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A review by katreader
The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian
4.0
The Accidental Alchemist by Gigi Pandian
The First Accidental Alchemist Mystery
Zoe Faust (gotta love the name) has decided to settle down in Portland, Oregon after centuries of traveling. (Yes, Zoe is over 300 years old.) She decides to buy a home, a fixer upper, and perhaps begin to practice alchemy once again. There are many surprises awaiting her-a French gargoyle requesting her alchemical help, a troubled youth, a burglary, an intriguing detective, and a dead contractor on her doorstop.
Blend historical fact with modern day reality and add a dollop of fantasy and you get Gigi Pandian's newest book, The Accidental Alchemist. Gigi Pandian creates a truly unique mystery. While one may find a veritable plethora of witches in mysteries, it is quite rare to find an alchemist.
The Accidental Alchemist is filled with unique characters. Not only do we have a 300 year old alchemist with the appearance of a 28 year old woman, we have Dorian Robert-Houdin, a French gargoyle come to life who also happens to be a world class chef. There's a troubled teenager with a fly by night mother and we also find a hint of romance in the form of Detective Max Liu.
Alchemy is about transformation. The mundane can become the extraordinary. At the start of the book Zoe Faust is a woman searching for a normal life and Brixton is a punk looking to prove something. Through the course of the story their lives and the lives of those around them are transformed. As Dorian transforms simple ingredients into gourmet fare, so the lives of these characters are transformed by the circumstances they face together. Gigi Pandian balances the mundane and the extraordinary in this intriguing mystery. There are lots of things to relish in this delightful read-more than one mystery, a few what-ifs, and in depth characterization, all of which leaves a desire to learn more about this vision of Portland. The Accidental Alchemist is a magnificent start to a new series and I look forward to meeting up with Zoe, Dorian, and that dishy detective again.
Recipes included.
The First Accidental Alchemist Mystery
Zoe Faust (gotta love the name) has decided to settle down in Portland, Oregon after centuries of traveling. (Yes, Zoe is over 300 years old.) She decides to buy a home, a fixer upper, and perhaps begin to practice alchemy once again. There are many surprises awaiting her-a French gargoyle requesting her alchemical help, a troubled youth, a burglary, an intriguing detective, and a dead contractor on her doorstop.
Blend historical fact with modern day reality and add a dollop of fantasy and you get Gigi Pandian's newest book, The Accidental Alchemist. Gigi Pandian creates a truly unique mystery. While one may find a veritable plethora of witches in mysteries, it is quite rare to find an alchemist.
The Accidental Alchemist is filled with unique characters. Not only do we have a 300 year old alchemist with the appearance of a 28 year old woman, we have Dorian Robert-Houdin, a French gargoyle come to life who also happens to be a world class chef. There's a troubled teenager with a fly by night mother and we also find a hint of romance in the form of Detective Max Liu.
Alchemy is about transformation. The mundane can become the extraordinary. At the start of the book Zoe Faust is a woman searching for a normal life and Brixton is a punk looking to prove something. Through the course of the story their lives and the lives of those around them are transformed. As Dorian transforms simple ingredients into gourmet fare, so the lives of these characters are transformed by the circumstances they face together. Gigi Pandian balances the mundane and the extraordinary in this intriguing mystery. There are lots of things to relish in this delightful read-more than one mystery, a few what-ifs, and in depth characterization, all of which leaves a desire to learn more about this vision of Portland. The Accidental Alchemist is a magnificent start to a new series and I look forward to meeting up with Zoe, Dorian, and that dishy detective again.
Recipes included.