Harm None

This is the first book of a series of "Rowan Grant" investigations. Rowan Grant is a well-versed Wiccan/Magick User in St. Louis who helps his friend Ben Stone, skeptical detective for the St. Louis Police Department solve a mysterious crime. In the first few chapters, readers are introduced to what Wicca and Magick are and are not. What is a Athame? What are Spells? What does the Wiccan Rede phrase "Harm None" really mean? And what happens when a Witch turns Bad?

The conversations between the main characters, Rowan and Ben, bring back memories of the camaraderie between old friends like Kirk and Spock, Apollo and Starbuck, Abbot and Costello, etc. Basically two opposite people meeting, joking and working with each other in friendship show more and trust. The author transports you to a familiar setting 'believable' plots and supporting characters, which all enhance the flavor, tone and timing of the action. Once you start, its hard to put it down!

A brilliant work of "Fiction", based in the World of Facts only the few know about. Exciting, Educational and provocative, this book has been acclaimed by Dorothy Morrison, who said, "Its guaranteed to leave you breathless and begging for more!" and by the Midwest Book Review as "a superbly suspenseful thriller...". I have read this several times, and I am as enraptured by the story as when I first read it. Excellent work! - Salient show less

I love the way he explains and weaves the tenets of the Wiccan faith without making witches look like a bunch of weirdos that worship Satan and have awesome powers ( come on, they would be fun to have) like the fictioal witches on the series "Charmed". M.R. Sellars has earned another loyal fan in me. I look forward to some new books, by the time I get the rest of the series already out.Thank you for your excellent use of The Craft in your books.

This is the first book in the Rowan Gant series. I have to
say that I'm not nearly very enthusiastic about this book.
The story was interesting enough, and the "woowhoo" factor was fairly
high -- with many psychic visions and odd dreams. But there was just
something about the way the characters talked to each other, the way they
interacted, that rang false to me. Much too stilted, conversations that
just didn't seem true to life, the way friends or spouses really talk to one
another. The character of Ben Storm came off seeming almost like a buffoon
at times. It just didn't ring true.

I wanted to read the book, also, because it was set in St. Louis, which is
only about 100 miles from me and I'm pretty familiar with the city. I
couldn't show more help but picture a friend of mine who happens to live in St. Louis
(a certain "wizard") in the role of Rowan Gant. He certainly looks the part, even if his religious views are
completely different. That made the book a little more interesting for
me, too, I'll have to admit.

The story was good, and now that I've gotten to know the characters a bit,
perhaps I'll enjoy the next book in the series a bit more. I'll give this
one a 3.5. show less

Exciting mystery with not too much gore. It is described, but not in so much detail as to make you ill. Terrific writing kept me turning the page, even at work. Thrilling to the end, it is possible to guess the killer, but not until later in the book. (A nice change from the fluffies) The last chapters are action packed. Worth reading I got through the 300 odd pages in less than one day so I can honestly say and fast read.

For a series opener, Harm None was not bad. I would recommend to readers interested in Wicca or the occult, and to readers who don't mind suspending logic & belief for a few hours. I enjoyed it, and I will definitely be following the series.

brief plot summary w/o spoilers:
Rowan Gant and his wife, Felicity, are witches. That is, they are Wicca practitioners. When one of his former students is found dead, Rowan's policeman friend Ben Storm calls Rowan in for some advice -- it seems the girl was found dead and a pentacle was drawn on the wall,her blood dripping down the wall. The police just think this is the act of some whacko Satanist, but Rowan knows better. He also knows that this murder is not the only one to come.

The pace of the show more novel is kind of slow, but that's understandable in a series first. We are just meeting the characters and understanding their individual personalities. The writing is good,the story is good and there aren't any stupid superfluous scenes to get in the way of the story. Try it! show less

I haven't read many of the Rowan Gant mysteries, but I did enjoy this one. I found the main characters a little stereotypical, but overall it's a pretty good first novel.

Very meh Wiccan detective solves crimes with his painfully stereotypical Native American cop friend while battling psychic forces. Rather gory.