I just finished the latest Magic Men book, The Blood Card. I adore Elly Griffiths. I read everything she writes. I’ve gotten several friends into her two series.
The Basics (Courtesy of GoodReads): Elizabeth II’s coronation is looming, but the murder of their wartime commander, Colonel Cartwright, spoils the happy mood for DI Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto. A playbill featuring another deceased comrade is found in Colonel Cartwright’s possession, and a playing card, the ace of hearts: the blood card. The wartime connection and the suggestion of magic are enough for him to put Stephens and Mephisto on the case.
Edgar’s investigation into the death of Brighton fortune-teller Madame Zabini is put on hold. Max is busy rehearsing for a spectacular Coronation Day variety show – and his television debut – so it’s Edgar who is sent to New York, a land of plenty worlds away from still-rationed England. He’s on the trail of a small-town mesmerist who may provide the key, but someone else silences him first. It’s Sergeant Emma Holmes who finds the clue, buried in the files of the Zabini case, that leads them to an anarchist group intent on providing an explosive finale to Coronation Day.
Now it’s up to Edgar, Max and Emma to foil the plot, and find out who it is who’s been dealing the cards . . .
My thoughts:
She let me down this time. Weak tea, this book. And maybe it’s that I’ve been doing rather a lot of Beta lately but I couldn’t help noticing her excessive use of crutch words like but and just. Many, many times a chapter. Was she on a short time line?
The plot was tepid as well. A bit tame. Predictable. Convoluted in a way that did not intrigue – left me tired. sigh.
It’s so disappointing when a favorite author lets you down badly.
Then again, I’d rather read tepid Elly Griffiths, then 50 shades of vampires.
T.A. Henry 