Centuries-old protagonist Zoe
Faust, the accidental alchemist, is traveling between Portland, Oregon and
Paris, France, in search of an Elusive
Elixir that can help her friend and sidekick, Dorian the three-foot tall
gargoyle chef. He is facing a dire dilemma as he is slowly turning into stone. As
you can imagine, Dorian has to keep a low profile around Portland to avoid
scaring the residents, although his innate talents and humor are truly a
delight. Only Zoe can unravel the alchemical secrets that may save him. During
her distraught search, she is also confronted by a cold case murder from one of
her previous lives that she’s compelled to solve. As you can deduce, this inventive
author has raveled some supernatural and paranormal elements around an irresistible
mystery.
As Zoe explains, “Alchemy is a
personal transformation. Its core principle is transforming the impure into the
pure, be it lead into gold or a dying body into a thriving one.” She is
dedicated with a deep passion to her science. She’s also a loyal friend and
struggles with her extraordinarily lengthy life in the social ties she makes.
In this book she revels in the joys of romance, while still shuddering as she contemplates
the secrets she’s keeping from him. The reader is treated to almost the feeling
of time travel as Zoe recalls adventures of her previous lives. The author
writes in such gorgeous details, different eras are magically brought to life.
Gigi Pandian is a USA Today
bestselling author with three books in the Accidental Alchemist series. She’s
received the Left Coast Crime’s Lefty and Rose awards, as well as short listed
for the Macavity and Agatha Awards. She spent much of her childhood travelling
the world with her cultural anthropologist parents, undoubtedly enriching her
writing by bringing depth to her settings and brilliance to her characters. She
is also an enthusiastic, almost vegan health food dynamo. She treats her
readers to delicious, easy-to-make recipes in her books as well.
This is truly an original
mystery, laced with supernatural components, and a modern twist on an ancient
science. Will that Elusive Elixir be
found in time to save Dorian from a horrific nightmare, trapped alive within
stone? Will the cold case murder be solved to Zoe’s satisfaction, before she is
herself accused of the murder from her past life? And can romance thrive
through it all? You’ll enjoy reading about it all.
And if you want to hear
more from the author listen on YouTube to Kendall &
Cooper Talk Mysteries with Gigi Pandian
