Genre: Mystery, Paranormal
LGBTQ+ Category: Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
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?
The Review
Peter and Lorne have taken a big step – they are now living together in their very own house. The house is part of the sixty-year-old housing development in Terras Affordd (Coast Terrace) in North Wales. It’s everything they wanted, and it even has a yard for Charlie.
Peter’s mum and Dave have also moved in together in Abergwyn, and are planning a wedding. Wint, Lorne’s uncle, moved into Lorne’s caravan in Abergwyn, and has good company with Enzo. And Ade Forrest, Peter’s ex, is becoming a good friend to both Lorne and Peter.
All seems to be well until Lorne announces that they have a ghost.
Peter’s still trying to get used to the idea that magic and ghosts exist. He took a new job at the hospital, and Lorne is a professional chef and has written several cook books. But as busy and stressful as things have been, they make time for each other and Charlie.
But Lorne and Peter’s new little world is about to get turned upside down by a ghostly voice, a dead body, and strange noises coming from the house next door. Their neighbor, DS Powell, is rude and doesn’t care what’s happened, and people seem afraid to talk about the house with the noises.
Lorne and Peter want answers about both the noisy house and the dead body, so they start their own investigation, but with it comes both danger and destruction. How far will they get, when no one wants to talk and danger could be lurking around every corner?
Hayes really outdid herself with Murder Without Magic. There are scary moments, but overall it’s another cosy mystery filled with secrets, ghosts, a little Lorne magic, and danger. And I loved the lover’s quarre,l and how sweetly it ended.
Everyone makes an appearance: Peter’s mum Kay and Dave; Ade, Griff, and Uncle Wint. Ian and Heather, who make friends with Peter and Lorne first; and Freddie James who comes to the rescue. And what would the entire story be without Charlie and Enzo?
I highly recommend Murder Without Magic, book 3 in the “Tudor and Stewart Cosy Mysteries.” It’s a quick read and a real page turner. I also love the covers of this delightful series. Hayes just keeps making this series better and better.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.