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The Alchemist's Secret | 
 enlarge | Author: Scott Mariani
Publisher: AVON, a division of HarperCollins Publishers Ltd
Category: Book
List Price: £6.99
Buy New: £2.76
You Save: £4.23 (61%)
New (19) Used (8) from £2.48
Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 751
Media: Paperback
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.3
ISBN: 1847560792
EAN: 9781847560797
ASIN: 1847560792
Publication Date: March 3, 2008
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 Entertaining and well written May 10, 2008
clairefromwales
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
'The Alchemist's Secret' by Scott Mariani is an gripping, well written thriller. Some components of the story are familiar - codes and secret knowledge, religious fanatics including one with a penchant for torture, a questing hero with a intelligent female companion and stroppy French police officer doggedly trailing them - but it's all put together in a fresh and interesting way.
The story follows Ben Hope, a former SAS officer and who now freelances rescuing kidnap victims particularly children, on his latest assignment. He is employed by a rich old man to find a fabled manuscript written by an alchemist which apparently holds the secret of the elixir of life which the old man wants to save his granddaughter who's dying from a rare form of cancer.
The search for the manuscript takes Ben to France and it rapidly becomes clear that a number of dangerous people are also interested in obtaining the secret, leading Ben into a series of violent confrontations.
One of Ben's early contacts is Dr Roberta Ryder, a scientist whose work has been discredited after she published a paper on alchemy. Roberta and Ben find themselves on the run together following a number of attempts on their lives.
The search for the manuscript takes them to Languedoc, home of the Cathar movement in the 12th century and the apparent source of the arcane knowledge in the manuscript.
The plot is well thought out and the action rips along at a great pace. The book is very cinematic, it's very easy to picture the scenes and the action. There are some scenes where you can tell that the author is tapping into something he really loves, like the scenes where Ben is zooming through the countryside on a Triumph motorbike.
There are some compelling characters in the book.
Ben is a lovely tortured hero. He's got a painful past and hides himself in his work and drinking. Although he finds it very difficult to reach out to others, you can't help but be drawn in by his determination and sheer skill at what he does and then like him even more when he slowly lowers his barriers.
My favourite character was Luc Simon the French police officer who follows Ben and Roberta's trail. His foul temper, flashing green eyes and cleverness make him a bright character that really comes alive.
Father Pascal, a village priest who helps Ben, is a minor but well written character.
I was less impressed with the villains of the piece. Franco Bouzza, the torturer and assassin was in the usual vein of mad, murderous bad guys and I wasn't really convinced by the apparent motivation of the dodgey Archbishop.
Overall, I enjoyed it much more than I expected to. It was well written, exciting and had interesting historical detail woven in.
I look forward to the next Ben Hope novel.
 gripping stuff April 20, 2008
P. Ashley (Conwy United Kingdom)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
An enjoyable, fast-paced thriller that I read in one session - it's definitely a page-turner. The characters are well-rounded and believable, and I look forward to meeting up with the interestingly tortured and very attractive hero, Ben Hope, in the next novel!
Lucky read April 15, 2008
Linda Sykes, Louth (Louth, England)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I purchased this book by chance as I had never heard of Scott Mariani and usually prefer authors I know of psychological thrillers such as Minette Walters, Val McDermid and Nicci French. However, I must say this author has presented this fast moving story well. I couldnt put it down. The characters felt real and the search for the missing manuscript of Fulcanelli was intriguing. It was also very touching in the way Ben Hope had taken on his life challenge of helping to rescue kidnapped children after he had such a heartbreaking experience. I cant wait to read his next book.
 The Alchemist 's Secret April 11, 2008
Frances Orme (UK)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
This is another story with a seek the treasure in Rennes-le-Chateau, but is well written and entertaining, but not as gripping as Dan Brown or Kate Mosse novel. In this book the hero Ben accepts a contract to find the Fulcanelli manuscript, which is believed to contain the formula for the elixor of life. His hunt attracts the unwelcome attention of Gladius Domini, a catholic organisation, whose leader seeks the same gaol. Ben and his accomplice Dr Roberta Ryder and Gladius Domini leave a bloody trail across France, with the story reaching it's climax at an ancient Cathar temple close to Rennes-le-chateau. There are notes at the back of book informing the reader about the facts behind the story. A good read.
Simply brilliant! March 23, 2008
M. J. Lardner (England)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Wow! Have just finished reading this fast-pacing treasure hunt thriller and am very impressed.
If you have a day to spare and enjoy action-packed books with a sexy and believable hero - read this!
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