Bianca Goddard, daughter of an infamous alchemist, earns a living by making salves and remedies for the poor of Southwark, using chemical skills she learned from her father. So when her friend Jolyn, a former muckraker of the muddy Thames riverside trying to work her way up in Tudor society, comes to her complaining of stomach pains, Bianca quickly mixes her a peptic brew. To Bianca's shock and dismay, a few minutes later Jolyn convulses and dies.
Many people, including the local constable, assume that Bianca poisoned Jolyn. But Bianca knows that her brew was harmless, and quickly deduces that the stomach pains of which Jolyn had complained must mean she'd already been poisoned before she arrived.
Desperate to prove her own innocence and to find her friend's killer, Bianca begins an investigation into the seamy side of London life: a trail that leads her from the riverside scavengers all the way to a wealthy merchant who owns ships that sail the river's length.
Those who enjoy C.J. Sansom's Matthew Shardlake mysteries or Sam Thomas's Midwife mysteries are sure to enjoy The Alchemist's Daughter. Set in a familiar time, but focusing on the oppressed and poverty-stricken rather than the lords and queens who usually frequent Tudor books, The Alchemist's Daughter is an unusual story. With her first novel, Mary Lawrence has done an excellent job of bringing the 1540s--with all their noise, filth, intrigue and interest--to life. --Jessica Howard, blogger at Quirky Bookworm