Published October 2023

Summary

It’s going to be a busy week for Max Liu. He’s finally opening his new shop – The Alchemy of Tea. However, the night before the opening, his new store is firebombed and his estranged father confesses to it. Zoe Faust, Max’s girlfriend, is determined to help him clear his father of the crime, but during their investigation they stumble across a dead body in a conservatory filled with carnivorous plants, and Max’s father falls under suspicion for that too. 

Zoe, an alchemist, believes alchemy may somehow be involved. Dorian, an alchemist, French chef, and gargoyle, believes there is a Plant Monster at work. 

I have learned that it’s best not to argue with a gargoyle.

The alchemists of Monsters And Mayhem, P. 83

My Thoughts

I love this series! I love everything Gigi Pandian has written! But I really love this series!

The characters are incredibly unique. We have Zoe, an alchemist who has lived for over 300 years. She lives with Dorian, a French gargoyle who was brought to life accidentally in the 1800s. Dorian is one of my favorite fictional characters of all time. He’s admittedly arrogant, but his skills as a chef and alchemist seem to justify his arrogance, at least to him. He’s also an avid reader, willing to learn new things, and, I think, sweet.

Normally, Dorian has several teenage accomplices who help him get into trouble, but they aren’t available to assist him in this book. I was actually happy about their absence, not because I dislike them, but because it gave the other characters more time to shine. It also forced Dorian to be more resourceful and to work with Zoe. 

Nicolas and Perenelle Flamel are such fascinating characters, and I really enjoyed spending more time with them in this story. I appreciate Nicolas’s curiosity and willingness to dive into new adventures, and the way Perenelle looks at everything through the eyes of an artist. Tobias is a kind-hearted and gentle man who brings a loving energy to the group.

I admit I still haven’t taken to Max. His skepticism seems a lot like condescension. However, he seems to be making an effort, so I may yet change my mind about him.

The mystery was well-developed and complex. There were just enough suspects, clues, and red herrings. I love the paranormal elements, and I do think that they make the mysteries a bit trickier to solve. 

My Rating 5/5

About the Author

“Gigi Pandian is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning mystery author, breast cancer survivor, and locked-room mystery enthusiast. The child of cultural anthropologists from New Mexico and the southern tip of India, she spent her childhood being dragged around the world on their research trips, which inspired her fiction. She’s been awarded Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Derringer awards, and been a finalist for the Edgar.” (From gigipandian.com)

Pandian writes three series that I absolutely adore!

• The Jaya Jones Treasure Hunt Mysteries
• The Accidental Alchemist Mysteries
• The Secret Staircase Mysteries

To learn more about her be sure to check out her website and sign up for her newsletter.