The Alchemist

by Leslie H. Whitten Jr.

Martin Dobecker enjoyed his quiet, ordered world. He was perfectly satisfied with his dead-end government desk job and asked nothing more of life than to be able to go home at 5:00 to the alchemical furnace he was secretly building in his basement...Of course, it was only a hobby. No harm in that. A circle of Fire-Glaze Outdoor Bar-B-Q Bricks mortared together with No-Crack Fire Cement could hardly invite suspicion-even if he had given it the name of Athanor. No, Martin Dobecker was just a harmless mild-mannered eccentric who liked to putter around with Black Magic. Or was he?

Genres: Horror, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1973

Reviews

[Brice · Rating 3 out of 5]

How this book ever landed under the horror description by Zebra is almost as confusing as the blurb on its back. If one reads that blurb they're likely to think they'll be reading a tale of witchcraft and black magic in Washington. However, what little black magic is included in this tale is minor, at best, and used as a very small part of a subplot.
I can't say I hated THE ALCHEMIST, I read it quickly and enjoyed it, I just felt cheated as, instead of a horror story, I got a political thriller set in early '80s Washington with a romantic subplot. It's not poorly written and the story is believable and engaging, it's just.... not horror.
And that cover! It has nothing to do with what waits inside.
So.... it's a decent reminder of the whole judging a book by its cover adage.

[Brian Steele · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't finish this. While I understand that it MAY be important to the ongoing plot, I simply couldn't get past the blatant racism. Or the misogynistic sexism. Or the utterly unsympathetic lead character. I believe this is the ONLY book I've ever given 1 Star to on Goodreads.

[angelofmine1974 · Rating 1 out of 5]

No stars DNF

This is not a horror book... i repeat this is not a horror book. Made it to page 35 and had to stop when I realized it wasn't a horror book and just a plain bad written drama crime story.

For the rest of my review, visit my Vlog at:

https://youtu.be/DMZuD7hcFc8

Enjoy!

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so fucking bad

[Arin]

Follows an insecure political nobody through racial issues and his sexual escapades. Couldn't finish it, was too bored.

[Finn Williamson · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's not what you expect it to me. 5

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This should not be called a horror book. Other a few parts with weird parties and goings on; it seems to be a book about a man searching for the meaning of his life.