A new historical thriller sure to appeal to fans of CJ Sansom and Ariana Franklin-- The Alchemist's Daughter ... "A realistic evocation of 16th century London's underside. The various strands of the plot are so skillfully plaited together." --Fiona Buckley In the year 1543 of King Henry VIII's turbulent reign, the daughter of a notorious alchemist finds herself suspected of cold-blooded murder... Bianca Goddard employs her knowledge of herbs and medicinal plants to concoct remedies for the disease-riddled poor in London's squalid Southwark slum. But when her friend Jolyn comes to her complaining of severe stomach pains, Bianca's prescription seems to kill her on the spot. Recovering from her shock, Bianca suspects Jolyn may have been poisoned before coming to her--but the local constable is not so easily convinced. To clear her name and keep her neck free of the gallows, Bianca must apply her knowledge of the healing arts to deduce exactly how her friend was murdered and by whom--before she herself falls victim to a similar fate... "Unique characters, a twisty plot and a bold, bright heroine add up to a great debut for Mary Lawrence's The Alchemist's Daughter . Mystery and Tudor fans alike will raise a glass to this new series." --Karen Harper, author of The Poyson Garden
In the mid sixteenth century, Henry VIII sits on the throne, and Bianca Goddard tends to the sick and suffering in London's slums, where disease can take a life as quickly as murder. . . For years, alchemist Ferris Stannum has devoted himself to developing the Elixir of Life, the reputed serum of immortality. Having tested his remedy successfully on an animal, Stannum intends to send his alchemy journal to a colleague in Cairo for confirmation. Instead he is strangled in his bed and his journal is stolen. As the daughter of an alchemist herself, Bianca is well acquainted with the mystical healing arts. As her husband, John, falls ill with the sweating sickness, she dares to hope Stannum's journal could contain the secret to his recovery. But first she must solve the alchemist's murder. As she ventures into a world of treachery and deceit, Stannum's death proves to be only the first in a series of murders--and Bianca's quest becomes a matter of life and death, not only for her husband, but for herself. . .
During the tempestuous reign of Henry VIII, London alchemist Bianca Goddard has seen up close what keeps a man alive—and what can kill him. A good thing, for she will need all her knowledge to keep a friend away from the gallows . . . Bianca and her husband John are delighted to share in the glad fortune of their friend, Boisvert, the silversmith, who is to wed Odile, the wealthy widow of a goldsmith. But a pall is cast over the upcoming nuptials when the body of a pregnant woman is found beneath the bell tower of St. Vedast, the very church where the betrothed are to be married. Tragedy strikes again at the couple’s reception, when Odile suddenly drops dead in the middle of the wedding feast. The constable suspects Boisvert poisoned his new bride for her money, but there’s not a trace of poison in her food or wine. Could the two deaths be connected? To prove their friend’s innocence, Bianca will need to employ her knowledge of alchemy—for if she can determine how the bride was killed, she may find the person responsible for her murder—before another victim is added to the death toll . . . Praise for The Alchemist’s Daughter “Set during the twilight years of Henry VIII with vibrant characters, a compelling plot and accurate historical depictions, The Alchemist’s Daughter brings the darkness and danger of Tudor London vividly to life as it weaves its suspenseful tale. This beautifully written addition to the medieval mystery genre is sure to delight all fans of the period. —Sandra Worth, author of P ale Rose of England “A smart, scientific sleuth…Lawrence uses her enthusiasm for Elizabethan England to create an historical novel within a mystery.” — Portland Monthly “The writing is terrific, with great period details. There are lots of red herrings and a surprising amount of action that will keep readers engaged until the very last page.” — San Francisco Book Review “I absolutely loved The Alchemist's Daughter - the characters, the authentic feel of the period, and of course the richly drawn story.” —Dorothy Cannell, author of Murder at Mullings “Lawrence proves herself to be an excellent storyteller with this grim tale of murder, mayhem and medicine." —CentralMaine.com “A realistic evocation of 16th century London’s underside. The various strands of the plot are so skillfully plaited together.” —Fiona Buckley “Captivating . . . just smart enough to be charming without being precious or terribly unrealistic.” — Library Journal “Well-written, enjoyable, and well-worth reading.” — New Mystery Reader Praise for Death of an Alchemist “Lawrence excels at exploring themes – parent-child conflict, dreams of eternal life, and the limitations of medicine – that have period and present-day resonance.” — Publishers Weekly “Another exciting adventure on the back streets of 16th century London.” — RT Book Reviews “Mary Lawrence is as sharp as ever…this is an exciting and very satisfying historical mystery in Tudor London.” — Kennebec Journal
A dangerous element discovered by Bianca Goddard's father falls into the wrong hands . . . leading to a chain of multiple murders. 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 is panicked and expects his daughter to help. Soon after, a woman's body is found behind the Dim Dragon Inn, an eerie green vapor rising from her breathless mouth. To her grave concern, Bianca has reason to suspect her own mother may be involved in the theft and the murder. As her husband John is conscripted into King Henry's army to subdue Scottish resistance, Bianca must navigate a twisted and treacherous path among 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 . . . Praise for Death at St. Vedast "Full of period details, Lawrence's latest series outing captures Tudor London in all its colorful splendor. A solid choice for devotees of Tudor and Elizabethan mysteries." -- Library Journal
While her husband fights Henry VIII’s war with Scotland , an alchemist's daughter heals the sick and seeks justice for the dead... Bianca Goddard earns her coin by concocting medicines. Some unfortunates, however, are beyond her help--like the boy discovered hanging from a church dripstone with a rosary twined around his neck. A week later, a second boy dangles at another church. When Bianca's impish acquaintance, Fisk, goes missing, she fears he may become the third victim... London is filled with villains who would prey on wayward, penniless boys. But Bianca suspects the killings are not brutal acts of impulse, but something far more calculated. The citizens of Castle Baynard ward depend on Bianca to unlock the alchemical secrets of a sole piece of evidence and connect a series of strange occurrences. If she succeeds, she can find the murderer and save lives. However, the expected hour of the next murder is fast approaching. A single misstep could mean another boy is lost forever... THE LOST BOYS OF LONDON is the fifth book in Mary Lawrence’s medieval murder mystery series. Combining twisty plots, impeccable historical details and a resolute female alchemist, this series is perfect for fans of Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael or C. J. Sansom’s Shardlake.