Caffeinated Reviewer

Narrated by Susannah Jones, The Raven Spell by Luanne G. Smith is the first in the Conspiracy of Magic historical fantasy series. Get ready for a great mystery, a little romance, and plenty of magic in this spellbinding tale that will leave you craving more.

In Victorian England a witch and a detective are on the hunt for a serial killer in an enthralling novel of magic and murder.

After a nearly fatal blow to the skull, traumatized private detective Ian Cameron is found dazed and confused on a muddy riverbank in Victorian London. Among his effects: a bloodstained business card bearing the name of a master wizard and a curious pocket watch that doesn’t seem to tell time. To retrieve his lost memories, Ian demands answers from Edwina and Mary Blackwood, sister witches with a murky past. But as their secret is slowly unveiled, a dangerous mystery emerges on the darkened streets of London.

To help piece together Ian’s lost time, he and Edwina embark on a journey that will take them from the river foreshore to an East End music hall, and on to a safe house for witches in need of sanctuary from angry mortals. The clues they find suggest a link between a series of gruesome murders, a missing person’s case, and a dreadful suspicion that threatens to tear apart the bonds of sisterhood. As the investigation deepens, could Ian and Edwina be the next to die?

I enjoyed The Witch Vine and knew I needed to listen to The Raven Spell. I was not disappointed. From the rich Victorian setting to the magic and lyrical prose, I was entranced.

The tale opens with twins, Edwina and Mary Blackwood, sifting through the banks of the river bank in Victorian London. One sister finds a ring and the other a body. The body belongs to private detective Ian Cameron. The sister’s belive him near death for indeed he is blue. Mary takes something from him and the two leave the bank and use magic to push the local police to find the body. Only Ian doesn’t die and he wants what was lost. The tale that unfolds leads us on an engaging mystery with twists and turns that kept me hooked.

The sister’s own a shop where they sell the goods they find. They are mostly outcasts and live alone since their father left. Their magical abilities are odd and I found myself immediately drawn to them (more so Edwina) and their shop.

I loved traveling along with Ian and Edwina as they search for clues and connected the dots that lead to a series of gruesome murders, safe houses for witches and secrets. We briefly learn of the rules of magic and their policing system. Ian was a member of that force until he left for the private sector. He was in London looking for a missing person when he was struck on the head and left for dead.

The magic felt fresh from Mary’s ability to Ian’s watch to the police sergeant’s spiders. We get a side of romance, but the mystery was the main focus. Perhaps the next book will deliver more.

From the beautiful prose to the world building, this was one of the best books I’ve read in this genre. I cannot wait to listen to more. Susannah Jones is a lovely narrator, and she brought both the characters and written prose to life.

Amazon | Audible

About Luanne G. Smith

Luanne G. Smith is the author of THE VINE WITCH, a fantasy novel about witches, wine, and revenge set in early 20th century France, and the forthcoming second book in the series, THE GLAMOURIST. She’s lucky enough to live in Colorado at the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountains, where she enjoys reading, gardening, hiking, a glass of wine at the end of the day, and finding the magic in everyday life.

Website | Twitter

About Susannah Jones

Susannah is an audiobook narrator, writer and actress with over 150 books under her own name and her pseudonym. Her work on “Rock Chick” by Kristen Ashley was one of the top five Audible romance listens in 2014 and she and her alter ego have two AudioFile Earphones awards. As an actress, she has been seen on stages across the country and in many a YouTube web series. She also co-wrote “Bisland & Bly”, a new musical which was featured at the New York Musical Festival this summer. In her spare time, she can be found reading a book with a glass of wine, watching corgi videos on Instagram, or searching for vegan cheese that tastes like the real thing

Twitter

About Kimberly

Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram

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