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Reincarnationist #1
The Reincarnationist
An epic thriller of secrets, history and murder that will challenge how we think about who we are, and who we were. Equal parts modern-day thriller, historical fiction, and love story, with one foot in present-day Rome and New York City, and the other in Rome some 1600 years ago.
Photojournalist Josh Ryder survives a terrorist's bomb, only to be haunted by near-hallucinatory memories of a past life in Rome as a pagan priest whose dangerous congress with Sabina, one of the Vestal Virgins, poses a transgression so serious the lovers will face a certain death if exposed. Scents of jasmine and sandalwood and images of furtive liaisons and violence descend on Josh at will, pulling him to an ancient yet strangely familiar Roman burial chamber harboring the remains of a woman clutching a wooden box.
A trail of present-day murders takes the reader deeper into a labyrinth at whose heart lies the enigma of a collection of ancient gems, or memory stones, whose origins trace back to both ancient Egypt and India. The stones' promise to "assist the wearer in reaching his next incarnation" sets the ancient and modern worlds on a collision course.
The question of who we are cannot be asked without first asking who we were, according to the author. Rose attempts to answer that question based on her own reincarnation research and on the writings of others, spanning thousands of years.
Photojournalist Josh Ryder survives a terrorist's bomb, only to be haunted by near-hallucinatory memories of a past life in Rome as a pagan priest whose dangerous congress with Sabina, one of the Vestal Virgins, poses a transgression so serious the lovers will face a certain death if exposed. Scents of jasmine and sandalwood and images of furtive liaisons and violence descend on Josh at will, pulling him to an ancient yet strangely familiar Roman burial chamber harboring the remains of a woman clutching a wooden box.
A trail of present-day murders takes the reader deeper into a labyrinth at whose heart lies the enigma of a collection of ancient gems, or memory stones, whose origins trace back to both ancient Egypt and India. The stones' promise to "assist the wearer in reaching his next incarnation" sets the ancient and modern worlds on a collision course.
The question of who we are cannot be asked without first asking who we were, according to the author. Rose attempts to answer that question based on her own reincarnation research and on the writings of others, spanning thousands of years.
451 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
M.J. Rose
78 books2,259 followersNew York Times Bestseller, M.J. Rose grew up in New York City mostly in the labyrinthine galleries of the Metropolitan Museum, the dark tunnels and lush gardens of Central Park and reading her mother's favorite books before she was allowed. She believes mystery and magic are all around us but we are too often too busy to notice... books that exaggerate mystery and magic draw attention to it and remind us to look for it and revel in it.
Her most recent novel, The Last Tiara, will be published Feb 2, 2021
Rose's work has appeared in many magazines including Oprah Magazine and she has been featured in the New York Times, Newsweek, WSJ, Time, USA Today and on the Today Show, and NPR radio. Rose graduated from Syracuse University, spent the '80s in advertising, has a commercial in the Museum of Modern Art in NYC and since 2005 has run the first marketing company for authors - Authorbuzz.com
The television series PAST LIFE, was based on Rose's novels in the Reincarnationist series. She is one of the founding board members of International Thriller Writers and currently serves, with Lee Child, as the organization's co-president..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 610 reviews
July 11, 2021
Good reviews and a subject close to my heart - I was really looking forward to reading the Reincarnationist and there is a story hidden here but it’s so hard to see the wood for all the trees. The story jumps about in what I’m sure, was meant to be an exciting way but only serves to puncture what little momentum and atmosphere had been built by the preceding chapter. It seems to me that there's an awful lot of plot but not enough skill to make it come alive.
At the same time, the characterisation is awful. There is no atmosphere to any of the locations past or present. There's a terrible lack of vision about the central concept, the characters of the past are exactly the same as the characters they have become in our time: the women are all still women; men are all still men; the wicked, the thieves, the good, bad and ugly are all just as they were. If we’d just had one sex change from one regeneration to another, it would have been something.
The writing is appallingly pedestrian. There was never a point at which the story, the people, the places came off the page so that I felt I was in that world, in that man, that woman’s head. I was always aware I was reading words on a page.
Stolid, unimaginative prose, over-larded with laboured, clichéd metaphor; utterly lacking in vivacity, a tedious plot and two dimensional characters made this over-long novel very hard going for me.
At the same time, the characterisation is awful. There is no atmosphere to any of the locations past or present. There's a terrible lack of vision about the central concept, the characters of the past are exactly the same as the characters they have become in our time: the women are all still women; men are all still men; the wicked, the thieves, the good, bad and ugly are all just as they were. If we’d just had one sex change from one regeneration to another, it would have been something.
The writing is appallingly pedestrian. There was never a point at which the story, the people, the places came off the page so that I felt I was in that world, in that man, that woman’s head. I was always aware I was reading words on a page.
Stolid, unimaginative prose, over-larded with laboured, clichéd metaphor; utterly lacking in vivacity, a tedious plot and two dimensional characters made this over-long novel very hard going for me.
April 23, 2008
i would give this book less than one star if it would let me. It started out with such promise, but ended up making me promise to never read another of this author's books. The plot begins, albeit in an disjointed way, in two timelines, with the main character experiencing past-life regressions after a jarring accident. What follows is an attempt to cash in on the style of writers, the like of Dan Brown and Steve Berry. Unfortunately, this offer has neither the gripping plot, nor the follow-through to actually make it a successful attempt. About halfway through a second female lead is added to the mix with her own regression issue, which inexplicably begins regressions to a completely different time. I should have seen the red flag at this point, but I didn't pay attention to the signs.
From there, the book hurtles at a breakneck pace toward one of the most incongruous and anti-climactic endings I've ever experienced. Not only is the ending not happy, but the book simply ends, resolving only one of the two past life story lines(the second, which seemed completely added after the fact, and hackneyed to say the least), and leaving the reader with a big old question mark as to not only what happened, but why they wasted their time. The villain is not predictable, but also not entirely believable. The relationships aren't at all life-like, and the whole thing seems rushed. The book just leaves complete dissatisfaction in the hands of the patient reader.
From there, the book hurtles at a breakneck pace toward one of the most incongruous and anti-climactic endings I've ever experienced. Not only is the ending not happy, but the book simply ends, resolving only one of the two past life story lines(the second, which seemed completely added after the fact, and hackneyed to say the least), and leaving the reader with a big old question mark as to not only what happened, but why they wasted their time. The villain is not predictable, but also not entirely believable. The relationships aren't at all life-like, and the whole thing seems rushed. The book just leaves complete dissatisfaction in the hands of the patient reader.
April 2, 2012
It started with such promise, but I abandoned it midway through. Reminded me too much of a Dan Brown thriller, and I found myself rolling my eyes almost constantly. I liked the premise a lot, but didn't like the writing at all.
October 5, 2010
Interesting concept--completely disappointing follow-through. I couldn't get behind the character's motivations, most of the dialogue felt unreal, the irregular structure panned out to have little purpose, and my goodness--there was no need for the one major sex scene, ahahaha, I cracked up through the whole thing and I'm sure that was not the intention of the author. I hate to be a downer about someone's published work, but in all honesty I skimmed the last half, and I would have tossed it aside altogether if it hadn't been a pick by someone in my book club. Good grief. If there had been more drama and less melodrama, more plot or character development and less lecturing, I maybe could have enjoyed the read. (That this became a series blows my mind. o__o)
December 13, 2008
A pretty good read until the end. A young man is tormented by visions of what seems to be a previous life. When he's drawn to a dig in Rome that turns out to be a tomb of a Vestal virgin, there is more to the story. It's a good thriller, blending the present time frame with multiple lives in the past in a way that allows us to feel what the character must be feeling, as it's sometimes quite slippery and confusing. The ending, though, is disappointing, as it just kind of ends without any good resolution.
April 17, 2015
Admit it. You’re curious about reincarnation.
Who isn’t intrigued by the possibility that we may have lived a past life?
Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism famously enshrine the idea, but reincarnation belief is global. Eskimos, Pacific Islanders, the Yoruba of West Africa, the aborigines of Australia, and the Teutonic and Celtic tribes of Europe all accept the idea of multiple rebirths. The biggest surprise? – a 2013 Harris Poll found one in four Americans believe in reincarnation. That’s 80 million people. Next time you’re standing in line at Starbucks, chances are a “born again” believer is queued up with you, looking for a venti mocha.
Voltaire, that quintessential, French rationalist and philosopher, didn’t find reincarnation intellectually absurd. “It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection.” Neither did Socrates, Napoleon, Balzac, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Carl Jung, or the Beatles’ George Harrison – just a few of the many famous people who embraced the possibility.
If you’re among their ranks, or simply fascinated with the thought, fire up your Kindle and download M.J. Rose’s "The Reincarnationist" – a time-slip thriller with an inventive, twisting plot that moves back and forth between modern Italy and 391 AD Rome, where a newly triumphant Christianity is brutally eradicating the last vestiges of Rome’s ancient, venerable state religion, the Vestal Virgins.
The time-traveling hero of this two-millennia romance is AP photojournalist Josh Ryder. He’s covering a delegation of peacekeepers visiting the Pope in Rome when a suicide bomber detonates his weapon just steps from him. The explosion lands him in the hospital; it also triggers troubling memory lurches back in time to a past life as the illicit lover of Sabina, a Vestal Virgin buried alive for having sex with him. I’m up on Christianity and the Roman Empire (I was raised Roman Catholic; I read history avidly), but knew almost nothing about Vesta, Roman goddess of the hearth, and the unbroken succession of young priestesses who served her for over a thousand years. Author Rose brings the banished religion back to vivid life, expertly weaving its fascinating catechism, rites, rituals, and harsh punishments into her intricately plotted tale.
Ryder, physically recovered but mentally tormented, subsequently returns to Rome seeking answers to his flashbacks. He finds them in a tomb being excavated by the reincarnation-focused Phoenix Foundation, which has hired Josh to photograph the dig. The Foundation is surreptitiously looking for more than pottery, beads and bones; it suspects the Vestal Virgin burial site may also contain the legendary “Memory Stones” –ancient gemstones which reputedly allow people to view their past lives. The Foundation finds its priceless, metaphysical treasure; Josh finds the body of his cruelly suffocated 4th century lover, Sabina; and a vicious struggle ensues for control of the stones, sparking robbery, kidnapping and murder. You’re hooked.
Erudite and entertaining, The Reincarnationist went on to inspire the 2010 Fox TV series "Past Life."
Rose has a fascination with the supernatural, a fervent following, and a suite of best-sellers exploring the metaphysical. If you enjoy historical fiction with paranormal twist, don’t forget to check out her latest novel, "The Witch of Painted Sorrows," a tale of spirit possession set in decadent, 1890s Belle Époque Paris. Who knows: you may have been there – a genial flâneur strolling Boulevard Haussmann in a previous life.
Isn’t that a pleasant thought!
Who isn’t intrigued by the possibility that we may have lived a past life?
Eastern religions like Hinduism and Buddhism famously enshrine the idea, but reincarnation belief is global. Eskimos, Pacific Islanders, the Yoruba of West Africa, the aborigines of Australia, and the Teutonic and Celtic tribes of Europe all accept the idea of multiple rebirths. The biggest surprise? – a 2013 Harris Poll found one in four Americans believe in reincarnation. That’s 80 million people. Next time you’re standing in line at Starbucks, chances are a “born again” believer is queued up with you, looking for a venti mocha.
Voltaire, that quintessential, French rationalist and philosopher, didn’t find reincarnation intellectually absurd. “It is not more surprising to be born twice than once; everything in nature is resurrection.” Neither did Socrates, Napoleon, Balzac, Benjamin Franklin, Henry Ford, Carl Jung, or the Beatles’ George Harrison – just a few of the many famous people who embraced the possibility.
If you’re among their ranks, or simply fascinated with the thought, fire up your Kindle and download M.J. Rose’s "The Reincarnationist" – a time-slip thriller with an inventive, twisting plot that moves back and forth between modern Italy and 391 AD Rome, where a newly triumphant Christianity is brutally eradicating the last vestiges of Rome’s ancient, venerable state religion, the Vestal Virgins.
The time-traveling hero of this two-millennia romance is AP photojournalist Josh Ryder. He’s covering a delegation of peacekeepers visiting the Pope in Rome when a suicide bomber detonates his weapon just steps from him. The explosion lands him in the hospital; it also triggers troubling memory lurches back in time to a past life as the illicit lover of Sabina, a Vestal Virgin buried alive for having sex with him. I’m up on Christianity and the Roman Empire (I was raised Roman Catholic; I read history avidly), but knew almost nothing about Vesta, Roman goddess of the hearth, and the unbroken succession of young priestesses who served her for over a thousand years. Author Rose brings the banished religion back to vivid life, expertly weaving its fascinating catechism, rites, rituals, and harsh punishments into her intricately plotted tale.
Ryder, physically recovered but mentally tormented, subsequently returns to Rome seeking answers to his flashbacks. He finds them in a tomb being excavated by the reincarnation-focused Phoenix Foundation, which has hired Josh to photograph the dig. The Foundation is surreptitiously looking for more than pottery, beads and bones; it suspects the Vestal Virgin burial site may also contain the legendary “Memory Stones” –ancient gemstones which reputedly allow people to view their past lives. The Foundation finds its priceless, metaphysical treasure; Josh finds the body of his cruelly suffocated 4th century lover, Sabina; and a vicious struggle ensues for control of the stones, sparking robbery, kidnapping and murder. You’re hooked.
Erudite and entertaining, The Reincarnationist went on to inspire the 2010 Fox TV series "Past Life."
Rose has a fascination with the supernatural, a fervent following, and a suite of best-sellers exploring the metaphysical. If you enjoy historical fiction with paranormal twist, don’t forget to check out her latest novel, "The Witch of Painted Sorrows," a tale of spirit possession set in decadent, 1890s Belle Époque Paris. Who knows: you may have been there – a genial flâneur strolling Boulevard Haussmann in a previous life.
Isn’t that a pleasant thought!
April 29, 2021
La historia parecía muy interesante y daba para mucho, pero el desarrollo fue bastante lamentable. Los personajes son absurdos, sus decisiones y motivaciones también.
Y aunque no dudo de que la autora sepa mucho sobre la reencarnación, parece que no lo desarrolla del todo y hay muchas cosas que se contradicen. No me creo que en todas las reencarnaciones los personajes tengan el mismo sexo, sin variaciones, sin ningún cambio, sin ningún aprendizaje, nada.
La trama también es bastante floja y deja montones de cabos sueltos, así que las acciones de los personajes no se justifican. En fin, no me dan ganas de seguir con el resto de los libros, así que dejaré esta historia hasta aquí.
Y aunque no dudo de que la autora sepa mucho sobre la reencarnación, parece que no lo desarrolla del todo y hay muchas cosas que se contradicen. No me creo que en todas las reencarnaciones los personajes tengan el mismo sexo, sin variaciones, sin ningún cambio, sin ningún aprendizaje, nada.
La trama también es bastante floja y deja montones de cabos sueltos, así que las acciones de los personajes no se justifican. En fin, no me dan ganas de seguir con el resto de los libros, así que dejaré esta historia hasta aquí.
June 26, 2009
What can I say about The Reincarnationist besides FABULOUS?
After an accident in Rome, photojournalist Josh Ryder begins experiencing flashes of past memories―from another life, another era. As these flashes intensify, he’s drawn back to the time of ancient Rome, Vestal Virgins and the mysterious Memory Stones. Through the eyes of Julius, he is reunited with a powerful love for Sabina, the Vestal Virgin he has sworn to protect and would willingly die for, a woman whom would be buried alive if their secret love were ever discovered.
In present day Rome, Josh assists at the Phoenix Foundation, an organization that explores and researches claims of reincarnation or incidences of memory flashes, especially in children. Led by impulse, he finds himself at the edge of a freshly unearthed tomb and witnesses a murder.
His search for answers, for the Memory Stones stolen from the tomb of the Vestal Virgin Sabina, for the truth about what happened in ancient Rome, leads him to two women―Professor Gabriella Chase and Rachel Palmer, a young woman who is haunted by her own past life memories.
Is either of these women the Sabina he once knew? And will Josh ever reconcile his past with his present? These are just some of the questions I found myself asking along the way. I found the premise of this novel intriguing. I couldn’t put the book down once I started it.
Author M.J. Rose tells a compelling story that weaves history and religion into a fateful adventure filled with intrigue, romance, murder and deception. Her writing is detailed but not overloaded, just the right mix of fact and fiction to make me a believer and her characters are ones I’ll remember for a long time. The flashes of past and present are so seamlessly woven yet clearly defined, that I was never jolted from the story, but swept along and taken on a ride that left me breathless by the end.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in the theory of reincarnation or anyone who enjoys a suspenseful, thrilling journey to the past. It would also make an exceptional read for a book club.
The Reincarnationist is the inspiration for a new television series that will be airing soon. I can’t wait to watch Past Life. If it is anything like M.J. Rose’s novel, it is going to be an adventure of a lifetime.
You can buy The Reincarnationist from your favorite bookstore or order it online at Amazon, Chapters and more.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
author of The River
http://www.cherylktardif.com
After an accident in Rome, photojournalist Josh Ryder begins experiencing flashes of past memories―from another life, another era. As these flashes intensify, he’s drawn back to the time of ancient Rome, Vestal Virgins and the mysterious Memory Stones. Through the eyes of Julius, he is reunited with a powerful love for Sabina, the Vestal Virgin he has sworn to protect and would willingly die for, a woman whom would be buried alive if their secret love were ever discovered.
In present day Rome, Josh assists at the Phoenix Foundation, an organization that explores and researches claims of reincarnation or incidences of memory flashes, especially in children. Led by impulse, he finds himself at the edge of a freshly unearthed tomb and witnesses a murder.
His search for answers, for the Memory Stones stolen from the tomb of the Vestal Virgin Sabina, for the truth about what happened in ancient Rome, leads him to two women―Professor Gabriella Chase and Rachel Palmer, a young woman who is haunted by her own past life memories.
Is either of these women the Sabina he once knew? And will Josh ever reconcile his past with his present? These are just some of the questions I found myself asking along the way. I found the premise of this novel intriguing. I couldn’t put the book down once I started it.
Author M.J. Rose tells a compelling story that weaves history and religion into a fateful adventure filled with intrigue, romance, murder and deception. Her writing is detailed but not overloaded, just the right mix of fact and fiction to make me a believer and her characters are ones I’ll remember for a long time. The flashes of past and present are so seamlessly woven yet clearly defined, that I was never jolted from the story, but swept along and taken on a ride that left me breathless by the end.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested in the theory of reincarnation or anyone who enjoys a suspenseful, thrilling journey to the past. It would also make an exceptional read for a book club.
The Reincarnationist is the inspiration for a new television series that will be airing soon. I can’t wait to watch Past Life. If it is anything like M.J. Rose’s novel, it is going to be an adventure of a lifetime.
You can buy The Reincarnationist from your favorite bookstore or order it online at Amazon, Chapters and more.
~Cheryl Kaye Tardif
author of The River
http://www.cherylktardif.com
April 27, 2012
The blurb: M. J. Rose offers a spellbinding, psychologically riveting epic thriller of secrets, history, and murder that will challenge the way we think about who we are and who we were.
My review: Not spellbinding. Not riveting, psychologically or otherwise; not epic; not a thriller; not challenging. It took me 3 weeks to slog through it. I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't. The writing is amateurish and the plot obviously contrived. I can recommend this book only to people who have trouble falling asleep.
My review: Not spellbinding. Not riveting, psychologically or otherwise; not epic; not a thriller; not challenging. It took me 3 weeks to slog through it. I kept hoping it would get better. It didn't. The writing is amateurish and the plot obviously contrived. I can recommend this book only to people who have trouble falling asleep.
September 25, 2007
This was a fast read and an interesting premise – the main character has flashbacks to past lives, and he and some shadowy other figures are seeking the Memory Stones, ancient relics that supposedly will prove that reincarnation exists. However, there are a number of subsidiary characters and subplots that make the action unnecessarily confusing, rather than functioning as actual red herrings.
October 11, 2012
Dear God, this is a boring book. What started out so promising in terms of story line and subject became bogged down in tedium ad nauseam. The premise of the story is that the hero is having spontaneous past life regressions that impinge on his current life at the weirdest moments. He's been having them for more than a year, is even seeing a regressionist therapist, and yet he cannot bring himself to believe they are really regressions. Makes you want to kick the guy in the head, he's so stubborn. Maybe even stupid.
Then there's the criminal investigation that's going on. The investigator keeps coming round, asking the hero the same questions over and over again, and getting the same obfuscating answers. I felt almost trapped in the story with no hope of resolution. I ended up trying to skip through pages to get highlights of what was happening just to move the story forward. After a few minutes of that, I decided it wasn't worth my time and I really didn't care if it EVER resolved.
I've thrown away two books in my life. I didn't give either of these books away because I wanted to save potential readers from the waste of time and mind-share energy. The first was James Patterson's THE JESTER. See my withering review of that pearl. The second was this one. What a piece of junk.
Then there's the criminal investigation that's going on. The investigator keeps coming round, asking the hero the same questions over and over again, and getting the same obfuscating answers. I felt almost trapped in the story with no hope of resolution. I ended up trying to skip through pages to get highlights of what was happening just to move the story forward. After a few minutes of that, I decided it wasn't worth my time and I really didn't care if it EVER resolved.
I've thrown away two books in my life. I didn't give either of these books away because I wanted to save potential readers from the waste of time and mind-share energy. The first was James Patterson's THE JESTER. See my withering review of that pearl. The second was this one. What a piece of junk.
March 19, 2014
I bought this at a work charity book sale a while ago. I guess some tv show called Past Life is based on this series of books, I've never seen it. It feels like it's trying to be a Dan Brown book. After an accident, a guy starts having flashbacks to a past life in Rome. A precious artifact is stolen from a dig in Rome, an archaeologist attacked, and now this guy is there with the other (female) archaeologist, trying to recover this artifact and figure out what his flashbacks mean. And there's a priest. Less than 200 pages into it, I realized that the slight annoyance I've felt the whole time is growing. It's dull. Something's missing for me. I'm giving up.
September 5, 2018
2 1/2- 3 stars
Forgot that I had tried to read this a couple of years ago. Sometimes it comes down to what you feel like reading and this time I was willing to put up with some less than quality (and at times very repetitive,) writing for a decent story and excellent premise.
The Story ended abruptly so I believe there must be a sequel. Many writers improve with practice so will try out next book to see where this story goes.
Must add very tired of the word lurch!
Forgot that I had tried to read this a couple of years ago. Sometimes it comes down to what you feel like reading and this time I was willing to put up with some less than quality (and at times very repetitive,) writing for a decent story and excellent premise.
The Story ended abruptly so I believe there must be a sequel. Many writers improve with practice so will try out next book to see where this story goes.
Must add very tired of the word lurch!
September 27, 2014
Sorry, wanted to like this one but just could not get into it. In truth I so disliked this particular read that I did not finish it. There are just too many good books out there that I want to get my hands on.
December 6, 2008
A fast paced, exciting tale melding reincarnation and a modern couple's quest to find meaning and love in their tumultuous world. Read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down!
Read
October 17, 2023Lot of potential in here.
As an editor (and author), I'd have told the story differently.
Doesn't mean this is bad or good. It's always fascinating to look at how someone else does it. There's a lot to learn when you do.
As an editor (and author), I'd have told the story differently.
Doesn't mean this is bad or good. It's always fascinating to look at how someone else does it. There's a lot to learn when you do.
April 13, 2013
Since I had already read The Book of Lost Fragrances and Seduction of the series, I decided to read The Reincarnationist which is the first book in the series. There were surprises (good and bad), more about reincarnation, and a really good story. This is what books should be -- satisfying.
John Ryder has been having what he calls lurches for over a year. They started when he was caught in a bomb blast in Rome. The lurches put him in ancient Rome in the body of a priest named Julius who is in love with a Vestal, The Vestal, and having an intimate relationship. Since the vestals served for 30 years and were chaste or they died by being buried alive to suffocate, having both Julius and Sabina, the Vestal, were committing a capital crime. Julius would also die if he was found out to be Sabina's lover.
Coincidentally, the Phoenix Club, which has been invested in proving reincarnation, financed a dig in Rome to find an ancient memory tool of powerful significance -- the Memory Stones. Josh is on site and in the grave of what has proven to be a Vestal holding a fruitwood box that may contain the Memory Stones. One of the archaeologists is murdered and the Memory Stones stolen and Josh is the only witness. The fun is just beginning as the threads that have bound him with the other players in this drama are connected to him by threads that span centuries.
I was immediately intrigued by the story M. J. Rose spins in The Reincarnationist and was more comfortable with the switches between time periods. They were less jarring than in Seduction and quite fascinating. The details of all the times depicted are well researched and amazingly accurate (I'm a study of history and archaeology) and left me breathless with anticipation for the next occurrence.
Part of the fun of The Reincarnationist is figuring out how different people are related and which one is the mind behind the murders and the thefts. I was wrong. There were, however, some questions that remained unanswered at the end, but the ending was satisfying and fit the context of the central theme and the tone of the story that unfolded.
Some of the characters made my skin crawl and others broke my heart, but all were fully realized. I love when that happens.
On the less satisfying side were the numerous editing glitches, repeated words, and words out of context. For a major publishing house like Mira, I was definitely not happy, especially when I had to stop my headlong rush through the book to figure out what was supposed to be written. The only other incident was Josh's description of the soul, which was exactly the same as the description used in a movie about finding the reincarnated Dalai Lama. The use of the cup and the water was nearly word for word from the movie, a movie I happen to like and remember clearly. It may be that Rose is simply using the Buddhist explanation and that it's rather like repeating a funny story or an explanation of reincarnation. I can let that go, although it did stand out.
In the end, it is the story and the way the character move through their fictional universe that matters. In this, M. J. Rose does an excellent job of putting all the pieces of a very intricate puzzle together in an entertaining and thought provoking manner. The Reincarnationist is a wonderful story people by believable 3-dimensional characters that shock, amaze, and fascinate from beginning to end, so much so I stayed up late a couple of nights to finish the book.
John Ryder has been having what he calls lurches for over a year. They started when he was caught in a bomb blast in Rome. The lurches put him in ancient Rome in the body of a priest named Julius who is in love with a Vestal, The Vestal, and having an intimate relationship. Since the vestals served for 30 years and were chaste or they died by being buried alive to suffocate, having both Julius and Sabina, the Vestal, were committing a capital crime. Julius would also die if he was found out to be Sabina's lover.
Coincidentally, the Phoenix Club, which has been invested in proving reincarnation, financed a dig in Rome to find an ancient memory tool of powerful significance -- the Memory Stones. Josh is on site and in the grave of what has proven to be a Vestal holding a fruitwood box that may contain the Memory Stones. One of the archaeologists is murdered and the Memory Stones stolen and Josh is the only witness. The fun is just beginning as the threads that have bound him with the other players in this drama are connected to him by threads that span centuries.
I was immediately intrigued by the story M. J. Rose spins in The Reincarnationist and was more comfortable with the switches between time periods. They were less jarring than in Seduction and quite fascinating. The details of all the times depicted are well researched and amazingly accurate (I'm a study of history and archaeology) and left me breathless with anticipation for the next occurrence.
Part of the fun of The Reincarnationist is figuring out how different people are related and which one is the mind behind the murders and the thefts. I was wrong. There were, however, some questions that remained unanswered at the end, but the ending was satisfying and fit the context of the central theme and the tone of the story that unfolded.
Some of the characters made my skin crawl and others broke my heart, but all were fully realized. I love when that happens.
On the less satisfying side were the numerous editing glitches, repeated words, and words out of context. For a major publishing house like Mira, I was definitely not happy, especially when I had to stop my headlong rush through the book to figure out what was supposed to be written. The only other incident was Josh's description of the soul, which was exactly the same as the description used in a movie about finding the reincarnated Dalai Lama. The use of the cup and the water was nearly word for word from the movie, a movie I happen to like and remember clearly. It may be that Rose is simply using the Buddhist explanation and that it's rather like repeating a funny story or an explanation of reincarnation. I can let that go, although it did stand out.
In the end, it is the story and the way the character move through their fictional universe that matters. In this, M. J. Rose does an excellent job of putting all the pieces of a very intricate puzzle together in an entertaining and thought provoking manner. The Reincarnationist is a wonderful story people by believable 3-dimensional characters that shock, amaze, and fascinate from beginning to end, so much so I stayed up late a couple of nights to finish the book.
November 29, 2008
This was another quick and easy read that kept me in suspense throughout, however, I didn't like it quite as much as The Memorist. Overall I really liked the book but I just had a couple of problems with it.
First, the book is called The Reincarnationist, who is identified in The Memorist as Malachai Samuels, however Mr. Samuels is a VERY minor chracter throughout this book. I think the title is misleading because The Reincarnationist has nothing to do with this book. Maybe The Memory Stones or something else that at least hinted at what the book was about would have worked better for me.
Another thing that bothered me about this book was that a third story line was introduced at about Chapter 22. I was reading and enjoying Josh Ryder's flashes to the past when suddenly there's some girl Rachel having flashbacks in New York. I had to stop reading and flip through the chapters wondering if I had missed something somewhere. Her role comes into play later and it all ends up making sense, but I really needed her to be brought into the story much earlier for the book to flow better for me. That, or the author should have made some connections early on.
Anyway, enough negativity. Other than these couple of issues I really did enjoy the book. The flashbacks in this book are to Rome in 391 A.D., which is pretty awesome to read about. I thought it was interesting to gain a little perspective on how pagan religions were destroyed by the emperor at the time to make way for Christianity. It's obvious that M.J. Rose has done a lot of research about the time periods, as well as reincarnation. If you like thriller/mystery books and are interested in reincarnation, this will definitely be an interesting book for you. Just don't expect to learn much about The Reincarnationist until you get to The Memorist.
First, the book is called The Reincarnationist, who is identified in The Memorist as Malachai Samuels, however Mr. Samuels is a VERY minor chracter throughout this book. I think the title is misleading because The Reincarnationist has nothing to do with this book. Maybe The Memory Stones or something else that at least hinted at what the book was about would have worked better for me.
Another thing that bothered me about this book was that a third story line was introduced at about Chapter 22. I was reading and enjoying Josh Ryder's flashes to the past when suddenly there's some girl Rachel having flashbacks in New York. I had to stop reading and flip through the chapters wondering if I had missed something somewhere. Her role comes into play later and it all ends up making sense, but I really needed her to be brought into the story much earlier for the book to flow better for me. That, or the author should have made some connections early on.
Anyway, enough negativity. Other than these couple of issues I really did enjoy the book. The flashbacks in this book are to Rome in 391 A.D., which is pretty awesome to read about. I thought it was interesting to gain a little perspective on how pagan religions were destroyed by the emperor at the time to make way for Christianity. It's obvious that M.J. Rose has done a lot of research about the time periods, as well as reincarnation. If you like thriller/mystery books and are interested in reincarnation, this will definitely be an interesting book for you. Just don't expect to learn much about The Reincarnationist until you get to The Memorist.
July 23, 2012
I'd been very impressed with "The Book of Lost Fragrances" so I wanted to read something else by M.J. Rose. Unfortunately, she seems to be one of those authors who tells the same story over and over again.
"The Hypnotist" is also about reincarnation and people obsessed with it. Here our main character is Josh, a photographer badly injured a year ago when he caught a terrorist attack on camera. Since then he's been having psychotic episodes in which he remembers his past lives: Julius, a pagan priest in Roman times, and Percy, a wealthy young man in the 1800s.
First problem, I couldn't connect with or care about any of these three characters. Second problem, you have one person essentially playing 3 people. It got confusing.
Anyway, Josh hooks up with Gabriella, an archeologist, after witnessing the death of her colleague. Gabriella is supposed to be a smart, independent woman however, she spends most of her time in hysterics. She's upset about her wounded friend and her site being compromised so she insists on spending all her time at the hospital. That'd be find in real life but this is a book and reading about someone sitting in a waiting room isn't that interesting. Then her daughter is kidnapped and she goes completely to pieces, refusing to contact the police. There's a boring bit where she and Josh run all over the country looking for historians who can translate some words in Indus.
Mostly I was just glad to get through this book and have it over. M.J. Rose is a good writer but this story didn't work for me. All these people obsessed with enlightenment committing murder, kidnapping and robbery as a way to attain it. It made no sense.
"The Hypnotist" is also about reincarnation and people obsessed with it. Here our main character is Josh, a photographer badly injured a year ago when he caught a terrorist attack on camera. Since then he's been having psychotic episodes in which he remembers his past lives: Julius, a pagan priest in Roman times, and Percy, a wealthy young man in the 1800s.
First problem, I couldn't connect with or care about any of these three characters. Second problem, you have one person essentially playing 3 people. It got confusing.
Anyway, Josh hooks up with Gabriella, an archeologist, after witnessing the death of her colleague. Gabriella is supposed to be a smart, independent woman however, she spends most of her time in hysterics. She's upset about her wounded friend and her site being compromised so she insists on spending all her time at the hospital. That'd be find in real life but this is a book and reading about someone sitting in a waiting room isn't that interesting. Then her daughter is kidnapped and she goes completely to pieces, refusing to contact the police. There's a boring bit where she and Josh run all over the country looking for historians who can translate some words in Indus.
Mostly I was just glad to get through this book and have it over. M.J. Rose is a good writer but this story didn't work for me. All these people obsessed with enlightenment committing murder, kidnapping and robbery as a way to attain it. It made no sense.
October 27, 2014
La reencarnacion es un punto que en mi vida me he preguntado en varias ocasiones? de verdad sucede ? hay personas que de verdad pueden en algun momento de su vida recordar sus vidas pasadas? Esta es la premisa del libro, la cual me la encuentro super interesante.
Nos muestra la vida de Josh Ryder, fotografo-periodista, que luego de una explosion y haber estado en coma, recuerda mediante flashback, dos de sus vidas pasadas, pero la principal, es la de Julius, el cual existio en la antigua Roma, donde ejercia como sacerdote pagano y cuidaba la vestal, que eran las chicas virgenes que profesaban dicha religion, ahi conocio a Sabina y la cual se enamoro. Aqui nos muestran un misterio bajo las piedras de la reencarnacion la cual ayudaba a personas a recobrar sus vidas pasadas y como este misterio repercute en el presente.
Segun reviews que he leido, segun muchos se confunden con los flashback en el cual al principio no estaban bien esclarecidos pero que luego que tomas el ritmo del libro, ya esta los separa en capitulos. Que es lo que pasa en el libro por lo cual no le di mas puntuacion? es que en de un momento a otro cambia de primera persona a tercera sin mas ( no se si talvez fue la traduccion) pero esto en ocasiones trae a confusiones y 2do ese final abierto que no ayuda al libro.
Mi opinion es un libro con una premisa interesante, para mi fue agil de leer y me mantuvo cautiva hasta la ultima pagina, no se si fue que siempre me ha gustado la epoca del imperio Romano, ya sea pagana o cristiana, talvez mi reencarnacion venga de esa epoca o de la 2da guerra mundial, quien sabe?
Nos muestra la vida de Josh Ryder, fotografo-periodista, que luego de una explosion y haber estado en coma, recuerda mediante flashback, dos de sus vidas pasadas, pero la principal, es la de Julius, el cual existio en la antigua Roma, donde ejercia como sacerdote pagano y cuidaba la vestal, que eran las chicas virgenes que profesaban dicha religion, ahi conocio a Sabina y la cual se enamoro. Aqui nos muestran un misterio bajo las piedras de la reencarnacion la cual ayudaba a personas a recobrar sus vidas pasadas y como este misterio repercute en el presente.
Segun reviews que he leido, segun muchos se confunden con los flashback en el cual al principio no estaban bien esclarecidos pero que luego que tomas el ritmo del libro, ya esta los separa en capitulos. Que es lo que pasa en el libro por lo cual no le di mas puntuacion? es que en de un momento a otro cambia de primera persona a tercera sin mas ( no se si talvez fue la traduccion) pero esto en ocasiones trae a confusiones y 2do ese final abierto que no ayuda al libro.
Mi opinion es un libro con una premisa interesante, para mi fue agil de leer y me mantuvo cautiva hasta la ultima pagina, no se si fue que siempre me ha gustado la epoca del imperio Romano, ya sea pagana o cristiana, talvez mi reencarnacion venga de esa epoca o de la 2da guerra mundial, quien sabe?
June 25, 2010
As a believer in reincarnation and a lover of history, I really wanted to like this book. But no matter how I tried - and I really tried - I just couldn't. The characters were pretty poorly-developed, making it difficult to care about any of them. Halfway through the book an additional character was added, bringing her own past life that was somehow tied to the main protagonist. But this new female only existed to provide answers later on, and not because she was important to the plot in any other way. Her story, and the stories of the two men who were connected only to her story, wasn't resolved. They just dropped off. Initially I thought that maybe they'd show up in future titles in this series, but I don't think they do, making their existence here even more meaningless. Add to this one of the most tepid villains ever, and you have a recipe for failure.
And the ending...good grief. Is it meant to be sad? Hopeful? Exciting? It's none of the above. It's just...blah. And that it takes well over 400 pages to get there is just absurd. 150 pages could have been eliminated easily if the writing had been tighter and if the story had moved along more efficiently. Instead, it was just a disappointment.
And the ending...good grief. Is it meant to be sad? Hopeful? Exciting? It's none of the above. It's just...blah. And that it takes well over 400 pages to get there is just absurd. 150 pages could have been eliminated easily if the writing had been tighter and if the story had moved along more efficiently. Instead, it was just a disappointment.
January 8, 2008
The Reincarnationist is about the tenth book by M. J. Rose and is a thriller set in the present and the past thanks to numerous past life flash backs.
After nearly dying in a terrorist bomb, Josh Ryder is haunted by memories of a past life in Rome. The medical profession cannot explain or solve his new memories and flashbacks and so he turns to the Phoenix Foundation who specialise in past life regression.
A trail of present-day murders seem to link up to his past life memories of being a pagan priest whose dangerous congress with Sabina, one of the Vestal Virgins, poses a transgression so serious that the lovers would face certain death if exposed. Scents of jasmine and sandalwood and images of furtive liaisons and violence descend on Josh at will and become more frequent when the
To read the rest of this review, please visit Trashionista
After nearly dying in a terrorist bomb, Josh Ryder is haunted by memories of a past life in Rome. The medical profession cannot explain or solve his new memories and flashbacks and so he turns to the Phoenix Foundation who specialise in past life regression.
A trail of present-day murders seem to link up to his past life memories of being a pagan priest whose dangerous congress with Sabina, one of the Vestal Virgins, poses a transgression so serious that the lovers would face certain death if exposed. Scents of jasmine and sandalwood and images of furtive liaisons and violence descend on Josh at will and become more frequent when the
To read the rest of this review, please visit Trashionista
March 10, 2016
I read #4-6 of this series in 2014 and really enjoyed them. So I figured it was time to go back and read the beginning of the series. Even though it was missing the strong main character of the last three, it was an intelligent and intriguing read, with lots of twist and turns that kept me guessing until the very end. However, it doesn't get a full 5 stars from me because I didn't feel a strong emotional connection to any of the characters. I can't put my finger on why but I missed that extra ingredient that the previous books I read from the series had delivered on. But I'm looking forward to reading the next one!!
February 16, 2013
This book spells out BORING until the last 100 pages. The story are too scattered and it is so hard to link them together. Many things were left explained and this book could had been a better read if those irrelevant stories were taken out, which meant leaving the book at only 50% of its original thickness.
The characters are not likable at all except Rachel/Esme. Josh seems to be obsessed with any women he met, lusting over them. The author seems to have an issue with breasts too as she kept emphasizing on that.
Gabrielle is such a nuisance. She is weak, breaks down easily over everything but yet she could made love to Josh when her daughter's life was at risk of the kidnapper. Seriously, can a loving mother do that with a guy she only knew few weeks when her daughter was kidnapped? This doesn't make any sense.
Rachel's story is definitely nice to read and contributes to a great part of the ending. However what is her uncle Alex link in this story? Completely none.
The ending was rush and abrupt. The author is obviously leaving the story hanging there in hope that the readers will picked up the next book.
Overall, the last 100 pages were intriguing and kept me reading in one sitting but I had a tough time reading through this book. A book that took me more than a week and more than 20 tries will only deserved a 2 stars.
The characters are not likable at all except Rachel/Esme. Josh seems to be obsessed with any women he met, lusting over them. The author seems to have an issue with breasts too as she kept emphasizing on that.
Gabrielle is such a nuisance. She is weak, breaks down easily over everything but yet she could made love to Josh when her daughter's life was at risk of the kidnapper. Seriously, can a loving mother do that with a guy she only knew few weeks when her daughter was kidnapped? This doesn't make any sense.
Rachel's story is definitely nice to read and contributes to a great part of the ending. However what is her uncle Alex link in this story? Completely none.
The ending was rush and abrupt. The author is obviously leaving the story hanging there in hope that the readers will picked up the next book.
Overall, the last 100 pages were intriguing and kept me reading in one sitting but I had a tough time reading through this book. A book that took me more than a week and more than 20 tries will only deserved a 2 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2014
Reincarnation. Not a true believer, but my mind is open.And that is all this story asks,is that the reader has an open mind.Josh Ryder is a photojournalist haunted by events in his past and present. He deals in logic,believes in what he can see through the lens of his camera. But what he sees through the camera lens is not always logical and doesn't come through in the finished picture.And he frequently has trouble staying in the present.
On a trip to Rome, determined to find answers to his frequent lapses into what seems to be a past life, he is drawn into a whirlpool of intrigue.As some events,dreams and actions become clear, other important pieces of the mosaic become murkier and more elusive.
I was drawn into this story almost immediately. Like the protagonist I found myself just trying to keep my head above water as I was tumbled and thrown about between past and present, trying to keep all the different characters straight in my head.And when it becomes the puzzle becomes clear, there is more mystery yet to be had.
There is some truly gorgeous language in this book. I don't want to give anything away with quotes.Suffice it to say,there is beautifully written emotion in the pages of this book.
On a trip to Rome, determined to find answers to his frequent lapses into what seems to be a past life, he is drawn into a whirlpool of intrigue.As some events,dreams and actions become clear, other important pieces of the mosaic become murkier and more elusive.
I was drawn into this story almost immediately. Like the protagonist I found myself just trying to keep my head above water as I was tumbled and thrown about between past and present, trying to keep all the different characters straight in my head.And when it becomes the puzzle becomes clear, there is more mystery yet to be had.
There is some truly gorgeous language in this book. I don't want to give anything away with quotes.Suffice it to say,there is beautifully written emotion in the pages of this book.
January 4, 2013
Many of the other reviews have this book pegged correctly, and the ones who say it was suspenseful - which book did you read? There wasn't one iota of suspense.
The only thing that really kept me reading was that the reincarnation idea was interesting and that the pace was good enough to keep the pages turning, but not nearly enough to say this was a good book.
But if you liked the Da Vinci code, then you probably will like this book, since neither book had much of a plot (sorry guys, Da Vinci code was every bit as thin as this book.)
The characters in this book are one-dimensional and not interesting. The author switches from character to character often and it is difficult to keep the reincarnations straight - so and so was this person in the past, and who now is trying to pay a debt to this person - this was a good idea but it takes a much better writer than Rose to pull this off.
In sum - thin, uninteresting plot, not that great writing, uninteresting characters, interesting concept. If you are really into reincarnation then this book is for you. If you want to read a good story, then avoid this book.
The only thing that really kept me reading was that the reincarnation idea was interesting and that the pace was good enough to keep the pages turning, but not nearly enough to say this was a good book.
But if you liked the Da Vinci code, then you probably will like this book, since neither book had much of a plot (sorry guys, Da Vinci code was every bit as thin as this book.)
The characters in this book are one-dimensional and not interesting. The author switches from character to character often and it is difficult to keep the reincarnations straight - so and so was this person in the past, and who now is trying to pay a debt to this person - this was a good idea but it takes a much better writer than Rose to pull this off.
In sum - thin, uninteresting plot, not that great writing, uninteresting characters, interesting concept. If you are really into reincarnation then this book is for you. If you want to read a good story, then avoid this book.
August 28, 2007
After a near death experience, Josh Ryder begins having flashes where he seems to be remembering being a pagan priest in ancient Rome, trying to save the woman he loves and the sacred treasures that they both revere from the onslaught of Christianity. Seeking answers brings Josh to the Phoenix Foundation, a group that helps children who experience past life memories. The Phoenix Foundation doesn't work with adults, but Josh takes a job with them in exchange for the opportunity to learn more about reincarnation.
In modern day Rome, while visiting an archaeological dig that he thinks may have answers about his past lives, Josh witnesses a murder. Now, Josh's life is in danger as he races to solve a mystery whose answers may lie in the past.
The Reincarnationist is an exciting and suspenseful story that spans across time. Although Josh meets people from his past in the present time, author M.J. Rose manages to avoid the expected cliches and provide some unexpected and entertaining twists. It's a book that holds your interest from beginning to end!
In modern day Rome, while visiting an archaeological dig that he thinks may have answers about his past lives, Josh witnesses a murder. Now, Josh's life is in danger as he races to solve a mystery whose answers may lie in the past.
The Reincarnationist is an exciting and suspenseful story that spans across time. Although Josh meets people from his past in the present time, author M.J. Rose manages to avoid the expected cliches and provide some unexpected and entertaining twists. It's a book that holds your interest from beginning to end!
November 29, 2007
After a near-fatal accident, photojournalist Josh Ryder is haunted by dreams of past lives. While trying to find some stolen gemstones believed to be powerful pagan memory stones for the Phoenix Foundation, Josh realizes that his past lives are trying to send him a message to save his own present-day life and that of the future world.
Wow! Very original! This fast-paced, thought-provoking, intricate page-turner will stay with the reader long after the last page has been read. The ending is a surprise and very memorable. The author includes some fascinating information on reincarnation and a bibliography at the end of her book. Highly recommend.
Wow! Very original! This fast-paced, thought-provoking, intricate page-turner will stay with the reader long after the last page has been read. The ending is a surprise and very memorable. The author includes some fascinating information on reincarnation and a bibliography at the end of her book. Highly recommend.
January 9, 2009
Josh Ryder is a man in the wrong place at the wrong time. In Rome to photo journal an important meeting he is caught in the blast of a suicide bomber. During his recovery he begins to have visions that place him in ancient Rome...
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of The Reincarnationist in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
For the entire review please go to the Best Paranormal & Urban Fantasy Review site on the web, Bitten By Books for the review of The Reincarnationist in it's entirety. You won't be sorry.
July 31, 2014
I would have bypassed this book, except I enjoy a reincarnation plot theme.
However, the plot theme was not enough to eclipse the terribly puerile writing, lack of character development, and absolute no depth in this book.
I didn't care about the characters. There was no drawing in of the reader. I wasn't transported to the places in the book; it was just flat, flat reading.
The writing is like a first-time submission to a novel writing contest. And I can't *believe* this was made into a series.
However, the plot theme was not enough to eclipse the terribly puerile writing, lack of character development, and absolute no depth in this book.
I didn't care about the characters. There was no drawing in of the reader. I wasn't transported to the places in the book; it was just flat, flat reading.
The writing is like a first-time submission to a novel writing contest. And I can't *believe* this was made into a series.
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