The Alchemist’s Secret

Buy the Book: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Blackwells, Bookshop, Hive, Waterstones, WHSmith
Series: Ben Hope #1
Published by: HarperCollins Publishers
Release Date: 21 July 2011
Pages: 480
ISBN13: 978-1847563408

 
Synopsis

Where there’s Hope there’s trouble…

The Alchemist’s Secret introduces hero Ben Hope, a former elite SAS soldier tortured by a tragedy from his past, who now devotes his life to rescuing kidnapped children.

But 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. It seems that everyone – from the Nazis of the past to the shadowy modern organisation known as Gladius Domini – wants to uncover the secrets of immortality.

Teaming up with attractive American scientist Dr Roberta Ryder, Ben is led on a wild and dangerous trail from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries…

 

Praise

‘Scott Mariani brings it all to the table in this fast-paced thriller that rockets off the first page and never slows down. The Alchemist’s Secret is packed with dark intrigue, danger around every corner, bullets flying, sexual tension, and an endless assault of nasty villains bent on stopping ex-SAS hero Ben Hope from finding the secret to an ancient manuscript. It’s everything a thriller should be, and more.’
—Joe Moore, international best-selling co-author of The Grail Conspiracy

‘The Alchemist’s Secret establishes Scott Mariani as an author to watch.’
—M.J. Rose, international bestselling author of The Reincarnationist

‘Mariani writes novels that are genuinely exciting, and he does so with a great deal of flair. Thrillers should be thrilling – Mariani delivers exactly that.’
—The Eloquent Page

‘A great read with tremendous pace and good characterisation of the main protagonist.  A piece of work that heralds a new light in this genre.’
—My Favourite Books

‘Scott Mariani is tipped for the top.’
—The Bookseller

‘Awesome, action packed, fast paced and tightly written. Also unpredictable, which is hard to pull off. All that, and it’s historically accurate. More please!’
—Goodreads

‘Mariani does a great job of balancing the historical element with the basic plot to keep the pages turning.’
—The Oxford Mail

‘A roller-coaster ride.’
—Closer Magazine

‘A well written and entertaining treasure hunt thriller. A thought-provoking read.’
—Chooseabookblogspot

Read an excerpt here