The Alchemy of Murder
Reporter Nellie Bly is on the trail of a despicable madman and she garners a lot of famous help along the way. Set during the 1899 World’s Fair in Paris, The Alchemy of Murder is a historical tale of murder, mayhem and mystery that will keep you turning pages at a fast clip.Bly is after the man that murdered a friend that she made while undercover at Blackwell’s Asylum. Knowing only the name that he went by at the hospital, Dr. Blum, she trails him to London where she investigates the similar Jack the Ripper killings. She lost the trail there, but picks it up again in Paris, the city of Light.
She realizes that she needs influential help and introduces herself to none other than Jules Verne for assistance. He grudgingly joins the search which leads them to need the assistance of Oscar Wilde and Louis Pasteur. The poor are dying in droves in the slums of Paris and it will take all of their combined geniuses to put a stop to it.
While this may sound far-fetched, it was beautifully set and completely believable. If you enjoyed Caleb Carr’s The Alienist or the film, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, this debut work is right up your alley.
