The Alchemist's Secret

by Clare Marchant

A totally unmissable, spellbinding, historical fiction novel, perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Amanda Geard and Elena Collins. Brand new from the bestselling author of THE HOUSE OF THE WITCH. 📚✨ Now: When Paige returns to her ancestral family home, Woodham Hall, she’s nursing an unbearable heartbreak. The man she’d thought she loved has told her the most terrible lie, one she feels she’ll never recover from. The only thing that seems to be able to hold her interest is the story of a poisoning that once supposedly happened in the house – depicted in brutal detail in a painting by an unknown artist…

1672: Jeanne’s life at Woodham Hall is happy. Admittedly her brother-in-law – the lord of the manor – is unfaithful to her sister, causing terrible discord in the house. But Jeanne adores her sister, and her niece, Helene, and even though her growing feelings for another member of the household are illicit, they are bringing her great joy. That is, until Sir Robert chooses to move his mistress in.

Jeanne and her sister are to be banished to a French abbey to live out their days but all the sisters can think is how to get back to Helene, and the woman who Jeanne might just love. From the glittering court of the Sun King to the dark depths of French society and those who perform alchemy, they will do whatever they must. Even if it means murder…

Their stories are linked across history, with an unforgettable love story, and mystery that must be solved.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fantasy

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 9, 2026

Reviews

[Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh Clare Marchant, how I love the stories you weave!
I can not get enough of this author's books! The plots are interesting, the characters are intriguing, and the research details woven into her stories are fascinating.
My friend's know I love a good dual timeline too, and this one had me hooked from the first page! Both timelines are equally well written so my attention never favoured one story over the other. Exactly how a dual timeline should be!
Loved it!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant read, two stories - different times. Amazing insight into how much we have moved on. Got to the couldn't put it down stage pretty quickly and needed to know what had happened.

[Sarah Dacombe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC).
I loved this book! It is about two sisters, Jeanne & Marie living in England from France for Marie married a Lord & Jeanne was sent with her. Lord Robert Woodham is not a pleasant man & Marie was often sad. He was unfaithful & illegitimately fathered other children whom he decided to move into the manor with their mother, his mistress & banish Marie & Jeanne to a Convent in France to save his reputation as it would cause scandal if he were to divorce! So much more to this story though, that is just the beginning!
I loved the way it was written in a dual timeline, 1672 & 2026. I really enjoyed it all but I particularly enjoyed the 1672 bits. It was written so well I could actually envisage myself travelling in the carriage, being in France amongst all the elegance & riches & even at Woodham Hall.
I adored Jeanne, she was a brilliant main character & the way it all came together at the end in both time lines was just great! I was drawn in to the spellbinding wonder & mystery & was hooked to find out what happened next. Paige is the main character in the 2026 part back living in her childhood home, Woodham Manor after her own heartbreak. The Manor is now a wedding venue & Paige is tasked with finding out some family history…..!
I highly recommend this book!

[Hanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Boldwood Books and NetGalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Wow! What a beautiful story. We meet two sisters, Marie and Jeanne in 1672 and follow their story as they face unexpected challenges. In 2026 we meet Paige and following a break up we see her back in her family estate. The house contains an interesting painting which leads Paige down the path of exploring the history of their estate and family secrets.

Told perfectly between the two timelines, this story had me loving the sisters and watching their challenges back in 1672 as well as enjoying watching Paige discover her history and prioritise herself. I felt the pacing of the two stories together was perfect and I thoroughly enjoyed both.

I am so glad I’ve discovered Clare Marchant’s writing as I will certainly be reading more of her books. Her writing style is beautiful and she portrays the characters and plot so well.

I highly recommend adding this book to your TBR.

Releases 9th March

[Bookishgirl75 🍁📚❄️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having loved a previous book THE HOUSE OF THE WITCH. I was keen to read this latest book .
Its pace is fairly slow up until half way but quite interesting all the same . It’s made me very curious to read more on this history of poisons being used a lot back in the day .
I rate this book 3.5⭐️

[Bee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I hadn't picked up a Clare Marchant book before, but I recently got the chance to read The Alchemist’s Secret - and now? Well, I’ll be picking up her books wherever I can because this book was phenomenal. 

 

Everything about this book was so well done that once I started, I couldn’t stop reading because the dual storylines were so immersive, with one in the present day and one focusing on the ancestors in 1672. The world-building in both timelines was perfect, with elements creeping in that catch the reader's attention and help add to the mystery of the story and to draw the members of the family; past and present together. 

 

In 2026, after being betrayed by her partner, Paige returns to her ancestral home, Woodfall Hall, to begin anew. As she helps her father, she not only uncovers her family’s history but also learns the value of self-love and putting herself first. I loved her journey, and how determined she became to make sense of her ancestral legacy, from a painting that doesn’t belong in the setting of a wedding to the full understanding of a story that had been passed down through the years.

 

The story that truly held my attention and was filled with so much vivid detail that I wanted more chapters from that era, where we have two sisters Jeanne and Marie who have spent their lives in the English countryside after coming across the channel from the bustling and chaotic city of Paris. Theirs is a story of betrayal, and the lengths you will go to protect those you love with a need for justice or revenge because the two are definitely on a fine line. You as the reader are drawn into their world easily due to not only the world-building but Marchant’s attention to detail over the time period with their costumes, and interactions with others. I adored Jeanne whose growth is incredible and her love for others so strong that I was rooting for her from the first moment we met, because she was both a woman of her time but also not with her love of learning, and her love for a maid called Charlotte. 


Prepare for an addictive read, filled with twists and turns that are beautifully done. Faces that will be familiar and those who will feel as though they are by the end. Clare Marchant has an incredible skill, and it’s shown in The Alchemist’s Secret and as I said? I think I’ll love reading more of her work after discovering her work.

[Zoé · Rating 5 out of 5]

A suspenseful journey from beautiful English country homes to austere French abbeys.

I am new to Clare Marchant books, so I went into this not quite knowing what to expect, but it ended up being far more suspenseful than I’d imagined! Once the story really picked up, I found myself reading half the book in one sitting.
I really loved the historical backdrop, inspired by true events during Louis XIV’s reign, which I hadn’t heard about before (I even did a bit of research about it afterward). I have to admit I preferred the 17th-century storyline with its journey from a rural and lavish English home to a French nunery, but since the book focuses more heavily on it, that worked perfectly for me. I was also a bit worried that Paige's initial heartbreak would take over the story, but the two timelines ended up complementing each other really well.
I’ll definitely keep an eye out for more from this author (I know more titles are coming soon!).
Thank you very much to Boldwood Books, Clare Marchant and NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest opinion of the book.

[Curt Dunnam · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Alchemist's Secret” by Clare Marchant is a superb 5-star historical fiction read! In 1672, sisters Jeanne and Marie are happily living at Woodham Hall when Lord Robert, Marie’s husband, has new plans for them. In the present day, Paige is also having trouble with a significant other and finds herself returning to Woodham Hall.

Like all of Clare Marchant’s previous books, this story is told through a dual timeline and two points of view. I really enjoyed following Paige as she researched the history of her home and the surrounding area. There are lots of fascinating details about poisons and how they were used during the late 1600s.

If you liked this author’s previous books, there is no reason you won’t enjoy this one as well. And if you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must-read! I can’t wait for the next one!

Thanks to Boldwood Books, Clare Marchant, and NetGalley for providing me with the opportunity to read this ARC and share my honest review.

[VickydpBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for fans of Philippa Gregory, Amanda Geard and Elena Collins!

Had me gripped and also I liked that the two strong women and amazing page turner

Releases on 9 March

[Mo Chapter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some books are enjoyable. Some are beautifully written. And then, very occasionally, one comes along that completely consumes you. The Alchemist's Secret by Clare Marchant is that kind of book.

Told across two timelines — 1672 and the present day — we follow two women whose lives are separated by centuries yet intricately connected. The story moves between them with such elegance and control, revealing what happened in the past only when it needs to be revealed. There is no heavy backstory, no overwhelming exposition. Instead, the truth unfolds naturally, piece by piece, exactly at the moment it carries the most emotional weight. It makes the experience of reading feel immersive and intimate — as though you are discovering everything alongside the characters.

I read this in just 24 hours because I simply could not pull myself away. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about it. I found myself carrying the sisters’ story with me throughout the day, willing them on, hoping for strength where there seemed to be so little power. Their journey — and the quiet endurance beneath it — affected me more deeply than I expected. There’s a restraint in the writing that somehow makes the heartbreak feel even sharper.

In the present timeline, that same emotional care is mirrored in a slower, reflective journey of healing and rediscovery. The parallels between past and present are handled so beautifully — not forced, not dramatic for effect, but thoughtful and resonant. The emotional echoes between the two timelines are what make this novel so powerful.

Clare Marchant’s characterisation is extraordinary. She writes people who feel real — layered, vulnerable, imperfect. I wasn’t just observing them; I felt emotionally aligned with them. Their fears felt heavy. Their hope felt fragile. Their moments of connection felt precious.

And the atmosphere… the atmosphere is breathtaking. There is such a peaceful quality to the prose — a softness, almost — yet threaded through it is an undercurrent of sorrow and quiet desperation. The scenes set in 1672 are immersive and vivid without ever becoming overwhelming. You can feel the weight of the manor house, the tension in its corridors, the shifting power within its walls. Equally, the present-day setting carries a sense of reflection and inherited memory that lingers gently in the background.

The world-building is seamless. It never shouts for attention, yet it surrounds you completely. I felt transported — not just to a place, but into an emotional landscape. The past feels alive. The present feels shaped by it. And the transitions between the two are so fluid that the story reads like one continuous, beating heart.

There is also a beautifully tender emotional thread running quietly through both timelines — one that develops with patience and authenticity. It adds warmth to what is, at times, a heartbreaking story. That balance between love and loss, hope and injustice, peace and devastation is handled with such skill.

When I turned the final page, I genuinely didn’t want to leave these characters behind. That lingering feeling — that sense of having lived something alongside them — is rare. And precious.
This is, without question, a five-star read for me. It gripped me more than any historical novel I can remember. It moved me, unsettled me, comforted me — sometimes all at once.

A truly special book. One I feel very blessed to have read. And I will absolutely be reading Clare Marchant again.

[Bookfan36 · Rating 4 out of 5]

What It’s About

The Alchemist’s Secret unfolds across a dual timeline, blending historical intrigue with a modern‑day mystery. In the present, we follow Paige, who returns to her ancestral home, Woodham Hall, an elegant but slightly haunting English country estate. While cataloguing the house’s archives, she stumbles upon a mysterious painting that hints at a long‑hidden family secret. As Paige digs deeper, the past timeline slowly reveals the darker, more dangerous events that shaped the truth she is now trying to uncover.

Review

This book turned out to be quite different from what I expected based on the title — and in a good way. There’s a slightly dark, atmospheric edge to the historical timeline that adds tension and emotional weight. The past storyline, in particular, feels heavy at times, with moments that are unsettling and intense.
The contrast with the present‑day storyline works beautifully. I found myself especially drawn to Paige’s journey as she tries to unravel the mystery surrounding the painting at Woodham Hall. Her chapters feel lighter, more accessible, and easier to connect with, offering a welcome balance to the darker historical sections.
The setting is wonderfully evocative. Woodham Hall, with its quiet corridors, hidden corners, and centuries of family history, creates the perfect backdrop for a story built on secrets. It has that classic English‑country‑house atmosphere — elegant, slightly eerie, and full of whispers from the past.
The characters are another strong point. They’re complex, layered, and well described, each shaped by their own fears, motivations, and histories. Their emotional depth makes the unfolding mystery feel grounded and believable.
The story unfolds slowly, but in a deliberate and satisfying way. There’s a steady sense of intrigue that keeps you turning the pages, always wanting to understand how the two timelines connect and what truth lies hidden beneath the surface. It’s the kind of mystery that rewards patience, drawing you deeper as each layer is revealed.
Overall, The Alchemist’s Secret is a well‑written, atmospheric dual‑timeline novel with rich characters, a compelling English‑country‑house setting, and just the right amount of darkness to keep you captivated.

My Rating

- Plot – 4/5
A slow‑building, intriguing mystery with satisfying connections.
- Character Development – 4/5
Complex, layered personalities that feel real and well crafted.
- Themes & Message – 3.5/5
Secrets, knowledge, danger, and the weight of the past.
- Writing Style – 4/5
Atmospheric, descriptive, and engaging.
- Enjoyment – 4/5
Captivating, especially as the story gradually unfolds.
- Overall – ⭐️ 4/5
A dark‑tinged, intriguing dual‑timeline mystery with strong characters and a compelling pace.

Recommended For

Readers who enjoy:
- English country‑house mysteries
- Dual‑timeline historical fiction
- Stories centred around family secrets and old estates
- Slow‑burn mysteries with atmospheric writing
- Present‑day investigations that uncover dark, hidden histories

[C.R. Comacchio · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood for an advanced copy.

Clare Marchant’s dual timeline novels are written with a deep historical sensibility crosses over the two periods she is depicting. In her latest, she sets the earlier story in the late 18th century. This one focuses primarily on French-born sisters Marie and Isobel, who have become the unwitting victims of their husband/brother-in-law, Sir Robert Woodham. The depressive Marie has produced a daughter but no sons. After ten years, once his mistress has two boys, he announces that the sisters will be removed to an abbey where they will be expected to give up their freedom, pray, and live in silence while his new family moves into Woodham Hall.

The present-day timeline is much shorter. Paige, a milliner and fashion historian (though we see little of either) has been betrayed by her bigamist husband Tyler. Not knowing what else to do, she goes to the ancient family estate. Woodham Hall, where her loving father welcomes her and immediately tries to involve her in running, and improving, his wedding business. In a seemingly very short time, Paige discovers a sombre painting of what appears to be a massacre at a dinner party. Signed only with initials, it is titled ‘Phaedra,’ after the goddess of revenge.

In the 18th century, Marie and Isobel, who is quick-witted and a fine artist, herbalist and would-be alchemist, find a way to escape their prison and return to England where Marie is determined to reclaim her position at any cost. Isobel has mixed feelings; she really wants only to have a loving relationship with Marie’s lovely maid Charlotte. It’s somewhat confusing how she claims to want no more than to cultivate herbs for healing and to love Charlotte, while at times she sounds just as hell bent on revenge as her sister.

What happens on their arrival, besides the sweet reunion of Isobel and Charlotte, ties directly to the contemporary story where Paige is uncovering the provenance and meaning of ‘Phaedra’ at remarkable speed. Definitely the contemporary storyline moves along at a much faster pace than the historic one. The characters in the older story, and their relationships, are more deeply developed, however.
I think the 18th century parts work much better than the contemporary angle. For one, the despondent Paige gets over her heartbreak almost instantly when she meets her father’s helper Chris. Her husband reappears in a menacing guise and his true reason for bigamy becomes laughably clear. It would have been better not to bring Tyler onto the set at the end. The older story wraps up far more effectively, though I was disappointed that so little was done with the alchemy first mentioned in the title. That part could also have been cut. Overall, however, the mystery is intriguing and Marchant is a talented storyteller.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alchemist’s Secret is the story of two women separated by four centuries but linked through one house – Woodham Hall in Suffolk. In 1672, Jeanne is living at the Hall with her older sister, Marie, and young niece, Hélène. Jeanne is still unmarried at the age of twenty-four and looks set to remain a spinster, but she doesn’t really care. She’s happy devoting her time to painting and practising her alchemy skills, and there’s no money for a dowry anyway. Marie, on the other hand, is very unhappily married; her husband, Sir Robert Woodham, is having an affair with a widowed neighbour who has given him the sons Marie has been unable to provide. Eventually, Sir Robert decides to move his mistress into the Hall and tells Marie and Jeanne he is sending them to a convent in France where they will stay for the rest of their lives.

Back in their home country – the two women had left France ten years earlier, when Marie married Sir Robert – they are determined to find a way to escape from their captivity and get back to England and Hélène. Their adventures take them to the court of the Sun King where they make some new acquaintances whom they hope can help them take revenge against Sir Robert and resume their rightful places at Woodham Hall.

Meanwhile, in 2026, we meet the current residents of Woodham Hall – Simon and his daughter, Paige, who has just returned home after the break-up of her marriage. Simon has been hiring the house out as a wedding venue but is starting to struggle financially and is in need of new ideas. Paige begins to research the history of the Hall and the Woodham family and comes across an intriguing painting which seems to depict a poisoning which took place in the house centuries earlier. But who was the artist – and, more importantly, who were the victims and why were they killed?

I liked The Alchemist’s Secret, although it’s yet another example of a book with dual timelines where most of the drama unfolds in one of them, leaving the other feeling a bit superfluous. The 17th century storyline dominates this book and I found it by far the most interesting. The plot was slightly far-fetched at times and there were moments when attitudes or actions didn’t quite ring true to the period, but otherwise I was much more absorbed in Jeanne and Marie’s story than I was in Paige’s. I loved the parts of the book set in Paris and at the Palace of Versailles (which is still under construction in 1672 – no Hall of Mirrors yet) and I thought this made a good contrast to the English country house that forms the setting for the majority of the novel.

There’s not a lot of mystery involved, as it’s obvious that the events depicted in the painting are connected to the historical storyline, but I enjoyed seeing how the characters get to that point and how things play out afterwards. I’m not sure if the title is really representative of the novel, though; alchemy is barely mentioned, although it doesn’t matter too much as the story is interesting enough even without it! This is the first book I’ve read by Clare Marchant but I’m definitely tempted to try some of her others as they all sound intriguing.

[Ashley Cloninger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Alchemist’s Secret is a dual time historical novel filled with mystery, murder and bigamy.

2026, Paige flees her home in London after finding out that her husband is a bigamist. Fleeing to her father and her childhood home of Woodham Hall, Paige’s father convinces her to help him save the Hall and his wedding venue business. While researching an old painting that appears to show the death of 5 people in the Hall’s dining room, Paige investigates a long rumored murder that supposedly took place in the Hall in the 17th century. Maybe a historical murder story will make the Hall more enticing to visitors? As she investigates, she comes across the story of a young French woman who lived at Woodham Hall in the 17th century and was a painter, Did this young woman paint the portrait and if so why?

1672, Jeanne a young French woman lives at Woodham Hall with her sister, Marie, brother-in-law Sir Robert Woodham and her niece Helene. Marie has bouts of depression as after 10 years of marriage, Helene is the only surviving child of the their marriage. Marie sadly has lost three other children at birth and her less than ideal husband, Sir Robert, has been having an affair with a neighbor Lady Lettice Faxfield. Lady Lettice has produced two illegitimate boys for Sir Robert and he has decided that he has had enough of Marie and her inability to produce a male heir. His solution? Send Marie and Jeanne to live out the rest of their days in a convent in France, marry Helene off to an old man, and install Lettice and his illegitimate children at Woodham Hall. Marie is devastated and vows revenge. She plots with La Voisin the famous Parisian poisoner to disatrous results. How do the actions taken in 1672 reverberate through the ages to the present Woodham family?

I really enjoyed this book. he 17th century story was intiguing and kept me on the edge as to what would happen in the very unhappy household. The modern story was a little bit lacking in character development, but I enjoyed investigating along with Paige.

Thanks to Netgalley, Boldwood Books and the author for the chance to read and review this ARC.

[Debesbooknookwit · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alchemist Secret, by Clare Marchant,  is a historical fiction story built around a place that clearly has a long memory. It centers around Woodham Hall, an ancestral estate where the present and the past begin to overlap in unexpected ways once someone starts looking closely at its history. When Paige returns to the house after a painful betrayal that has left her life unsettled, she expects time and distance to help her regroup. Instead, she becomes fascinated by a disturbing painting that appears to depict a poisoning that may have taken place at the house centuries earlier. That discovery sends her searching through the history of the estate and the people who once lived there.

The story moves between Paige in the present and Jeanne in 1672, whose life unfolds at Woodham Hall generations earlier. Jeanne lives at the estate with her sister and young niece in a household filled with stressors. As tensions within the family grow, Jeanne finds herself facing choices that could change everything for the people she cares about. Her story becomes increasingly complicated as events begin to push the sisters away from the life they once knew. The consequences of those decisions eventually become the mystery Paige is trying to understand centuries later.

One of the strengths of the novel is the way the two timelines unfold together, with small pieces of Jeanne’s story appearing just as Paige begins to uncover fragments of the past. The shifting perspectives kept the story moving and made it easy to stay invested in both timelines. While reading, I often found myself looking forward to returning to Jeanne’s chapters to see how her situation would unfold.These sections carried the strongest emotional pull for me.

If you enjoy historical fiction with dual timelines, layered history, and a mystery tied to the past, add this to your reading list. The book will keep you curious, and questioning,  about what really happened at Woodham Hall. 

Thank you to the author and Netgalley for this ARC for my honest review.

Now I'm headed back to see what else the author has written so I can add to my shelf!

[Annette Jordan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Alchemist's Secret by Clare Marchant is a dual timeline story where both timelines involve betrayal and heartbreak.
In the current day timeline Paige returns to her family home Woodham Hall having learned that her husband is actually already married to another woman. Feeling heartbroken and betrayed she throws herself into investigating the story behind a rather gruesome painting that has been in the Hall for centuries which depicts an infamous local murder that took place in the seventeenth century.
Meanwhile in 1672 we follow Jeanne, whose sister is unhappily married to the Lord of Woodham Hall. She loves her sister, and her niece and also her niece's governess, a situation that is increasingly difficult to hide, When her brother in law moves his mistress and their children into the hall and ships Jeanne and her sister off to a convent in France she is resigned to her fate, but her sister has other plans and is determined to have her revenge . She cooks up a plan that spirals out of control and causes a tragedy that still lives in local legend and is depicted in the painting that Paige is studying.
This is a solid historical fiction, and I did find the parts of the book following Jeanne and her story much more compelling than the parts of the book set in the current day which made the book feel a little unbalanced especially since much of the focus of the book was on the historical timeline. As a result I really felt that Paige's character was lacking in background and development so struggled to maintain interest in her story. how her story ended really fell flat for me. The pacing overall is on the slower side, which I do not mind but wanted to note as some readers will have a preference, but the story flows smoothly and the timelines are nicely woven together overall. I think for a book called the Alchemist's secret there was actually very little depiction of alchemy in the book, so I am not sure why that title was chosen,
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

[Helen O · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read several books by Clare Marchant and I found this to be the least engaging. It took me about 50% of the book to begin to find the characters and what they were doing vaguely interesting. I found it hard to care about them in either period.

Added to this, I was expecting it to be about alchemy, considering The Alchemist’s Secret is the title of the book. But the author interprets the meaning as someone who makes poisons, which it is not. It is the ancient pursuit of transforming base materials into noble ones, finding cures for diseases, and achieving eternal life, but also metaphorically, transforming oneself or situations for the better. Historically, alchemists were precursors to modern chemists, developing crucial lab techniques while blending natural philosophy with spiritual quests for perfection. There are perhaps elements of the desire to create transformation that are present. But as someone who has had a lifelong interest in alchemy, I was disappointed to discover the author didn’t even appear to know what it was. Perhaps the secret is that it’s not alchemy.

It has her usual themes: Feminism, of a rather old fashioned nature, how men treat women and how powerless women can sometimes be. How they endeavour to gain control over their lives. Here there is also a concurrent theme of lesbian relationships, of being free to love who you wish, whoever they are.

Due to how unengaging I found it, and how the author seems to have misunderstood what alchemy is, which is a quite fundamental failure to do your research, had I not been invited to review it I would have given up fairly early on. As it was, I saw it through to the end, though I have to admit I did skim some of the descriptions, of which there are many. As with another one of her books, I found the historical characters a little more convincing, but not by a great deal. Her characters in the present always seem to be easily abused by men, and to need one to feel validated.

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clare Marchant has a gift for weaving dual timelines together in a way that feels both immersive and emotionally resonant, and The Alchemist’s Secret is no exception. From the very first pages, I was drawn into a story rich with mystery, history, and just a touch of danger.

The novel moves between past and present, gradually revealing secrets that have been buried for centuries. I especially loved how the historical timeline felt vivid and atmospheric—you can almost feel the weight of superstition, ambition, and fear surrounding the pursuit of alchemy. Marchant brings the past to life with careful detail, making the stakes feel real and urgent. The modern storyline complements it beautifully, creating a sense of discovery as pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place.

What stood out most to me was the emotional depth of the characters. Their motivations felt authentic, and I found myself invested not just in uncovering the mystery, but in their personal journeys as well. There’s a strong sense of legacy running through the story—how choices made long ago ripple forward and shape lives in unexpected ways.

The pacing is steady and compelling, with enough twists to keep me guessing without ever feeling forced. I appreciated how the author balanced historical intrigue with emotional storytelling, making it more than just a mystery—it’s a story about courage, identity, and the search for truth.

Overall, The Alchemist’s Secret is a captivating blend of historical fiction and mystery that kept me engaged from beginning to end. Clare Marchant once again proves she knows how to craft a story that feels both intimate and expansive. I’d highly recommend this to readers who enjoy dual timelines, historical secrets, and stories that slowly unravel to reveal something powerful and unforgettable.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alchemist’s Secret is one of those historical novels that immediately sweeps you into its world—two worlds, in fact—and holds you there with its blend of romance, danger, and long‑buried secrets. Clare Marchant has such a gift for intertwining past and present, and this story is no exception.

In the modern timeline, Paige’s return to Woodham Hall is steeped in heartbreak and uncertainty. Her emotional fragility makes her instantly sympathetic, and the mysterious painting she discovers becomes the perfect thread to pull her into the house’s darker history. The atmosphere around the Hall—quiet, heavy with memory—sets the tone beautifully.

But it’s the 1672 storyline that truly shines. Jeanne is a wonderfully compelling heroine: loyal, passionate, and caught in a household simmering with tension. The arrival of Sir Robert’s mistress, the threat of banishment, and Jeanne’s forbidden love all build into a narrative that feels both intimate and epic. Marchant captures the era with elegance, from the glittering court of the Sun King to the shadowy corners of alchemy and desperation.

As the two timelines begin to echo one another, the mystery deepens in a way that feels organic and satisfying. The emotional stakes rise on both sides of history, and the final reveals tie everything together with a sense of inevitability and poignancy.

A spellbinding, atmospheric read filled with love, betrayal, and the lengths people will go to protect those they cherish. Fans of Kate Morton and Philippa Gregory will be utterly absorbed.

With thanks to Clare Marchant, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alchemist's Secret is a dual timeline historical fiction about the Woodham estate. Paige and her family own it and her dad operates the home as a wedding venue, maintaining a set of family quarters within the historic estate. When Paige runs into some issues with her husband, she returns back to Woodham Hall for a while to heal. There's a painting in the hall that depicts a terrible poisoning which supposedly happened in the home and, while Paige is helping her dad, she decides to research and see if she can confirm the family lore. Cut to 1672, where Jeanne's sister is the lady of the house. Her husband wants her gone so he can set up his mistress in her place, so he ships off Jeanne and her sister Marie to France to an abbey (yawn, boring behavior). Marie is bound and determined to make it back to the house... by any cost.

I'll note that all of this information was available in the book description, but you can probably read between the lines about the general plot here and its interconnectedness. The "mystery" Paige is figuring out isn't much of one, to be honest. But the story was engaging and I enjoyed all of the history and the dual timeline as well. I would say, if you aren't a huge fan of dual timeline, this may not be your cup of tea. I enjoy it though so that didn't throw me off. Honestly though, I enjoyed the 1672 timeline a lot more than the modern day timeline, and I also felt that the ending was a bit abrupt (though all loose ends are tied up). I still liked the story quite a bit though and appreciated the atmosphere that the author created in both timelines.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to read this as an ARC!

[Sudeshna Banerjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of books that blend past and present while gradually revealing a dark emotional enigma, then I would really recommend The Alchemist’s Secret by Clare Marchant. It is a feeling akin to having a friend share a tale with you that is so dark and intriguing that it sticks with you after you finish the book.

The story shifts from contemporary Paige, who goes back to Woodham Hall with a heart-wrenching sorrow, and then shifts to Jeanne in 1672, whose life becomes complicated with betrayal, forbidden love, and risky decisions. I really enjoyed the way the story mirrored itself with these two women, dealing with issues of trust, loss, and secrets that never remain hidden.

The one thing that really stood out to me was the atmosphere. There is something wonderfully eerie about the old manor, the painting, and the discovery of what really went on in the past. The historical bits and pieces, especially with the undertones of alchemy and what was going on with Jeanne’s family, felt very immersive.

It is not only a mystery; it is also a story about love in all its forms and the extremes to which people will go when they are pushed to the limit. Some moments were truly thought-provoking for me, and other moments kept me turning the pages late at night.

All in all, it is a compelling, emotional, and slightly haunting read. If you are a fan of dual timelines, historical drama, and mysteries where the secrets build slowly, I think you will really love this one.

[Sydney Sheets · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great historical fiction! With a dual timeline set in current day and then the late 1600's. We have two main character, Paige is our modern day female who has just had her "marriage" crumble and has returned to her familys ancestral home. Jeanne is a spinster sister in the 1670's who is living with her sister and her husband. Jeanne is taking care of her niece as well as her sister who's melancholy has taken its toll on their lives. When she has the time she dabbles in the scientific study of alchemy. Her and her sister are told that the lord of the house is moving in his new mistress and they must leave. When the sisters kicked out and sent to live in a nunnery, they will do everything to come back home.

Paige has left her husband, well he turned out to already be married but not to her. So after packing up the pieces she has come to work with her father in their home turned wedding venue. She also rediscovered a family painting of a famous poisoning murder that had occurred in the home. With her interest peeked she sets out to find the truth behind the painting.

A wonderful historical fiction, set in both modern and in the late 1600's at the time of the sun king. This is a unique perspective of the life of women in the period of a multitude of status's. As well as learning ones own familial history.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Boldwood team for this ARC!

[Jaffareadstoo · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a devastating relationship break up Paige returns to her family home at Woodham Hall where, in order to keep busy, she gets involved in the day to day running of the family business. With time on her hands Paige becomes intrigued by a rather macabre painting which has been hanging in the house for many years. The visual nature of the painting alludes to a catastrophic event which happened at Woodham Hall in the sixteenth century and thoroughly intrigued, Paige is determined to get into the heart of the mystery.

This wonderfully atmospheric dual time story takes us back to the events of 1672 when Jeanne and her sister Helene are banished from Woodham Hall by Helene’s unscrupulous husband. It’s a story of intrigue, danger and the ultimate revenge, all combined with a modern day story which wraps itself around Woodham Hall like a blanket, sheltering those who call this beautiful place home and gradually revealing the deadly secrets which have been hidden for centuries.

Beautifully written, with a real sense of atmosphere, I was engrossed in the story as both timelines fitted together really well, with neither one competing with the other. I have now read a few of this author’s previous books and I am always impressed with the amount of historical detail and the genuine believability of both the story and the characters. The Alchemist Secret is a fascinating story of family secrets, deadly lies and fatal retribution.

[Debbi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories, almost 400 years apart...what connection could there possibly be, besides the location, Woodham Hall?

Jeanne is an artist. She has a happy life, living with her sister and her family. Not everything is perfect; her brother in law is having an affair with another woman, and her sister Marie has been unable to give him a son, causing her great distress. When her brother in law decides to bring his mistress to live with him as wife, and has exiled Jeanne and Marie to a convent in France, Jeanne is determined to get back to Woodham Hall and the love she has found there.

Almost four hundred years later, Paige discovers that she has been betrayed by her husband in the most insidious way. She returns to the family home at Woodham Hall to recover and help her father with the family business. There is a painting at Woodham Hall which portrays a most horrifying murder. Who painted the picture, and why? The search for answers will take her to places she never dreamed of, and give her insight into her family that she never would have guessed.

Totally engrossing, The Alchemist's Secret is historical fiction (with the emphasis here on fiction) at its very best. There are many twists and turns, wonderfully flawed characters, just the right amount of romance, it's a terrific read.

[Lena Boar · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
What can I say other than this is another great story from this author! So far, every book I have read from Clare has been totally brilliant. And again with this book, we have a good mix of history, thriller, mystery, along with modern day.
I love the way that in the present day, we are finding out about the mystery of the painting and the house. You find yourself thinking how it is linked and why and who painted it. When you get engrossed in the present day, it flips you back to the 17th century and the story of the family unfolding, and you're then immersed in that time-line.
Clare, I have realised, creates the best villains; she really knows how to get me angry with them. I feel all the emotions in her books of how women are treated and the injustice of society. Men controlling women's fates to how it suits them! But Clare does not fail at the ends, even with heartache attached. And with, like her other books, this one has all the same feels; the ending they always, without a doubt, link up! Once again, just pure perfection 👌
I love it ! Love Clare Marchant’s writing 📝 I cannot wait for what’s next 😍. She’s a firm favourite of mine, and I do recommend her books to others. Never a hard read, follows, and is easy to follow; in fact, addictive; be prepared to be sucked in when you start this book...

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Clare and NetGalley for allowing me to read The Alchemist’s Secret prior to the publication date.
This is the first book that I have read by this author and I enjoyed it. It was an easy read and the author managed the time slip seamlessly.
In the present day, Paige discovers that her husband, Tyler, is a bigamist who is leading a double life. She seeks refuge at her family home, Woodham Hall, which her father Simon, is running as a wedding venue..
Simon is struggling to keep the venture afloat and asks for Paige’s help. As he shows her around the public rooms which are used for the events, Paige notices a dark, disturbing painting which is not in keeping.
She sets out to research the painting and the history of the Woodham Hall and its residents.
In the 17th century, Marie enters an arranged marriage with Sir Robert. Unable to produce a son and heir, she sinks into depression. Having sired 2 sons with his mistress, Sir Robert arranges for Marie and her sister, Jeanne to be transported to a monastery in France and to move his mistress and sons into Woodham Hall.
The sisters make plans to escape the monastery. However Jeanne goes a step further and plots on how to regain ownership of the Hall and to evict the usurper.

[Brianna Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Alchemist’s Secret by Clare Marchant is an utterly gripping, beautifully written novel that effortlessly blends historical intrigue with emotional depth. From the very first chapters, I was pulled into this dual-timeline story, and it quickly became one of those unputdownable reads that kept me turning pages late into the night.

Marchant does a wonderful job weaving together two timelines separated by centuries, connecting them through richly developed characters and a compelling mystery. Paige’s journey, sparked by a haunting painting in her ancestral home, is both moving and inspiring as she begins to heal and rediscover where she truly belongs. At the same time, Jeanne’s story is equally powerful—her courage, resilience, and determination in the face of immense risk made it impossible not to root for her.

The characters feel vivid and real, and their stories linger long after the final page. The balance of suspense, history, and emotion is handled with care, creating a narrative that is both thrilling and heartfelt. While there are a few moments where the pacing slows slightly, it never takes away from the overall impact of the story.

A captivating, emotional, and unputdownable story—I’ll definitely be looking forward to what Clare Marchant writes next. ✨✨✨✨

[Ritu Bhathal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I haven't read one of Clare Marchant's books before, because this was right up my street!
A dual-timeline mystery with two very strong female MCs, one in each era: the present and 1672.
Paige is back in her family home after a disastrous 'marriage' and busies herself with helping her father and investigating the provenance of a gruesome piece of art in their ancestral home.
Meanwhile, in 1672, we meet Jeanne and her sister Marie. Two French sisters were brought over with the marriage of one of them to the lord of the house, but their own situation is precarious.
I can't write much about the plot because that's not what a review is, but I will say I was fully invested in this story and in finding out the origins of the "Phaedra" painting and what it all meant.
I really felt for Jeanne, who, at a time of little understanding, was trying to deal with her own sexuality, as well as supporting a sister suffering huge mental health issues, and the upheaval they encountered when they were made to leave their home.
All I can say is 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned'!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for an ARC.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book I’ve read by Clare and I enjoy the way she weaves together history with mystic elements. Set in Woodham Hall, the story unfolds over a dual timeline with Paige arriving home after her marriage falls apart, she decides to stay and help her father with upkeep of the hall and help with their wedding business. Whilst renovating a small chapel on the property she discovers a painting that depicts a mass murder in the house.

In 1672, Jeanne and her sister Marie are sent back to Paris so that Marie’s husband can arrange a marriage for their daughter and move in his mistress and two small boys. The story moves seamlessly between the two different storylines. The historical elements were well researched and I loved their links to real events and the alchemy and poisons components. It was fun to see Paige put together all the different clues to find out what happened. I enjoyed Paige’s millinery background, the wedding business, her relationship with her Dad and seeing her stand her group with her estranged husband. An interesting historical mystery.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the eARC.

This would be a great book club book. There are so many interesting topics of ethics and the patriarchy to discuss. And it’s a relatively easy read (length wise and in the complexity of the storyline).

The characters in the 1672 timeline are multi-dimensional and interesting. Jeanne contemplated so may life changes in a very short period of time. Marie was a woman obsessed and unable to see any other direction. The main character in the 2026 timeline wasn’t as much so. I felt like she needed something. Her focusing on the art history and her home made sense after her personal life challenges. But those challenges never entirely made sense to me. Maybe because I’m a lawyer, the motivation of the ex-husband is pure poppycock. (I don’t want to say more because spoilers). And her dad’s character was pretty one dimensional.

I love a dual timeline. These two timelines were obviously connected but they didn’t mesh fully even by the end of the book. The two storylines run parallel. And they are both interesting.