A grungy convenience store in a run-down northern town is the unlikely starting point for a puzzling mystery. Cole, a quiet, reliable, overlooked young sales assistant, suddenly fails to turn up at work one day, leaving very little for the police to go on - a couple of cats with peculiar names and a cryptic postcard. The mystery only deepens when Cole turns up in Monaco and Tuscany with an eccentric uncle and a different name. Why on earth are they interested in Tuscan cattle, or how the Romans organized their military camps? And how is all this linked to the layout of some of Europe's most famous and beautiful cities?Through their investigation into the roots of ancient European architecture, Cole finds himself on a journey towards meaning, purpose and adventure. The Secret Blueprint is a free companion novella to The Accidental Alchemist. CM Blanchard is an author of fantasy, mystery and detective fiction stories set mainly in beautiful places in Europe. She has a strong connection to history and landscape and a rather quirky sense of humor that comes out in unexpected places. Whether it's a murder mystery such as The Tainted Vintage, an urban fantasy such as The Accidental Alchemist, or a sci fi novel such as Genesis Unbound, expect the unexpected!When she isn't writing, she loves working with children to encourage a love of reading for life. She also loves listening to podcasts.And when she isn't doing that she's probably knitting socks for Christmas presents, or making bookmarks that actually stay in books.
