The Alchemist's Secret

This is one of those books you read in one go and can read 10 of them in a row... like you read James Patterson :) But for how long you will remember what you have read I can't tell... not for long probably :) You'll remember that you liked the book but not what the book was about... :)

In this first full-length novel, Scott Mariani propels Ben Hope into the middle of an ancient mystery, some would rather have left in medieval times. Hope is enjoying his life as a former SAS operative, ensconced in the world of K&amp;R (kidnap and ransom), particularly when the victims are children. When Hope is approached by a wealthy man to help him find a manuscript that purports to hold alchemical secrets, skepticism surfaces and the mission is declined. However, upon learning that this might be the only way to help the man’s granddaughter, a crisis of conscience arises and Ben agrees to take the case and commences the search for the Fulcanelli Manuscript. Steered towards Paris, Hope begins searching for his manuscript that is said to hold keys the Elixir of Life. He encounters a controversial American scientist, Dr. Roberta Ryder, who has her own feelings about this document and seeks to come along, having always wanted to examine Fulcanelli’s notations. However, someone is trying to steer her astray and keep Ryder on the radar of the police. Immortality being what it is, many others are searching for the Manuscript, including a dark organization, Gladius Domini. They will stop at nothing to uncover the secrets and have targeted Hope and Ryder for extinction, if that is what it will take. Headed by a powerful man within the Catholic Church, Gladius Domini purports to be acting in the name of God. As the search continues, a psychiatric patient who has read large portions of the Manuscript might hold some key aspects that Hope will require in his search. However, self-inflicted injuries and incoherent babble led to a deadly outcome. Could these rantings still be useful? Hope and Ryder do all they can to find the truths of the Fulcanelli Manuscript while trying to keep Gladius Domini at bay. As the story progresses, the reader travels with Hope and Ryder on a dangerous trail from Paris to the ancient Cathar strongholds of the Languedoc, where an astonishing secret has lain hidden for centuries. Might Hope lose his life trying to extend that of a sick girl? Mariani storms onto the scene with this new series and keeps readers hooked from the opening paragraphs. An exciting adventure that mixes the devotion of Jack Reacher with the historical obsessions of Robert Langdon. Not to be missed by fans of either protagonist.<br /><br />Asked by a friend if I would try this series, I decided to stop procrastinating once and for all. I thoroughly enjoy the premise of the Ben Hope series and found that the character, while similar in some regards to the two men mentioned above, also individualises himself nicely. Hope brings much baggage and fast-paced decision making from his time with the SAS, but also a penchant for dedication. He pulls on an ability to decipher codes and hidden messages, while peeling back historical understandings of items not known to many beforehand. It is still early in the series, but I can begin to see an interesting foundation for the Ben Hope character and Mariani offers up some interesting backstory about Ben and his reason for being involved in K&amp;R, pieces that were not clear even with the three short stories that precede this novel. The story is by no means unique, but its development and content does have a degree of individuality, such that the reader will likely want to take a look. Without getting too weighed down with religious symbols, the Fulcanelli Manuscript offers up the one things many have sought for so long, the answer to eternal life. I’d surely use it to read and review all the books that teeter on my ‘to be read’ list. You?!<br /><br />Kudos, Mr. Mariani for starting the series off with a bang! I am very curious and hope to read more about Ben Hope and his various adventures in the coming weeks.<br /><br />Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at: <br /><a target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow" href="http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/">http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/</a>

This is the first book in the Ben Hope series and I enjoyed it but found it rather cliche. It is not unlike <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/2563047.The_DaVinci_Code__Robert_Langdon___2_" title="The DaVinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2) by Dan Brown" rel="noopener">The DaVinci Code</a> in terms of a hero (Ben) who takes on a beautiful sidekick (Roberta) to track down an ancient manuscript relating to alchemy. It brings in Notre Dame, the Catholic Church, religious artefacts and the Cathars.<br />It is action packed and our hero manages to get out of a lot of tight situations. There is torture and diabolically bad people.<br />Having said all of that, I found it hard to put down and enjoyed all the twists and turns in the story.

ভালো লেগেছে অবশ্যই। ভয়ে ভয়ে ছিলাম আরেক রবার্ট ল্যাংডন হাজির হয় কিনা! তবে হোপকে বরং মাসুদ রানার কাছাকাছি কেউ মনে হয়েছে। অনুবাদ বরাবরের মতোই ভালো। আরেকটু মনে হয় ভালো করার সুযোগ আছে। :)<br /><br />আমি মুগ্ধ নিজের পড়ার ক্ষমতা আগের মতোই আছে দেখে! একদিনে ৩০০+ পৃষ্ঠা পড়ে ফেললুম!! নাহ পুরনো রিমা আপু এখনো হারিয়ে যায়নি দেখা যাচ্ছে! :D

সেই পুরাতন মদ নতুন বোতলে, যদিও একটু ভিন্ন ��াবে। ? আ্যলকেমি আর এলিক্সির অফ লাইফের লীলাখেলা। <br /><br />বেনেডিক্ট হোপ, প্রাক্তন মিলিটারি কিন্তু বর্তমানে তার কাজ হারিয়ে যাওয়া মানুষ উদ্ধার করে বেড়ানো। মহৎকর্ম-এই ভেবে যদিও মি.হোপ এই কাজ করছেন না, তার পেছনে অন্য একটা কাহিনি আছে। এখন আসি বর্তমানে, মি. হোপ একটা অন্যরকম দায়িত্ব পেয়েছে। গুরুতর অসুস্থ একটা শিশুর জন্য উদ্ধার করতে হবে শত শত বছরের প্রাচীন গুপ্তজ্ঞান আ্যলকেমির ফর্মুলা। অভিযানে নামে সে।<br /><br />এখন শুধু নায়ক দিয়ে কি আর হয়? নায়িকা না থাকলে তো জমে না। এই নায়িকা আবার পুতুপুতু টাইপ না(একেবারে না তা না, অল্পস্বল্প আর কি), কারাতে জানা, সুন্দরী আবার বিজ্ঞানীও। তারও আগ্রহের বিষয় আবার বেন হোপের সাথে মিলে যায়। সম্প্রতি সে তার নতুন আবিষ্কার নিয়ে বিজ্ঞানী মহলে বেশ বিব্রত অবস্থায় আছে।<br /><br />নায়ক-নায়িকা থাকলেই তো হয় না, প্রয়োজন হয় ভিলেনের। তবেই না বই জমে ক্ষীর। আবির্ভাব ঘটে ভয়ংকর একটা সংঘের। ঘাত প্রতিঘাত আর টানটান উত্তেজনা বইয়ের পাতায় পাতায়। বেনেডিক্ট হোপ কি পারবে? ? (এই একটা ফালতু কথা বলে ফেললাম! অরে বেকুব! নায়ক নায়িকার যদি জয় না হয় তো কাহিনি হইল নাকি?)

Like a Hollywood movie it started, like a movie it ended. What's in between, is a story of suspense thriller, action adventure, conspiracy, love and hardcore killings and survival. <br /><br />Ask me why I liked The Alchemist's Secret? And the answer is simple. Because it's good. From the first chapter its fast paced, and it rarely slow down. Of course there are loop-holes within the story, but those didn't bother me much to avoid fun. Often when a story can give me enough joy, I tend to ignore that tiny errors it beholds. Because, every story has errors if you really want to find them. But, the main goal should be to enjoy it while we can. That's why we read books to begin with, isn't it? <br /><br />I liked how hero character developed with time, or rather it's more appropriate to say, how it got reveled. He was rough and tough to begin with, but also has a soft corner within. And we got to see throughout the journey that he can be as humane as a normal human being. He also makes mistake, ignore facts. But, with luck and skill he survives somehow. Our lady protagonist was also nice. The only thing bothered me that, she was supposed to know some martial-arts, but when situation demanded she failed to use it mostly. I wanted her to be more action packed. <br /><br />There is puzzle, and throughout the whole book B. Hope discover the whole truth. The ending is not unpredictable, but it's fine. Whole journey made it worth a while. If you like an action adventure story, this book is for you. If you like spy thriller, you need to read this. If you like conspiracy, it might just satisfy you. Overall, read it if you want to go into a fast story-line with good characters. You will feel like playing a good old Tomb Raider game while reading it- if you know what I mean!

I am completely flummoxed as to why so many people have given this book and author such good reviews!!!! It is such a rip off of other authors stories, in particular Dan Brown, and is riddled with cliches!!! To top it all off it is very poorly written. I'm no literary snob, far from it as I will read trashy page turners like the rest of them <br />The cliches were to much and I struggled to finish it.....the handsome, rich, reclusive, troubled ex SAS soldier out to save the world against the evil Catholic Church with his side kick, who just happens to be a beautiful young intelligent woman! <br />The story was poor but it was all too much for me when the hero and heroine run into each other's arms on the beach at the end......I couldn't bear to read another word by this comic book author! Go read some Jeffrey Archer Mr Mariani and learn how to write a novel!

It's like a cross between Dan Brown and Matthew Reilly. Awesome action packed, fast paced, tightly written (seriously, shortest paragraphs and chapters I've ever read, so you'll fly through it). <br /><br />Also unpredictable, which is hard to pull off. All that, and it's historically acurate??? More please!

Wow!!!<br /><br /> This book is a brilliant fast paced, thrill seeking read. It will have you on the edge of your seat, frantically turning each page, and before you know it, you’ve devoured it all!<br /><br /> If Jason Bourne were to meet Robert Langdon, you would find yourself looking at Ben Hope, a former member of the SAS. <br /> Upon been sent on a mission, to find an ancient manuscript, for the elixir of life, he must travel to France in the hopes of locating it.<br /> However, it is not all plain sailing for Ben, who finds himself in uncertain dangers and treacherous situations.<br /><br /> Who are his allies and who are his enemies?<br /><br />This book will not disappoint if you are eager to uncover long lost mysteries and secrets and enjoy being taken on a journey with your minds eye.

বইটা ভালো কিন্তু পরে বুঝতে পারলাম মাসুদ রানার গুপ্তবিদ্যা এই বইটার এডাপটেশন।