Customer Reviews

The Alchemist's Pursuit

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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

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.

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.

I loved all three of these and I hope there are more. Duncan paints an enchanting and enchanted Venice, with bright details and lively characters that stand out memorably as individuals. Alfeo is once knee-deep in mystery, this time on the behalf of his beloved Violetta. Nostradamus is initially uninterested in the case, but as the pieces come together in a deeper plot and the supernatural elements rise, the old alchemist becomes as swept up in the mystery as his very capable apprentice. The author has a wonderful voice, and the story doesn't dissappoint.

The Alchemist's Pursuit is the third book in Dave Duncan's Alchemist's series, a Venetian fantasy mystery. In this book Alfeo Zeno, apprentice to Nostradamus, is in search of a killer who's targeting Venice's prostitutes. After three women are strangled a courtesan and friend of Alfeo, Donna Violetta Vitale, begs Nostradamus to find the killer and prevent the next death. Alfeo barely escapes the unseen murderer after the fourth victim is stabbed. Alfeo and Nostradamus must rely on more than clairvoyance to save Violetta and unmask the killer.

I really enjoyed the Alchemist's series. Duncan created an amazing mix of magic and history along with an entertaining set of characters. The series made me want to read some of Dave Duncan's other books.

Original story, very well researched, I always have a soft spot for historical fiction - but the foppish main character annoyed the hell out of me.

Loved the character of Nostradamus.

Don't get me wrong, even through I didn't like the main character, this is a well paced who done it -- with rich images of Venice at its peak, wonderfully ripe with corruption and loose beautiful women.

Dave Duncan's books are always highly entertaining. This one is no exception. The twists and turns to the story made me want to peek at the last few pages to see how it turned out. It was very tempting, but I didn't peek. The vivid descriptions of this alternate Venice make me feel that I know the city and it's political intrigues well. I sincerely hope this won't be the last book about Alfeo and Nostradamus that Dave Duncan produces.

Nostradamus respected throughout Venice and beyond for his clairvoyant skills is a tad grumpy because his rheumatism has nearly crippled him. His apprentice Alfeo, an impoverished noble, goes about his chores ignoring his master's constant complaints when his mistress Violetta asks Nostradamus to find out who killed her friend and mentor courtesan Lucia. At the same time, the dying Giovanni sends someone to the house to tell something to Nostradamus, but he dies before he can reveal his closing remarks. Alfeo learns from a servant that the dead man wanted a killer brought to justice; a person who murdered a courtesan a week ago.

When Alfeo learns that another courtesan was killed, he informs Nostradamus who is interested in the serial killings. Their inquiries come to the attention of the Three, the ruling body of Venice who demand they desist in their investigation. Meanwhile Alfeo finds out that the killer was called "Honeycat "by the Courtesans who were killed." This turns out to be the name of Zorzi Michiel. Eight years ago Zorys was accused of killing his father and Lucs though he fled the city to avoid conviction. The Michiel Palazzo is riddled with secrets with seemingly everyone having something to hide. Nostradamus believes if they can unravel each person's secret, they will identify the killer of Zorzis' father as he believes the son did not commit patricide.

The latest Alchemist saga (see THE ALCHEMIST'S CODE and THE ALCHEMIST'S APPRENTICE)takes place in an alternate Renaissance Italy where magic exists along side of science (so one might ask if Nostradamus could obtain magic to relive his chronic aches). The hero Alfeo remains obstinately resolute to solve the case before someone carves Honey Cat on his beloved Violetta who is also a courtesan. Inside a fun whodunit, master fantasist Dave Duncan makes his version of the latter half of sixteenth century Venice seem believable as THE ALCHEMIST'S PURSUIT is a terrific historical urban fantasy.

Harriet Klausner

The Alchemist's Pursuit (2009) is the third historical fantasy in the Alchemist series, following The Alchemist's Code. This series is set in late Renaissance Venice, the city of canals and an extremely confusing governmental structure.

In this novel, Maestro Filippo Nostradamus -- nephew of the famed Michel Nostradamus -- is an astrologer, clairvoyant and alchemist as well as the best physician in Venice. The Maestro is a long-standing friend of the Doge and is also his personal physician.

Alfeo Zeno is a young and impoverished nobleman. He is the apprentice and protector of the Maestro. He is studying medicine, astrology, clairvoyance and alchemy.

Giorgio Angeli is the Maestro's gondolier. He is married and Mama Angeli has presented him with many children. The twins Christoforo and Corrado are the eldest still at home and run many errands for the Maestro and Alfeo.

Violetta Vitale is the most expensive courtesan in Venice and she lives right next door to Alfeo. Occasionally she likes to invite him over for a visit. She is probably the most intelligent woman that he knows (and maybe even smarter that the Maestro). She also has great sources of information and is a magnificent lover.

In this story, the Naestro is grumpy because of his aches and pains. He never complains about his physical ailments, but he is ill-tempered in everything else when he doesn't feel well. Yesterday he lectured Alfeo on sortilege and today he is covering numerology.

Alfeo errs in stating that numerology doesn't make sense. The Maestro then asks him how the Doge is elected to office. Alfeo is saved by the bell. Well, actually by the front door knocker.

Answering the door, Alfeo receives a written note addressed to the Maestro from a surly gondolier. He takes it upstairs and reads it to the Maestro. The note states that sier Giovanni Gradenigo begs his attendece in haste. The note is signed by Battista, a manservant of the noble.

Since the man is neither his patient nor an acquaintance, the Maestro refuses to answer the summons. Besides, he doesn't feel at all well. He has Alfeo write a note suggesting that sier Giovanni call upon Isaia Modestus, the second best doctor in Venice.

Alfeo gives the note to the surly gondolier and returns upstairs to continue his recital on the election of the Doge. On his way back, Mama Angeli scolds him about the luncheon going to waste. When Alfeo tries to pass on the message, the Maestro cuts him off before he can finish Mama Angeli's name. Nostradamus doesn't feel very hungry and doesn't care that Alfeo is starving.

Then the front door knocker sounds once more. This time the vistor is Violetta. Of course, the Maestro thinks that Alfeo has called upon his lover to distract him. Yet Violetta wants to have the Maestro discover who had killed another courtesan -- Lucia da Bergamo -- who had been her mentor.

The Maestro tells Violetta that there is no way to determine who killed her friend. He also declares that the death was probably a suicide. Violetta disagrees and persists in her efforts to hire him. So the Maestro invites her to luncheon and finally gives Alfeo the afternoon off to investigate this death.

The surly gondolier returns with a note from Friar Fedele. This time it is addressed to Alfeo Zeno. It states that sier Giovanni is not long for this world and wishes to speak with him.

Alfeo has Giorgio drop Violetta off next door and goes to the house of sier Giovanni. Unfortunately, the man has just died and the friar provides little information. Alfeo decides to return later to talk to the servants.

Alfeo and Violetta continue their pursuit of information on the death of Lucia. Later they learn that two other courtesans have been killed with the same modus operandi. Now the death of a single courtesan is really a string of murders. Even the Maestro is concerned.

Then the Council of Ten gets involved with this affair. Alfeo is warned by vizio Filiberto Vasco to stop investigating these murders. Alfeo and Violetta believe that the Ten are protecting the killer.

This tale involves Alfeo and the Maestro in a possible error by the state inquisitors during an investigation eight years previously. They walk a narrow path between treason and saving other lives. Then Alfeo starts encountering helpful cats.

The story is another tale with a rich Venetian ambiance. Even the deaths are particularly Venetian. Read and enjoy!

Highly recommended for Duncan fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of late Renaissance Venice, murder mysteries, and convoluted plots.

-Arthur W. Jordin

I gave this book a fair chance at entertaining me, reading up to chapter 7 before donating it to the MWR here at COB Adder, Tallil Iraq. I found the story to drag along never gaining my interest. The character's names were hard to form in my mind and harder to pronounce; clearly my problem not the writer's but still a drawback from my desk. Also I discovered the characters were not interesting to me as a reader. Nostradamus was portrayed as a constant scowler; a crotchety old man with a sour demeanor, and nonsensical. What's with refusing to go see Gradenigo on his deathbed day and the next expending a great deal of effort to discover what it was the man wanted to tell him or ask of him? Alfeo, the impoverished nobleman in love with an unbelievable strumpet... Alfeo, the apprentice who seemingly hates his studies and finds them of no use - or future value??? So if Alfeo the poor nobleman is an apprentice to Nostradamus, and finds it so awful why does he stick around? I found all the italicized names, explanations and descriptions more of a text book read than a story, I am very sorry, Mr. Duncan, it just was not interesting to me. I say that and you must understand my wife of over 26 years (not more years than the two of us care to admit) is of Italian descent, Italian blood so I am used to Italian names. To me these were distractions and maybe necessary for a reader to get through the story - I just couldn't get into it. Anyway, I decided and gave it up after trying to get interested in the story. I do admire Mr. Duncan for being able to get twenty or more books in print and certainly there must be a fan base out there; undoubtedly a larger fan base than I have with my own book. I guess lastly I must admit that the cover art is the main reason I even picked the book up off the shelf at the Post Exchange here at COB Adder, Tallil, Iraq. Truly I do find the story tedious up to chapter 7; after that I am unable to offer an opinion because I didn't/couldn't make myself go past that point. Reviewed by Mark E. Grant, US Army Retired, currently a Department of the Army Civilian, and also author of Blood of Scotland, available at Amazon dot com among other on line book sellers.