Merrick's life was a wild goose chase. Literally.

Somewhere on the remote, Scottish isle of Scarba, Gladys awaits answers. What is the centuries-old secret that rules her destiny? A short distance away, Merrick is on his way to join 35,000 fellow barnacle geese at their annual gathering. Delayed by a sudden fall from the sky, he sustains his first wrist injury in three centuries, and has to catch a boat. Lucy Colwyn wants to go to Scarba to die; if she can only get there unscathed first. Eminent neurologist, Dr. Britten, receives miraculous news: a dying patient is cured. He now has no choice but to abandon everything and track her down before she does the unthinkable. But the journey won’t be easy, as three familiar old ladies have other, rather unorthodox agendas. The Queen of The Hebrides leaves for Islay loaded with strangers. By the time it reaches at its conclusion, some of the passengers are on their way to reaching another. That they’re more connected than they could ever have imagined.

The Advice Bucket is a comedy-fantasy, and is Heather Hill’s third novel.

From the author of International Best-Sellers, ‘The New Mrs D’ and ‘I Hate That You Bloody Left Me.’

What did I think?

There's a surprise on every page of this fabulous book. It's so completely different, filled with life stories and humour that you are guaranteed to have a tear in your eye at some point in the book.

There are lots of interesting characters in the book but the main story revolves around Lucy. Lucy has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and having lost her only daughter, decides to travel to remote Scarba island to end her life. Scarba means a lot to Lucy as it is where her mother apparently committed suicide many years ago. It is while Lucy is en route to Scarba that her doctor, Doctor Britten, receives the amazing results of a trial that Lucy has been involved in. Can he reach Lucy in time and does she have anything to live for?

Merrick meanwhile, is also making his way to Scarba as a barnacle goose, when the unearthing of a hidden spell finds him thrust into human form. He needs to meet back up with his flock but it's not only his goose family waiting for him on Scarba...

The Advice Bucket blurs the lines between dying and living forever, they are perhaps one and the same thing. It is a poignant story of living with a terminal illness and a magical account of immortality, with a smattering of Scottish humour that will leave you with a smile on your face. On a serious note, it also draws your attention to the plight of these barnacle geese and the Scottish government's attempts to reduce their numbers. It was not something that I was aware of until now and looking at the amazing photo on the cover of the book, wonder how anyone could harm these majestic creatures.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My rating:

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How far would YOU go to bring back a lost love?

Alchemy is a chilling psychological tale of mystery, murder and suspense and reveals an extraordinary decade in the life of a talented, sweet young and innocent genius, as he transforms into a monster. The author, well used to murder and the macabre, was a criminal trial lead detective in the British police.

In Victorian London, England, close to the end of the 19th century, a young artist unravels what he believes to be the formula for immortality and raising the dead, prescribed in an ancient tome: Alchemy

Just when he cracks the secret code for the final components of his elixir, his mistress and inspiration, dies. His life is devastated, his mind fragile, destroyed by drugs. He knows he has the power to revive her. But obtaining the last ingredients means resorting to murder, taking innocent lives.

He just has to decide whose.

His only surviving model, our narrator, infatuated with this painter of her portrait, attends the trial of the century, where she finally learns someone got away with murder.

Based on a true story? Why not decide for yourself?

What did I think?

I thoroughly enjoyed this book – it’s a dark gothic tale with a twist and is an absolutely stunning debut from Chris James. It’s a veritable who’s who of the Victorian era with many famous faces making an appearance, including the grand old lady herself.

Jacob is such a tortured character and being an artist as well as an alchemist, it is little wonder that we are encouraged to question his sanity. Jacob is standing trial for murder and the circus of the courtroom is described wonderfully. In between chapters of the trial, we find out about Jacob’s life and I soon found myself questioning whether some things were real or imagined.

Whilst reading, I felt fully immersed in the late 19^th century and could feel Jacob’s sanity slipping away as his painting became darker and he became more addicted to his potions. Was he living alone, or with the people with whom he claimed to be living? My mind was a-whirl as the story progressed and as the end of the trial approached, I could see only one outcome…but what an ending! There’s an amazing revelation and cliff-hanger at the end, ensuring that the reader will be hot-footing it over to Amazon to pick up Alchemy: turning Silver into Gold as soon as it is released.

It’s such an atmospheric, dark and brilliant book; I was reminded of Jekyll and Hyde, The Picture of Dorian Gray and even Harry Potter, ultimately causing my mind to run into overdrive as it pushed my eyes to read faster. I really can’t wait to read book 2.

I received this e-book from Booklover Catlady publicity in exchange for an honest review.

My rating: