2.5 ⭐️
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This ended up being such a bummer 🙈 Base Notes is about a serial killer who preserves the memory of his victims in perfume. It has a great premise escalated by blackmail and corporate espionage, but it ultimately falls very flat. At its premise, Base Notes is just believable enough to be extremely unsettling 😅 However, it doesn’t take long for the plot to become rather unbelievable. The fact that Vic finds three basic strangers, almost immediately trusts them with his secret and then brings them in on the plan seems very unlike something our calculating main character would do. Then again, somehow he manages to have all the power in almost every situation. So, it’s not entertaining to see him constantly win.
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Tonally, Base Notes reminds me of something akin to the American Psycho film or PJ Vernon’s Bath Haus, but that’s as far as the comparison goes. The characters feel like they’re all over the place, and none of them are likable or interestingly. Most of the novel is nothing but haughty inner dialogue and pointless conversation mixed with weird sexual exploits. The plot takes a serious backseat to Vic’s incessant rambling. While it makes sense from the POV, that didn’t translate well for the novel.
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Despite my complaints, Donnelly writes beautifully, and it is super unsettling when Vic directly addresses the reader. For me personally, I left Base Notes feeling like I didn’t see the point of it all, but maybe I just didn’t get it.

This book is another of my most-anticipated reads of 2022. Given my slight obsession with books that focus on the senses as a plot device (olfactory being my favorite, which is the sense this book relies on), it’s hardly a surprise that I wrote directly to the publisher in order to get early access to this title. I wasn’t going to let it slip away from me. I was focused on getting my hands on it, and I am so happy I did, because it was so good.

This book wasn’t exactly everything I hoped for, but it was dang close. Close enough to warrant the full five stars. The first-person POV narration is written as if this were a memoir written by an unreliable narrator. In this way, the book reminds me of Nabokov’s “Lolita”: you know from page one of both that classic novel and this book that your narrator is not to be trusted. They’re spinning the yarn, and you’re only getting to see what they are choosing to show you. In this book, the narrator, going by the name Vic Fowler, even breaks the literary fourth wall to speak to us readers directly, because he needs to make sure he has our attention. He’s a vain man who longs for someone to understand him or to accept him.

The perfume industry is one historically steeped in barbarism, shady experiments, and chemical experimentations I cannot even begin to understand. But I’ve always had a strong nose, even for being a girl growing up in a smoking household, and I’ve always adored perfumes (I have worn the same scent for a good many years now: Marc Jacobs Daisy). I can remember vibrantly the smell of my grandmother wearing White Shoulders, my mother wearing Elizabeth Arden’s Red Door, my prom date (and eventual assaulter) wearing Aspen, too many boys I went to high school with wearing Drakkar Noir, my ex-girlfriend and how she always smelled neutrally of Ivory soap and cigarettes, the heady and dark smell of the wall of leather floggers at Mr. S in San Francisco, and my ex-husband smelling of Ralph Lauren Polo Blue and sweat. None of my memories can compare with the in-depth and highly-descriptive words, phrases, and passages in this book not only describing scents, but describing the process of capturing nature and managing to put it into alcohol so it eventually makes its way into a glass bottle to be worn by a human.

But this book goes even further than just talking about the mainstream perfume industry, because Vic Fowler also has an off-the-books commission-only perfume business… and the commissions are definitely illegal. And that’s where this book, also like Lolita, becomes elevated to something both darker and more satirical than just your regular thriller. Because the rich can have any perfume they want, legal or illegal. But what if they want the memory of a person? They pay a perfumer whose business is on the rocks for the privilege. But what if it doesn’t stop there? What other scents or memories can their money buy? And to what lengths will out narrator allegedly go to in order to perfect his art, to meet these challenges, and to cover all of his tracks?

Donnelly obviously did her research and put hard work and devotion into this book. It shows with every page she wrote. The writing is precise, and I love morally ambiguous, unreliable narrators. Vic Fowler’s vanity is only outmatched by his narcissism. I both hate him and admire him. When he seemingly commits to a course of action he commits, but when he tells us what he’s done, I of course don’t know if he’s telling us the truth or just trying to make himself look better. That’s the beauty and the horror of an unreliable narrator. You just want things to be easy. You just want to lean into the narrative and not question it. But that’s letting the narrator seduce you. Do you really want to be that easy of a mark? I don’t, so I admire their audacity and hate them for it at the same time. It’s a much more thoughtful and satisfying read that way.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for granting my request to review this title.

Did Not Finish
I think this book is a love it or hate it kinda book and unfortunately, I’m in the latter category. I tried, but the style didn’t flow for me and I did not connect with the book. I know others will love it, but alas, it just wasn’t for me.

Summary: In New York City everybody needs a side hustle, and perfumer Vic Fowler has developed a delicate art that has proved to be very lucrative: creating bespoke scents that evoke immersive memories—memories that, for Vic’s clients, are worth killing for. But the city is expensive, and these days even artisanal murder doesn’t pay the bills. When Joseph Eisner, a former client with deep pockets, offers Vic an opportunity to expand the enterprise, the money is too good to turn down. But the job is too intricate—and too dangerous—to attempt alone.

Manipulating fellow struggling artists into acting as accomplices is easy. Like Vic, they too are on the verge of burnout and bankruptcy. But as relationships become more complicated, Vic’s careful plans start to unravel. Hounded by guilt and a tenacious private investigator, Vic grows increasingly desperate to complete Eisner’s commission. Is there anyone—friends, lovers, coconspirators—that Vic won’t sacrifice for art?

I didn't know what to expect when I started this book, but I was intrigued by the premise. Donnelly's writing is engaging and poetic. I loved the structure of the chapters and the development of the voices. Sometimes the prose was a bit heavy handed, but I think many readers will find the unraveling of the plot to be engaging. Overall, I enjoyed this story and would definitely read more from Donnelly.

It was ok and I liked that perfume was a central theme but it was predictable and I could not really connect with the characters. I really wanted to like this, disappointing.

Thanks to Netgalley, Laura Elena Donnelly and Thomas& Mercer for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 2/1/22

Vic is a perfumer who is also a contract killer. This thriller isn't going to be for everyone as the protagonist isn't likable at all, It's also just sort of odd. That said, it did keep me engaged, if shaking my head. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

"I have never cared much about being liked; still don’t. I expect the deeper we get into all this, the less and less you'll like me. I'm not bothered. That's not the point.
What is the point? We'll get there, if you can stick it out through the foul bits. Think of it like a dry down: to experience a perfume fully, you have to let it work through every note".

Vic Fowler is a struggling artist in the heart of New York City trying to make it big. Their perfume company isn’t as successful as they had initially hoped. They are adamant to live the life of luxuries and willing to do almost anything to get there. Vic is threatened with blackmail in exchange for commission: a perfume made of people that conjures up different memories. They have no problem with finding interns to help in this endeavor but rather a problem in being successful in the task at hand itself.

The story itself has a slow build with a very descriptive prose. The writing is very immersive in that you feel yourself swept into New York, down to every minor detail. Each chapter begins with scent notes which gives insight into Vic’s job and the way their calculating mind works.

The author never specifies pronouns of Vic which is very unique to read about a character with no gender. Vic is an interesting character in that they are morally grey but you still root for them. We follow their thoughts and almost feel as though we are partaking in corrupt behaviors right by their side. Vic also portrays themself as incredibly smooth and confident on the outside when in reality is anxious and constantly stressed on the inside. They are always looking behind them and afraid things can blow up at any moment; their secret to be exposed to the world. The juxtaposition of the two is explored in a fascinating way.

Compared to Perfume by Patrick Süskind, fans of the classic will definitely enjoy Base Notes. Thank you so much to Netgalley for the advanced copy of this book and be sure to check this out once it’s published on February 1st, 2022.

Wow, I was not sure going into this book what to expect but I highly enjoyed it! I think it’s a good read and many that read it will enjoy it! Give it a try you won’t be sorry.

Wow this was written with flare! The story of Vic was easy to get lost in and hard to shutter out the disappointment. Great cast of characters
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

I LOVE the cover of this book. I was instantly attracted to it. However, once I opened it up and started reading I was a bit disappointed. I could tell right away that it wasn't going to be for me. While the language flowed easily, it was difficult for me to get into. I felt I didn't understand what was going on and could not connect with the writing style. I saw some comparisons to the classic book, Perfume, which interestingly enough, I felt the same way about,

This was my favourite book of 2021.

The characters were immaculate, there were parts where I had to sit on the floor and just process what I read.

Thank you so much to Lara for sending me a copy

Content warning: murder, manipulation, blackmail, gore, eye surgery, strangulation

Vic Fowler is an artist, a perfumist whose business is struggling as they’re trying to achieve the height of luxury and artistry in New York City despite everything about their lifestyle pointing to the contrary. They are threatened with blackmail in exchange for a commission—that’s right, the perfume is made of people. A saga of desperation, aesthetic, murder, and dissatisfaction follows hence forth.

Tonally, it reminded me a lot of A Certain Hunger with its voicey protagonist who’s really three anxiety attacks in a well-tailored blazer. At least they smell beautiful.

There is a precision to the language in this work that is immersive and impressive. Between the various scents and the little touches of New York City around the holidays you would only get if you lived there, the attention-to-detail is impeccable. It places the reader right in the center of it all, to the point that I felt myself a little unsettled and disoriented when I finished my read. Heady and absolutely breathtaking.

And horrifying in a way that is too true to the millennial experience. Desperation is palpable from the first page. It’s not really in pursuit of success, but in authenticity serving survival. Each of the characters we meet present a different facet of New York City in that way, and it’s really effective.

As a narrator and a protagonist, Vic is fascinating. Donnelly cleverly writes Vic’s gender by never specifying pronouns, even in the fuckier bits of the text (oh yeah, if you’re looking for more plot-driven fucking, you’ve come to the right place). Their gender is murdery perfumist with several skeletons in their closet. They’re enveloped in a deep knowledge of perfume, scent, and memory that lulls the reader into a trance. Until you realize that they’re the opposite of suave and incredibly anxious. Type-A, self-centered, and concerned with their own survival to a fault. Watching it play out in real time with terminal consequences is a delight from start to finish. A train wreck you can’t tear your eyes away from. I won’t spoil how it ends.

That all being said, there’s also this fantastic way that Vic addresses the reader directly, lending to an uncomfortable intimacy that almost gives the impression that you might be an accomplice in their schemes as well. And Vic isn’t letting you off the hook.

In Base Notes by Lara Elena Donnelly a hip NYC perfumer manipulates ingredients (both legal and otherwise) to create scents that trigger memories. Vic now owns Bright House, a small boutique to creates small-batch scents… but he has his own clientele who will pay handsomely to have their needs met.

A former client comes to him with a job laced with blackmail. Vic realizes that he will be unable to complete the formula on his own, so he enlists the help of a few acquaintances. Using his own blend of sexual manipulation and the weight of good old fashioned American debt, Vic will try to create his most elaborate perfume ever. A scent that will allow anyone to experience an individual memory.

The writing, the character, the themes. Base Notes is an altogether transformative reading experience.

The writing: With perfect pacing and expansive research, I read this one in just a couple days making excuses to get back to it over and over again.

Quick confession: The only scents I knew growing up were my dad’s Old Spice and my mom’s Jean Naté. Somehow I picked up a bottle of Drakkar in my teen years. I still have it and once in awhile I’l put some on just to hear my wife yell, “What the hell is that smell!?!?!”

It goes without saying that Donnelly’s narrative expanded on significantly on my knowledge of the science and art of creating these scents. Vic spends a good amount of time working on the different parts of his perfumes, their notes and complexities. As an added bonus, each chapter begins with a fragrance pyramid, the layers of notes you will encounter…

The Characters: The story is told by Vic as he looks back at this time in NYC from somewhere in the future. He spends his time racing all over Manhattan to try to keep this game going. He needs to expand his business, yet at the same time keep up with his special projects. One by one he uses his sexuality as a tool to take advantage of others. And when anyone tries to dig, to really get to know him, poof, he switches gears and it’s back to business. A hard character to like, but one that the author’s words helped me understand.

The Themes: Everyone likes a challenge. Especially if it’s connected to our passions. And once Vic gets his new assignment, he knows that he has to get the others on board… an engaged couple who are riddled in debt and a barber whose shop may be taken out from under him. Vic believes he can be the puppet master… but will this show collapse under the weight of his lies?

An incredible read.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to Megan Beatie Communications, Thomas and Mercer, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

I will admit that this novel took me a bit longer to get into then the other ones. All in all the writing was excellent and I did start to like the storyline once it started to come together, it just took a bit!

<i>I expect the deeper we get into all this, the less and less you'll like me. I'm not bothered. That's not the point.
What is the point? We'll get there, if you can stick it out through the foul bits. Think of it like a dry down: to experience a perfume fully, you have to let it work through every note.</i>

Base notes, in the fragrance world, act as a foundation – rich, heavy, and long-lasting, they convey the main message of a perfume. It’s appropriate then, as the title for the latest offering from Lara Elena Donnelly, because this is a book that will certainly live on in the minds of its readers, long after they turn the final page.

Vic Fowler is drowning in debt and in dreams. Despite landing the title to an up-and-coming perfume house, following the mysterious disappearance of the owner, Vic just can’t seem to break in to the old-boy network that sits as a barrier to true success. Usually, that’s just the kind of problem Vic’s learnt to solve with the odd, very discrete, murder-for-hire, but an old client with an impossible request is suddenly threatening everything they’ve worked so hard for.

This book was absolutely brilliant. Base Notes is absolutely going to attract comparisons to Patrick Süskind’s Perfume, but in my opinion blows it completely out of the water. It’s not just the updated social commentary, skewering modern social issues such as inequality and desperation, or the skillful work with the characters that won me over so completely; it’s the way the gritter, rougher moments are highlighted by the gorgeous descriptive prose of symphonies and rainy afternoons in New York. Vic is such an intriguing, even endearing character, that you almost forget the whole murder part until the novel shocks you back to remembering just who it is you’re thinking fondly of. (I confess that I actually still like them a lot though. Perfection is boring.)

It’s not every day that you read a book that simultaneously sucks you in completely, and is so effective at delivering shock moments without in anyway disrupted the flow of reading. I could almost hear Vic’s laconic narration, and again; it’s a long time since I’ve read a protagonist I was so immediately able to conjure a voice for. This may well be a one-shot, but should a sequel ever appear, I’ll be back for more in a heartbeat. Base Notes will be kicking off 2022 with a bang.

I fell in LOVE with this evocative, queer, radical, violent DELIGHT of a novel. It’s for every burned out artist being priced out of New York City, for every cog in the capitalist machine crackling with anger and desperation, for every friend at the bar who asked a little too intensely what you would do for a million dollars. I cannot wait to see Lara’s book become a sensation when it’s published in January. Pre-order it for the socialist millennial in your life ASAP and get ready to obsess over how inventive and messed up and fun it is!

3 for neutral. Tried a couple times, but couldn’t get into this book. Will update if able to finish later, which is possible since I’m such a moody reader.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine

Oooh this was wonderful
Vivid descriptions and just loved it

A new author to me but can't wait to read more from them

Thank you to the lady at Thomas & Mercer (forgot her name & deleted the email) for this widget!

Base Note by Lara is an Adult Fiction/Mystery! And a book I very much enjoyed and got into!
This was a wild ride!
Vic will do anything for art!
I enjoyed literally everything this book had to offer!
The writing was crisp and refreshing. I was hooked before the second chapter and couldn't put this novel down.
Characters they were great. And really kept things interesting.
The story itself was oh so good! It was legit an amazing story!

Thanks again NetGalley, Publisher and Author for the chance to read and review this amazing book!
I'll post to my Social media platforms closer to pub date!

Base Notes by L.E. Donelly, published by Thomas & Mercer, is a complex crime/ mystery/ thriller. A slow burn, told in multiple povs that took me a minute to get into the story.
Set in one of the fasted paced cities in the world this story paints a picture so colorful I have not the words to describe it.
A captivating suspenseful 4,5 star read.