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    The Elusive Elixir
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    The Elusive Elixir
    Unavailable
    The Elusive Elixir
    Ebook326 pages4 hours

    The Elusive Elixir

    By Gigi Pandian

    3.5/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    Dorian Robert-Houdin, the three-and-a-half-foot gargoyle chef who fancies himself a modern-day Poirot, is slowly turning into stone, and it's up to Zoe Faust to unravel the alchemical secrets that can save him. When they discover that a long-lost stone gargoyle with a connection to Dorian has reappeared in Europe, the stakes are even higher. From Portland to Paris, Zoe searches for the hidden knowledge she needs, but a cold case that harkens back to 1942 throws her off course. With an ailing friend desperately trying to discover his own Elixir of Life and a new romantic interest offering the first chance at love she's had in nearly a century, Zoe is torn between a dangerous form of alchemy and her desire for a normal life.

    Praise:

    "Pandian's imaginative third Accidental Alchemist mystery...will please those who like their cozies filled with magic."—Publishers Weekly

    "The unbelievable premise is no problem given the inventive powers of Pandian."—Kirkus Reviews

    "Pandian writes fun, light-hearted mysteries and is an expert at developing sympathetic characters, both major and minor."—Bustle

    "A quirky, incredible series...The characters are immensely unique and the writing is A+, so you won't want to miss a word."—Suspense Magazine

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLlewellyn Worldwide
    Release dateJan 8, 2017
    ISBN9780738750330
    Unavailable
    The Elusive Elixir
    Author

    Gigi Pandian

    GIGI PANDIAN is the USA Today bestselling and multiple-award-winning author of the Secret Staircase mysteries, inspired by elements from her own family background. She is also the author of the Accidental Alchemist mysteries, the Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt mysteries, and more than a dozen locked-room mystery short stories. Pandian has won Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and was a finalist for an Edgar Award. A breast cancer survivor and accidental almost-vegan who adores cooking, she lives with her husband in Northern California.

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    Reviews for The Elusive Elixir

    3.5/5

    41 ratings5 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This series started off with a chimera/gargoyle brought to life through backwards alchemy approaching the MC, pleading for help, as he was starting to revert to stone again. This book is the conclusion of that particular series plot, while at the same time introducing a couple of other mysteries, including a murder. The characters keep me coming back to these books, as does the alchemy backdrop which is always fun. But the stories could do with a bit of tougher editing; it was difficult to get into the story at the beginning because of all the repetition of information. I think the MC mentioned she was 300 years old at least 3 times in as many pages. The plotting was great - I had little idea where the story was going - but the ending, especially the part concerning the gargoyle, felt a little to pat, a little too anticlimactic. It's a fun story with great characters, but if it had been a bit tighter all the way around, it would have been great.
    • 4/5
      The Elusive Elixir is the third book in Gigi Pandian’s Accidental Alchemist Mystery series. The two previous books are The Accidental Alchemist and The Masquerading Magician. However, like I did, you can jump into the series here and still thoroughly enjoy the book. The author gives enough background details along the way, without ever info-dumping, for the reader to get up to speed with current events. I shall be reading the first two books now. I might be doing things backward, but with these books in which backward alchemy has such a part to play, then I feel justified!The action takes place in Paris and Portland as Zoe Faust, our alchemist heroine who is somewhere around 300 years old having discovered the Elixir of Life, tries to find a cure to help her dear gargoyle friend Dorian from turning back into stone. She has to foray into the dark world of backwards alchemy, and places herself into considerable danger. Events and people from the past come back into her life to cause her rather a lot of trouble.This is a fabulously original book, and series, combining those formidable looking gargoyles of Notre Dame cathedral with alchemy. The author lends her own twist to the magic with her idea of backward alchemy, and the mysterious books of alchemy that Zoe is so eager to get her hands on. Zoe is a lively, interesting character, full of courage and initiative. Dorian is a wonderful counterpoint to her, with his, dare I say it, stereotypically slightly grumpy Frenchness and love of food! He’s irrepressible, even when facing such an uncertain future. Luckily he’s as resourceful as Zoe, as things don’t quite go the way she planned.There’s a fascinating cast of rounded characters all bringing their own action and interest to the story too, including Max, her calm, understanding boyfriend, and Brixton, her typical-teenager friend. There are secondary strands to the story making for a very rewarding, rich experience. It really is an absolutely delightful novel to read.
    • 4/5
      The Elusive Elixir by Gigi Pandian is the third book in The Accidental Alchemist Mystery series. Zoe Faust is in Paris hoping to find answers to help her gargoyle friend, Dorian Robert-Houdin. Dorian was changed from a stone gargoyle at Notre Dame Cathedral’s Gallery of Gargoyle’s into a live gargoyle. But over the last few months he has slowly turning back into stone. Dorian will be alive but trapped in his stone exterior. Zoe wants to save him and has come to Paris for answers. Another gargoyle was recently spotted alive in Prague and it was turned over to the Paris University (Zoe has not been able to get access). Before Zoe can get some answers, Blanche Leblanc approaches her. Blanche claims to have known Zoe in 1942. The woman then has her nephew, a police officer, talk with Zoe regarding the fire of Elixir (the herbalist shop Zoe owned in Paris) and the death of Jasper Dubois. Zoe cannot risk her secrets coming to light and flees Paris. Back in Portland, Ivan Danko, Zoe’s neighbor and friend, is busy trying to discover the Elixir of Life (he does not wish to die). Zoe soon realizes that someone has followed Zoe back to Portland. They want Dorian’s book Non Degenera Alchemia, which talks about backward alchemy. Life has taken a very dangerous turn for Zoe. Will she be able to rescue Dorian and keep the book safe? The Elusive Elixir is well-written, easy to read, and fascinating. There are a lot of details and it can be hard to keep them all straight. I have not read the previous books in this series, but it did not hinder my enjoyment of The Elusive Elixir (the author provides the necessary background information on Zoe and Dorian). I give The Elusive Elixir 4.25 out of 5 stars (I really liked it). I did find some information to be repeated several times (that Max Liu is Zoe’s “sort of” boyfriend, the basics about backward alchemy, and information about Zoe’s past). Zoe Faust is a great main character. She is intelligent, strong, and resourceful. I appreciated Dorian. He is humorous and entertaining (and an excellent chef). I found the mystery fascinating, but I did figure it out (it is wonderfully complex). I am looking forward to reading the other novels in The Accidental Alchemist series.
    • 1/5
      I am so done with this series. I am tired of the lists of ingredients. And this woman should be better at handling people after 300 years. Also, police don't let you go send them proof that your grandmother is dead from another country, even IF they thought it was appropriate for you to have to vindicate someone they suspect committed a murder 70 years ago.This was too ridiculous to tolerate.
    • 4/5
      Series Info/Source: This is the 3rd book in the Accidental Alchemist Mysteries. I borrowed this book from the library. There are currently four books in this series. Story (4/5): Zoe goes back to Paris to track down some leads regarding Dorian’s condition and is hoping to hunt down the other living gargoyle. However, while she is there an old woman recognizes her and threatens her with legal action over the murder of Zoe’s lab assisstant from the 1940’s (Jasper). Zoe ends up having to flee back to Portland but things are going strange in Portland too. Zoe’s friend Ivan is becoming obsessed with alchemy as he gets sicker and sicker, someone is spying on both Zoe and Ivan, and someone from Zoe’s past shows up and shocks her in a big way. As Zoe’s past closes in around her she still struggles to help Dorian; things are looking very dire. I enjoyed the story a lot and absolutely loved the resolution here.Characters (4/5): I continue to really enjoy the characters in this series. We finally get to meet Brixton’s dad in this volume and also get to meet the second living gargoyle that was made. I like that Zoe is taking more people into her confidence and enjoy getting to see more of Zoe’s past. It’s interesting to watch Zoe grow as a character as she learns to trust people more and works to embrace her past rather than run from it.Setting (4/5): I enjoyed a lot of the time spent in Paris and continue to really enjoyed all the history around alchemy. This book bounces between Paris and Portland. I also loved the time spent in Paris’s underground.Writing Style (4/5): This is again mainly a mystery and is a very well done mystery. I really continue to enjoy the history around alchemy and the alchemy performed in the book too. This is very easy to read, and in addition to the excellent mystery, has very endearing characters who are easy to engage with. This is just a very well balanced story and I enjoyed it a lot.My Summary (4/5): Overall I really liked this. This is a fun series with excellent mysteries and lots of interesting alchemical history. I also love the characters a lot. I absolutely love the ending of this book so much….go Dorian!!! I plan on continuing the series. I was disappointed to read that Midnight Ink shut down right after the publication of the fourth book, so it sounds like this series is unfinished.