A review by keepcalmblogon
Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind

dark tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Perfume was such a unique book in that we follow a murderer with no sense of guilt or morality while he creates amazing perfumes with near supernatural skill. I actually love historical fiction, so the setting of 18th Century Paris and other French locales was enjoyable, and the imagery of the scents, sights, and feel of the dirty city and people were really well-done. This book about scent, something that I think can be hard to visualize, especially of an unfamiliar odor, was masterfully evocative of that sense; it was truly pleasurable simply to read those descriptions. This book is so hard to describe plot-wise, not for lack of plot but because the plot isn’t exactly what the book is about? If I were to describe the plot, you might want to read this, but this book is more about the experience of reading it than hearing a story. In the end, it was definitely five stars for me!