Dark Alchemy

Dr. Sylvia Strange #5

by Sarah Lovett, Joyce Bean (Reader)

Dr. Sylvia Strange - forensic psychiatrist and expert on criminal sexuality - returns in a thrilling new suspense novel and comes head-to-head with a terrifying serial killer whose weapon of choice is a poison nearly impossible to trace and, when ingested, nearly impossible to counteract. A baffling series of deaths have occurred over the span of a decade in some of the most prestigious research laboratories around the world. Now Dr. Sylvia Strange, forensic expert, and criminal profiler Edmund Sweetheart, FBI consultant, are called in to investigate what is looking like murder. Their prime suspect is Dr. Christine Palmer, a brilliant scientist whose work with scientific think tanks around the world made her one of three scientists knowledgeable about exotic neurotoxins and their antidotes. What follows is a taut and terrifying investigation, in which Sylvia finds herself able to trust no one - but herself.

Audio Cassette

First published January 1, 1998

About the author

Before crafting her gripping thrillers, Sarah Lovett immersed herself in the very world her fiction explores.

With a degree in Criminal Justice from the University of New Mexico, she stepped directly into the legal and investigative sphere—working within the state’s Office of the Attorney General. It was here that she encountered the stark realities of forensic analysis, behavioral profiling, and the mechanics of organized crime.

Her research extended beyond office walls. Lovett spent time inside the New Mexico State Penitentiary, conducting interviews with offenders and law enforcement officials alike. Those firsthand encounters revealed a side of justice few ever witness—a world both brutal and humanizing.

Every detail in her novels, from the precision of forensic evidence to the psychological nuance of her protagonists, is grounded in years of direct observation, institutional collaboration, and meticulous fieldwork. For Lovett, truth itself is a powerful catalyst—one that continually transforms her fiction into reality.

Reviews

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

When forensic psychologist Dr. Sylvia Strange is asked to profile a suspected serial poisoner working for the government, a game of cat and mouse ensues.

Complex characters, highly suspenseful. Series best when read in order. Recommend.

[Ms.soule · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great set-up, but the story fell apart in the end.