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| Boldwood Books 9 March 2026 My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book |
Now: When Paige returns to her ancestral family home, Woodham Hall, she’s nursing an unbearable heartbreak. The man she’d thought she loved has told her the most terrible lie, one she feels she’ll never recover from. The only thing that seems to be able to hold her interest is the story of a poisoning that once supposedly happened in the house – depicted in brutal detail in a painting by an unknown artist…
1672: Jeanne’s life at Woodham Hall is happy. Admittedly her brother-in-law – the lord of the manor – is unfaithful to her sister, causing terrible discord in the house. But Jeanne adores her sister, and her niece, Helene, and even though her growing feelings for another member of the household are illicit, they are bringing her great joy. That is, until Sir Robert chooses to move his mistress in.
Jeanne and her sister are to be banished to a French abbey to live out their days, but all the sisters can think is how to get back to Helene, and the woman who Jeanne might just love. From the glittering court of the Sun King to the dark depths of French society and those who perform alchemy, they will do whatever they must. Even if it means murder…
📖My Review..
After a devastating relationship break up Paige returns to her family home at Woodham Hall where, in order to keep busy, she gets involved in the day to day running of the family business. With time on her hands Paige becomes intrigued by a rather macabre painting which has been hanging in the house for many years. The visual nature of the painting alludes to a catastrophic event which happened at Woodham Hall in the sixteenth century and thoroughly intrigued, Paige is determined to get into the heart of the mystery.
This wonderfully atmospheric dual time story takes us back to the events of 1672 when Jeanne and her sister Helene are banished from Woodham Hall by Helene’s unscrupulous husband. It’s a story of intrigue, danger and the ultimate revenge, all combined with a modern day story which wraps itself around Woodham Hall like a blanket, sheltering those who call this beautiful place home and gradually revealing the deadly secrets which have been hidden for centuries.
Beautifully written, with a real sense of atmosphere, I was engrossed in the story as both timelines fitted together really well, with neither one competing with the other. I have now read a few of this author’s previous books and I am always impressed with the amount of historical detail and the genuine believability of both the story and the characters. The Alchemist Secret is a fascinating story of family secrets, deadly lies and fatal retribution.
About the Author
Clare Marchant is the author of dual timeline historical fiction. Her books have been translated into seven languages, and she is a USA Today bestseller. Clare spends her time writing and exploring local castles, or visiting the nearby coast.
Twitter: @claremarchant1
Instagram: @claremarchantauthor
@BoldwoodBooks
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