Customer Reviews

The Alchemist's Secret

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It's interesting to see that author Mariani has a book out entitled "How To Write A Thriller". Not that I have read it, but I'd be certain that he has religiously followed his own blueprint in creating this novel, the first in a series featuring former SAS soldier turned good guy PI Ben Hope.

All the boxes are ticked in this one:
- a brooding, good looking and rugged leading man with a chequered and troubled history
- a smart, beautiful and vulnerable (and, of course, single and available) female in need of help
- plenty of DaVinci-like codes to decifer
- a ruthless phsycopathic killer under the control of a dark and evil Catholic canon
- a mega-rich businessman in search of a veritable Holy Grail
- comeuppances for the baddies and a happy ending, but with the promise of a volume two

You name it, it's there, all coming out just like the vase of roses in those "paint-by-numbers" books that kids so enjoy. Try James Rollins instead.

Well, I enjoyed this book. Yes, quite like the Da Vinci code but I actually thought it was a better read. Certainly was a page-turner (albeit on the Kindle!). If you're looking for a fast-paced, action thriller - yes, this will do. Guess some of it was predictable and the stuff of fantasy, but if you read for entertainment rather than for literary criticism, you should enjoy this book.

I read this in an afternoon sitting in the garden. A very easy read. I'd say it was a diet version of the Da Vinci Code (story type), with the main character being more of a young Harrison Ford type. I've read the next book in the series as well in the course of an afternoon. Decent entertainment for a relaxing day when you just want to relax and lose yourself in an easy story.