Measure of Gold, by Sarah Patten, is a bit of a mixed bag. It's mainly historical fiction but with plenty of science, science fiction and romance. It's probably the perfect book for anyone who's really interested in the part that alchemists and alchemy has played in history. I didn't love that Penelope's entire story was told in 2nd person. I think that's why the story never truly caught my interest.
Elizabeth Cottle does a good job narrating. She has a smooth and gentle cadence.
It's the Fall of 1940, WWII is well under way and Germany has just invaded France. Meanwhile, across the ocean, in Tennessee, young Penelope has gotten a letter of extreme importance from her long-time friend, Naomie. It's an urgent plea for her to come to Paris as soon as possible. Penelope leaves right away..
Once there, she moves in with Naomie’s brother, Fulcanelli and his apprentice, Lucien.
Soon she finds herself working for British Intelligence and sent to a French brothel to spy. There, she listens, learns, and encounters one of the most infamous murderers of World War ll.

The Alchemist and the Spy

A story set in the beginning of the invasion of France by the Nazi Germans. A young woman Penelope in Tennessee, after the death of her father receives a note from her friend Naomie in France. Penelope is not sure what it is about, but is told to bring the necklace Naomie gave her for safe keeping when they were both very young.

She arrives in France to find Naomie's brother an Alchemist working for the resistance, but Naomie has been captured by the Nazi's. Penelope works with the Alchemists for a while, falls in love with Lucien the apprentice, then she goes to England to train to be an S.O.E. operative.

This is about the war, the resistance, spying for the English S.O.E. and the Nazi's with their hate filled agenda. She soon learns to trust no one and to watch her every step.

It is about the camps where people were sent simply for disagreeing with the German's, for working with the resistance or for helping those that did. It is tragic, exciting and has a lot of historical knowledge of Alchemy which I did not understand.

This was an audio book and the narrator did a fantastic job. It was a very good story even though parts were scientifically above my head. I still loved the story.

Thanks to Sarah Patten for writing an engaging story, to Elizabeth Cottle for doing a wonderful job on the narration , to Book Forward audio books for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.

This novel is a mix of historical fiction, espionage, alchemy, and maintaining a romance during wartime. Penelope is based upon real-life Resistance member Jeannie Rousseau, a Parisian woman who worked as a translator and provided classified German intelligence directly to the British government.   
I listened to the audiobook and Elizabeth Cottle did a great job narrating. She kept me interested and I was able to get lost in the backdrop of the book which allowed me to finish it in several days.  I did find the accent used for a few of the characters to be distracting though and I think I would have enjoyed it just a bit more if I had read it rather than listened to it. 

That being said, I enjoyed Patton's easy-flowing writing style of Penelope's experiences as she traveled to France in search of her friend Naomie and to do her part in working with the Resistance. I felt frustrated with the way Penelope spent way too much time with her concern about Lucien's lack of romance.  Just when I was feeling the suspense of her working in the brothel I was distracted by Lucien showing up at the brothel, in full view of the Nazis who were looking for him.  Throughout the whole book, it seemed as though two major plots were fighting for my attention, one of espionage and the horrendous, abusive Nazis and the other a flighting romance that never really seemed to heat up.  Maybe this is where the power of the written word would have saved the book for me since the narration just wasn't successful at it. 
If you like a mix of espionage, romance, and a bit of alchemy, you'll enjoy the Measure of Gold.

My thanks to #Netgalley, Books Forward, and Sarah Patten for providing this ARC in exchange for my opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review. This historical fiction is the story of Penelope and her life as a spy during World War II. It's a story of love and friendship, and the pain that those can cause during times of war.This was one of the best historical fictions I've read, granted I don't have much experience with historical fiction. I would highly recommend this book.

Measure of Gold by Sarah Patten was exquisitely written with lyrical and descriptive prose. I was quite impressed with Sarah Patten’s choice of language and how well the dialogue flowed. Elizabeth Cottle was excellent in her role as narrator of this audiobook. The plot combined the aspects of World War II, the effects war could have on individuals and on a city. alchemy, espionage, love, friendship, trust and hope. It took place in Paris, France during the Nazi occupation.

Penelope grew up in Sweetwater, Tennessee. Her mother died in childbirth so she never knew her but she was very close with her father. Penelope’s father was an alchemist and scientist. She had been allowed into his lab from a very young age. Penelope’s father had taught her everything he knew but then he died and she was all alone. She was a bright yet shy girl. When Penelope was young, a gypsy family came to Sweetwater, Tennessee every summer. Penelope befriended Naomie, the young daughter of the gypsy family. They became as close as sisters. When Naomie learned of Penelope’s father’s death she wrote a letter to Penelope and urged her to come to Paris to study with her brother, Fulcanelli. Naomie’s brother, was an accomplished alchemist. He was also part of a French Resistance group known as The Royal Society. Fulcanelli believed that alchemy could be the difference in winning the war against the Nazis. Penelope’s father had been born in France. Coupled with her father’s origins and the fact that she was American, Penelope felt safe enough to travel to France. She couldn’t wait to see her beloved friend, Naomie, again. However, when she arrived in Paris, Penelope was unprepared to see so many Nazi soldiers. When she finally located Fulcanelli’s address and was ushered into his home that also doubled as his lab and office, Penelope was told that Naomie was not there but would hopefully return soon. She was welcomed and asked to study with Fulcanelli. Penelope was introduced to Lucien, Fulcanelli’s apprentice. Immediately, there was a mutual attraction. Penelope eventually became involved in the resistance movement as a new member of The Royal Society. She soon realized, though, that the resistance group, The Royal Society, needed help. Penelope was falling in love with Lucien. She loved watching his brilliant mind work using alchemy in an effort to defeat the Nazis but the members of the group were starving and did not have the money to finance their attempts. They also knew that the Nazis were looking for them. Penelope decided to take matters into her own hands and seek help from the British. Would Penelope be able to get the training she needed to help the French Resistance and bring back enough money to support the continued efforts of The Royal Society?

In my opinion, Penelope’s and Lucien’s commitment to their love was lopsided. Lucien’s character frustrated me. I wished that Sarah Patten had focused more on the historical details of the time period rather than on Penelope’s and Lucien’s love for each other. The premise for Measure of Gold was insightful, though. It brought to light the aspect of the way alchemy was used as a way to help derail the Nazi’s horrific crimes. However, I felt that Sarah Patten could have included more details about the day to day challenges the citizens of Paris faced during the Nazi occupation and more details about the actual training Penelope partook in in England. I was very disappointed in the ending as well. It left me totally unsatisfied. Since I enjoyed and admired Sarah Patten’s writing so much I would be willing to give a future book another chance though.

Thank you to Books Fluent for allowing me to listen to the audiobook of Measure of Gold by Sarah Patten through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.