FitzDuncan’s Alchemy
The FitzDuncan Series Book 2
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Alchemists claim to turn lead into gold. Why would anyone want to change gold into lead?
When you’re trying to con a con man, of course!
A man swindled out of a truly staggering sum of money engages Caz to get it back. Under his usual terms, Caz keeps half of whatever he recovers. But getting the money will not only be difficult, but also dangerous, as the con man is a member of one of Aquileia’s larger criminal organizations.
Swindling a swindler is no easy task, and Caz must craft an elaborate scheme. He needs the help of his friend Freddy, who poses as the dim-witted Lord Compote, while Caz himself is in disguise as an inexperienced con man. Caz calls upon the master criminal for assistance in landing the fish he has on the line, knowing the man will see him as a patsy.
Caz knows that success in recovering the money for his client will bring down the wrath of an entire criminal enterprise on Caz’s shoulders. Will it be worth it? For Caz has been granted access to a far greater prize—the Duke of Gulick has given Caz his permission to marry the brilliant, beautiful, and extremely talented Lucy.
The criminals will stop at nothing to protect their gold, and they know Caz’s heart’s desire and his greatest weakness.
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Another well-crafted adventure by John Spearman, FitzDuncan’s Alchemy is the second installment of this medieval series, where the titular character – a reliable finder of lost things – must use all his wits and wiles to unravel a lucrative cargo scam, in a clever, character-driven caper. Navigating the pitfalls of new love, and avoiding the manipulative clutches of the royal court, Caz schemes and sneaks and supplicates with charm and grace, making it hard not to root for the book’s roguish hero, even with his roving eye and soft spot for beautiful women. Executing a clever plan that could cost him his head or make him a fortune, and solidify his reputation as a serious solver of secretive problems, this tense and entertaining tale does not disappoint. The slick operator at the heart of this story seems to have a rapport with everyone, which keeps the pace of the tale high, though that doesn’t save him from taking the occasional bruising for his tricks and troubles. There is also keen self-awareness to the narration that is subtly amusing, fully allowing the protagonist’s personality to play. Caz and Lucy also make a stunning pair of orbiting, possibly ill-fated lovers, though some of their more vulnerable interactions near the end of the book are less passionate than their relationship at the start. With a fast-moving storyline and few side stories to distract from the main investigation, the plot unfolds quickly, and even as the unique cast of characters widens, the prose remains focused and gripping. Notably, this is a short read, ideal for an escapist afternoon, yet the author manages to pack in quite the tangled plot, evidence of his economic use of language and fine editorial eye in terms of overall storytelling. The book has undeniable heist movie energy, despite the centuries-old setting, and readers are pulled right along in the scheming, as few details are left out of this thoroughly word-smithed story. Technically, the writing is clean and well-edited, particularly the sharp, meaningful, and dramatic dialogue. However, some phrases, behaviors, and situations do feel somewhat anachronistic and out of place; posed as a piece of medieval fiction, these moments can pull readers briefly from their immersion to question the setting and era. Additionally, some of the minutiae the author does include feel unnecessary, overly instructive or already implied by the context of the writing, such as lines about characters entering and leaving spaces, basic comments on the weather/environment, or flat emotional characterizations. On that note, the cast of characters can be hard to keep track of, as there is a great deal of action tightly packed into 150 short pages, but keeping up with the urgent, fast-talking prose is a surprisingly fun challenge. Operating on the granular level of interpersonal drama, while also expanding the broader storyline of the series, this creative clash of the classes makes for an impressive historical thriller. Spearman has a knack for offbeat storytelling and well-drawn characters, and has delivered a page-turning read in his second FitzDuncan Series adventure.
FitzDuncan’s Alchemy is the second adventure revolving around Casimir FitzDuncan, exploring the conundrums that evolve when a swindling attempt backfires and the swindler becomes the victim in a similar scheme. The historical mystery takes place six weeks after his last adventure. That experience involved a plot by the younger of two royal princes, Wim, to usurp his older brother, Albert, in the royal succession. Prior readers who appreciated the setting, characters, and adventures of Casimir in the first book are in a perfect position to appreciate the ongoing dilemmas presented in this follow-up story. Newcomers will find that Fitz recaps his past and his connections to royalty in a succinct, easily accessible manner, while prior readers will find that this review of past events refreshes their memory, setting the stage for what is to come. From dubious partners and a ruse to confiscate the gold to Caz’s creation of a dangerous game that evolves with cat-and-mouse precision, John J. Spearman captures a sense of history and intrigue, adding a touch of humor to Caz’s first-person experiences as he develops a “where’s the money?” tale of intrigue. Interacting with Caz is the also-loveable character of Freddy (nee Lord Rawlinsford), his “somewhat-intended” Greta Hawkins, and a host of other individuals, including Lucy’s father, the Duke of Gulick. A romp evolves that embraces action and adventure, social and political change, and confrontations that result in injury and angst. Spearman is adept at weaving these disparate lives into a story of kidnapping, subterfuge, threats, and power plays that operate on psychological, financial, and political levels. The result is a multifaceted story especially recommended for prior fans of FitzDuncan’s exploits, who will find much to relish about his latest adventure as well as a conclusion which leaves the door ajar for more.
OnlineBookClub.org
FitzDuncan’s Alchemy, the second instalment in the FitzDuncan series, is an action-adventure fiction novel written by John Spearman. Though the first book, FitzDuncan, would provide some context as to the story’s and characters’ history and origins, the events of the second novel unfold in such a way that it can be read as a standalone. Casimir FitzDuncan, Caz to his friends, is the illegitimate son of the Earl of the Western March. Life has shaped his character into one of resourcefulness, grit, and perseverance. This helps him in his chosen path of recovering lost or stolen goods for others, being paid half of the value of the items when he succeeds. He’s still slightly on the mend from his battle with Prince Wim, brother to the rightful heir, Prince Albert, whose improvement in character allows for a tentative relationship to form between the two. Albert sends Lord Tulley his way, a member of the prince’s circle who is a victim of investment fraud. Caz then devises a ruse to scam a scammer, roleplaying a small-time schemer who’s desperate for aid. Meanwhile, he realizes his feelings for Lucy, Lady Darling, have grown too strong to ignore, working up the courage to ask her father’s permission to marry her. Their happiness is at risk, however. Caz’s scheme makes him a target of Nils Pedersen, a man of dark means intent on revenge. I loved the characters, most especially their interactions. The detail which Caz employed in the carrying out of his ruse, considering most angles I would never think of, was fascinating. His stature in life is that of a bastard, but he isn’t whiny or resentful; rather, he’s very matter of fact and good-natured about nearly everything. Also, Lucy and Greta were interesting foils to Caz’s and Freddy’s characters. I liked reading how Lucy ‘handled’ Caz; for indeed, that is the only term that fits their back-and-forth. She seemed to possess clairvoyant abilities, never batting an eyelash at the odd situations he frequently found himself in. The story is told in this cheeky narration that makes one think of dashingly handsome rakes, though without the pesky womanizing traits. There’s an old-world quality to it, though it has its own thing, with three Major and nine Minor Gods, set in Aquileia, where upturned noses, a shared and marked avoidance of the word ‘magic’, and mafia-esque crime bosses seem to equally prosper. The worldbuilding is top-notch in relation to how it’s spoon-fed to the reader. There’s the promise of there being some supernatural or fantasy element with the continuation of the series. I’m interested to see where Spearman takes it; he’s set the groundwork, but just how far or how deep into the ‘other’ does he intend to take the story? Romance, suspense, and a little mystery help to make the story all the better. The best way to describe the ending of the book is a mellow cliff-hanger, leaving room for all these subgenres to flourish. Five errors in total in a twelve-chapter book is not too bad. As such, I gathered that the novel has been exceptionally well edited. There were some minor cases of profanity, but these were infrequent, and the sexual content present was of the vague, skimmed-over variety. My rating for FitzDuncan’s Alchemy is 4 out of 4 stars. I could find no shortcoming that would warrant a removal of any star. An A+ narration, great dialogue, characters who vibe well with each other and are interesting to read about, and a wonderful storyline are some of the reasons this book is worth recommending. People who like adventures that feature swords, duchies, and the promise of magical exploration would love this book. I don’t think those who are on the hunt for high-fantasy reads would find this book appealing.
Readers’ Favorite
Casimir is at it again after a faceoff with Prince Wim, who wanted to usurp the throne from his brother. Casimir was the bastard son of the Earl of Eastern March, who earned money by helping others recover treasures. In FitzDuncan’s Alchemy by John J. Spearman, life was better as he made more money and courted Lady Darling with her father’s permission. Lord Tulley showed up in Casimir’s life with a new job of helping him recover a large amount of money fleeced off him by Nils Pedersen’s boy. A new adventure began for the hunter, but the stakes were high this time. Nils wasn’t a person to toy with, and Casimir would plan the trickiest scheme of his life yet. Will he succeed in his quest? Find out! FitzDuncan’s Alchemy by John J. Spearman is the second installment in the FitzDuncan series and a riveting read. The plot and story were unique, insightful, brilliant, and captivating. FitzDuncan’s Alchemy is a mix of laid-back atmosphere and action if you can imagine that. I loved the concise recap at the beginning of the book. It helped me understand the essence of the first installment, even if I hadn’t read it. John developed excellent characters that I connected with throughout the book. Casimir was my favorite cast member for his great sense of humor, witty personality, and street smartness. I also loved Freddy, maybe a little too much. He was a method actor who made me laugh a lot. The lighthearted banter, stylish writing, and first-person narrative helped me understand the story. I fell in love with this novel from the first paragraph. Write more, John!