The Map of Bones

To say I cried over the ending of the Joubert Family quartet is an understatement. I ugly cried, sobbing when I read the conclusion to a work of historical fiction that only confirmed my appreciation for Kate’s work. in this final instalment, readers will be taken from France to Southern Africa and the Cape of Good Hope where Suzanne and her grandmother look for a new life… and a life they want to know more about. Suzanne in particular is keen to understand the story of her ancestor she-captain Louise Reydon-Joubert. The story jumps to almost 180 years later where, in 1862, Isabelle Lepard, also of the Joubert family, is also tracing Louise’s life, determined to put the women in her family back in the history books. Both stories are daring and courageous, both women showing their family traits of determination and strength in the most difficult of circumstances. It’s a fantastic read and completes the quartet perfectly, almost 400 years of history. Wonderful.

As ever Kate Mosse dependably provides us with a captivating installment of the Joubert family chronicles, following The Ghost Ship.

We follow two timelines from the 1600's and the 1800's following 2 strong female characters.

The strong mix of historical fiction and tense family epic with strong suspenseful storylines will keep you gripped as a stand alone book that makes you want to pick up the other 3 books in the series.

Highly recommended.

Sadly the last book in the Joubert family saga that takes the story to South Africa where we finally find out what happened to Suzanne Joubert. Although a great stand alone I would certainly recommend reading The Burning Chamber’s, The City of Tears and The Ghost Ship first. Great historical novels spanning several countries and years and refreshingly filled with strong women living life on their own terms.

Thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for this ARC

This is the last book in the Joubert family chronicles and takes the continuing story to Southern Africa. First Suzanne Joubert arrives after a perilous journey in 1688, determined to find out what happened when her ancestor, the sea captain and pirate Louise Reydon Joubert, arrived at the Cape of Good Hope eighty years earlier and promptly disappeared . Then 180 years later Isabelle Lepard is equally determined to find the story of the intrepid women she is descended from. This fantastic saga is underpinned as always by immaculate research creating an absorbing story that transports the reader to Southern Africa centuries ago.

This is the latest novel in Kate Mosse’s stories about a French Huguenot family's struggle for freedom from persecution, opening in 1688. It takes the reader from La Rochelle to Amsterdam and Cape Colony, South Africa. This is a quest. Suzanne, descendent of Minou from the initial novel, has a mission to discover what happened to her relative Louise. Louise disappeared into South Africa’s interior half a century before. Suzanne, this novel’s protagonist has possession of a diary scribed by Louise and an intriguing tarot card.

The novel is a wonderful collection of vivid scenes linked by a great adventure undertaken by a courageous determined personality. I was as a consequence utterly transported by the characters and their narrative; this is as well as Mosse’s evocative, beautiful writing. The characters represent nobility , strength and determination to survive as immigrants in an alien landscape. They withstand the machinations of dangerous characters such as the brutal Lars Elthrop, ruthless Pieter Odendaal and cruel Kmane. Will Suzanne realise her quest ? Against all odds this is a thrilling journey with many surprises and much jeopardy along the way.

The pace is relentless. The atmosphere is evocative- noisy waterfronts , the castle, the interior, the flora and fauna and weather. There are gentle and brutal contrasts. Always we are reminded of a resourceful people fleeing persecution, not easily accepted in the Dutch colony. We encounter superstition, formidable mountain passes with dangerous shadowy valleys. History and politics inform this novel but are worn lightly and subtly integrated into the narrative. The Map of Bones is a meaningful and apt title. It is my favourite of these books. Page turning and completely original.

The Map of Bones continues the story of the She- Pirate from The Ghost Ship( review here )Louise Joubert and concludes the saga of the Joubert women- a story which spans several generations, and we finally find out who the identity of the kidnapped woman introduced in the earlier books.
As with all of Kate Mosse’s books, the story is rich with historical detail, but this never slows the pace or action. The book is mainly based in an early South Africa where Huguenots have sought refuge from persecution. The story focuses on another strong and independent Joubert woman, Suzanne- a descendent of Minou from The Burning Chamber. But this book felt a lot darker and more tense than the other books.
Suzanne herself is trying to forget her own trauma while investigating what happened to Louise and Giles, sometimes putting herself in danger in a hostile world.
This book can be read as a standalone, the author’s weaves in relevant details from the previous book into the story but I would recommend reading all the books in the series to truly enjoy the conclusion. I found Isabelle Joubert Lepard, the last Joubert woman journey to the discover the truth particular satisfying.
My only disappointment with The Map of Bones is that I have no more books to look forward in the amazing series.