The Alchemist's Pursuit [Paperback]

Dave Duncan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 3, 2009

Hampered by arthritis, Nostradamus is in no mood for granting favors or running about looking for trouble. But when his apprentice Alfeo's mistress asks him to investigate the murder of her beloved courtesan mentor-and promises a fortune in payment-he comes around.

It appears that someone is murdering the courtesans of Venice. All were well-known, admired for their skills-and somehow connected by a sinister event involving one of the great families of the city.

While Nostradamus attempts to use the dark arts to solve riddles which confound explanation, Alfeo finds himself led by a possibly demonic force through a maze of deceit and death. And when the master and apprentice come to the end of their intertwined paths, there may be hell to pay.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. Duncan's outstanding third Venetian fantasy mystery (after 2008's The Alchemist's Code) sends Alfeo Zeno, loyal apprentice to Nostradamus, in search of a killer who targets Venice's prostitutes. After three women are strangled, Donna Violetta Vitale, a courtesan and fond friend of Alfeo, begs Nostradamus to foresee and stop the next death. When the fourth victim is stabbed, Alfeo narrowly escapes the unseen murderer, thanks to the intervention of a magical cat. The prime suspect is lecherous nobleman Zorzi Honeycat Michiel, exiled years earlier for patricide, so his haughty mother, Donna Alina Orio Michiel, retains Alfeo to prove her son's innocence. Alfeo and Nostradamus must rely on more than clairvoyance to save Violetta and unmask the culprit. Duncan neatly blends a vision of magical Venice with an engrossing whodunit. (Mar.)
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From Booklist

The conclusion of the trilogy begun in The Serpent and the Rose (2007) opens with both protagonists in great danger. Averil is queen of Lys, much of which was destroyed in the battle that brought down her uncle, whose most powerful allies survive, some in Averil’s train. Geraint, a mage of growing powers, is also in her train but doesn’t know what can defeat the growing power of the Serpent. Averil concludes that traditional combat won’t save Lys. Ending with a stirring battle and so many changes that more tales of Queen Averil are likely, the yarn should please romance and fantasy fans. --Frieda Murray --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Ace Trade; 1 Original edition (March 3, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0441016782
• ISBN-13: 978-0441016785
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,285,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Dave Duncan is a prolific writer of fantasy and science fiction, best known for his fantasy series, particularly The Seventh Sword, A Man of His Word, and The King's Blades. He and his wife Janet, his in-house editor and partner for over fifty years, live in Victoria, British Columbia. They have three children and four grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best so far, March 24, 2010

By 

R. L. Wexelblat (Merion Station, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Alchemist's Pursuit (Kindle Edition)

This, the third in Duncan's alchemist series, is in my view the best plotted and succeeds best in including the arcane as a key thread as opposed to using it to avoid lengthy detection/interrogation. The author appears to have achieved a level of historical authenticity and acknowledges his sources nicely.

Except for one. Just as Conan Doyle's Holmes inspired a slew of clones, some excellent, some mediocre, and some just plain awful, so Rex Stout's Nero Wolfe has his follow-ons. Of which this is one. And a very, very good one at that. Need a genius-class detective who almost never leaves his digs but has a suave man-about-town to do his footwork? OK, Wolfe and Archie Goodwin. Or Nostradamus and Alfeo Zeno.

By the way, if you are interested in an excellent compilation of Holmes "parodies, pastiches, and ponderings", look up Marv Kaye's anthology "The Game is Afoot" (Truth in packaging note: Marv is an old friend of mine.)The Game Is Afoot: Parodies, Pastiches and Ponderings of Sherlock Holmes

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good addition to the series, March 15, 2009

By 

Avid Reader (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Alchemist's Pursuit (Paperback)

The mystery of who's killing the courtesans keeps you guessing (I was totally wrong!) and the action moves as quickly as in the other two books. These books aren't as layered as some of Duncan's other books but are good enjoyable light reading. Many of the same characters show up for brief scenes and the spotlighted family has a mixed bag of characters that are well drawn. Again a wonderful blend of magic and mystery.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Sequel, January 9, 2012

By 

Geppetto - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Alchemist's Pursuit (Mass Market Paperback)

This second book in the series stands up well to its' predecessor, which I really enjoyed. I would recommend it to fans of Fantasy/Sci Fi/Alternative Histories.