The Alchemist's Daughter

Okay confession- I have reached a point in my reading life that I do not have a high tolerance for anything I am unable to lose myself in, especially when fiction drags. I could not finish this novel.
This story takes place in the time of King Henry VIII, when women of the era (who had precious few rights from the start) had new fears creep in with the fog. Fears that wives could now be traded in for a newer model without the stigma delivered by the Catholic Church. The King had just decided HE was Pope. Not to even get started on the Black Death devastating Europe a few short years before. What a great setting! Should allow any tale a slip-n-slide to a suspenseful and gripping mystery, one you might even power through an a afternoon or show more two. Instead you become hyper-aware of plot device. Everything feels kind of chunky and bumpy and just plain unpolished. A key supporting character is named Meddybemps...a name I found myself unable to read without rereading three times at every mention. Maybe this just is not my cuppa, I tried for days to push myself through this story however i reached chapter 20 (out of 43) and realized I am watching law and order to avoid this book. Not exactly a healthy read for me and for those reasons I am out. This is one I will leave on the table, unfinished so that I might move on to a better read. Very disappointed, with such a setting I have never found a bad narrative until now. I would try to read again only if the structure of writing were to be to be seriously reworked, only because the setting and premise should make it effortless to spin a page turner. Needs work~ 2/5 stars show less

See the complete review posted on Book Frivolity. Check out other Fantasy and Historical Fiction ruminations there as well! POV's: Multiple
Narrative: Third Person, Omniscient, Subjective

I must admit, I am a total sucker for historical mysteries, especially ones that are set in the poorer classes of Britain before the 20th century. There is always an added sense of character to those who have to struggle to survive, an extra sense of curiosity and cunning. Especially when the protagonist, Bianca, is an independent female, making her own way with her cleverness and determination. I am also a total sucker for historical stories of healers, herbalists and chemists, so The Alchemist's Daughter scores pretty high on my 'pleasure reading' show more list!

This is a really fun murder mystery with a dash of added romance (with the funniest sex scene I think I've ever read!) and a teeny sprinkling of the supernatural. I wouldn't say it's the most factually in-depth Historical Fiction set during the Tudor era, but then it didn't really need to be as it is essentially character driven. It does use it's time in place well to illuminate the social status of the characters, the struggles they'd need to endure to keep from starving, and how those struggles essentially mold them into who they are.

I did like that the author admitted that some of the lingo and expressions were her imaginings of the time period, used to try and bolster the fictional aspect. I think it shows her respect for the history, and her own integrity. I give kudos for that!

The majority characters are quite humorously portrayed, some almost caricatures, but essentially it's the kind hearted rogues vs. the very disagreeable nobles and their lackies, with a healthy dose of scorn for the overly zealous, yet incompetent authorities.

Sometimes the side characters stole the show right out from Bianca, with their larger than life personalities. It was great to be able to laugh out loud, when the surrounds and circumstance are actually pretty dire. Plus the contrasts between Bianca's very serious demeanour and say, Meddybumps' rather comical one show that Lawrence can contrive a cast of very diverse characters, even in a fairly small volume.

The mystery aspect held really well. Although parts were obvious quite early, the details of why and how were all held tight, and metered out nicely right up to the very end. A couple of twists and turns kept it tight and interesting.

So, why only 3.5? I am a bit of a hard case when it comes to keeping control of characters in omni when there are multiple subjective POV's in the one scene.
It's just really uncomfortable to be whiplashed from one character to the next in quick succession, which does happen in certain sections of the book. It doesn't afflict the whole book, there just needs to be some thought police during the sections when the action picks up. Nearing the end there is some pretty rapid head jumping, which I find a bit of a cardinal sin.

Other than that, this is a fast paced and enjoyable read, ranging from serious issues to comic relief all in one great little mystery! Perfect for rainy Autumn afternoons and copious amounts of hot cinnamon tea!



I will be picking up more Bianca Goddard books in the future!

Harcopy Worthy? I'd like to read the next in the series just to check, but I think so! show less

London in the 1540s and Henry VIII is on the throne. The King has just dispatched his fifth wife and is courting his sixth. In the slums of Southwark people are scraping a living in the only ways they can. A merchant ship, The Cristofur, tries to dock but when the customs officials find dead bodies in the hold and the ship overrun with rats they place it in quarantine. Meanwhile a former muckraker Jolyn visits her friend Bianca in order to find relief from her pains. Bianca makes physics and rat poison so when Jolyn dies she becomes the prime suspect for murder. How is the death of Jolyn related to the Christofur, to the plague of rats currently growing in London and to the mysterious occupants of a former bawdy house?

The rats are a show more central motif in this story and the descriptions are very realistic and unpleasant. Beyond that though there is nothing to distinguish this book from the glut of mediocre historical mysteries. Bianca Goddard is a quirky enough protagonist and the characters are quite well described but the story didn't really engage. I was left asking to many questions about the holes in the plot. Having said that Lawrence has researched well and her sense of time and place is pretty good. show less

While the choice of character and situation is intriguing, the execution of the plot was a sorry excuse for a mystery novel. Too much repetitive detail, inexpert introduction of supporting characters, the plodding progression of the story with such slow pacing, completely lost my interest. The suspense fizzled as each scenario developed with little to engage reader interest. I would recommend CS Harris' Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries as an excellent example of the historical mystery genre.

The Alchemist’s Daughter by Mary Lawrence is the first book in the Bianca Goddard Mysteries. Jolyn makes a living by scavenging items and selling them. One day she found a lovely ring and Jolyn thinks it brings her good luck. She refuses to sell the ring and wears it around her neck on a ribbon. Jolyn got lucky one day when Mrs. Jane Beldam offered her a job at Barke House as an errand girl. Jolyn does not get pay but she gets a place to live and food to eat. Now Jolyn has a man friend (probably her lover) who buys her nice gifts (gloves, a cloak). Jolyn’s best friend is Bianca Goddard. Bianca is an herbalist. Bianca’s mother used herbs for healing and her father was an alchemists. Bianca combined the two to help people. Bianca show more has her own place which frequently smells from the various concoctions she is brewing. Jolyn stops by for something for her upset stomach. It has been bothering her for a few days. Jolyn thinks it is the rich foods she has been eating thanks to her gentleman friend. Bianca brews her up something to help settle her stomach, but then Jolyn starts having convulsions. Bianca tries to save Jolyn, but Jolyn dies in Bianca’s arms.

Bianca fetches her friend (and the man that wants to marry her) John. John has her call the local constable (who then calls the coroner). The coroner says Jolyn was poisoned. Of course, they start blaming poor Bianca (just because of her herbs and concoctions). Constable Patch believes that since Bianca was with Jolyn when she died, then Bianca must have killed her (can you imagine all the innocent people in jail). Bianca knows she will have to find out who hurt her friend to save herself from the gallows. The first thing Bianca notices and starts investigating is the missing ring. Jolyn always wore the ring on a string around her neck and it is missing. Where is the ring?

Bianca will have to investigate while trying to avoid Constable Patch (he keeps trying to put her in jail). Bianca will look into Jolyn’s gentleman friend, Robert Wynders as well as Pandy. Pandy lived in Barke House. Pandy was very jealous of Jolyn for her looks and for Mr. Wynders. Mrs. Beldam also seems to be up to something. Who wanted Jolyn dead and why? I give The Alchemist’s Daughter 3 out of 5 stars. The idea is interesting, but the book just seemed to drag on forever. Since the novel is set during the time of Henry VIII, some of the words and phrases will be different than what we use now. The mystery was easy to solve but it is complex with a lot of different components. I hope the next book in the series will be better (they usually do get better as the series progresses).

I received a complimentary copy of The Alchemist’s Daughter from NetGalley and Kensington Books in exchange for an honest review. The review and opinions expressed are strictly my own. show less

The Alchemist's Daughter by Mary Lawrence
Wanted to read this book to find out exactly what her career is all about. Starts out near the city of London 1549's and Bianca is a person who mixes herbs and spices and creates concuctions to help cure people and to rid others of pests-rats. Loved hearing how and why she mixed things, She learned a lot from her parents when it came to the mixing.
Her best friend shows up one day as she's mixing things and is complaining about pains in her stomach. Their friend John is also there-he's a journeyman to become a silversmith. Jocylyn ends up dying but not before she tells of her suitor.
At the service they are able to figoue out who she was referring to. Probleem is she died at Bianca's and the cops show more think she is to blame. She avoids being arrested but is tailing another as the clues pile up pointing in the direction of a high power person.
She also is running low on time to figure out what posions killed her friend-she tries some on herself and lucky John and Meddlyt is there to help her. Devastation as she is dragged to jail and with her friends they are able to continue her clues and find new leads.
Rats feasting on piles of bodies sent shivers through me but I really enjoyed the story, plot and characters. Seems this is a series of Bianca's days but this read as a stand alone book. Look forward to reading more.
I received this book from The Kennsington Books in exchange for my honest review show less

3.5 stars...I thought this was a really good start for her first book. I enjoyed the actual story and like that it was set in the 1500s-Tudor era. However, there were way too many repeated phrases throughout the book and some of those could have been left out. I think as Lawrence grows as a writer though, she will improve and be a force to reckon with. Well done! Looking forward to the next book....