I got this softcover at Toadstool Books in Nashua, for another release copy. It's a YA novel set in 19th-century Paris. It introduces young protagonist Nathalie as she enters the viewing room of the Paris morgue, a popular attraction at the time - and finds herself witnessing the last moments of a young woman whose murdered body is on display...

[The morgue-as-tourist-attraction was all too true; see this Atlas Obscura article.]

I enjoyed this one, which went in a direction I hadn't expected, and eventually featured our heroine gathering some sidekicks for a risky encounter with a very dangerous villain indeed. While I had a few quibbles with some story elements that seemed unnecessary, overall I enjoyed the period setting and the cast of characters - and the truth behind Nathalie's abilities!

[The story continues in Sensational.]

I'm adding this book to LaveggioCoffee's Armchair Travels to France bookbox; hope someone enjoys it!

Received in the My Armchair Travels to France Bookbox

I will release this back into the box.

Released into the My Armchair Travels to France Bookbox.

Please enjoy!

Received in the Armchair travels to France book box. Looks entertaining! Thank you! Looks like this book has adventured across the U.S. and is now back in New England, not far from its starting point in Nashua, NH! funny.

As a mystery, it's a little "by the numbers," but it's an interesting exploration of 19th century Paris and the early development of detective novels (everyone there was reading Poe, including the writer of the first detective story in French.) Also, the young protagonist is likable and realistic, with a couple of exceptions that are important to the plot. If you're not very familiar with Paris, it's worth reading this with a couple of picture books at hand: of Impressionist paintings and pictures of Paris, so you can see what the early shopping arcades look like, and other points of interest in the story.
Written for YA, but I didn't even realize this for most of the time I was reading the book. In other words, it works well for the adult reader as well.

Enjoy! a fun vacation read.