I really struggled with this book, "The Quick and the Dead" by Emma Hinds. However I really liked her previous book "The Knowing" so I did persist and finished it. It was a real slow burn. Some bits were livelier than others and it did pick up around 50% of the way through. It would probably make a good tv series as there are lots of great characters, alchemy, lady sailors/pirates, tudor crime and lots more to boot. Just not my favourite historical novel.

This book has been well written and well researched. I loved the setting of Elizabethan London and alchemy, just my sort of book. The story revolves around the 2 main characters, Kit and Mariner, both in their own way, lost and wanting to be more than their situation. It’s a story of friendship against the odds, both heartbreaking and uplifting. Could there be a sequel?

The characters are definitely what made this book for me.
From loveable slightly lost Kit, to blackheart Twentyman.
Add in bags of atmosphere on the streets of Southwark, and the sorcery known as alchemy, and it's all very interesting.
There's plenty of secrets to be learned, and trouble to be found.
My favourite bits were the relationships, friendships and loyalties found and built between the characters as they discovered the truths.
Good stuff.