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Reviews of Cryptologic Fiction

Duncan, Dave. 2008. The Alchemist’s Code. Penguin Group (USA), Inc. New York, NY, USA. 308 pp., paperback, $14.00. Maestro Filippo Nostradamus, nephew of Michel Nostradamus (the (in)famous prophesier), is an astrologer, clairvoyant and alchemist as well as the best physician in Venice in the year 1595. The Maestro is a friend of the Doge and is his personal physician. His apprentice and bodyguard is Alfeo Zeno, a young and impoverished nobleman. Alfeo is also the Maestro’s legman for gathering information. Alfeo Zeno is a bit of a rogue. He is smart, street-wise, well read, athletic, a decent swordsman, and nearly always in search of a good time, particularly with the courtesans of 16th century Venice. The Alchemist’s Code is the second book in the excellent series set in Venice, an historical mystery with a touch of magic in it. Readers of the Nero Wolfe series of detective novels will have a feeling of déjà vu here as Alfeo plays a great Archie Goodwin, complete with service to his master, a quick wit and an attitude to go along with it. Maestro Nostradamus reminds one of Wolfe; he is always complaining, hardly ever leaves the house, but is brilliant, erudite, Machiavellian, and always one step ahead of everyone else in the room. He gives Alfeo a hard time, but is obviously fond of him. This historical view of Venice in the 16th century is compelling and accurate. Venice, its culture, scenery, and politics become a real character in the book. Late 16th century Venice is just the beginning of the two-century decline of the Venetian Republic. From its height in the mid 16th century, Venice has since lost Cyprus and Crete to the Ottoman Turks, and its mainland empire has been whittled down somewhat by the Papal States. It will be another two centuries before Napoleon puts an end to the Republic in 1797, but just now Venice is starting her reign as the destination city of Europe. Duncan does an excellent job of bringing out the flair of the city. In this second novel, the case starts out inconsequentially: nobleman and former ambassador to Constantinople, Zuanbattista Sanudo, and his young second wife Eva pay a visit to the famous Maestro. The nobleman’s 15-year-old daughter Grazia is missing. They do not want any scandal—they just want Nostradamus to find her quickly. The old sage and Alfeo both realize quickly that the parents think their daughter wasn’t kidnapped at all, but eloped.