Alchemy and death!
The Alchemist of Lost Souls (A Bianca Goddard Mystery #4)
by Mary Lawrence
I must admit to finding this Bianca Goddard novel puzzling even though I've read previous books.
It's 1544. Bianca, a disgraced alchemist's daughter who combines some aspects of alchemy with her herbal remedies has been leading a quieter life in a less salubrious part of Tudor London. Events however are escalating for Bianca. She is pregnant. John had failed to practice his archery which means he's been conscripted into the army as a pikesman. He is being sent to the Scottish border. Everyone knows that these foot troops suffer the worst losses in battle.
Albern Goddard discovered a powerful new element to do with fire and light that has been stolen from him. Albern wants Bianca to discover the thief. Unfortunately, the substance has attracted unwonted interest. This seems to have a direct correlation to the bodies piling up. Reportedly some of those bodies have an eerie green vapor released as they die. And now Bianca's nemesis, Constable Patch, has come a calling, demanding Bianca assists him with his enquirers. Bianca is so deeply mired in this controversy it's in her best interests to acquiesce.
Add to that the mysterious wraith that haunts the shadows of the Thames, it's interest focused on Bianca, but why fore?
An interesting and twisty Tudor murder mystery, unfolding slowly, amidst a dank and depressing description of the times and the areas that the tale moves through.
The plight of the poor is vividly sketched leaving the reader a colorful dance throughout the alleys, lanes and tracks throughout the town. Lost souls indeed!
A Kensington ARC via NetGalley
by Mary Lawrence
I must admit to finding this Bianca Goddard novel puzzling even though I've read previous books.
It's 1544. Bianca, a disgraced alchemist's daughter who combines some aspects of alchemy with her herbal remedies has been leading a quieter life in a less salubrious part of Tudor London. Events however are escalating for Bianca. She is pregnant. John had failed to practice his archery which means he's been conscripted into the army as a pikesman. He is being sent to the Scottish border. Everyone knows that these foot troops suffer the worst losses in battle.
Albern Goddard discovered a powerful new element to do with fire and light that has been stolen from him. Albern wants Bianca to discover the thief. Unfortunately, the substance has attracted unwonted interest. This seems to have a direct correlation to the bodies piling up. Reportedly some of those bodies have an eerie green vapor released as they die. And now Bianca's nemesis, Constable Patch, has come a calling, demanding Bianca assists him with his enquirers. Bianca is so deeply mired in this controversy it's in her best interests to acquiesce.
Add to that the mysterious wraith that haunts the shadows of the Thames, it's interest focused on Bianca, but why fore?
An interesting and twisty Tudor murder mystery, unfolding slowly, amidst a dank and depressing description of the times and the areas that the tale moves through.
The plight of the poor is vividly sketched leaving the reader a colorful dance throughout the alleys, lanes and tracks throughout the town. Lost souls indeed!
A Kensington ARC via NetGalley
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