In this historical fiction, "The Alchemist of Lost Souls" we find a dangerous element that leads to a chain of multiple murders during the spring of 1544.

Bianca, pregnant wants nothing to do with her unstable father until the substance is stolen and he requests her help in finding the stolen item. A body is found and now Bianca is concerned her mother may be involved. There are enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed until the very end. Very well written!

I have read the second book in this series, I really liked it and couldn't wait to read a new episode.
Since discovering that she is pregnant, Bianca has decided to distance herself from her father. She has excellent knowledge of herbs and uses them to help people while he is an alchemist and has recently discovered a very dangerous potion. Unfortunately she remained alone, her husband was sent to the Scottish border. Her good intentions jump when her father asks her for help to find the thief who stole his dangerous potion. Meanwhile she must also find out what is behind the murder that took place in her infamous neighborhood.
It is a very realistic and raw story, the descriptions are so accurate that it seems to be there, to perceive the typical smells of the London slums, the food, the humidity. Even the language is adequate at the time. A truly compelling mystery, written brilliantly with a well-woven plot full of suspense and with interesting characters.
It can be read as a standalone but for more enjoyment I recommend reading the series in order.
Absolutely to read for lovers of cozy historical mystery.

This is the fourth book in the Bianca Goddard series, and I picked it up because I read and enjoyed the recreation of Tudor England in the first two books in the series, The Alchemist’s Daughter and Death of an Alchemist. How and why I managed to miss the third book, Death at St. Vedast, I have no idea, but it’s an omission I certainly plan to rectify!

Although this series takes place among people who are living at the bottom of the economic pile, the actions of those at the top still affect the lives of Bianca, her husband John, and her father Albern in ways that never work to their benefit.

Once upon a time Albern Goddard was a respected alchemist in the employ of the king. The respectability of alchemy, while not laughable as it is today, was more than a bit dubious even in the mid 16th century when this story is set.

Albern’s fame and fortunes have considerably dwindled – not that his attitudes towards his wife, his daughter, or the people he lives among have come down even in the slightest. He thinks he’s better and smarter than everyone else looking down his nose at everyone around him, including his family.

And certainly his fellow practitioners of the so-called noble art.

His daughter Bianca, on the other hand, is both a decent brewer of medicinals and a decent judge of human beings. Including her parents. That she lives in an unsavory part of London and practices among those even poorer than herself provides further fuel for her father’s contempt. And that’s in spite of the fact that Bianca has pulled his nuts, literally and figuratively, out of the fire more than once.

Which doesn’t stop either Albern Goddard nor the local sheriff from enlisting her aid. Albern when a precious compound is stolen, and the sheriff when the woman who ended up with it in her possession is murdered.

But the parallel investigations into the theft from her father and the murder that seems to have been its result are not the only problems plaguing Bianca.

Because it is 1544 and Henry VIII plans on one final campaign against England’s perennial enemy, the French. He intends it to be a glorious victory. All that Bianca knows is that her husband has been caught up in the conscription for a war that seems more foolhardy than glorious. Whether he will return in time to see the child she carries – even whether he will return at all – is in the hands, or whims, of a capricious fate.

Escape Rating B+: This is a historical series where the reader kicks the offal, smells the smells, and feels more than a hint of the brutality of life on society’s lowest rungs of the ladder. In that, it resembles the Crispin Guest series by Jeri Westerson, the Thieftaker Chronicles by D.B. Jackson and the Kate Clifford series by Candace Robb.

This is not a pretty view of Tudor England, but one that is biting and raw. Bianca’s circumstances force her to make her living in an area known for its poverty, crime and lawlessness. It’s a world where her father has not only the right but the duty to beat her, in spite of her being an adult living away from his household, and where she is grateful that her husband does not do his duty to beat her as well.

And it is also a period where what we would now label superstition is accepted as fact, and where the worlds of magic and spiritualism lie much closer to everyday life. Which explains the common beliefs in alchemy, as well as nearly everything about the title character of this story, the being known as the Rat Man, who has spent centuries plying the waterways of the Thames and looking for the alchemical element he once created in an attempt to grant eternal life. An element that seems to have only granted him eternal damnation.

He is watching Bianca, in the hopes that she can somehow lead him to the final end that he longs for. And that she will not pay for his death with her own.

But the Rat Man is a shadowy figure, existing mostly on the fringes of this story. It is Bianca that we focus on, and it is her search for the truth, even the truths that she does not want to face, that moves us. While her circumstances may be removed in place and time, the intelligence, deductive reasoning and sheer stubbornness that she uses to achieve her aims are traits that 21st century readers can certainly empathize with – and follow.

This is the fourth in the series, but I absolutely devoured this book as if it were the first and enjoyed as a standalone.

Set in Elizabethan London, Bianca Goddard is pregnant and her husband, John, has flunked his archery test and is being conscripted to the king's army. Her mother Melva is a white witch, her father the alchemist, albeit a disgraced alchemist having fallen out of favor. He made a remarkable discovery hoping it will put him back in the king's good graces. Unfortunately, his sample elements have disappeared and he politely (not) requests that his daughter ascertain whether or not his wife was responsible.

She is an herbalist with a growing list of clients, one of whom, Meddybemps, is a street peddler of her wares and an old friend. Meddybemps, however, is just one of a number of support characters that catapults you back to the sixteenth century. The sights, sounds, and smells emanate from the pages. You are there. It's wet...and chilly. Rainy streets slick with all manner of human detritus combine with the cooking odors and scents wafting from Southwark inns with tobacco and ale--drank morning, noon, and night (in place of fetid water).

Her father's element quickly ends up in the hands of an unscrupulous couple and the wife is murdered trying to sell them. The death of the wife puts Bianca in touch with Constable Patch, with whom she has had dealings in prior series entries. The elements change hands more than once, resulting in additional unusual and unique deaths.

The conclusion came following the climax of a harrowing scene pitting Bianca and her very capable inn wench friend, Cammy, against the antagonist. Is Bianca able to retrieve the elements? Or if so, at what cost? And if I had any niggles at all, it would be the conclusion.

I was given this eBook download by the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. The author was careful to deliver authentic dialect, slang, and syntax, words I was looking up, Latin or French phrases, descriptions of costume and dress. This would make such a fantastic TV series. If I can't watch it, I'll wait (im)patiently for the next book. Heartily recommended!

I didn't realise this was book 4 in a series, but this intrigued me - it would be beneficial to have read the previous books but it did no hinder my reading of this instalment. Mary Lawrence has done a wonderful job of transporting the reader back to the sixteenth century with this historical mystery, so much so I cant wait to back and read book 1.

Filled with wonderful characters, vivid descriptions and vocabulary in-keeping of the time period will see you get sucked into the story that sees Bianca track down a thief who has stolen some stones from her alchemist father, only then have to track down a killer instead.

This was a wonderful read, and not my usual genre, but I loved getting swept away with the time period and the wonderful characters that Mary Lawrence has created.

As many of you know, I have a weakness for historical mysteries. I adore them and can’t get enough. However, so many of them are written during Victorian or Edwardian era England that often the books blend together, no matter how well written they are.

That’s why this book set itself apart for me….it’s set in Tudor England. When I think of historical mysteries, I don’t think of Tudor England as an optimal setting, but rather a period full of obstacles to detecting/investigating, so I was eager to see how the author used this to her advantage.

I haven’t read any of the other books in the series, so I was a little wary of reading this book with already 4 books into the series. However, the author assured me that it could read as a standalone book.

Summary

Spring 1544 Now that she is with child, Bianca is more determined than ever to distance herself from her unstable father. Desperate to win back the favor of King Henry VIII, disgraced alchemist Albern Goddard plans to reveal a powerful new element he’s discovered–one with deadly potential. But when the substance is stolen, he implores his daughter to help.

Soon after, a woman’s body is found behind the Dim Dragon Inn, an eerie green vapor rising from her mouth. Bianca has reason to suspect her own mother may be involved in the theft and the murder. When her husband John is conscripted into King Henry’s army to subdue Scottish resistance, finding the stone becomes a matter of life and death. Bianca must unravel the interests of alchemists, apothecaries, chandlers, and scoundrels–to find out who among them is willing to kill to possess the element known as lapis mortem, the stone of death (summary from Goodreads).

Review

This book immediately drops you into an odd story. A boy witnesses a meeting between two men who discuss his alchemy and kind of sets the stage for this mystery. I don’t know much about alchemy but I know that it’s heavily cloaked in mystery and I loved how the story opens with this odd form of science. I loved how this story began with a little hook and insight into the world of alchemy as well as the criminal underworld, as it really set the tone for the story to come.

We then get to meet the protagonist Bianca who is pregnant and worried that her husband will be conscripted off to fight in King Henry’s wars in Scotland. I liked Bianca from the first introduction. She seemed strong, independent, and more than capable as a heroine. I also loved her sharp tongue and sass! She seemed liked she really knew herself and that drew me to her immediately. While the author gave the reader plenty of background info on each of the characters and their lives, I did feel compelled to go back and read the other Bianca books because she was such a likable and interesting character.

One of the things that stood out to me in this book was the portrayal of life in Tudor England. Rather than taking on the courtly life that’s so common in books, the author went with the common people and I loved it. She has clearly researched her period as well as the gritty villains in this book. She captured the feel of the people and period very well and I was fully engaged in the setting as well as the characters.

I also liked how there were several possible suspects all with means and motive to keep me guessing until the end of the story. I thought the mystery part coupled with all the historical details made this one a treat to read. The only thing that I felt was a little difficult for me was all of the characters and some of the period language, but overall I felt like this was a fun historical mystery and I was thrilled to discover a new heroine and new mystery series. I would gladly continue reading this series and go back to read the others. I would also agree with the author’s assurances……this book can easily be read as a standalone! She does a wonderful job orientating the reader in the story.

Book Info and Rating

Paperback, 320 pages
Published April 30th 2019 by Kensington Publishing Corporation
ISBN 1496715314 (ISBN13: 9781496715319)
Free review copy provided by author and publisher, Kensington Publishing, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 5 stars
Genre: historical mystery

I like this protagonist. Even with the historical setting, she is relatable while accurate to the times. The relationships with her husband, her mother and father, and various city inhabitants are intriguing and lead me to question which soul is more lost? The portrayal of London's citizens is captivating, and scenes with the Rat Man are engrossing. I did want a deeper insight to and connection with Bianca's emotions, turmoil, and passions. I loved the herbalism and alchemy details. The period sounds, setting, and sensory details were delivered so well that I'm sure I smelled a few things along the street and river. You will enjoy this book settled in with a strong cup of English Breakfast tea.

An amazing novel! The characters are well-drawn and truly pull at your heart strings. I couldn't put the book down till I reached the final chapter. Highly recommended.

A solid mystery set in Tudor England, this is the first time I have read this author and I will definitely seek out more from them.

The Alchemist of Lost Souls is the fourth book in a series of historical mysteries set in Tudor England and featuring the character of Bianca Goddard, an alchemist’s daughter. Not having read any of the previous novels, I wondered whether I would be at a disadvantage in starting with this one, but that wasn’t really a problem. Although it would have been nice to have been more familiar with the backgrounds of the characters and to have followed them from the beginning, this novel works as a standalone mystery and it was easy enough to understand what was happening without any prior knowledge.

The story takes place in London in the spring of 1544 and opens with Bianca’s father, the alchemist Albern Goddard, discovering a new element – a stone which gives off a brilliant light and which has properties that are both powerful and dangerous. Before he has time to explore the potential of this new substance, it is stolen from him and the suspected thief is found dead in a street near the Dim Dragon Inn with a glowing green vapour rising from her mouth. Albern asks for his daughter’s help and soon Bianca is investigating both the theft and the murder, as well as looking for any trace that may remain of her father’s precious element.

This is an entertaining mystery and a more complex one than it appeared to be at first, with a range of suspects including alchemists, apothecaries, chandlers – and even Bianca’s mother, Malva Goddard. I didn’t manage to guess the solution correctly, but I was happy just to watch Bianca try to unravel it all. Bianca is a very likeable character; she is intelligent and independent, but her behaviour is usually believable enough in the context of being a sixteenth century woman. Like her father, she is interested in science, but her gender means she cannot be an alchemist so instead she works as a herbalist, making remedies for common ailments in her ‘room of Medicinals and Physickes’.

Bianca’s relationship with her husband, John, is one area where I felt I may have missed out by not reading the previous books in the series. In this book he, like the other men from Southwark, has been called up to fight in Henry VIII’s army (as a pikeman after failing to impress with his archery skills) and faces being sent away from home to deal with the threats from Scotland and France. With Bianca pregnant with their first child, a separation at this time is obviously going to be particularly difficult for them both, but I think I would have found their storyline more emotional if I had known both characters better and had seen how their relationship developed.

Apart from Henry VIII’s military endeavours, which are kept mainly in the background of the novel, the story concentrates very much on fictional characters and fictional events, but I could see that Mary Lawrence was making an effort to capture the atmosphere of Tudor England and the details of how people may have lived and worked at that time. The focus is on ordinary, working class Londoners rather than the royalty and nobility, which gives the story a gritty feel and a sense of reality, despite the more fantastical elements of the plot (not just the alchemy but also the mysterious character of the Rat Man, whose role I’m not sure I fully understood). I also appreciated the author’s attempts to use vocabulary appropriate to the period and although some of the slang didn’t feel quite right to me, it did add colour to the writing and there is a glossary at the back of the book if you need to look up any unfamiliar words.

It was nice to meet Bianca Goddard and now I’m wondering if there will be more books in the series.

Bianca Goddard, the protagonist, is an herbalist and the daughter of a disgraced alchemist. When The Alchemist of Lost Souls begins (in Spring 1544), we see Bianca’s husband, John, get conscripted to fight in Henry’s wars as a pikeman (a dangerous position). Now Bianca has to worry about John, as well as their soon-to-be-born child.

To make her life even more complicated, Bianca’s father, Albern Goddard, visits her to ask (well, demand) her help in recovering his stolen discovery – a new ‘element’ that glows brightly without any fuel source. Bianca teams up with Constable Patch, who she has had dealings with before, to try and find the stolen element and ends up finding a series of murders instead. The murders become personal when Bianca’s father, Bianca’s mother and Bianca’s long-time friend all become suspects.

I found the historical descriptions of Tudor London utterly fascinating. Lawrence depicts life in the less-glamorous parts of England in a great detail. The writing is realistic and colourful. Much of the historical fiction I read that is set in Tudor England focuses on the castles and royalty of the period – it was a nice change to read about the common people and the everyday problems that they faced.

Bianca is a really likeable character. She is competent, smart and caring, but also has faults that make her easy to relate to. I wasn’t a fan of many of the other characters, like Albern (what an ego!) or her mother (too many secrets) but the dislike wasn’t because they were poorly written but because I liked Bianca so much that I felt slighted on her behalf when she was treated shabbily.

The science-lover in me was also fascinated with the mysterious element. I spent half the book trying to figure out what Albern had discovered based on the few clues that were presented. I had to wrack my brain back to high school chemistry class to try and remember what element would react the way this mystery element did. (Maybe if I ask nicely, Mary Lawrence will let me in on the secret?)

The only part that I found a bit confusing is the mysterious character, The Rat Man. This other-worldly character, who lurks on the edges for most of the book, takes on a very central role in near the end of the story. It seemed like an odd supernatural addition to an otherwise realistic story. I wonder if I would have been less confused if I had read the previous three books in the series? I’m sure I’ll find out as I definitely plan on going back to read them.

This was definitely a nice find for me and I’m looking forward to going back and catching up on Books 1-3, The Alchemist’s Daughter, Death of an Alchemist and Death at St. Vedast.

This is the fourth book in a series, but can be read alone, which is good as I didn't realize it was part of a series. I enjoyed this historical fiction set in the renaissance era that had a mystery and some fantasy as well. It was well written and engaging.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy free of charge. This is my honest and unbiased opinion of it.

Alchemy and death!

I must admit to finding this Bianca Goddard novel puzzling even though I've read previous books.
It's 1544. Bianca, a disgraced alchemist's daughter who combines some aspects of alchemy with her herbal remedies has been leading a quieter life in a less salubrious part of Tudor London. Events however are escalating for Bianca. She is pregnant. John had failed to practice his archery which means he's been conscripted into the army as a pikesman. He is being sent to the Scottish border. Everyone knows that these foot troops suffer the worst losses in battle.
Albern Goddard discovered a powerful new element to do with fire and light that has been stolen from him. Albern wants Bianca to discover the thief. Unfortunately, the substance has attracted unwonted interest. This seems to have a direct correlation to the bodies piling up. Reportedly some of those bodies have an eerie green vapor released as they die. And now Bianca's nemesis, Constable Patch, has come a calling, demanding Bianca assists him with his enquirers. Bianca is so deeply mired in this controversy it's in her best interests to acquiesce.
Add to that the mysterious wraith that haunts the shadows of the Thames, it's interest focused on Bianca, but why fore?
An interesting and twisty Tudor murder mystery, unfolding slowly, amidst a dank and depressing description of the times and the areas that the tale moves through.
The plight of the poor is vividly sketched leaving the reader a colorful dance throughout the alleys, lanes and tracks throughout the town. Lost souls indeed!

A Kensington ARC via NetGalley

London in the Spring of 1954.
Bianca Goddard, the daughter of an unstable alchemist, makes her living as an apothecary, but when her father comes to her for help, she finds she cannot refuse. He has discovered a powerful new element, one that can create light and heat, but it has been stolen.

When a woman’s body is found, green smoke pouring from her mouth, Bianca believes that her own mother may be involved. But as her husband is recruited to fight for the King in Scotland, the pregnant Bianca finds herself in pursuit of a deadly murderer.

Sorry, going to need to be quick with this one – with Brian Flynn taking up much of my spare time at the mo, plus school being very hectic as exam season approaches, I’ve not that much time for general blogging. I read the book that preceded this one, Death At St Vedast’s, a while ago, and thought I’d take a look at the follow up.
There are a few plot threads going on here – while the alchemy is basically trial-and-error chemistry, there is a mystical element in the form of the Rat Man – and there are times when I could have done with a glossary for some of the terms. There is one, by the way, but it’s at the end of the book. A note for ebook makers – put the glossary at the front. Just saying.
Fans of historical novels should enjoy this one. I would have preferred the mystery element to take more of a prominent role but it is an engrossing read and fans of the series will enjoy this one.

The Alchemist of Lost Souls by Mary Lawrence is a blend of historical mystery, secrets, murders and a little fantasy. It is a wonderful day when you are chosen to read not only a favorite author but a favorite series. Yes, I am prejudiced eagerly watching and waiting for her newest book. This book and series transports the reader to the 1500’s with its sights, sounds and smells. You may not even know what an alchemist was or practiced, but you will soon be enthralled with each new mystery that involves new and old characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

The vast majority of reviews that I write are about thrillers that have a certain element of modern or futuristic science. The fact that Mary Lawrence’s latest addition to her Bianca Goddard series takes place in the mid-16th century obviously deviates from my usual routine. But alas, the birth of modern science began with revelations from Nicolaus Copernicus that the earth revolves around the sun and not the other way around occurred in the mid-1500s. This is exactly the time era that The Alchemist of Lost Souls takes place. Even so, most of the reasoning from Europeans during this time period was based on religious or superstitious ideologies. What is unique about this series is that Bianca Goddard is an herbalist and the daughter of an alchemist and she thinks very much like a scientist. And the scientist in her is very much alive in this latest addition to the series as she uses her deductive reasoning to solve a series of murders.

The Alchemist of Lost Souls begins with Bianca’s father Albern Goddard, an alchemist, discovering a new ‘element’ for which eventually is given the name of lapis mortem, the stone of death. Goddard’s stones are stolen from him and the distribution of them leads to a trail of gruesome murders. Bianca teams up with Constable Patch, known from previous additions to the series, to find the murderers. Normally Bianca would be totally gung ho in solving a series of murders but this particular case becomes personal as not only is her father involved but her mother and her long-time friend Meddybemps maybe as well. If this isn’t enough to induce a Pepto-Bismol moment, Bianca also needs to worry about her hubby being shipped off to fight a battle and the upcoming arrival of their first child.

Lawrence has created a fun and intriguing mystery while also giving the reader a glimpse into the seedier life of Tudor England. Throughout the series there has been one mysterious character that lurks in the background known as the Rat Man. Very little is revealed on who or what this character maybe, but the Rat Man takes on an exceptional role that results in an explosive ending to this latest addition to the series. For this, I give The Alchemist of Lost Souls two thumbs up!

All is not well in Book 4 of the Bianca Goddard Mystery Series. It is 1544, Henry is now dyspeptic, and bloated. He believes his borders with Scotland and France are threatened. Therefore he orders the men of Southwark to assemble for the evaluation of their archery skills. John's faulty war bow fails him, and he is assigned to the front line troops; the pikemen. John reluctantly leaves a pregnant Bianca and is off to war in Scotland.

Bianca's father, Albern Goddard, a disgraced Alchemist has discovered a miraculous source of light. This burning brilliant light, brighter than any candle, lasts a long time before fading to a green glow. Exposure to air causes the 'stone" the source of the light to burst into flames. Before he can make any profit from this discovery, the stones are stolen, and the thief is murdered. Bianca is tasked with uncovering the killer.

Bianca is a wonderful lead character. She is a woman of her times, of course, but she also is one who is moving from subservience to independence. Her gender prohibits her from being an Alchemist. She chooses instead, to become an herbal healer creating cures for the common diseases such as fever and ague. She is observant, intelligent, and willing to take risks. She has found an ideal partner in John. One hopes all will be well for him.

That may not be the case, as Lawrence stays very true to the historical period. The settings are filled with the swirl and crush of humanity. Lawrence's astute use of vocabulary, choosing obscure words that almost sounds Elizabethan in tone, adds a powerful feeling of reality to the novel. The mystery is not straight forward, instead a complex series of characters present plausible candidates for the murderer. One hopes Bianca's story will continue.

Recommended

Full disclosure: I received a copy from netgalley.com and Kensington in exchange for an unbiased review. Thank you for the opportunity.

The Alchemist of Lost Soul is a wonderful historical mystery that transports you back to the middle ages. Wonderfully written and great characters.

The Alchemist of Lost Souls is the fourth installment from the Bianca Goddard Mysteries. I thought it was a good read. Four stars.

Interesting murder mystery set in the 16th century. Follows a young, married options maker as she takes on a task from her father. It could implicate her mother, her friend, and who knows what other merchants from their little area. Tough to follow at times with all the characters and centuries old language, but still enjoyable.