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The Alchemy of Night
Emmeline Bell, the only daughter of a well-known London solicitor, is intelligent, beautiful, and well-loved by her family and friends.
Nigel Carey, the second son of Lord Marham, is quiet and reserved yet secretly pines to call Emme his own. When Nigel proposes, Emme accepts it without love knowing the match will give her a comfortable life. She is unaware that Nigel's dark and mysterious older brother, Everett, heir to the earldom, also holds a deep desire for her.
Arriving a week early to a mutual friend's annual winter house party, Emme and Everett strike up an unexpected friendship, one that quickly leads to romance. As Everett invokes feelings in her she never thought possible, he urges her to break off her engagement to his brother. However, another young woman who has been scheming to force a marriage with the handsome, wealthy, and titled Everett is found dead in the middle of the winter ball. Suddenly everyone has a motive for murder--even Emme.
As the inspector assigned to the case tries to unravel the plot, the list of suspects narrows, and Everett is arrested. Convinced of his innocence, Emme embarks on a mission to clear his name. She uncovers overlooked clues and someone suddenly becomes determined to stop her. Emme and Everett must race to unmask the killer before the killer silences Emme forever.
Nigel Carey, the second son of Lord Marham, is quiet and reserved yet secretly pines to call Emme his own. When Nigel proposes, Emme accepts it without love knowing the match will give her a comfortable life. She is unaware that Nigel's dark and mysterious older brother, Everett, heir to the earldom, also holds a deep desire for her.
Arriving a week early to a mutual friend's annual winter house party, Emme and Everett strike up an unexpected friendship, one that quickly leads to romance. As Everett invokes feelings in her she never thought possible, he urges her to break off her engagement to his brother. However, another young woman who has been scheming to force a marriage with the handsome, wealthy, and titled Everett is found dead in the middle of the winter ball. Suddenly everyone has a motive for murder--even Emme.
As the inspector assigned to the case tries to unravel the plot, the list of suspects narrows, and Everett is arrested. Convinced of his innocence, Emme embarks on a mission to clear his name. She uncovers overlooked clues and someone suddenly becomes determined to stop her. Emme and Everett must race to unmask the killer before the killer silences Emme forever.
308 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 9, 2017
About the author
Nicola Italia
23 books153 followersNicola spent her childhood in Los Angeles. She graduated from university with a degree in communications and held a variety of positions in journalism, education, government and non profit.
Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China and Central America.
She currently has twenty one novels available at Amazon, Google Play and Barnes and Noble.
https://linktr.ee/authornicolaitalia
Nicola has traveled extensively throughout Europe, China and Central America.
She currently has twenty one novels available at Amazon, Google Play and Barnes and Noble.
https://linktr.ee/authornicolaitalia
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 31, 2017
I always enjoy Nicola’s books and she did not disappoint. This time around a murder happens at the winter ball. There is also forbidden love. Lots of twists and drama. This was a fast read because I couldn’t put it down. I really liked a lot of the characters.
Great beach read or curl up by the fire with a blanket and a warm drink. Be prepared to go back in time to London and be prepared to be entertained. Well worth the read.
I thank the author for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I have read several of her books and I recommend them all.
Great beach read or curl up by the fire with a blanket and a warm drink. Be prepared to go back in time to London and be prepared to be entertained. Well worth the read.
I thank the author for my copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. I have read several of her books and I recommend them all.
October 27, 2020
I read a lot of serious, heavy and often times intense historical fiction books, but every once in a while I love a good mystery so when I find one like The Alchemy of Night by Nicola Italia I jump on it. This one did not disappoint whatsoever.
Emmeline Bell, the only daughter of a well known and successful solicitor in London is beautiful, smart and desired by Nigel Carey, the second son of Lord Marham. Nigel is the quiet son, leaving all the pomp to his elder brother Everett, who will inherit the title and wealth of the family when his father dies. Nigel is unaware of Everett's feelings for Emme when he proposes to her and she accepts, although this is not a love match. Emme finds herself at the age of 25, which in those days is reaching "old maid" status, so security and stability outweighed love in her decision.
A winter ball is planned at Emme's friends house and Emme and Everett arrive a week early. Emme is now engaged to Nigel, but that doesn't stop her from spending all her time with Everett, her soon to be brother in law. They enjoy one another's company and she finds him to be everything Nigel is not. She starts to have feelings she knows she shouldn't be having and wishes for the other guests to arrive hoping their diversions will take her mind of what's going on with her and Everett. The guests do all arrive and with them comes a woman, who wasn't really invited, but since she's there well why not stay? She's there for one reason and one reason only, to trap Everett into marriage, she wants to be the next Countess and nothing will stop her from achieving that. After a minor indiscretion and a major lie Everett is forced to propose to her against his will. Everyone is stunned, especially Emme.
The night of the ball when both Nigel's and Everett's engagements are to be announced the newly engaged mystery woman's body is found in the pond out back. She's been murdered and since everyone knows the animosity and disgust Everett has for her he becomes the main suspect. The investigators arrest him without looking elsewhere. Emme can't believe the man she came to know during the week alone with him could ever murder anyone, even though he has a shaded past with woman, he's never been known to be a violent man. She takes it upon herself to figure out what really happened and who really killed this woman.
This book was a real who dunnit! I love these books where I spend the whole time trying to put the clues together to try and outsmart the author and guess the culprit. They're fun and exciting, without me having to really concentrate and think about what I'm reading. I like to refer to these kind of books as my version of Hallmark or Lifetime movies, since I don't watch TV. They're usually a little corny, they always have a little romance going on amid the murder and mayhem and they're just a fun way to spend an afternoon! The characters were great! I loved Emme for her strength and curiosity in a time when women were mainly seen and not heard, she persisted. And when the killer was unveiled I wasn't really surprised, but it did keep me guessing. Just a good, easy to read, entertaining mystery with a historical twist! My kind of book! Happy Reading!
Emmeline Bell, the only daughter of a well known and successful solicitor in London is beautiful, smart and desired by Nigel Carey, the second son of Lord Marham. Nigel is the quiet son, leaving all the pomp to his elder brother Everett, who will inherit the title and wealth of the family when his father dies. Nigel is unaware of Everett's feelings for Emme when he proposes to her and she accepts, although this is not a love match. Emme finds herself at the age of 25, which in those days is reaching "old maid" status, so security and stability outweighed love in her decision.
A winter ball is planned at Emme's friends house and Emme and Everett arrive a week early. Emme is now engaged to Nigel, but that doesn't stop her from spending all her time with Everett, her soon to be brother in law. They enjoy one another's company and she finds him to be everything Nigel is not. She starts to have feelings she knows she shouldn't be having and wishes for the other guests to arrive hoping their diversions will take her mind of what's going on with her and Everett. The guests do all arrive and with them comes a woman, who wasn't really invited, but since she's there well why not stay? She's there for one reason and one reason only, to trap Everett into marriage, she wants to be the next Countess and nothing will stop her from achieving that. After a minor indiscretion and a major lie Everett is forced to propose to her against his will. Everyone is stunned, especially Emme.
The night of the ball when both Nigel's and Everett's engagements are to be announced the newly engaged mystery woman's body is found in the pond out back. She's been murdered and since everyone knows the animosity and disgust Everett has for her he becomes the main suspect. The investigators arrest him without looking elsewhere. Emme can't believe the man she came to know during the week alone with him could ever murder anyone, even though he has a shaded past with woman, he's never been known to be a violent man. She takes it upon herself to figure out what really happened and who really killed this woman.
This book was a real who dunnit! I love these books where I spend the whole time trying to put the clues together to try and outsmart the author and guess the culprit. They're fun and exciting, without me having to really concentrate and think about what I'm reading. I like to refer to these kind of books as my version of Hallmark or Lifetime movies, since I don't watch TV. They're usually a little corny, they always have a little romance going on amid the murder and mayhem and they're just a fun way to spend an afternoon! The characters were great! I loved Emme for her strength and curiosity in a time when women were mainly seen and not heard, she persisted. And when the killer was unveiled I wasn't really surprised, but it did keep me guessing. Just a good, easy to read, entertaining mystery with a historical twist! My kind of book! Happy Reading!
October 12, 2018
Eh
This book is not as good as others I have read by this au th or.I found it boring but I had come too far to give up on the novel. Better off with another selection.
This book is not as good as others I have read by this au th or.I found it boring but I had come too far to give up on the novel. Better off with another selection.
July 11, 2020
Nicola Italia's talent of bringing "The Alchemy of Night" to life is so not a disappointment,at least not for me! Nicola has a way of drawing you into this story of mystery,adventures,crime,revenge and love,what a dangerous combination! Very well researched for this time line and whats to say about the characters that belong. Characters have all sorts of personalities that you think you know one of them very well and then turns around to surprise you on what they did where now do you really know what any of them are capable of! You are so drawn into this story after I think a little bit of a boring start but as I continued I see why,it really wasn't that way at all,Nicola had a reason for any she started the way she did with two of the main characters! I think the story at one point was going on and on,but then as I got past kite then the middle of the story, the characters showed you who they really are! In this story you have a combination of revenge, crime, and murder! The adventures that you are taken on will have you finding in the characters greed,resentment hatred and love! How can you have love out of all those feelings? Read this fantastic story and you will see the twisted end! I kept reading and reading not wanting to stop because I really couldn't figure out why all of this was going on and then who was doing it! All these questions are answered for you,but you have to get the book to find out cause I'm not telling you! I Will be reading more of her very talented stories!
May 15, 2021
I loved Emme, she was 25 as in on-the-shelf, well educated, loyal and loving to her barrister father and aunt, and has a well established circle of good friends. One of whom is Nigel. His older brother is Everett, the first-born to the Earl of Marham. Nigel is a seemingly nice young man, Everett has a darker aspect and is known to have a reputation with women. Everett has watched Emme come into her full bloom of womanhood over the ten years he's known her and his interest is stirred. But little brother, Nigel has finally gotten up his courage, and Emme accepts his suit as a safe and secure one in which love may grow over time. She doesn't love him now. Maude is a young woman in Emme's social circle and she wants to be a countess and have money. Everett wants nothing to do with her, even if he can't figure out a way to have Emme. These four attend an annual ball, but only three of them live through it. Who is the murderer? Why? Recommended.
September 24, 2019
A Murder Mystery Romance
If you are a fan of true crime and romance then this is the perfect book for you!! Seriously it has a love triangle, true love, jealous brothers, sex and lots and lots of drinking! Everything is very tasteful in the means of the “adult “ scenes and a HEA in both the murder mystery and romance part!!
If you are a fan of true crime and romance then this is the perfect book for you!! Seriously it has a love triangle, true love, jealous brothers, sex and lots and lots of drinking! Everything is very tasteful in the means of the “adult “ scenes and a HEA in both the murder mystery and romance part!!
September 28, 2020
Dull
It had all the elements of a good romance/mystery but the author’s style of writing is very wooden and the characters were like cardboard cutouts, i.e., everyone had an easily identifiable role and no personality. Even the reveal is dull as it was obvious almost from the beginning.
It had all the elements of a good romance/mystery but the author’s style of writing is very wooden and the characters were like cardboard cutouts, i.e., everyone had an easily identifiable role and no personality. Even the reveal is dull as it was obvious almost from the beginning.
October 21, 2018
I love the story. The journey to fall in love and marry, not an easy journey. The journey is rich in drama and emotions tugging at your heart strings
If you love romance stories, this is a stunning read. I recommend you will not put this book down.
If you love romance stories, this is a stunning read. I recommend you will not put this book down.
Read
August 23, 2020Dark London locations enhanced the mystery
Interesting mystery full of intrigue, which lasted until the last page. Historically accurate, beautifully described landscaping and decor. Talented author, I will read her again. Thank you.
Interesting mystery full of intrigue, which lasted until the last page. Historically accurate, beautifully described landscaping and decor. Talented author, I will read her again. Thank you.
August 24, 2020
A young woman in Vuctorian England is set to announce her engagement but discovers she is in love with her intendeds brother, then at the ball to announce the engagement a murder occurs. Which brother is guilty?
August 30, 2020
Romance in a classist society!
I enjoyed this lighthearted romantic story! It was interesting to read about class distinctions reminded me of the caste system in India. It also brought out how classism brings out manipulative and controlling behavior from the have nots!
I enjoyed this lighthearted romantic story! It was interesting to read about class distinctions reminded me of the caste system in India. It also brought out how classism brings out manipulative and controlling behavior from the have nots!
May 27, 2022
My thoughts
I had figured it out long before the ending, conversations were stilted. Only an "ok" read for m
e. I expected more than this story gave, I was hoping to find who Maude had met earlier and maybe that person had killed her.
I had figured it out long before the ending, conversations were stilted. Only an "ok" read for m
e. I expected more than this story gave, I was hoping to find who Maude had met earlier and maybe that person had killed her.
November 10, 2017
By far Nicola Italia's best work. I love that this book is a Historical romance, with a murder mystery. This book kept me at the edge of my seat! I could not put down!! This book is a must read!!
August 13, 2020
Good read
I enjoyed the storyline, I guessed the villain before the reveal, but a really good read, thoroughly enjoyed the twist.
I enjoyed the storyline, I guessed the villain before the reveal, but a really good read, thoroughly enjoyed the twist.
August 14, 2020
Mystery
This story had mystery and intrigue and a lot of action. Two brothers like the same girl so that adds to the complications
This story had mystery and intrigue and a lot of action. Two brothers like the same girl so that adds to the complications
August 18, 2020
I really loved this book! It cost me a night’s sleep but I could not put it down. Great read!
August 19, 2020
A real page turner suspense-who is the killer and what is their motivation?
Read
August 25, 2020This was OK, not a lot of suspense, there was a limited choice of villains.
August 25, 2020
Captivating and simple story
The story flows well and makes for a good afternoon read. Nothing too complicated or ugly. Could do with better editing
The story flows well and makes for a good afternoon read. Nothing too complicated or ugly. Could do with better editing
September 21, 2020
I can’t name one good thing about this book
Want to Read
December 23, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/23/2020)! 🎁
April 16, 2021
Intrigued by the mystery
Fell in love with the character, Emme, right away! The author eases the reader into a love story and mystery, keeping the suspense until the end!
Fell in love with the character, Emme, right away! The author eases the reader into a love story and mystery, keeping the suspense until the end!
May 9, 2021
Characters were flat and static. I only finished the book to find out who had done it. Disappointing overall.
July 4, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and had no idea who the killer was - other reviewers must be smarter than I am. Thank you for a delightful read!
December 30, 2021
A well written story with an intriguing plot that kept my interest throughout. I enjoyed the dark and the light sides of the story. Well done Nicola Italia.
March 8, 2022
It's a historical romance, mystery and thriller all rolled into one.
April 10, 2022
Kept in Suspense Until……
Good book - enough characters for a short book- Fast moving - got to the point - Great plot and ending
Good book - enough characters for a short book- Fast moving - got to the point - Great plot and ending
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews