This blurb got me and I HAD to know:

'Well, let me see,' I said, as the innkeeper poured me a beer. 'In the morning I discovered the secret of changing base metal into gold. In the afternoon, I murdered my wife.'

Saloninus has been tasked to turn base metals into gold....but does he do it? Who is paying him for this feat which may or may not have been accomplished? And what happened to his wife??? Saloninus also admits that he doesn't always tell the truth. We get the story through his own words as he talks with the King, tells us of his exploits in university as well as a bit of alchemy (which kinda went over my head).

I found out there are 2 more books in this "mini-series" featuring Saloninus and I'll definitely be reading those soon!!