chriskoppenhaver 's review for:

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands
4.0

A gritty historical setting, a murderous cult, puzzles and codes to decipher, and explosively destructive science, all packaged within a fast-paced mystery that keeps the protagonist and readers off-balance. I'm requesting the sequel as soon as I finish writing this review. Definitely recommended.

From the back cover:
A WARNING: The recipes and remedies in this book were used by real apothecaries. There's a reason we don't see them anymore. Some are devious, some are dangerous, and a few are just plain deadly. So, as they say: Don't try this at home. Seriously.