The highlight of the local festival is a pageant by the local fishermen but this turns to shock when a dead body is found in the water. For journalist Nedda, this could be her big break, a chance to move away from reviewing local bakeries, and follow her mother's footsteps into serious writing. For Calogero, it is a worry as he is trying to lie low after conning one person too many and now there is a link to dead man.
Gwynne Jones is a solid writer of interesting thrillers, usually set in Venice, and here he is starting a new series on the island of Sicily. It's a decent enough storyline but what comes through most strongly is the love for the island and peoples of Sicily. There is no obsession with organised crime but a respect for local tradition and history, the descriptions are wonderful.

Having just returned from a Sicilian holiday, I was keen to return to the sunshine in book form, so I grabbed the chance to try the first book in a new murder mystery series.

The novel's themes of illusion, deception, and uncovering hidden truths make it both a gripping mystery and a meditation on the masks we wear. Jones masterfully incorporates the world of stage magic, where nothing is as it seems, into the story’s larger narrative. The idea that what appears in front of us may be far from the truth mirrors the characters’ own struggles with identity and the past.

For fans of Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano, The Magus of Sicily offers a fresh, fast-paced entry into the world of Sicilian crime fiction. With a compelling mystery, unforgettable characters, and an immersive sense of place, this is a series that promises to captivate readers and keep them coming back for more. If this first book is any indication, Jones has created a series that will quickly become a must-read for lovers of atmospheric crime fiction.

I am a huge fan of Philip Gwynne-Jones' writing and was intrigued to read this book set in Sicily rather than in Venice. Such a great storyline and new characters and I was engrossed all the way through. Philip's writing really transports you to the place in which his books are set, which is wonderful.

This is the beginning of a new series of books by Philip Gwynne Jones. I was really excited to read this as Philip has become one of my favourite authors, following reading his series around Nathan Sutherland based in Venice.

This book really interested me and as usual with his books, the location and his descriptions are fantastic with a great murder that needs to be solved. This book is based in Acireale, Sicily The main characters of book are Nedda, a young junior reporter at the local newspaper and Calogero Maugeri.

A great start to a new series and i cant wait to read more...

A big thanks to Little, Brown Book Group UK | Constable for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

A brand new series set in Sicily. Philip Gwynne Jones's Venice series is one of my favourites, so this book had a lot to live up to.
As is usually the case with a new series, the story started off slowly and it took a while for the characters to settle in. By about half way, I was totally hooked. This book has the same cosy humour and entertaining character dynamics that feature in the Venice series. Gwynne Jones does a great job of bringing Sicily to life. This was a really enjoyable and entertaining read and I'm looking forward to reading more about these characters in future.

This is as usual Philip gwynne Jones transporting the reader in this case to Sicily. It's an atmospheric and totally emersive read that is both enjoyable and lifting to the reader.

Having enjoyed Philip Gwynne Jones' Venetian adventures of Nathan Sutherland, it was a great surprise to see a new series of stories was to be written set In Sicily..

The Magus of Sicily is the introductory story featuring a new crime solving duo. Nedda Leonardi is a newly inducted journalist working on a local newspaper- reviewing pasticceria and the delights of baked goods when she has ambitions to follow in the family footsteps of investigative news reporting.

At a local festival a body is found on the beach- an accident- Nedda is not so sure and she finds herself entering into the world of fortune tellers, illusionists and sleight of hand. Here she meets, the enigmatic Calogero Maugeri otherwise known as the Magus.

Blackmail, murder and intrigue abound. The two characters are drawn together to clear Calogero's name of crime and give Nedda her first big scoop.

Full of Philip Gwynne Jones' trademark dry wit and observations; regional food and drinks abound and a good crime story/caper.

The first of a new series is never easy following a successful series- but The Magus of Sicily gets off to a good start. Light-hearted in some sense ( not cosy!) but a good escapist crime read. Four stars are given probably a realist 3.75 for a new book series as the characters and the region will grow in familiarity and enjoyment.

Thank you Mr Gwynne Jones for bringing summer sun to my reading.

Thank you to the Little, Brown Book Group for an advance copy