Try free for 30 days

1 credit a month to use on any title, yours to keep (you’ll use your first credit on this title).
Stream or download thousands of included titles.
Access to exclusive deals and discounts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
Alchemist cover art

Alchemist

By: Peter James
Narrated by: Katherine Press
Try for $0.00

$16.45 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $30.38

Buy Now for $30.38

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

What doesn't kill you makes you stronger....

Monty Bannerman's father is a leading genetic scientist and Nobel Prize winner whose company has just been taken over by what will soon be the world's biggest pharmaceutical giant. He had some misgivings about their company ethics - but ultimately, he needs their money, and they need his mind.

Then a journalist comes to Monty's door, with a far-fetched story about the pharmaceutical company. She doesn't believe what she's being told for a moment - but within a few short weeks, events are making the apparently fantastic claims look horrifyingly like the truth.

Behind the respectable facade of the multi-national company which calls itself the 'World's Most Caring Company' lies an outrage against the whole human race....

©2019 Peter James (P)2019 Orion Publishing Group

Critic Reviews

"Peter James is getting better with every book." (Times)

"Peter James is one of the best crime writers in the business." (Karin Slaughter)

What listeners say about Alchemist

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    22
  • 4 Stars
    12
  • 3 Stars
    7
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    3
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    27
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    2
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    19
  • 4 Stars
    11
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    3

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

I’m torn.

I didn’t do a background research before reading this, so it wasn’t what I expected, or what I am into. I feel like pharma companies have so much shady business happenings that the magical cult stuff really wasn’t necessary. Also, prepared for some weird cult sex. Definitely wasn’t bad though, just not my cup of tea!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

🕵️‍♂️ Well written

Very well written story. enjoyed thoroughly. Story had the ability to capture full attention and a desire to listen to the end

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Long, but a good read

This was a fascinating book. Slow at times, it was a bit of a marathon read, but in the end once the different story lines came together, the pace really quickened. The different story lines were far fetched and it was difficult to follow at times, but once they merged the action really started happening. The narrator was engaging. Overall a great read.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

No. Just no. Shallow drivel.

I was hoping for an intelligent thriller about the dirty deeds of Big Pharma, and if you threw a little satanism into the mix it would just reinforce my existing notions about capitalistic greed.

I dont know what category or genre this book is, but its utter garbage. I got 4 hours in and the reality hit. This story is mindless drivel. It is not a taut thriller filled with embellished truths, it is not a quasi-journalistic story exposing dirty secrets, it is, in fact, just mindless drivel. Nothing thought provoking in this book. Although set in the 1990s the characters are clichéd British stereotypes from 70s 'avant garde' TV movies and pulp literature. If this is 'horror' then it fails to create an impending sense of sinister events and instead relies on an all most soap opera approach to interpersonal relationships and some rather Edwardian 'parlour games' masquerading as magic.

I cant believe I wasted 4 hours on this. It is so not the type of story I was looking for.

I recommend that no one should waste their time on this book. Its just not worth it.

Serves me right for trying to read outside of my usual genres.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Wouldn't recommend

Too supernatural and weird. Wished I'd not completed. The accents were a bit off too.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Started so well - finished very poorly

This book started very strongly. The expose of big pharma, the possibilities of corruption because of the business model. Very credible characters & excellent story-line.

Then it happened - the story line deteriorated & became incredulous.

I think if we had been warned that this was turning into a ridiculous plot with a more ridiculous ending.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not worth 23 hours of your time

Meandering storyline that takes 18 hours for any progress to take place. Infuriating characters and more effort put into sex scenes then building any sense of suspense.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.