I was pleasantly surprised after reading Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold: - an historical psychological mystery thriller by Chris A definite 5 stars!
I was pleasantly surprised after reading Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold: - an historical psychological mystery thriller by Chris James. After an excellent debut novel Alchemy: A Story of Perfect Murder I didn't think any sequel could top that, but it definitely did. This was an excellent read, well-written and a brilliant plot with interesting characters. I love historical fiction and thriller/crime/mysteries it's my most-read genre and it also had a hint of the supernatural thrown in, so this fell right into my favorite categories. Here is the synopsis:
London ~ 1915
A sensational murder trial begins at the Old Bailey, the accused having apparently been hung for similar shocking murders, in 1895.
How had Jacob Silver escaped the hangman? Where was he, these last 20 years?
Lizzie Weston, his only surviving model, was convinced he was innocent the first time. But after the evidence against him unfolds, she’s convinced he’s guilty this time.
Jacob Silver, having unravelled an ancient recipe in the old tome: Alchemy, is convinced he is immortal, and that’s how he survived the hanging. Improving his skills over the last 20 years, he now claims he can raise the dead.
The prosecution allege he murdered five more women for their souls ~ as Alchemy, the manual of murder prescribes.
But is anything as it seems?
Jacob Silver was tried as a serial killer and was sentenced to death by hanging, but now he is missing from his grave. So Lizzie Weston sets out to affirm his immortality and defend his innocence. She wonders if the elixir did its job and made her immortal as well. I just loved her character. She was so vigorous in her beliefs, strong-willed and intelligent and clearly smitten with Jacob even though her father advises her to leave well-enough alone.
Then we had the courtroom drama again, which was highly entertaining and believable, as well as the forever cackling, decapitated heads in jars. I literally was laughing out loud, this was so original! I love gory and gruesome in my thrillers, the more the better.
I think it is probably advisable to read the debut novel before embarking on this one, as it will make a lot more sense and you will be able to get a background on the characters and prior events.
Ultimately, this was a fantastic, enthralling read and I enjoyed it very much. Chris James left this on a brilliant cliffhanger and I absolutely cannot wait for the next book. These books deserve a lot more attention in my opinion and are very cleverly written. I would like to thank Maxine at Booklover Catlady Publicity and VIP Reviewers for the privilege of reading this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. ...more
Alchemy - The Story of Perfect Murder by Chris James
This is Chris James’ fabulous debut novel which is part one of a duology, which was released in 2/Alchemy - The Story of Perfect Murder by Chris James
This is Chris James’ fabulous debut novel which is part one of a duology, which was released in 2/15. The second book is called Alchemy - Turning Silver to Gold, released 12/15.
Here is the synopsis: How far would YOU go to bring back a lost love?
"Alchemy" is an historical psychological tale of mystery, murder and suspense and reveals an extraordinary decade in the life of a talented, sweet young and innocent genius, as he transforms into a monster.
In Victorian London, England, close to the end of the 19th century, a young artist unravels what he believes to be the formula for immortality and raising the dead, prescribed in an ancient tome: Alchemy.
Just when he cracks the secret code for the final components of his elixir, his mistress and inspiration, dies. His life is devastated, his mind destroyed by drugs. He knows he has the power to revive her. But obtaining the last ingredients means resorting to murder, taking innocent lives.
He just has to decide whose.
His only surviving model, infatuated with this painter of her portrait, attends the trial of the century, where she finally learns someone got away with murder.
This novel is different and fresh from anything I’ve ever read before in this genre with a very gothic feel to it set in the Victorian era. There is a lot of courtroom drama with his trial really keeping my interest, as well as all the horror elements. I thought it was cool that there were severed heads in jars in the courtroom being presented as evidence, this made me laugh out loud. I really thought the courtroom scenes were realistic, aside of course from the talking, severed heads in jars, which was hilarious.
I really enjoyed reading this. It kept my attention throughout, even though it was confusing at times with all the “girls” he loved that he was on trial for murdering that he swears he was not guilty of, also with the flashbacks the way it kept switching scenes. The protagonist was a very interesting, genius/psychopath called Jacob Silver, apothecary turned alchemist, who was taught by an obscure alchemist professor searching for the secret to immortality. It was a very interesting and engrossing read with a lot of very unexpected twists and turns (nothing was really expected with this novel). Overall, it was a fantastic story that was very well-written that definitely made me want to read the second book though, which I most definitely did.
I would like to thank Maxine at Booklover Catlady Publicity with VIP Reviewers for the digital copy to read and review and I apologize for the late entry.
This book is BEYOND brilliant!!!. Chris Carter is my new favorite crime-thriller author, his writing is excellent. He deserves way more recognition, aThis book is BEYOND brilliant!!!. Chris Carter is my new favorite crime-thriller author, his writing is excellent. He deserves way more recognition, as in my opinion this book is Best Crime Fiction novel of 2015 material. Time for a re -read, I just scored it at the friends of the library book sale for 50 cents in hardcover, whoo hoo....more
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