The Beautiful

Gr 9 Up–Marceline “Celine” Rousseau flees 1872 France with a dark secret. She finds refuge in a New Orleans convent with other girls her age hoping to find husbands, something Celine isn’t sure she wants, until she meets the charming and mysterious Bastien, member of La Cour des Lions. Celine takes readers with her as she pierces Bastien’s supernatural world while a killer who has struck fear into the city appears to be stalking her. Detective Michael Grimaldi investigates the killer and withholds details of his own cryptic past with Bastien. Grimaldi is quick to call out Celine’s ruses even while admiring her from afar. The large cast showcases the diversity of New Orleans, including Celine who is half Asian, although her father insisted she keep that a secret, while Bastien is part African-American. Ahdieh pays homage to the time period with detailed descriptions of a rich setting. The paranormal elements of the plot struggle as more time is spent being evasive than fleshing out the world with concrete details, making it difficult to understand what’s happening at times. The first in a series, this mystery novel shines when it focuses on Celine and her struggle to fit into society while trying to be true to herself. Although Celine has the main point of view, shadowy characters have short chapters throughout the story, including the killer who has dragged her into his tale of vengeance.