debut, Ghostwalk (2007), Stott again skillfully combines an intriguing love story, complex scientific concepts, and a beautifully realized historical setting. Daniel Connor, a recent medical-school graduate from Edinburgh, is headed to Paris just a few weeks after Napol'on fell to the Allies at Waterloo. He is set to study anatomy at the vaunted Jardin des Plantes, but his identification and a valuable coral specimen are stolen from him by a beautiful fellow stagecoach passenger. Devastated by his loss, he systematically patrols the streets of Paris in search of the thief. When he finally finds her, his life is irrevocably changed as she introduces him to a band of philosopher thieves who have some radically new ideas about evolution. They, however, are being hunted in turn by a formidable police chief (based on real-life criminal turned cop Vidocq). As the coral thief seduces Daniel both physically and intellectually, he is drawn into a daring scheme to steal a famous diamond. Stott effortlessly captures both the chaos of Paris changing social hierarchy and the exhilaration of intellectuals who have freed themselves from the tyranny of dogma. Riveting on all fronts, from its suspenseful plot to its elegant presentation of evolutionary theory.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)