The Alchemist's Secret by Scott Mariani - Revision history

Sue at 15:48, 26 September 2020

2020-09-26T15:48:26Z

Sue at 08:39, 15 March 2018

2018-03-15T08:39:53Z

Sue at 16:45, 17 November 2014

2014-11-17T16:45:58Z

Keith at 08:06, 7 October 2010

2010-10-07T08:06:25Z

Keith at 14:04, 14 March 2010

2010-03-14T14:04:53Z

Keith: 1 revision

2009-10-24T17:17:23Z

1 revision

Sue at 13:30, 9 July 2008

2008-07-09T13:30:21Z

New review

{{infoboxsort
|title=The Alchemist's Secret
|author=Scott Mariani
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=Following in the footsteps of ''The da Vinci Code'' we've a book that will make a light holiday read if corrupt churchmen, a high body count and some torture with a few riddles to solve is your thing.
|rating=3
|buy=Maybe
|borrow=Yes
|format=Paperback
|pages=486
|publisher= Avon
|date=March 2008
|isbn=978-1847560797
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1847560792</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1847560792</amazonus>
|sort=Alchemist's Secret, The
}}

Ben Hope was a member of the SAS but now he spends his time rescuing children who have been kidnapped. When he's asked to find a manuscript which could provide a cure for a sick child he hesitates but decides that it's the right thing to do. The manuscript was written by Fulcanelli, the renowned alchemist, almost a hundred years ago and it's rumoured that it contains the formula for the elixir of life. What seems like a far-fetched quest becomes dangerous when Hope discovers that there are others in search of the manuscript.

Dan Brown has a lot to answer for. Since the commercial success of ''The Da Vinci Code'' there's been a rash of books on a similar theme. A good and honest man accompanied by a presentable female – this time Dr Roberta Ryder who believes that there is something in alchemy – risk life, limb and reputation to solve a series of clues in the hope of finding something priceless. There's the obligatory senior Catholic churchman who doesn't feel that murder is unreasonable if it gets him what he wants, a harking back to some of the baddies of World War II and a trip through some wonderful scenery which will no doubt look great if there's a film deal. This time it's Paris and then the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc.

Hope has, of course, a dark and guilty secret in his past. Naturally it haunts him and drives him to do what he does in the hope of redeeming himself in his own mind. He's mistrustful, which is perhaps wise when he kills readily, and finds it difficult to get close to women – which might well be a blessing for the women concerned given that his occupation is riskier than most. Roberta Ryder is A Plucky Woman if occasionally a little careless about her own safety. Other characters are generally two-dimensional, but that's not a major problem as most of them are there to die.

The plot is not bad if you don't, as I did, work out exactly what the ending would be before you're 5% of the way through the book. There's a very high body count – nothing ''too'' gory but they do die and there's even a bit of torture thrown in for light relief. Coincidences happen a little too regularly and sometimes the way that the plot works out just defies belief.

I know. I'm being very picky. This book is no worse and certainly no better than hundreds of other books which will fly off airport book shop shelves this summer and if you want a light and entertaining read for the beach it might be just the book for you.

I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.

For other books on a similar theme you might like to look at [[The 13th Apostle by Richard and Rachael Heller]], [[The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott]] and [[Extraordinary People by Peter May]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1847560792}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6084648}}

{{commenthead}}

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 |borrow=Yes
 |paperback=1847560792
-|ebook=6850842
+|ebook=B002UZ5JJK
 |pages=486
 |publisher= Avon

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 Ben Hope was a member of the SAS but now he spends his time rescuing children who have been kidnapped.   When he's asked to find a manuscript which could provide a cure for a sick child he hesitates but decides that it's the right thing to do.  The manuscript was written by Fulcanelli, the renowned alchemist, almost a hundred years ago and it's rumoured that it contains the formula for the elixir of life.  What seems like a far-fetched quest becomes dangerous when Hope discovers that there are others in search of the manuscript.
-Dan Brown has a lot to answer for.  Since the commercial success of ''The Da Vinci Code'' there's been a rash of books on a similar theme.  A good and honest man accompanied by a presentable female – this time Dr Roberta Ryder who believes that there is something in alchemy – risk life, limb and reputation to solve a series of clues in the hope of finding something priceless.  There's the obligatory senior Catholic churchman who doesn't feel that murder is unreasonable if it gets him what he wants, a harking back to some of the baddies of World War II and a trip through some wonderful scenery which will no doubt look great if there's a film deal.  This time it's Paris and then the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc.
+Dan Brown has a lot to answer for.  Since the commercial success of ''The Da Vinci Code,'' there's been a rash of books on a similar theme.  A good and honest man accompanied by a presentable female – this time Dr Roberta Ryder who believes that there is something in alchemy – risk life, limb and reputation to solve a series of clues in the hope of finding something priceless.  There's the obligatory senior Catholic churchman who doesn't feel that murder is unreasonable if it gets him what he wants, a harking back to some of the baddies of World War II and a trip through some wonderful scenery which will no doubt look great if there's a film deal.  This time it's Paris and then the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc.
-Hope has, of course, a dark and guilty secret in his past.  Naturally it haunts him and drives him to do what he does in the hope of redeeming himself in his own mind.  He's mistrustful, which is perhaps wise when he kills readily, and finds it difficult to get close to women – which might well be a blessing for the women concerned given that his occupation is riskier than most.  Roberta Ryder is A Plucky Woman if occasionally a little careless about her own safety.  Other characters are generally two-dimensional, but that's not a major problem as most of them are there to die.
+Hope has, of course, a dark and guilty secret in his past.  Naturally, it haunts him and drives him to do what he does in the hope of redeeming himself in his own mind.  He's mistrustful, which is perhaps wise when he kills readily and finds it difficult to get close to women – which might well be a blessing for the women concerned given that his occupation is riskier than most.  Roberta Ryder is A Plucky Woman if occasionally a little careless about her own safety.  Other characters are generally two-dimensional, but that's not a major problem as most of them are there to die.
 The plot is not bad if you don't, as I did, work out exactly what the ending would be before you're 5% of the way through the book.  There's a very high body count – nothing ''too'' gory but they do die and there's even a bit of torture thrown in for light relief.  Coincidences happen a little too regularly and sometimes the way that the plot works out just defies belief.
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 I know.  I'm being very picky.  This book is no worse and certainly no better than hundreds of other books which will fly off airport book shop shelves this summer and if you want a light and entertaining read for the beach it might be just the book for you.
-I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
+I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag. We also have a review of [[The Lost Relic by Scott Mariani]].
 For other books on a similar theme you might like to look at [[The 13th Apostle by Richard and Rachael Heller]], [[The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott]] and [[Extraordinary People by Peter May]].

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{infoboxsort
+{{infobox1
 |title=The Alchemist's Secret
 |author=Scott Mariani
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 |date=March 2008
 |isbn=978-1847560797
 |sort=Alchemist's Secret, The
 }}

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 |buy=Maybe
 |borrow=Yes
 |pages=486
 |publisher= Avon
@@ Line 33: / Line 31: @@
 For other books on a similar theme you might like to look at [[The 13th Apostle by Richard and Rachael Heller]], [[The Crystal Skull by Manda Scott]] and [[Extraordinary People by Peter May]].
-{{amazontext|amazon=1847560792}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6084648}}
+{{amazontext|amazon=1847560792}}
 {{commenthead}}

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