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Alchemy: Vols. 1&2 - Special Combined Edition
Under one cover, the first two bestselling novels by Chris James:
"Alchemy: a story of perfect murder" - Amazon TOP20 for British Historical Literary Fiction, for 5 months
&
"Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold"
"Alchemy: a story of perfect murder" - Amazon TOP20 for British Historical Literary Fiction, for 5 months
&
"Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold"
666 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 14, 2015
7 people want to read
About the author
Chris James
4 books23 followersA former Murder Squad detective in the UK, now living in Mallorca in the Mediterranean, I am no stranger to murder and the macabre, having led many murder trials.
TITLES:
Debut novel: "Alchemy: a story of perfect murder" - Feb 2015.
Sequel: "Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold" released 14 Dec 2015.
What readers are saying:-
"The suspense is powerful!"
"It's rare that I find a book that I just can't put down!"
"If you love Victorian Era mystery and intrigue, you’ll like this book!"
"An excellent book with lots of twists and turns!"
"If you are a reader of period suspense and murder plots well written to portray the period I highly recommend this book!"
"full of excitement and surprises!"
"very suspenseful and leaves you at the edge of your chair!"
"Loved the twists and unexpected!"
"A real page turner. Couldn't put it down!"
"a very entertaining story with lots of mystery!"
"just gets better and better as you read it!"
"never ceases to surprise... compulsive reading and a real pageturner!"
TITLES:
Debut novel: "Alchemy: a story of perfect murder" - Feb 2015.
Sequel: "Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold" released 14 Dec 2015.
What readers are saying:-
"The suspense is powerful!"
"It's rare that I find a book that I just can't put down!"
"If you love Victorian Era mystery and intrigue, you’ll like this book!"
"An excellent book with lots of twists and turns!"
"If you are a reader of period suspense and murder plots well written to portray the period I highly recommend this book!"
"full of excitement and surprises!"
"very suspenseful and leaves you at the edge of your chair!"
"Loved the twists and unexpected!"
"A real page turner. Couldn't put it down!"
"a very entertaining story with lots of mystery!"
"just gets better and better as you read it!"
"never ceases to surprise... compulsive reading and a real pageturner!"
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 18, 2016
What could be better than a great book? TWO great books in the one package! Oh just brilliant!
Alchemy 1: A stunning debut novel! Don't even think of skipping past this one or adding it to a long list of books to be read, just read it. What a brilliant genre mash we have here to keep the reader well entertained; historical fiction, crime, mystery, the supernatural, mystery, suspense and even some wit and humour.
Could it be pulled off? By golly could it and more! Chris James is an exceptional new writer to the market and one that I am eager to follow for a long time to come. I LOVED this book! I feel like spinning around and clapping my hands together.
Lotions, potions, elixirs and murder, this is what gives us the core of Alchemy, a brilliant murder mystery set in the atmospheric atmosphere of the darker side of Victorian London. I loved the setting, the characters (even the minor players) and most of all the plot which is devilishly delightful and gruesome at times! I could not get enough of this book and devoured it over a few hours. It entertained, shocked, made me laugh (Chris James spins some brilliant witty one liners in his writing that I love) and kept me begging for more.
Imagine loving somebody so much that to get them back you will kill and mess with death itself. Willing to dance with the dark side, seeking a balm for a broken and wounded heart? Chris writes with great enthusiasm, descriptives the delight and has a taste for the macabre that makes this book such a gem. It really was like nothing I have read in a very long time.
Then there is the ending...OH MY GOLLY GOSH, the ending...I could actually feel my heart rate was up, I was holding my breath and reading so fast I thought I might push the words off the page. Brilliant! It left me so hungry for book two, I wanted to just go straight on and read it. This is a truly unique and stunning novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy many book genres. An easy five paw prints from Booklover Catlady for this treasure of a book. No doubt about it. Stunning!
Alchemy 2: When is a book great? When the sequel is not only as good as but better than the first! This is now well in contention to be in my Top Ten reads of 2015. I really loved the first book but always lower expectations a bit for a sequel, I should not have worried, Chris James gave me so much more than I could have hoped for. I am literally desperate now to read book three in this great series!
We are taken back to the smog of Victorian London to continue the story of Jacob Silver, more to the point to find out how his body is missing from his grave at Pentonville Prison. Lizzie Weston, the one remaining lady of the portraits still alive makes it her mission to prove that he did indeed reach immortality, and ultimately to clear his name. Is he indeed immortal? You have to read it to find out.
The police are on the hunt for the enigmatic and mysterious Flamel and there is more murder, mayhem, headless women and heads in glass jars than you can handle. The plot is sublime, I was suckered in from the very start of the book and it gripped me until the very last word. And yet again Chris James delivers a stunning ending that both delighted and frustrated me at the same time, bring on the next book and quick!
I thought book two gets a little bit darker and more macabre and I absolutely loved that, the characters ping off the pages and you will be kept guessing for longer than you like about where you stand on many matters depicted in the pages of this brilliant novel. There are some simply spectacular scenes that really did pause time and matter (well maybe not the matter bit, but I was reading Alchemy after all). Entwined into the brilliant fast-paced thrilling and gruesome plot is one of my favourite aspects of Chris as an author - his witty lines that literally make me laugh out loud. You would think they would not work in a book about such dark subject matter, but it just does. This is very colourful, entertaining and delectable fiction.
There is nothing not to like and this is a book that I could rave on and on about, pure escapism and clever writing from a shining new star in the midst of millions of authors.
I was very lucky to get an ARC of this book pre-release date and cannot recommend it enough, do read the first book in the series Alchemy: A Story of Perfect Murder to get a solid background on the exceptional and addictive characters and storyline.
Bodies missing from graves? More murdered women without heads? Throw in the supernatural and a fair amount of potions and elixirs and what do you have? A winning combination that's what! This gets a solid 5 paw prints from me, I can't wait for the next book. Will these tales get to my top spot for my best read of 2015? You will have to check in to see.
For more reviews, books to win and author spotlights: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
You can follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Many thanks to the author for sharing a copy of the books with me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Alchemy 1: A stunning debut novel! Don't even think of skipping past this one or adding it to a long list of books to be read, just read it. What a brilliant genre mash we have here to keep the reader well entertained; historical fiction, crime, mystery, the supernatural, mystery, suspense and even some wit and humour.
Could it be pulled off? By golly could it and more! Chris James is an exceptional new writer to the market and one that I am eager to follow for a long time to come. I LOVED this book! I feel like spinning around and clapping my hands together.
Lotions, potions, elixirs and murder, this is what gives us the core of Alchemy, a brilliant murder mystery set in the atmospheric atmosphere of the darker side of Victorian London. I loved the setting, the characters (even the minor players) and most of all the plot which is devilishly delightful and gruesome at times! I could not get enough of this book and devoured it over a few hours. It entertained, shocked, made me laugh (Chris James spins some brilliant witty one liners in his writing that I love) and kept me begging for more.
Imagine loving somebody so much that to get them back you will kill and mess with death itself. Willing to dance with the dark side, seeking a balm for a broken and wounded heart? Chris writes with great enthusiasm, descriptives the delight and has a taste for the macabre that makes this book such a gem. It really was like nothing I have read in a very long time.
Then there is the ending...OH MY GOLLY GOSH, the ending...I could actually feel my heart rate was up, I was holding my breath and reading so fast I thought I might push the words off the page. Brilliant! It left me so hungry for book two, I wanted to just go straight on and read it. This is a truly unique and stunning novel that will appeal to readers who enjoy many book genres. An easy five paw prints from Booklover Catlady for this treasure of a book. No doubt about it. Stunning!
Alchemy 2: When is a book great? When the sequel is not only as good as but better than the first! This is now well in contention to be in my Top Ten reads of 2015. I really loved the first book but always lower expectations a bit for a sequel, I should not have worried, Chris James gave me so much more than I could have hoped for. I am literally desperate now to read book three in this great series!
We are taken back to the smog of Victorian London to continue the story of Jacob Silver, more to the point to find out how his body is missing from his grave at Pentonville Prison. Lizzie Weston, the one remaining lady of the portraits still alive makes it her mission to prove that he did indeed reach immortality, and ultimately to clear his name. Is he indeed immortal? You have to read it to find out.
The police are on the hunt for the enigmatic and mysterious Flamel and there is more murder, mayhem, headless women and heads in glass jars than you can handle. The plot is sublime, I was suckered in from the very start of the book and it gripped me until the very last word. And yet again Chris James delivers a stunning ending that both delighted and frustrated me at the same time, bring on the next book and quick!
I thought book two gets a little bit darker and more macabre and I absolutely loved that, the characters ping off the pages and you will be kept guessing for longer than you like about where you stand on many matters depicted in the pages of this brilliant novel. There are some simply spectacular scenes that really did pause time and matter (well maybe not the matter bit, but I was reading Alchemy after all). Entwined into the brilliant fast-paced thrilling and gruesome plot is one of my favourite aspects of Chris as an author - his witty lines that literally make me laugh out loud. You would think they would not work in a book about such dark subject matter, but it just does. This is very colourful, entertaining and delectable fiction.
There is nothing not to like and this is a book that I could rave on and on about, pure escapism and clever writing from a shining new star in the midst of millions of authors.
I was very lucky to get an ARC of this book pre-release date and cannot recommend it enough, do read the first book in the series Alchemy: A Story of Perfect Murder to get a solid background on the exceptional and addictive characters and storyline.
Bodies missing from graves? More murdered women without heads? Throw in the supernatural and a fair amount of potions and elixirs and what do you have? A winning combination that's what! This gets a solid 5 paw prints from me, I can't wait for the next book. Will these tales get to my top spot for my best read of 2015? You will have to check in to see.
For more reviews, books to win and author spotlights: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
You can follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
Many thanks to the author for sharing a copy of the books with me in exchange for a fair and honest review.
January 5, 2016
Alchemy is a great series for fans of historical murder mystery books.
My 5 star review of Alchemy 1
I bought Alchemy: A Story of Perfect Murder after seeing so many people say they loved it, and I'm pleased to report that I wasn’t disappointed.
I didn’t find it particularly gory. I must be a hardened reader. I was a little concerned it was going to be a little too macabre, based on other comments and reviews. Although this is naturally somewhat dark due to the nature of the subject matter, it turned out to be so much more.
This story has much more depth to it than I anticipated. It is cleverly plotted, with some impressive twists I never saw coming. There is an interesting mix of characters. The attention to detail helped draw me into the story and its surroundings, making this book very atmospheric.
I visited the Victorian Village at Flambards in Cornwall for the first time yesterday. Perfect timing, as it really did bring my recent memories of this book to life. Having read this book a few days before visiting the Victorian Village undoubtedly improved my experience of walking around the museum village yesterday. The sign above the door of the Chemist Time Capsule Shop stating “Prescriptions Accurately Prepared” gave me a giggle as I thought about this book.
Great for lovers of historical murder mystery. I think this would also really appeal to fans of gothic novels, such as Frankenstein. However, this is in no way a retelling of such a story. This is very much a unique story in its own right.
I’m really looking forward to the next book in this series.
My 4 star review of Alchemy 2
If you enjoyed the first book, Alchemy: a story of perfect murder, then you should definitely read this second book, as I’m sure you will enjoy it too, as you are taken on a journey of further mystery and surprising discovery.
This is a very well written mystery thriller with a great plot. I loved the eerie atmosphere, and the great characters, including a few famous ones you may have heard of before. The later part of the book had me wishing I could read faster, as I was dying to find out what happened next. This story takes you to a time and place in history, and keeps you there until the last page.
Book two continues the story told in book one, as well as revealing further details of past events. It is probably possible to read this as a standalone, but I would strongly recommend you read these books in order to fully understand and enjoy them.
Alchemy: turning Silver to Gold, is imaginative, quirky and slightly bizarre at times. A great read!
Great for lovers of historical murder mystery. I think this would also really appeal to fans of gothic novels, such as Frankenstein. However, this is in no way a retelling of such a story. This is very much a unique story in its own right.
I would like to thank the author, Chris James, for kindly offering me an eBook copy of this novel, in exchange for an honest review, and wish him success with this and any future novels. I’m already looking forward to reading the next.
December 27, 2015
An excellent two book series.
January 28, 2016
Alchemy is an engrossing supernatural mystery that explores the lengths men will go to attain immortality. Do not be put off by the length of this omnibus edition, it is definitely better to read both volumes together. The second volume is more of a continuation than a sequel.
As the novel progresses, the reader moves back and forth in time, gaining a unique understanding of the situation from multiple perspectives - that of Lizzie, the last living model, Silver, the brilliant artist and alchemist, and a few other pertinent characters. The truth is multifaceted. In both novels, Silver is put on trial for murder. Chris James reveals events and intentions slowly, layer by layer enticing the reader with each new bit of information.
Although this is a mystery, it isn't a traditional one by any means. There are aspects that place it more amongst horror and fantasy novels. This isn't a novel appropriate for younger readers.
Alchemy is a magnificent first novel, and I commend Chris James on his skill. I look forward to seeing what he writes next.
5/5
I received a copy of Alchemy from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
As the novel progresses, the reader moves back and forth in time, gaining a unique understanding of the situation from multiple perspectives - that of Lizzie, the last living model, Silver, the brilliant artist and alchemist, and a few other pertinent characters. The truth is multifaceted. In both novels, Silver is put on trial for murder. Chris James reveals events and intentions slowly, layer by layer enticing the reader with each new bit of information.
Although this is a mystery, it isn't a traditional one by any means. There are aspects that place it more amongst horror and fantasy novels. This isn't a novel appropriate for younger readers.
Alchemy is a magnificent first novel, and I commend Chris James on his skill. I look forward to seeing what he writes next.
5/5
I received a copy of Alchemy from the publisher and Netgalley.com in exchange for an honest review.
--Crittermom
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews