Rating: 4.5⭐️
Dying for Magic, the first in the Ella Bloom Mysteries by Sarah Noffke, introduced me to another terrific author. I throughly enjoyed everything about this book and characters and anticipate diving into the rest of the series.
The characters and storylines, multiple plots, are very well developed and intriguing. And the more the story progresses, the better the exploration of the world becomes and the history of the Magic of the town of Gloamington.
I think the element I love best is that both of the main characters are enigmas. Ella Bloom, hired to become the 6-month assistant to the town’s favorite detective, has a past life full of questions and no answers.
And she arrives to find that the older gentleman she’s been hired to assist, Malcolm Fawkes, a renowned paranormal detective, has no memory of her or his past life.
So author Noffke builds a narrative around two people, and several animals, who have memory issues. All while struggling with daily tasks like identifying the local community citizens, and conducting a murder investigation that the police sheriff has tabled . It’s funny, compelling, believable, and absolutely engaging watching these two people build a friendship on such a shaky but shared experience.
I can’t think of another book or series quite like it.
I’m highly impressed and recommending this. And quickly going forward with this series.
Ella Bloom Mysteries (10 book series):
Dying For Magic #1
Magic Can Bee Deadly #2
Blue Blood, Black Magic #3
Verses and Curses #4
Raining Cats and Curses #5
Half-Baked Curses #6
Signed, Spelled, Delivered #7
Murder Spelled in Thread #8
Spelled For Choice #9 – June 19,2026
Born For Magic #10 – July 24,2026
Buy link
Book 1 of 10: Ella Bloom Mysteries
Blurb
Ella Bloom can see magic no one else can, and it’s leading her straight to a killer…
When Ella accepts a mysterious job in the picturesque town of Gloamington, all she wants is six months away from the noise of the city and a quiet place to call home. Instead, she finds herself assistant to Malcolm Fawkes, a renowned paranormal detective with no memory of hiring her—or much of anything else.
When magic that only Ella can see leads her to a murder, she discovers Gloamington isn’t the quaint small town it appears to be. Five years ago, it was a magical haven until something went terribly wrong. Now the town’s dormant wellspring—the Gloaming—is stirring again, awakening with Ella’s arrival.
With a reluctant Malcolm by her side, Ella must navigate a web of secrets, suspicious townspeople and her own mysterious connection to Gloamington’s magical past. Someone in town is willing to kill to keep magic buried forever. Ella’s unusual abilities make her their next likely target.
The Gloaming is opening once more. Could Ella Bloom be the key to everything?
Dying for Magic is the first in an enchanting mystery series from the creator of the blockbuster Beaufont universe.
One-Twenty-Six Press
Publication date
September 30, 2025
Language
English
Print length
262 pages
Book 1 of 10
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 