SYNOPSIS
In 18th century London, a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. A lot of knowledge is deadly.
When ambitious apprentice chemist and secret alchemist Peter Woulfe is tasked with caring for a mysterious illustrated book, the Mutus Liber, he quickly realises that the grimy underworld of Georgian London is even more dangerous than he first believed.
Soon the book is stolen by the light-fingered Sukie and Peter finds himself being pursued by threatening men who are willing to do anything to get the book back. Where in teeming London might Sukie be found? Why is Peter so enthralled by her? And what is it about the Mutus Liber that is so enticing? As the search for the book becomes an urgent game of cat and mouse, it seems that the key to Peter’s present dilemma might only be found in half-remembered events from his childhood, and then further back still, in the mists of Irish myth.
A spell-binding and unputdownable tale about spirit and matter, love and lust, and reality and magic
MY THOUGHTS
This is a difficult book to review in some ways, not in a bad way, but in a way that you aren’t just telling the story. There are so many characters and the story tends to jump from one to another and I don’t want to give anything away. As It is a book that should be savoured and enjoyed. Full of magic and mystery. I was completely engtossed, it is a book I felt you need your full concentration although I did finish it at 5.30 this morning reading it through the night, as I wanted to know how it ended.
The story begins in 1780, London, a young apprentice who works for Peter Woulfe, Mal Burkis has just been out of Woulfe’s rooms to get some food, but on his return he realises that he has failed at one of his biggest jobs which means that months of Woulfe’s experiment is completely ruined, when Woulfe realises he goes into a blind rage, he throws a lump of quartz which he had in his hand at Mal, striking him on the side of his head, Mal drops to the floor, as Woulfe checks Mal he sees the blood, and the side of Mal’s temporal lobe caved in. Is Mal dead? Woulfe sends for a man he knows, although he cannot recollect where he knows him from, but when he arrives he confirms the boys death and arranges to dispose of the body. But are things quite as they seem. How much will Perle want from Woulfe for this job?
The timeline jumps back to London 1744, Peter is just 17, he is working for Josiah Sweetnam who is an apothecary and alchemist, Peter is there for the Summer. Sweetnam believes himself to be on the verge of a great discovery, But what? Peter is tasked with delivering a precious tome, wrapped several times in waxed linen. He is to deliver the book back to its owner, but as he reaches the area that the man lives in Fleet Street he is shocked to see a naked man in the street, the naked man is the Baron who he is to give the book to, another man is running around him desperately trying to get him to put his cloak on and cover himself up. The Baron is saying an Angel has spoken to him with a message for the Jews. The street is now filling up with spectators watching the baron and laughing. Peter feels he cannot deliver the book whilst the Baron is in such a state so he holds on to it.But as he walks along he feels different, the book feels heavier but he feels so much lighter, he feels like his feet are off the ground, his eyes feel different as well, as he looks around things appear different but why? As he strolls along the river a hand grabs him lifting him off his feet as he looks around to see who his attacker is he finds a small lady. Sukie Bulmer a lady of the night, He initially refuses her services, but it’s not long before he finds himself led down a smaller dark alley. He places the book on the floor by his feet completely entranced by this woman.When they have finished she charges him thruppence. Peter has forgotten the book it is now in the hands of Sukie Bulmer.
What is it about the book that when it is opened it affects the people looking at it so much. What power does the book have? Sukie is entranced by the pictures of angels with trumpets pointing to an inert man. As she turns to the next plate she finds the images even more beautiful than the first with lots of colours involved.
Peter wakes the following morning with nothing but Sukie on his mind. As he goes downstairs his boss Sweetnam is suspicious of Peters demeanour, because he is smiling. The day won’t be a good one. Sweetnam is jealous of Peter as it is as he is from money he has backing from his father and uncles, everything has been paid for. Whereas Sweetnam has had to work hard for everything. This morning Peter sees everything differently. Then when he is asked about the book, Peter realises he had completely forgotten about it, had left it on the floor in the alley, he cannot remember if he had picked it up and brought it back to his rooms, he cannot even remember his journey home. When Sweetnam asks again Peter says he gave it to the Dutchman who had been desperately trying to cover up the Baron.
Peter is going to try and find Sukie that night he needs more of her and he can enquire as to whether she has the book. He goes out looking for her, initially accosted by lots of other ladies first until Sukie and he literally bump into each other, he decides that pleasure should become before he asks about the book in case she runs. But he fails to ask.
Sukie decides to try and sell the book, but she doesn’t trust the bookseller she goes to and leaves with the book.
The timeline goes back to 1739 Mountain Gabriel, Cork, Ireland The great Frost.
Peter was born and raised in Ireland, he was the mother’s favourite son, he had been sickly as a baby and nearly died. It was with the help of Bridey O’Leary that he survived. At 13 Peter would go to her cold home to visit her sneaking out bits of food. He liked to listen to her stories he always had.
London– Peter dreams of Sukie he wants her, propositions her to stay in his rooms for 7 nights, offering her 3 guineas he feels he is in love with her. She accepts his offer, hiding the book that she brings with her. He bumps into Baron Swedenborg the owner of the book, he believes he knows Peter but Peter says no.
A man in a brown coat enters the apothecary, going straight to Sweetnam asking where the book is, before Sweetnam can speak he finds his head butted, breaking his nose, Sweetnam gets quite a beating and lies on the floor unconscious the man asks Peter if he thinks he is dead. Peter doesn’t believe so. The man leaves saying he will be back in fifteen minutes. Peter knows he must grab Sukie and leave immediately. He tells Sukie he is in danger as the man wants the book. As they try to leave Sweetnam asks Peter where the book is. Sukie runs with the book. She goes to see Shapsel Nicodemus Stein to ask if he can sell the book or at least find the baron and ask for a reward.
Men turn up and chop off sweetnams ears, what is so special about the book? They find book tear off the covers take a piece of paper from inside and discard the rest of the book in the street.
Paris Peter Woulfe, stays with his uncle Stephen and aunt Marie, he looks gaunt and ill. Due to finish training as a physician in Paris. Stephen is a banker.
Peter has the book and tries to understand it, on the 8th plate, he understands he can reunite 3 forces Mercury, Sulphur and salt a way of making order out of chaos. He needs to deepen his understanding of Earth Water Air and Fire, he needs to work through steps in the book. Words written in Latin translated to pray, read, read, read, read again, work hard and you will find.
Ireland. Peter sends packages which his mother who has no idea what they are but buys glass cabinets to put everything he sends in. He has a paper printed in the journal of the Royal Society of London he sends his mother a copy of. He has another article printed which he sends a copy to her.
The book Mutus Liber he keeps it away from hands of Robert Perle. Peter has studied the book over 30 years. No text just images.
Is Mal a healer or claiming to be one?
Peter sees Mal, he doesn’t recognise the person with him. Gives them all the money he has on him a fair amount. He has visited 17 countries remembers all rocks rivers and soil.
I was completely engrossed in this book from start to finish, with so many things happening I needed to know what it was that the book held. I would highly recommend this historical, gothic, mystery book. Beautifully written with a number of characters you will love and several you won’t.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leeanne O’ Donnell started her storytelling career working in radio with RTE and BBC, and has made a number of award-winning radio documentaries. Sparks of Bright Matter is her first novel, which she wrote from her home on the foothills of a mountain in the remote south west of Ireland.
Jackie’s Reading Corner 