The Secrets of Life and Death: A Novel (Secrets)

by Rebecca Alexander

In modern day England, Professor Felix Guichard is called in to identify occult symbols found on the corpse of a young girl. His investigation brings him in contact with a mysterious woman, Jackdaw Hammond, who guards a monumental secret--She's Dead. Or she would be, were it not for magic which has artificially extended her life. But someone else knows her secret. Someone very old and very powerful, who won't rest until they've taken the magic that keeps her alive....

In Krakow in 1585, Dr John Dee, the Elizabethan Alchemist and Occultist, and his assistant Edward Kelley have been summoned by the King of Poland to save the life of his niece, the infamous Countess Elisabeth Bathory. But they soon realize that the only thing worse than the Countess' malady, is the magic that might be able to save her...
As Jackdaw and Felix race to uncover the truth about the person hunting her, it becomes clear that the answers they seek can only be found in the ancient diary of John Dee's assistant, Edward Kelley. Together they must solve a mystery centuries in the making, or die trying.

• ISBN10: 0804140685
• ISBN13: 9780804140683
• Publish Date: 7 October 2014 (first published 10 October 2013)
• Publish Status: Out of Stock
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Crown Publishing Group (NY)
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 384
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780804140683

Reviews

[Beth C.]

Jackdaw is dead - at least, she is mostly dead. If it weren't for a witch and some potions, she would be completely dead. Instead, she is what's known as a "borrowed timer" - someone whose destiny it was to die, but was instead able to be brought back. As Jack tries to save another borrowed timer, things begin to get crazy. One girl dies, the police get called in, and a power Jack has never before encountered begins to haunt her steps to take the very girl she's trying to save.

The story of Countess Bathory is an intriguing one, so that was originally what drew me to this book. I was curious how that would tie into a novel set (at least partly) in modern-day England. The way she is woven into the book was fairly successful, but I have to say that the book itself seemed to go on longer than it should - particularly the parts related to Dr. John Dee and his assistant.

In all, I would say the take on the Countess of Bathory is a new and slightly different one, and was an interesting read, but it's probably not something I would hurry to recommend to others.