“The Trouble with Magic,” by Madelyn Alt

FM's ratings:

1.      Premise 9

2.      Prose 9

3.      Plot 8

4.      Characters 8

5.      Overall 9

Comments (optional - but try to keep it under 3000 words!)

Another so-called “cozy” mystery that really hits the spot.  It’s the added supernatural aspect here, with a nice atmospheric creepiness that brings it up to a “9” for me.  The Voice - Alt’s way with words in her first-person rendition of the heroine’s viewpoint - isn’t striking in any obvious way, but it drives the narrative very compellingly.  The sub-theme of witchcraft (“the new, friendlier witchcraft for which we should all be more tolerant!”) adds interest without becoming the main theme.  And (gasp!) the protagonist isn’t pretty!  At least she doesn’t think so, being especially self-critical regarding her semi-chubby figure.  The men in the story who do find her attractive are drawn to her personality instead of her looks.  Do other people find that as refreshing as I do?  It seems to be an important part of the message here.  Anyway, there are at least six more books in the series – and I might very well read them all eventually.  Thank you Ms. Alt!

Here’s the August line-up! 

“The Devil Went Down to Austin,” by Rick Riordan [8-6]

“Little Men,” by Louisa May Alcott [8-13]

“Locked In,” by Marcia Muller [8-20]

“Haunted,” by Chuck Palahniuk [8-27]

(As always, if there are any books you’d like to recommend for next month, please do so.  Also, if you have already read one on our previous lists, you are invited to send your ratings and or comments for that book!)