Rating: 4.75🌈
Murder Without Magic is a stellar story. Third in Ripley Hayes’ Tuder and Stewart Cosy Mystery series, it’s one that is so much more than its 169 pages numerically would have you believe.
Within a plot to find out who murdered the person in the garden next door to their new home, Hayes’ story encompasses a newly established relationship that deepens through adversity, personal differences over things held basic to Lorne like magic and ghosts, emotional doubts , and abiding love.
Yes , there’s a ghost. Our favorite horse from Abergwyn makes a hugely important contribution, as does Uncle Wint.
The mysteries, multiple, are poignant, terrifying , and fascinating. Hayes’ narrative lays out this element so well that it’s easy to get involved in the process of discovery. Ade, our detective from Abergwyn, is also part of the supporting cast.
But the heart is our couple, Peter and Lorne. Having a new home, establishing themselves in place where they don’t know anyone, a new dream job for Peter with all its stresses, a dream kitchen for Lorne. Only to have everything start to come apart.
That personal struggle to grow together as a couple while solving the mysteries is what makes me love this story, this series and author so.
The people have flaws, they don’t always react well, but because they do love each other, they eventually find a way to make it work and get the culprits.
I think this might be the final book in the series. Hope not. But if it is, I’m happy to see them off in their new kitchen and place by the sea.
Highly recommend this entire series. Read them in the order they are written.
Also don’t miss the recipe for Lorne’s Emergency Refrigerator Cake at the end! It’s a winner!
Tudor and Stewart Cosy Mystery series:
✓ No Accident at Abergwyn #1
✓ No Friends at Abergwyn #2
✓ Murder Without Magic #3
Buy Link:
Murder Without Magic: Tudor and Stewart Cosy Mystery 3 (Tudor and Stewart Abergwyn Mysteries)
Description:
Peter and Lorne have taken the plunge: moved in together in a little house by the sea.
Peter has his dream job, and Lorne has his dream kitchen, and so what if things go bump in the night next door? they can ignore it. The ghost with a violent streak isn’t so easy to ignore. Nor is the dead body in next door’s garden.
Much against their better judgement, and the advice of their friends, Peter and Lorne are dragged kicking and screaming into another investigation.
Only two questions remain: do the bad guys have any idea how hard it will be to to defeat Peter and Lorne, and second, has Peter finally started to believe in magic?
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words 