THE ALCHEMIST’S DAUGHTER
by
Mary Lawrence
Bianca
Goddard is the Alchemist’s daughter. This has both negative and positive
consequences for her. It is a negative for Bianca, as her father had been
accused of plotting to poison King Henry VIII; it is a positive for her because
of all she had learned from her father and his alchemical pursuits. Combining
the devotion and methodology that she learned from her father with the knowledge
of herbs that she acquired from her mother, Bianca opened her “room of
Medicinals and Physickes” and was becoming well known for healing salves.
But when
Bianca’s best friend, Jolyn, comes to visit and dies in Bianca’s room, she is
unable to save her despite all her healing knowledge. Because of the negatives
associated with being the Alchemist’s daughter, Bianca knows it is only a
matter of time before the constable arrests her for Jolyn’s death. She uses
that short time to determine who killed Jolyn and why.
The Alchemist’s Daughter is a historical
mystery situated in 1543 Tudor England. The mystery portion of this novel is
interesting. Although the plot is not especially complex or convoluted, there
are enough twists and turns to hold one’s attention.
The historical portion of the
novel, however, is another story. I have read quite a bit about the times of
Henry VIII. But, as I read The
Alchemist’s Daughter, I realized that everything that I have read about
that time period focuses on royalty or nobility. I believe that this is the
first book about Tudor England that I have read that is told from the point of
view of the “ordinary person” (even though Bianca is anything but “ordinary”).
The historical picture that emerges from The
Alchemist’s Daughter is entirely new to me. Although at times it repulsed
me, I found this new perspective to be fascinating.
Bianca
Goddard is an unusual, intelligent, and refreshing young protagonist. I can
foresee her being surrounded by and solving many mysteries. My hope is that
Lawrence also sees this trait in Bianca and that she continues to share
Bianca’s adventures with us for a long time. I look forward to reading and
learning about each and every one of them.
RECOMMENDED/HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
