First published 2019
Christian Stern arrives in Prague during winter 1599, a young alchemist seeking fortune at the court of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. On his first night, drunk and lost in the Golden Lane near the castle, he stumbles upon a dead woman in the snow. She wears velvet clothing and a large gold medallion, her throat slashed open. The eccentric emperor, nephew of Philip II, takes Stern into his service and assigns him to solve the murder mystery. As the alchemist investigates deeper into the crime, he discovers that uncovering the truth puts his own life at risk. Set in a magical city during a lost era, the story follows Stern as he navigates the dangerous waters of imperial court intrigue while pursuing a killer who may be closer than he realizes.
Genres: historical, historical-fiction, mystery, thriller
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: dangerous-secrets, fish-out-of-water
Setting: Prague, Holy Roman Empire
Period: 1599
336 pages · Paperback · ALFAGUARA