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Bianca Goddard Mysteries #2
Death of an Alchemist
In the mid sixteenth century, Henry VIII sits on the throne, and Bianca Goddard tends to the sick and suffering in London’s slums, where disease can take a life as quickly as murder. . . .
For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. But the next day his body is found and his journal is gone.
Bianca, the daughter of an alchemist, is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. When her husband John falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum’s journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist’s murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum’s death is only the first in a series of murders—and Bianca’s quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself. . . .
For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. But the next day his body is found and his journal is gone.
Bianca, the daughter of an alchemist, is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. When her husband John falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum’s journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist’s murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum’s death is only the first in a series of murders—and Bianca’s quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself. . . .
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 2016
51 people are currently reading
2064 people want to read
About the author
Mary Lawrence
6 books440 followersThe Bianca Goddard Mysteries are set in Tudor London during the final years of King Henry VIII's reign. Bianca is the daughter of an infamous alchemist who uses her 'wits' and some alchemy to solve murders among the commoners. The series consists of THE ALCHEMIST'S DAUGHTER, DEATH OF AN ALCHEMIST, DEATH AT ST. VEDAST, THE ALCHEMIST OF LOST SOULS and THE LOST BOYS OF LONDON. All of the titles have reached the top 100 best-selling historical mysteries category on Amazon, with THE ALCHEMIST'S DAUGHTER reaching #1.
I grew up in Indiana and live and farm in Maine. For over 25 years I worked in hospitals and labs as a cytotechnologist. Writing helped me escape my boredom and I became interested in Tudor history. On the side, I wrote indexes for publishers and academics. My articles have been published by the national news blog, The Daily Beast.
The Bianca Goddard mysteries are meant to entertain and to engage readers who might not pick up period historicals as a first choice. The Tudor era is an intriguing period, full of superstition, and the makings for interesting characters. Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/marylawrence... twitter at mel59lawrence.
I grew up in Indiana and live and farm in Maine. For over 25 years I worked in hospitals and labs as a cytotechnologist. Writing helped me escape my boredom and I became interested in Tudor history. On the side, I wrote indexes for publishers and academics. My articles have been published by the national news blog, The Daily Beast.
The Bianca Goddard mysteries are meant to entertain and to engage readers who might not pick up period historicals as a first choice. The Tudor era is an intriguing period, full of superstition, and the makings for interesting characters. Follow me on facebook https://www.facebook.com/marylawrence... twitter at mel59lawrence.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
November 28, 2015
Book 2 takes place about five months after The Alchemist's Daughter. There is more alchemy as Bianca seeks a noted alchemist for help making a remedy for an outbreak of the Sweating Sickness. Meddybemps, the storied streetseller, returns in a major role. We also meet Bianca's parents. I wrote Death of an Alchemist while dealing with the loss of two friends so there are plenty of questions about death and immortality for Bianca to wrestle with. It's a ride, it's a sting, it's a story about love and death.
May 28, 2016
4.5 stars. Bianca and John are back in the second book of Mary Lawrence’s series. If you haven’t read the first book, The Alchemist’s Daughter, I strongly encourage you to do so, but Death of an Alchemist, can stand on it’s own. The stories are set in the 1600’s of Tudor England. Of course they don’t have dna testing, or and FBI data base, so solving the whodunit is totally different then what is done today. However mysteries do get solved.
The author transports you back in time to where you can see a good image of what the village looks like, the smells, and the sounds. The mystery is not over shadow by the descriptions the author brings to life.
Bianca Goddard is an alchemist, one who heals for medicinal, this in itself can be challenging due to the lack of medicine. People died from what is today known as the common flu. But this time she is trying to create a medicine for “the sweating sickness”. With no luck, Bianca seeks out to find Ferris Stannum, a much better alchemist than herself, who has announced a new discovery of and immortal elixir. The next day he is found dead, and the corner states the cause of death is “natural”, and his journal book comes up missing. Bianca has second thoughts and sets out to prove and solve who it is that killed Ferris Stannun.
The author transports you back in time to where you can see a good image of what the village looks like, the smells, and the sounds. The mystery is not over shadow by the descriptions the author brings to life.
Bianca Goddard is an alchemist, one who heals for medicinal, this in itself can be challenging due to the lack of medicine. People died from what is today known as the common flu. But this time she is trying to create a medicine for “the sweating sickness”. With no luck, Bianca seeks out to find Ferris Stannum, a much better alchemist than herself, who has announced a new discovery of and immortal elixir. The next day he is found dead, and the corner states the cause of death is “natural”, and his journal book comes up missing. Bianca has second thoughts and sets out to prove and solve who it is that killed Ferris Stannun.
January 14, 2016
I was a little nervous when I started reading this book because it is the second in a series and I've not read the first. Thankfully I didn't feel confused at all. There was enough exposition to keep you up to date on what happened in the first book without the writing being too "tell don't show" (which is a big pet peeve of mine).
I really enjoyed these characters. They were smart, sympathetic, and likable (or, unlikable, in some cases). There's nothing I hate more in mystery stories than weak, stupid female leads. Thankfully, Bianca was clever and resourceful. I just adored her.
Pacing was on point. The book was just the right length and I didn't feel like it dragged at all or needed any additional editing. Though the first book as explained via exposition, not much else was. Mary Lawrence treated her audience like intelligent people, which I always appreciate.
I'm a big fan of historical fiction and mysteries, so to find a book that fits into both categories makes me one happy reader. I'll definitely be following this series and going back to read the first book.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
I really enjoyed these characters. They were smart, sympathetic, and likable (or, unlikable, in some cases). There's nothing I hate more in mystery stories than weak, stupid female leads. Thankfully, Bianca was clever and resourceful. I just adored her.
Pacing was on point. The book was just the right length and I didn't feel like it dragged at all or needed any additional editing. Though the first book as explained via exposition, not much else was. Mary Lawrence treated her audience like intelligent people, which I always appreciate.
I'm a big fan of historical fiction and mysteries, so to find a book that fits into both categories makes me one happy reader. I'll definitely be following this series and going back to read the first book.
**I received this copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**
October 5, 2016
After completing book 2, it's clear that Lawrence has taken the time to think through the nuances necessary to create a captivating mystery. Her attention to historical detail sets the stage for another enjoyable read. By further developing her cast of characters, this book has left me excited to find out what's next for Bianca. I find myself increasingly intrigued by the thought that this could make for an interesting television series on PBS. Well done.
April 11, 2020
This is the second book in the Bianca Goddard series. Rumors are going around about the deadly “sweating sickness,” so Bianca is trying to concoct a medicinal to cure it. She consults with one of London’s best known alchemists, the elderly Ferris Stanum. Stanum helpfully advises Bianca on her process, then after several of his friends and acquaintances join them, he announces he has successfully created an elixir that grants immortality. As proof, he presents his cat, who was deathly ill but recovered after Stanum gave him the elixir.
The next day, Stanum is dead and his journal, which contained his formula and process, is missing. Now John has become ill with what appears to be the sweating sickness and Bianca is willing to do anything, even meddle with alchemy, to heal him. When an unknown person tosses Stanum’s journal through her window in the middle of the night, Bianca thinks it’s the answer to her problem. Instead her life is in danger as well.
I really love the historical aspects of this series. Lawrence doesn’t romanticize the past; indeed, she presents it as gritty and dirty and incredibly difficult for most people.
Bianca is presented as a strong, intelligent woman and this causes conflict with her husband, who like the men of his era, expects his wife to cook and clean and mend his clothes and warm his bed while Bianca would much prefer to spend her time with her chemical experiments.
The next day, Stanum is dead and his journal, which contained his formula and process, is missing. Now John has become ill with what appears to be the sweating sickness and Bianca is willing to do anything, even meddle with alchemy, to heal him. When an unknown person tosses Stanum’s journal through her window in the middle of the night, Bianca thinks it’s the answer to her problem. Instead her life is in danger as well.
I really love the historical aspects of this series. Lawrence doesn’t romanticize the past; indeed, she presents it as gritty and dirty and incredibly difficult for most people.
Bianca is presented as a strong, intelligent woman and this causes conflict with her husband, who like the men of his era, expects his wife to cook and clean and mend his clothes and warm his bed while Bianca would much prefer to spend her time with her chemical experiments.
February 19, 2016
Originally published at Reading Reality
Actually, the title should have been “Deaths of Several Alchemists”, but that doesn’t have nearly the same ring to it, does it?
And the story really does center around one particular alchemist’s death, even though the ripples from that death take down one more alchemist, and nearly kill chemiste Bianca Goddard as well. Not to mention a very unlikeable landlady, an alchemist’s daughter (not Bianca, obviously), a ne’er do well husband and a poor unfortunate bird.
Unknotting all the threads of this case while keeping herself alive and out of jail are all in a day’s work for Bianca. What makes the case potentially life-altering is the object that causes all the trouble – a formula for the elixir of life. Too many people want it. And too many people need it. But is it a good idea for anyone to have it?
Bianca’s husband John lies in a coma in their “rent”. Bianca believes that if she can manage to interpret the arcane formula and successfully brew the potion, neither of which is at all certain, she can save John’s life from the deadly “sweating sickness”. A disease that died out long before modern medical science could figure out what it was in the first place.
But she’s not the only one in dire need. So as Bianca races through London trying to secure ingredients and equipment, someone is chasing her and the precious formula. Is her mysterious stalker in search of fame and fortune, or is their need just as dire as Bianca’s?
And why are so many people dying of mysterious, or sometimes not so mysterious, causes in the wake of Bianca’s pursuit? Bianca puzzles over the medical conundrums she discovers even as she desperately searches for everything she needs to brew the potion. All the while worried that by the time she is ready to brew the elixir, the person she needs it for, the man she loves, will be beyond healing.
Bianca races against time, and against the dictates of her own conscience. If the elixir truly gives life everlasting, is it right to go against the natural order of things? There is one figure haunting London who has lived with the answer for far too long, and hopes that the elixir, and Bianca, hold the keys to his salvation.
Escape Rating A-: If churches are sometimes referred to as “smells and bells”, then the view of the English Renaissance in the Bianca Goddard series is all the smells, with no bells at all. The series takes place during the English Reformation, and the church bells are silent. But the author makes it clear to the reader that everything stinks, and those who can afford it wear masks or carry pomanders to keep the stink away from their own personal noses.
Bianca and her husband live in the middle of it all, near the Thames in Southwark. John complains all too frequently that he wants to move someplace that stinks a little less, and Bianca responds with the sensible statement that not only is this what they can afford, but that the surrounding stinks mask the stinks created by her brewing of medicinals. Which also stink.
This is, as I said in my review of the first book in this series, The Alchemist's Daughter, life among the groundlings, where life is often nasty, frequently brutish, and generally all too short. This was a time when medicine all too frequently consisted of bloodletting and leeches, and no one knew what caused diseases or what cured them. Bianca’s brewing of medicinal potions and poultices works by observation – she sees what alleviates symptoms, and repeats the process, but the why was beyond her or anyone in the 16th century.
Bianca also applies alchemistry methods to her brewing. Her father is an alchemist, and a spiteful basty-assed nastard into the bargain. But the processes for reduction and sublimation work for medical herbs as well as whatever the next idea is to turn lead into gold.
So when Bianca needs a master to teach her better brewing methods, she is steered to Ferris Stannum, an elderly alchemist with an excellent reputation. She arrives just as he announces that he has managed to create an elixir of life, and has proven its efficacy by administering it to his formerly sick cat, who is now capering around the place in healthy feline glee.
His announcement is followed by a trail of death, as everyone who was in the vicinity of Stannum dies in mysterious circumstances, except for Bianca and the person who chases her all over London. Because someone drops the old alchemist’s formulary into Bianca’s house, and her pursuer will do anything to get it back. Including murder.
This is an absorbing historical mystery from what we would think of as an uncommon point of view. Bianca is an average person with above-average intelligence, getting by the best she can. In this series, we see life as she sees it, not as the nobles loftily prance over it all. Getting inside Bianca’s head is fascinating and often frightening. There is so much that we know that she can’t, and we feel for her every step of the way.
Actually, the title should have been “Deaths of Several Alchemists”, but that doesn’t have nearly the same ring to it, does it?
And the story really does center around one particular alchemist’s death, even though the ripples from that death take down one more alchemist, and nearly kill chemiste Bianca Goddard as well. Not to mention a very unlikeable landlady, an alchemist’s daughter (not Bianca, obviously), a ne’er do well husband and a poor unfortunate bird.
Unknotting all the threads of this case while keeping herself alive and out of jail are all in a day’s work for Bianca. What makes the case potentially life-altering is the object that causes all the trouble – a formula for the elixir of life. Too many people want it. And too many people need it. But is it a good idea for anyone to have it?
Bianca’s husband John lies in a coma in their “rent”. Bianca believes that if she can manage to interpret the arcane formula and successfully brew the potion, neither of which is at all certain, she can save John’s life from the deadly “sweating sickness”. A disease that died out long before modern medical science could figure out what it was in the first place.
But she’s not the only one in dire need. So as Bianca races through London trying to secure ingredients and equipment, someone is chasing her and the precious formula. Is her mysterious stalker in search of fame and fortune, or is their need just as dire as Bianca’s?
And why are so many people dying of mysterious, or sometimes not so mysterious, causes in the wake of Bianca’s pursuit? Bianca puzzles over the medical conundrums she discovers even as she desperately searches for everything she needs to brew the potion. All the while worried that by the time she is ready to brew the elixir, the person she needs it for, the man she loves, will be beyond healing.
Bianca races against time, and against the dictates of her own conscience. If the elixir truly gives life everlasting, is it right to go against the natural order of things? There is one figure haunting London who has lived with the answer for far too long, and hopes that the elixir, and Bianca, hold the keys to his salvation.
Escape Rating A-: If churches are sometimes referred to as “smells and bells”, then the view of the English Renaissance in the Bianca Goddard series is all the smells, with no bells at all. The series takes place during the English Reformation, and the church bells are silent. But the author makes it clear to the reader that everything stinks, and those who can afford it wear masks or carry pomanders to keep the stink away from their own personal noses.
Bianca and her husband live in the middle of it all, near the Thames in Southwark. John complains all too frequently that he wants to move someplace that stinks a little less, and Bianca responds with the sensible statement that not only is this what they can afford, but that the surrounding stinks mask the stinks created by her brewing of medicinals. Which also stink.
This is, as I said in my review of the first book in this series, The Alchemist's Daughter, life among the groundlings, where life is often nasty, frequently brutish, and generally all too short. This was a time when medicine all too frequently consisted of bloodletting and leeches, and no one knew what caused diseases or what cured them. Bianca’s brewing of medicinal potions and poultices works by observation – she sees what alleviates symptoms, and repeats the process, but the why was beyond her or anyone in the 16th century.
Bianca also applies alchemistry methods to her brewing. Her father is an alchemist, and a spiteful basty-assed nastard into the bargain. But the processes for reduction and sublimation work for medical herbs as well as whatever the next idea is to turn lead into gold.
So when Bianca needs a master to teach her better brewing methods, she is steered to Ferris Stannum, an elderly alchemist with an excellent reputation. She arrives just as he announces that he has managed to create an elixir of life, and has proven its efficacy by administering it to his formerly sick cat, who is now capering around the place in healthy feline glee.
His announcement is followed by a trail of death, as everyone who was in the vicinity of Stannum dies in mysterious circumstances, except for Bianca and the person who chases her all over London. Because someone drops the old alchemist’s formulary into Bianca’s house, and her pursuer will do anything to get it back. Including murder.
This is an absorbing historical mystery from what we would think of as an uncommon point of view. Bianca is an average person with above-average intelligence, getting by the best she can. In this series, we see life as she sees it, not as the nobles loftily prance over it all. Getting inside Bianca’s head is fascinating and often frightening. There is so much that we know that she can’t, and we feel for her every step of the way.
June 23, 2020
Life and death in Tudor England
In this second book featuring Bianca Goddard, she is trying to develop medicinal that will help a those with sweating sickness. As she seeks the help of a revered alchemist, she once again finds herself investigating a murder. What I enjoy the most about these books is the world she has created with her words. It is dirty, bawdy, full of unknowns and I can see and hear the bard, William Shakespeare, in every word, charcters, and scenes found on these pages.
In this second book featuring Bianca Goddard, she is trying to develop medicinal that will help a those with sweating sickness. As she seeks the help of a revered alchemist, she once again finds herself investigating a murder. What I enjoy the most about these books is the world she has created with her words. It is dirty, bawdy, full of unknowns and I can see and hear the bard, William Shakespeare, in every word, charcters, and scenes found on these pages.
March 4, 2017
3 1/2 Stars
There are some true brilliant moments in this novel but the habit of being too repetitive grinds my gears and takes a novel that should be a strong four to a three. Plot excellent, overall good writing, characters very well drawn and underlying otherworldly thread, reminiscent of Karen Maitland- all combine to make the novel very enjoyable. A rewrite with a trim of repetitions could vault this into the five star zone. And, with the practice of writing and publishing, I have faith this series will improve, after all, it has great bones on which to build.
There are some true brilliant moments in this novel but the habit of being too repetitive grinds my gears and takes a novel that should be a strong four to a three. Plot excellent, overall good writing, characters very well drawn and underlying otherworldly thread, reminiscent of Karen Maitland- all combine to make the novel very enjoyable. A rewrite with a trim of repetitions could vault this into the five star zone. And, with the practice of writing and publishing, I have faith this series will improve, after all, it has great bones on which to build.
July 21, 2016
I was so excited when this came up as a blog tour because having read the first book in this series, ‘The Alchemist’s Daughter’, I definitely wanted more of Bianca and her story. Fortunately for you, if you just pick up this one, you won’t be totally lost. This is a good novel just on its own; the first book’s adventure is mentioned but you won’t feel lost if you don’t read it. (You should though; it’s really fantastic!)
The pacing in this book is spot on; it isn’t rushed and it’s not too slow either. Some novels go on and on, drawing things out more than needs to be done, however, this isn’t one of those books. It is just the proper length and keeps you wanting for the next one. As, of course, does the main story itself. Murder, adventure, intrigue…it’s all so perfect and enthralling.
All of the characters are lifelike and enjoyable in their own ways. They aren’t one dimensional, they each have individualities that make them special in their own ways. It’s easy to relate to them because of this. Meddybemps is a particular favorite of mine; he’s witty and tends to lighten the mood when things are a bit bleak looking. Bianca is tenacious and headstrong, two qualities that my mother says are very strong in me too, haha. There is a character that everyone can find familiarity with and look forward to seeing in the story.
I can’t recommend it enough!
The pacing in this book is spot on; it isn’t rushed and it’s not too slow either. Some novels go on and on, drawing things out more than needs to be done, however, this isn’t one of those books. It is just the proper length and keeps you wanting for the next one. As, of course, does the main story itself. Murder, adventure, intrigue…it’s all so perfect and enthralling.
All of the characters are lifelike and enjoyable in their own ways. They aren’t one dimensional, they each have individualities that make them special in their own ways. It’s easy to relate to them because of this. Meddybemps is a particular favorite of mine; he’s witty and tends to lighten the mood when things are a bit bleak looking. Bianca is tenacious and headstrong, two qualities that my mother says are very strong in me too, haha. There is a character that everyone can find familiarity with and look forward to seeing in the story.
I can’t recommend it enough!
May 5, 2018
Death of an Alchemist is my initial introduction to author, Mary Lawrence. A novel featuring Bianca as the protagonist, a young woman living in London during Henry VIII's reign. Growing up as the daughter of an Alchemist, she has learned the arts and practices of healing herbs and alchemy.
Mary Lawrence does a wonderful job, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of London; Bianca's world of discovery and danger! A woman of lower class and married to a man named John, an apprentice to a French metallurgist, they live together in Gull Hole near the Thames River. It is August, the midst of a brutal summer, when rumours of the dreaded disease "the sweating sickness" spreads fear throughout the city. Bianca helps the sick using her knowledge to make balms and medicines for her long time friend and street merchant, Meddybemps, who in turn, sells them in addition to his other assortments of various trinkets and things.
But when Bianca's husband, John, falls ill with the sweating sickness, she seeks out and befriends an elderly man, a well known alchemist by the name of Ferris Stannum. A man who has devoted most of his life to developing an elixir of life! It is from his personal journals where Bianca has hopes of finding a cure for the sweating sickness. But all of that changes quickly, when during one of her visits to Stannum's flat, she discovers her friend murdered and his journal missing!
Thus, Bianca embarks into a world of treachery to solve the murder mystery of Ferris Stannum in hopes of finding his journal and saving her husband's life!
As a reader, I was enticed and interested with every turn of the page and I found myself liking this story very much. So why not a 4 star rating? Because at the end of the novel, I found myself wanting. Things left unresolved and I had a bit of trouble accepting the protagonist's personality and behavior given the era; Bianca comes off as bit of a young selfish annoying woman who knows "everything" and challenges her place as a woman of 16th century England at every corner. However, that might be just as the author intended.
That said, I have already picked up the third book, Death at St. Vedast.
Mary Lawrence does a wonderful job, bringing to life the sights, sounds, and smells of London; Bianca's world of discovery and danger! A woman of lower class and married to a man named John, an apprentice to a French metallurgist, they live together in Gull Hole near the Thames River. It is August, the midst of a brutal summer, when rumours of the dreaded disease "the sweating sickness" spreads fear throughout the city. Bianca helps the sick using her knowledge to make balms and medicines for her long time friend and street merchant, Meddybemps, who in turn, sells them in addition to his other assortments of various trinkets and things.
But when Bianca's husband, John, falls ill with the sweating sickness, she seeks out and befriends an elderly man, a well known alchemist by the name of Ferris Stannum. A man who has devoted most of his life to developing an elixir of life! It is from his personal journals where Bianca has hopes of finding a cure for the sweating sickness. But all of that changes quickly, when during one of her visits to Stannum's flat, she discovers her friend murdered and his journal missing!
Thus, Bianca embarks into a world of treachery to solve the murder mystery of Ferris Stannum in hopes of finding his journal and saving her husband's life!
As a reader, I was enticed and interested with every turn of the page and I found myself liking this story very much. So why not a 4 star rating? Because at the end of the novel, I found myself wanting. Things left unresolved and I had a bit of trouble accepting the protagonist's personality and behavior given the era; Bianca comes off as bit of a young selfish annoying woman who knows "everything" and challenges her place as a woman of 16th century England at every corner. However, that might be just as the author intended.
That said, I have already picked up the third book, Death at St. Vedast.
February 4, 2016
I received a free ecopy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Mary Lawrence has been writing for a long time but, until recently, has been unpublished.
Death of an Alchemist
is her second published novel featuring Bianca, a young lady (early 2os) living in the London of Henry VIII, who has picked up knowledge of healing herbs from her mother and some of the art of alchemy from her father, a disgraced alchemist since his falling out with that capricious king. The first book in the series is
The Alchemist's Daughter
, which I am definitely going to have to get.
Death of an Alchemist brings to life all the sights, sounds, and dangers Tudor London. Bianca has married John, an apprentice to a French metallurgist, and together they live in Gull Hole, an area of Southwark where they are in a rent where the air is stifling and full of foul smells from the River Thames. It is August, 1543, and there are rumours of that dreaded disease "the sweating sickness", fear of which usually drove the court out of London for the season. Bianca, while not interested in the alchemy of projecting the philosopher's stone (a substance purported to transmute base metals into gold), uses her knowledge to make balms and medicines which her friend Meddybemps sells from his pushcart along with his talismans and trinkets.
First, we meet the physician who "rarely [strays] from accepted protocol" who is treating a man by blood letting. The victim's neighbour was wrong in thinking it was the sweat, but the man dies anyway, the doctor having been called too late. In an act of kindness, the doctor takes the man's parrot and cat rather than leave them to fend for themselves, and takes them to a friend who is lonely since his daughter left to marry. This friend, Ferris Stannum, an alchemist of some note, is also an acquaintance of Meddybemps, who sends Bianca around to get advice to help with her experiments in sublimation. At Stannum's, Bianca meets the physician, Barnabas Hughes, another alchemist named Plumbum (down on his luck, who clearly would like to get his hands on Stannum's notebook), and Stannum's landlady, Mrs. Tenbrook, to whom Stannum owes several months of back rent. Stannum has brought his cat back from the brink of death using a discovery of his own which he asserts is "the elixir of life", of great value if true. He plans to send his notes to a colleague in Cairo, Madu Salib, for verification.
The very next day, Bianca returns with more questions only to find Stannum dead, Mrs. Tenbrook demanding his goods for payment of back rent, the doctor and the coroner agreeing that Stannum's death was due to natural causes, and Bianca's old nemesis, newly promoted Constable Patch overseeing all. Bianca is less convinced that this was a natural death when she realizes that Stannum's alchemy notebook is missing and his pillow is in another part of the room with two dots of blood on it, a nose breadth apart. She is convinced this is murder, and already has several suspects in mind, including the estranged daughter, who turns up at the scene as well.
When Bianca discovers the alchemy notebook on the floor of her room, she becomes consumed with the task of trying to duplicate the elixir but only to the point of creating a medicine to cure the sweat. When John becomes ill, her efforts double. She even seeks advice from her own estranged father. But someone is stalking Bianca as she tries to gather the tools she needs to duplicate Stannum's discovery, and more bodies turn up in her wake as she travels around London.
This is a compelling read with some backstory from the first novel in the series, and hints of more to come. Lawrence has created some diverse characters and plausible scenarios that kept me turning the pages for more. Although basically historical fiction, there is one character which takes us into the realm of fantasy — that of the Rat Man. The Rat Man is a ferrier,
This character, bound to the river, is also stalking whenever he senses the smell of alchemy, and he, too, would like the notebook in order to release himself from his current destiny. To me, The Rat Man was not essential to the story but added an interesting element. He wasn't overly creepy but perhaps fit in with the superstitions of the age as portrayed in the story.
There's lots of suspense in this novel, suspicious characters, depravity of the times, and surprising twists. There is a glossary at the end for terms of alchemy and archaic words, and if you visit the author's website, you can sign up for her newsletter, Alchemy and Mystery, full of tidbits about alchemy, Tudor England, herbs, and release dates for the next novel in the series. An engaging read.
Death of an Alchemist brings to life all the sights, sounds, and dangers Tudor London. Bianca has married John, an apprentice to a French metallurgist, and together they live in Gull Hole, an area of Southwark where they are in a rent where the air is stifling and full of foul smells from the River Thames. It is August, 1543, and there are rumours of that dreaded disease "the sweating sickness", fear of which usually drove the court out of London for the season. Bianca, while not interested in the alchemy of projecting the philosopher's stone (a substance purported to transmute base metals into gold), uses her knowledge to make balms and medicines which her friend Meddybemps sells from his pushcart along with his talismans and trinkets.
First, we meet the physician who "rarely [strays] from accepted protocol" who is treating a man by blood letting. The victim's neighbour was wrong in thinking it was the sweat, but the man dies anyway, the doctor having been called too late. In an act of kindness, the doctor takes the man's parrot and cat rather than leave them to fend for themselves, and takes them to a friend who is lonely since his daughter left to marry. This friend, Ferris Stannum, an alchemist of some note, is also an acquaintance of Meddybemps, who sends Bianca around to get advice to help with her experiments in sublimation. At Stannum's, Bianca meets the physician, Barnabas Hughes, another alchemist named Plumbum (down on his luck, who clearly would like to get his hands on Stannum's notebook), and Stannum's landlady, Mrs. Tenbrook, to whom Stannum owes several months of back rent. Stannum has brought his cat back from the brink of death using a discovery of his own which he asserts is "the elixir of life", of great value if true. He plans to send his notes to a colleague in Cairo, Madu Salib, for verification.
The very next day, Bianca returns with more questions only to find Stannum dead, Mrs. Tenbrook demanding his goods for payment of back rent, the doctor and the coroner agreeing that Stannum's death was due to natural causes, and Bianca's old nemesis, newly promoted Constable Patch overseeing all. Bianca is less convinced that this was a natural death when she realizes that Stannum's alchemy notebook is missing and his pillow is in another part of the room with two dots of blood on it, a nose breadth apart. She is convinced this is murder, and already has several suspects in mind, including the estranged daughter, who turns up at the scene as well.
When Bianca discovers the alchemy notebook on the floor of her room, she becomes consumed with the task of trying to duplicate the elixir but only to the point of creating a medicine to cure the sweat. When John becomes ill, her efforts double. She even seeks advice from her own estranged father. But someone is stalking Bianca as she tries to gather the tools she needs to duplicate Stannum's discovery, and more bodies turn up in her wake as she travels around London.
This is a compelling read with some backstory from the first novel in the series, and hints of more to come. Lawrence has created some diverse characters and plausible scenarios that kept me turning the pages for more. Although basically historical fiction, there is one character which takes us into the realm of fantasy — that of the Rat Man. The Rat Man is a ferrier,
not mortal. But, he was made from the stuff of mortal men. He was the vessel for thousands of souls; souls that had died of the plague, unwilling, and too young. He embodied their anguished pleas, their forgotten potential. The tears of a thousand mothers and fathers filled his psyche. Born from the plague but not of it, he had watched London for more than four hundred years, though time, for him, was inconsequential. (Loc 1413)
This character, bound to the river, is also stalking whenever he senses the smell of alchemy, and he, too, would like the notebook in order to release himself from his current destiny. To me, The Rat Man was not essential to the story but added an interesting element. He wasn't overly creepy but perhaps fit in with the superstitions of the age as portrayed in the story.
There's lots of suspense in this novel, suspicious characters, depravity of the times, and surprising twists. There is a glossary at the end for terms of alchemy and archaic words, and if you visit the author's website, you can sign up for her newsletter, Alchemy and Mystery, full of tidbits about alchemy, Tudor England, herbs, and release dates for the next novel in the series. An engaging read.
November 15, 2019
Good mystery with great historical detail
February 19, 2016
Death of An Alchemist by Mary Lawrence Death of an Alchemist (A Bianca Goddard Mystery)
2nd Book in Series Mystery – Women Sleuths Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2016) Paperback: 304 pages ISBN-13: 978-1617737121 E-Book ASIN: B00X2EOZRU
Book Links: Amazon Death of an Alchemist (A Bianca Goddard Mystery) / Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Riffle / BookLikes
Review:
Alchemy conjures up for me the fantastic. Stories of dragons and knights or of wizards, ancient and contemporary. I had never given much thought to the idea that an alchemist may have been more than just a plot device in great fiction. The amount of detail about alchemy along with the science and spiritual standing of the time in question was staggering and added weight to the story beautifully.I truly enjoyed reading “Death of an Alchemist” by Mary Lawrence. It is a book that is hard to place in a genre; historical fiction: Tudor England, to a fine degree, making the reader see, hear and mostly smell what it was like to live in that time period. A mystery thriller: with a thrilling mystery, without the egoistic grandstanding of typical mysteries, that never loses sight of the brilliant story underlying all. How about just great fiction. Just as the textures of daily life are omnipresent in this novel, so are the contextual vagaries of the various relationships between the characters. Bianca and John are obviously in love, however the author doesn’t choose to sugar coat it, they are also a married couple with all the hills and valleys that implies. Parent/Child relationships are the crux of this tale. They are dysfunctional and imperfect, yet unbreakable bonds that lead parent and child to do the unexpected. The interactions between characters offered realistic presentation, that further conveyed the typical of the time period. I have not read “The Alchemist's Daughter,” book one of this series. This story stands alone quite nicely and all the information the reader needs to know is beautifully woven into this tale. I will make it a point to be on the lookout for anymore books forthcoming.I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
About The Book:
In the mid sixteenth century, Henry VIII sits on the throne, and Bianca Goddard tends to the sick and suffering in London’s slums, where disease can take a life as quickly as murder. . . For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. Instead he is strangled in his bed and his journal is stolen. As the daughter of an alchemist herself, Bianca is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. As her husband, John, falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum’s journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist’s murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum’s death proves to be only the first in a series of murders–and Bianca’s quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself. . .
About The Author:
Mary Lawrence studied biology and chemistry, graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Cytotechnology. She won the Celtic Heart Golden Claddagh Award for historical fiction, and was a finalist in both the RWA® Golden Heart contest, and the Gotham Young Adult Novel Discovery competition. Along with writing and farming, Lawrence works as a cytologist near Boston. She lives in Maine. The Alchemist’s Daughter is the first book in the Bianca Goddard Mystery series. Visit her at marylawrencebooks.com. Author Links: Webpage / Facebook / GoodReads / Twitter / Pinterest /
Rafflecopter Code: Rafflecopter Giveaway
2nd Book in Series Mystery – Women Sleuths Publisher: Kensington (January 26, 2016) Paperback: 304 pages ISBN-13: 978-1617737121 E-Book ASIN: B00X2EOZRU
Book Links: Amazon Death of an Alchemist (A Bianca Goddard Mystery) / Goodreads / Barnes & Noble / Riffle / BookLikes
Review:
Alchemy conjures up for me the fantastic. Stories of dragons and knights or of wizards, ancient and contemporary. I had never given much thought to the idea that an alchemist may have been more than just a plot device in great fiction. The amount of detail about alchemy along with the science and spiritual standing of the time in question was staggering and added weight to the story beautifully.I truly enjoyed reading “Death of an Alchemist” by Mary Lawrence. It is a book that is hard to place in a genre; historical fiction: Tudor England, to a fine degree, making the reader see, hear and mostly smell what it was like to live in that time period. A mystery thriller: with a thrilling mystery, without the egoistic grandstanding of typical mysteries, that never loses sight of the brilliant story underlying all. How about just great fiction. Just as the textures of daily life are omnipresent in this novel, so are the contextual vagaries of the various relationships between the characters. Bianca and John are obviously in love, however the author doesn’t choose to sugar coat it, they are also a married couple with all the hills and valleys that implies. Parent/Child relationships are the crux of this tale. They are dysfunctional and imperfect, yet unbreakable bonds that lead parent and child to do the unexpected. The interactions between characters offered realistic presentation, that further conveyed the typical of the time period. I have not read “The Alchemist's Daughter,” book one of this series. This story stands alone quite nicely and all the information the reader needs to know is beautifully woven into this tale. I will make it a point to be on the lookout for anymore books forthcoming.I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
About The Book:
In the mid sixteenth century, Henry VIII sits on the throne, and Bianca Goddard tends to the sick and suffering in London’s slums, where disease can take a life as quickly as murder. . . For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. Instead he is strangled in his bed and his journal is stolen. As the daughter of an alchemist herself, Bianca is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. As her husband, John, falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum’s journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist’s murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum’s death proves to be only the first in a series of murders–and Bianca’s quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself. . .
About The Author:
Mary Lawrence studied biology and chemistry, graduating from Indiana University with a degree in Cytotechnology. She won the Celtic Heart Golden Claddagh Award for historical fiction, and was a finalist in both the RWA® Golden Heart contest, and the Gotham Young Adult Novel Discovery competition. Along with writing and farming, Lawrence works as a cytologist near Boston. She lives in Maine. The Alchemist’s Daughter is the first book in the Bianca Goddard Mystery series. Visit her at marylawrencebooks.com. Author Links: Webpage / Facebook / GoodReads / Twitter / Pinterest /
Rafflecopter Code: Rafflecopter Giveaway
January 4, 2016
When I reviewed Mary Lawrence’s first book, The Alchemist’s Daughter, I stated that I looked forward to reading about more of Bianca Goddard’s adventures. Well, Bianca is back, and she does not disappoint. Lawrence’s second novel, Death Of An Alchemist, is even better than her first.
Death seems to follow Bianca. In Death Of An Alchemist, Bianca consults a well known alchemist, Ferris Stannum, seeking advice from him about an alchemical process that she needs in making some of her healing concoctions. She leaves him alive and expects to find him that way when she returns: “The next day, Bianca expected to find Ferris Stannum busy at work. Instead, she found Ferris Stannum busy being dead.” (p. 52) Stannum’s alchemical journal, in which he had recorded his making of the elixir of life, was missing. Bianca desperately needed to locate the journal so that she could concoct an elixir to heal the ailing John. Meanwhile, other deaths followed Stannum’s.
While I enjoyed The Alchemist’s Daughter, Death Of An Alchemist is even better. The writing, which was good in the first book, is even better in the second, as it feels more relaxed and more natural. Furthermore, this mystery seems to involve more action and adventure.
I continue to be amazed by Lawrence’s Tudor era mysteries in that they depict this historical time from the ordinary person’s point of view. The pictures that the books paint from this point of view are not as attractive as those painted by many historical novels set in this time period; nonetheless, as uncomfortable as the pictures might make me feel, I find them to be novel and much more realistic.
At the end of the book, Lawrence includes a much appreciated Author’s Note in which she discusses the sweating sickness that was feared so in Tudor England, hemorrhagic disease, and the historicity of this work of historical fiction. As one who values historical accuracy in historical fiction, I welcome this addition.
At this point I feel as I did after reading and reviewing The Alchemist’s Daughter: I thoroughly enjoyed Bianca’s latest adventure, and I look forward to sharing many more with her in the future. Even though Death Of An Alchemist will not be published until January 26, 2016, I already cannot wait for book three!
(Quotation and citation are from the Advance Uncorrected Proof provided by the author.)
Death seems to follow Bianca. In Death Of An Alchemist, Bianca consults a well known alchemist, Ferris Stannum, seeking advice from him about an alchemical process that she needs in making some of her healing concoctions. She leaves him alive and expects to find him that way when she returns: “The next day, Bianca expected to find Ferris Stannum busy at work. Instead, she found Ferris Stannum busy being dead.” (p. 52) Stannum’s alchemical journal, in which he had recorded his making of the elixir of life, was missing. Bianca desperately needed to locate the journal so that she could concoct an elixir to heal the ailing John. Meanwhile, other deaths followed Stannum’s.
While I enjoyed The Alchemist’s Daughter, Death Of An Alchemist is even better. The writing, which was good in the first book, is even better in the second, as it feels more relaxed and more natural. Furthermore, this mystery seems to involve more action and adventure.
I continue to be amazed by Lawrence’s Tudor era mysteries in that they depict this historical time from the ordinary person’s point of view. The pictures that the books paint from this point of view are not as attractive as those painted by many historical novels set in this time period; nonetheless, as uncomfortable as the pictures might make me feel, I find them to be novel and much more realistic.
At the end of the book, Lawrence includes a much appreciated Author’s Note in which she discusses the sweating sickness that was feared so in Tudor England, hemorrhagic disease, and the historicity of this work of historical fiction. As one who values historical accuracy in historical fiction, I welcome this addition.
At this point I feel as I did after reading and reviewing The Alchemist’s Daughter: I thoroughly enjoyed Bianca’s latest adventure, and I look forward to sharing many more with her in the future. Even though Death Of An Alchemist will not be published until January 26, 2016, I already cannot wait for book three!
(Quotation and citation are from the Advance Uncorrected Proof provided by the author.)
January 31, 2016
Death of an Alchemist transports the reader to London in the summer of 1643, a hot crowded place where presumed criminals are executed in public and their heads displayed for all to see. Most people live in poverty, squalor, and with the ever present threat of pestilence. A man has just died despite his physician’s efforts. The nature of his illness is unknown. It was not plague and not the sweating sickness. But what was it?
A couple of weeks later Ferris Stannum, an elderly alchemist who has just claimed to have discovered how to produce the ultimate goal, the elixir of life, is found dead in his quarters. Bianca Goddard, estranged daughter of another alchemist, is a healer. She makes medicinals and herbal remedies. Seeking to learn more about Stannum’s work, she had met him just the previous day.
Despite her husband John’s protests, Bianca is drawn to investigate Stannum’s death. The coroner ruled it death by natural causes, but Bianca isn’t so sure. Stannum’s journal, which contained his procedure for making the elixir of life, went missing from his room when he died. Others, and not only other alchemists, are anxious to learn its secrets.
Beyond her quest for the truth of Stannum’s death, Bianca has her own reasons for wanting the missing journal. John has taken seriously ill and is not responding to standard ministrations such as being bled by leeches and ingesting herbal concoctions. She hopes the journal will help her make a medicine to save John’s life. But her efforts place her own life at risk.
As the action unfolds, shifting points of view give depth and immediacy to other colorful characters. Some, such as Meddybemps and the Rat Man, familiar to readers of the first novel of this series, The Alchemist’s Daughter, are further developed. Vivid portrayals of contemporary medical beliefs and practices enhance the sense of the times.
Bianca is energetic, engaging and steadfast in her chosen vocation. While marriage to John is a source of joy, it also presents occasions for conflicts over her profession, among them where to live and how best to accommodate the laboratory she needs to make her remedies.
I found this latest work from Mary Lawrence thought-provoking and enjoyable and I look forward to Bianca’s next adventures.
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
February 19, 2016
Alchemy conjures up for me the fantastic. Stories of dragons and knights or of wizards, ancient and contemporary. I had never given much thought to the idea that an alchemist may have been more than just a plot device in great fiction. The amount of detail about alchemy along with the science and spiritual standing of the time in question was staggering and added weight to the story beautifully.
I truly enjoyed reading “Death of an Alchemist” by Mary Lawrence. It is a book that is hard to place in a genre; historical fiction: Tudor England, to a fine degree, making the reader see, hear and mostly smell what it was like to live in that time period. A mystery thriller: with a thrilling mystery, without the egoistic grandstanding of typical mysteries, that never loses sight of the brilliant story underlying all. How about just great fiction.
Just as the textures of daily life are omnipresent in this novel, so are the contextual vagaries of the various relationships between the characters. Bianca and John are obviously in love, however the author doesn’t choose to sugar coat it, they are also a married couple with all the hills and valleys that implies. Parent/Child relationships are the crux of this tale. They are dysfunctional and imperfect, yet unbreakable bonds that lead parent and child to do the unexpected. The interactions between characters offered realistic presentation, that further conveyed the typical of the time period.
I have not read “The Alchemists Daughter,” book one of this series. This story stands alone quite nicely and all the information the reader needs to know is beautifully woven into this tale. I will make it a point to be on the lookout for anymore books forthcoming.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
I truly enjoyed reading “Death of an Alchemist” by Mary Lawrence. It is a book that is hard to place in a genre; historical fiction: Tudor England, to a fine degree, making the reader see, hear and mostly smell what it was like to live in that time period. A mystery thriller: with a thrilling mystery, without the egoistic grandstanding of typical mysteries, that never loses sight of the brilliant story underlying all. How about just great fiction.
Just as the textures of daily life are omnipresent in this novel, so are the contextual vagaries of the various relationships between the characters. Bianca and John are obviously in love, however the author doesn’t choose to sugar coat it, they are also a married couple with all the hills and valleys that implies. Parent/Child relationships are the crux of this tale. They are dysfunctional and imperfect, yet unbreakable bonds that lead parent and child to do the unexpected. The interactions between characters offered realistic presentation, that further conveyed the typical of the time period.
I have not read “The Alchemists Daughter,” book one of this series. This story stands alone quite nicely and all the information the reader needs to know is beautifully woven into this tale. I will make it a point to be on the lookout for anymore books forthcoming.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review
December 22, 2015
Bianca Goddard is back and is once again embroiled in discovering the cause of a friend’s death. Her new acquaintance, an alchemist named Ferris, has just announced his discovery of the Elixir of Life. But when he is found dead in his bed that same night, Bianca can’t help but be suspicious. When the journal containing Ferris’s formula disappears, Bianca is sure her mentor’s death is somehow attributed to his discovery. As Bianca navigates the sweltering streets of London, she encounters physicians, lenders, alchemists, and other shady characters who might benefit from Ferris’s knowledge.
Like the first book in the series, Lawrence’s greatest success is in the atmosphere she creates. The oppressive heat, stench, and pestilence of London and the diseases that accompany such conditions practically saturate the pages. Bianca is as headstrong as ever, and there was never a statement more true about her: “Her inquisitiveness was often a detriment to self-preservation.” Despite her stubbornness, she has softened a bit since her marriage to John. Finding Ferris’s journal may be the only means of saving her husband from a mysterious illness, and her determination is admirable. This is an engaging mystery set against the backdrop of Tudor England and demonstrates 16th century life on the margins of a squalid London.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
Like the first book in the series, Lawrence’s greatest success is in the atmosphere she creates. The oppressive heat, stench, and pestilence of London and the diseases that accompany such conditions practically saturate the pages. Bianca is as headstrong as ever, and there was never a statement more true about her: “Her inquisitiveness was often a detriment to self-preservation.” Despite her stubbornness, she has softened a bit since her marriage to John. Finding Ferris’s journal may be the only means of saving her husband from a mysterious illness, and her determination is admirable. This is an engaging mystery set against the backdrop of Tudor England and demonstrates 16th century life on the margins of a squalid London.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.
December 14, 2015
The Elixir of Immortality...
This was a solid follow-up to Lawrence's first book, The Alchemist's Daughter. She really transports you back to London in the 1600's with the old language and the descriptive setting which I enjoy. I also really like the characters especially Bianca and Meddybemps.
I would have liked for Bianca to have practiced more alchemy in this book though and to learn more in-depth about the ingredients and methods etc. she uses for her physickes and medicinals. I felt like that was kind of glossed over so hopefully in the next book we'll see more of Bianca doing her thing.
Also, there was a scene on a skiff where Bianca is holding a little girl because the father ran off to catch his son. There were some questions about the father's intentions and Bianca was going to look into it but nothing more was said so I think that's a loose end that needs to be tied up.
Overall though, it was a nice historical mystery. If you enjoy alchemy and old London, it's a series worth checking out. I know I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book.
*I received this ARC from Netgalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
This was a solid follow-up to Lawrence's first book, The Alchemist's Daughter. She really transports you back to London in the 1600's with the old language and the descriptive setting which I enjoy. I also really like the characters especially Bianca and Meddybemps.
I would have liked for Bianca to have practiced more alchemy in this book though and to learn more in-depth about the ingredients and methods etc. she uses for her physickes and medicinals. I felt like that was kind of glossed over so hopefully in the next book we'll see more of Bianca doing her thing.
Also, there was a scene on a skiff where Bianca is holding a little girl because the father ran off to catch his son. There were some questions about the father's intentions and Bianca was going to look into it but nothing more was said so I think that's a loose end that needs to be tied up.
Overall though, it was a nice historical mystery. If you enjoy alchemy and old London, it's a series worth checking out. I know I'll be keeping an eye out for the next book.
*I received this ARC from Netgalley & Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
January 27, 2016
A puzzling Tudor mystery.
A brilliant depiction of life and death in Henry's London.
Ferris Stannum has discovered the elixir of life. A secret many would kill for. And perhaps this is happening because alchemists are dying. A mysterious illness is affecting others and at the heart is Bianca Goddard who is searching for a way to distill her herbals using alchemists methods, in order to make her concoctions stronger and possibly more effective.
In Bianca's search she is privy to suspect happenings in the death of several denizens of places near low lying areas around the dank and dampness of the Thames River.
But all is conjecture until the murderer is exposed.
The atmosphere is heightened by the dark look at the underside of areas of London during the medieval period, of the squalor and fetidness of certain parts, of the danger of the sweating disease.
I love the introduction to where Ferris lives, 'in the bowels of a hovel off Ivy Lane.' Gritty!
Lawrence has presented an exacting and exciting murder mystery that reveals how far some may be prepared to go for their loved ones.
A NetGalley ARC
A brilliant depiction of life and death in Henry's London.
Ferris Stannum has discovered the elixir of life. A secret many would kill for. And perhaps this is happening because alchemists are dying. A mysterious illness is affecting others and at the heart is Bianca Goddard who is searching for a way to distill her herbals using alchemists methods, in order to make her concoctions stronger and possibly more effective.
In Bianca's search she is privy to suspect happenings in the death of several denizens of places near low lying areas around the dank and dampness of the Thames River.
But all is conjecture until the murderer is exposed.
The atmosphere is heightened by the dark look at the underside of areas of London during the medieval period, of the squalor and fetidness of certain parts, of the danger of the sweating disease.
I love the introduction to where Ferris lives, 'in the bowels of a hovel off Ivy Lane.' Gritty!
Lawrence has presented an exacting and exciting murder mystery that reveals how far some may be prepared to go for their loved ones.
A NetGalley ARC
December 25, 2015
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley/publisher.
The second in a series about a young woman who scrapes out a living making medicines by combining her mother's skill as an herbalist and her father's alchemy. She also has the unfortunate habit of finding dead bodies, starting with a friend in the first book. It is referred to a lot in this one, but so far as I can tell it doesn't hamper your reading this book.
With sweating sickness possibly going around, Bianca is looking for a cure and upon recommendation from a friend goes to see an old alchemist about perfecting her technique. The man is found dead the next day and she grows suspicious. Unsavory characters abound and when the alchemist's journal is missing and dead bodies pile up Bianca is faced with a dilemma nurse her husband or solve the mystery.
Quite good historical mystery. Will be returning to the series after circling back to read the first one.
The second in a series about a young woman who scrapes out a living making medicines by combining her mother's skill as an herbalist and her father's alchemy. She also has the unfortunate habit of finding dead bodies, starting with a friend in the first book. It is referred to a lot in this one, but so far as I can tell it doesn't hamper your reading this book.
With sweating sickness possibly going around, Bianca is looking for a cure and upon recommendation from a friend goes to see an old alchemist about perfecting her technique. The man is found dead the next day and she grows suspicious. Unsavory characters abound and when the alchemist's journal is missing and dead bodies pile up Bianca is faced with a dilemma nurse her husband or solve the mystery.
Quite good historical mystery. Will be returning to the series after circling back to read the first one.
October 1, 2016
A Young Medieval Prodigy?
What an interesting book to read, The writer leads us through fast paced merry chase along a detailed story-line that appears to be a sort of cross between Ripper Street and brother cadfael, With a new, yet not understanding, husband to deal with, A young girl is trying to survive in a mans world doing a mans job, yet weilding a womans skill of doing 5 things at once, Moving throughout a medieval London, Shes trying to use new meditionals to save lives close to her, bring investigation and deduction in to solve murders around her, whilst trying to stay away from others that want to do harm, all in a 15th century world that is only beginning to understand the things she dreams of achieving. Well explained and detailed views and insights into the little known world of mediavial man, yet written in such a way as to feel you were standing in the crowd watching her go by.. Outstanding Read.
Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
What an interesting book to read, The writer leads us through fast paced merry chase along a detailed story-line that appears to be a sort of cross between Ripper Street and brother cadfael, With a new, yet not understanding, husband to deal with, A young girl is trying to survive in a mans world doing a mans job, yet weilding a womans skill of doing 5 things at once, Moving throughout a medieval London, Shes trying to use new meditionals to save lives close to her, bring investigation and deduction in to solve murders around her, whilst trying to stay away from others that want to do harm, all in a 15th century world that is only beginning to understand the things she dreams of achieving. Well explained and detailed views and insights into the little known world of mediavial man, yet written in such a way as to feel you were standing in the crowd watching her go by.. Outstanding Read.
Review copy provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2016
I enjoyed this second installment in this series. I like how the author includes so much history in her stories as well as the mystery which keeps you guessing. It was nice to read more about Bianca and see what she is up to now. In this book Bianca's husband John is very ill and she is trying to find a way to make him better while at the same time trying to solve the murder of another alchemist. While trying to find out who the murderer is Bianca finds herself at risk of being harmed. I thought the author did a good job of describing scenes and the background. She has a way with words that makes you feel as if you are a part of the story. You can tell the author did her research as she is spot on with the Tudor theme of the book. This is the second book in the series but it can be read as a stand alone. I myself am looking forward to the next book in the series to see what sort of trouble Bianca finds next.
February 7, 2016
Bianca is the daughter of an alchemist who is becoming proficient in making healing medicants and salves. In order to further her knowledge, she seeks the assistance of Ferris Stannum, another alchemist. He agrees to help her, but when she arrives at his residence the following day, her new mentor has been found dead. When his death is soon followed by another, and then another, the deaths keep adding up. Who, or what, is causing all these deaths? Is it a new plague? Sweating sickness? Both are prevalent in Tudor society England. Bianca does her best to find the cause of all the deaths.
I found this book very good. Characters were well developed. The plot was very interesting and the surprises along the way were quite good. I would highly recommend this book to those who like Tudor era mysteries. I will be looking for more by this author.
I found this book very good. Characters were well developed. The plot was very interesting and the surprises along the way were quite good. I would highly recommend this book to those who like Tudor era mysteries. I will be looking for more by this author.
October 18, 2015
Being the daughter of an alchemist should come with a warning label! Prepare to have a missing parent as all focus will be directed to the craft and no time for you. Bianca Goddard returns in book two of Mary Lawrence's mystery series with Death of an Alchemist. A kindred spirit is found when Bianca ventures for advice from another alchemist to assist her with a process she is finding problematic in preparing a new physick, who also has a daughter. And as stands to reason, a suspected murder will follow although the coroner declares "natural causes", Bianca is not so sure although it is "suggested" she leave things be Bianca is determined to find the truth . Bianca's own personal morals will be put to the test.
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February 13, 2016Mary Lawrence is great at with she does, with the historical accuracy and a story well written you will feel like you have been swept away to 1643 London. Bianca is a strong character that can hold her own and she knows how to get things done. So when she finds out that Ferris has been killed and his journal is missing she needs to find out why. And on all nights when Ferris had discovered the Elixir of Life. She knows that they are somehow connected and will do all that she must to find out who the killer is. So captivating is the story that once you start it you wont be able to put it down.
April 13, 2016
4.5 is closer to the mark. A fascinating look at alchemy and 16th century London. A great mystery with deep philosophical questions which will leave the reader torn (in such a good way!) Thoroughly enjoyable characters, plot and descriptions. I found the pacing a little slow; the majority of the book is atmosphere it seems to me until an exhausting final 20%....but to be fair that may have been because I had to put this down to read another book in the middle. I am absolutely getting book 1 and will try 3.
January 12, 2016
Set in the time of Henry VIII.
An alchemist discovers how to make the Elixir of Life, but before he can send the journal in which he wrote the formula to a collegue, he is killed and the journal stolen.
Bianca Goddard tends to the sick in the slums of London and when her husband falls dangerously hill she tries desperately to find the journal, but first she has to find the murderer of the man and subsequent others.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Kensington Publishing via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
An alchemist discovers how to make the Elixir of Life, but before he can send the journal in which he wrote the formula to a collegue, he is killed and the journal stolen.
Bianca Goddard tends to the sick in the slums of London and when her husband falls dangerously hill she tries desperately to find the journal, but first she has to find the murderer of the man and subsequent others.
I was given a digital copy of this book by the publisher Kensington Publishing via Netgalley in return for an honest unbiased review.
January 24, 2016
Lovely atmosphere, language, and ambiance. Bianca is a strong character (with some serious gumption), and the dialogue is consistent and believable throughout. She made some surprising decisions, and I'd like to see what she will do in the next book. This is a new author for me, and I'm happy I found Mary Lawrence. A great story that will leave you thinking about a few issues long after the final page.
January 24, 2016
A suspenseful follow up to "The Alchemist's Daughter." I highly recommend this book, not only to mystery enthusiasts, but to historical fiction readers. Bianca with her intelligence and heart is a notch above the usual historical fiction heroine, and the setting of Tudor London is superb -- even in its historical squalor. Mary Lawrence uses language that fits the time, entertains, and makes me pause to enjoy its elegance. I look forward to book 3 of the Bianca Goddard mystery series.
February 25, 2016
Mary Lawerence's book, Death of an Alchemist, is well written story that had me falling in love with the characters with each page I turned. Taking me to a world I where I have no knowledge I was instantly caught up in the history of emerging science and the heroine Bianca who resembles our modern day CSI. Hard to put down and left me wanting more. Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgally for giving me the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest reveiew.
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