Death of an Alchemist

I received this book for free through Net Galley.

Mary Lawrence is an excellent writer. That's what I expect to remember most about the book. Her writing fits with the period incredibly well, and her skill in detail brings the setting and characters to vivid life.

As a mystery, I was never fully invested in the outcome. I wasn't bored, the story and characters were perfectly engaging, but it wasn't the most successful mystery in the sense that I had no real need to figure out the culprit. If you don't go in expecting an edge-of-your-seat mystery, you'll be pleasantly surprised with a smart and well-written novel.

The atmosphere and writing is a success, and I was mostly satisfied with the book altogether. Definitely worth a read, hopefully the next book is even better.