The alchemist's secret

by Scott Mariani

Paper Book, 2008

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Series

Ben Hope (1)

Genres

All Topics

Fiction

Publication

London : Avon, 2008.

Description

Fiction. Suspense. Thriller. THE #1 BESTSELLER Introducing the explosive first Ben Hope adventure 'Non-stop action �?? this book delivers' STEVE BERRY Ben Hope lives on the edge. A former elite member of the SAS, Ben is tortured by a tragedy from his past and now devotes his life to finding kidnapped children. When Ben is recruited to locate an ancient manuscript which could save a dying child, he embarks on the deadliest quest of his life. The document is alleged to contain the formula for the elixir of life, discovered by the brilliant alchemist Fulcanelli decades before. But it soon becomes apparent that others are hunting this most precious of treasures �?? for far more evil ends. When the secrets of alchemy hidden within the pages remain impenetrable, Ben teams up with beautiful American scientist Dr Roberta Ryder to crack the code. It seems that everyone �?? from the Nazis during WW2 and powerful Catholic organisation Gladius Domini �?? wants to unearth the secrets of immortality. The trail leads Ben and Roberta from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries... 'Compelling from the first page until the last, Mariani and Ben Hope entertain in a gripping tale that will have you turning the pages well into the night' MARK DAWSON The Ben Hope series is a must-read for fans of Dan Brown, Lee Child and Mark Dawson. Join the millions of readers who get breathless with anticipation when the countdown to the new Ben Hope thrill… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member Alan1946

The first of the Ben Hope series, and it has hooked me into the ones that follow.

1 more

LibraryThing member Lukerik

It doesn't matter what order you read these books in. I have read some of the later ones and it is now obvious just how far Mariani has come over the years. This novel has some clunky writing, linguistic errors and needs a bloody good edit. These aren't the only ways in which it is influenced by

Dan Brown. Take chapter six. There is no connection established between alchemy and the Cathars, but having mentioned them both in the same chapter, the protagonist assumes that there is. Which is lucky, as it turns out to be the plot of the novel.

On the other hand, there are signs that Mariani knows what he's doing. There's a Hero with a Thousand Faces approach with two calls to action, the first refused. Later, Roberta's capture echoes the capture of Han Solo, and Hope's reaction echoes Luke's two rescue attempts, walking openly into Jabba's lair and also the confrontation with Vader at Cloud City where he gets offered a job.

Despite a slackened pace in the middle part of the novel, it is overall a fun, easy read.

Show Less

Fewer