Murder and Magic

I think I might be in love with Lord Darcy, although I feel I am cheating on both Sherlock Holmes and Lord Peter Wimsey. The time is the mid-1960s; the place, the Anglo-French Empire, ruled by John IV, by the Grace of God, King and Emperor of England, France, Scotland, Ireland, New England, and New France; Defender of the Faith, et cetera. Yes, it is an alternative history where the Plantagenet dynasty of England never fell and magic works! So while it is science fiction, the collection feels much like fantasy.

The four stories in this collection play fair with the reader. Magic reveals clues, just as forensic science does in our world. Lord Darcy uses his intellect, clues, and observations to ferret out the wrongdoer in each story. I show more thoroughly enjoyed the collection.

Highly recommended for fans of science fantasy and mystery. show less

Start with a base of Sherlock Holmes, add a drop of Lord Peter Wimsey, stir in a healthy serving of Brother Cadfael, and season with Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell—it all adds up to the highly satisfying diet of Lord Darcy stories by Randall Garrett.

Lord Darcy is the Chief Forensic Investigator for the Duke of Normandy, in an alternate history where the British Empire in the 1960s consists of England, Scotland, Ireland, France, and the New World. The Plantagenets are still in power, and the Church is still a visible and integral part of the culture.

The four stories that make up this collection are enjoyable not only for the mysteries that have to be solved, but also for the sheer pleasure of exploring this world that might have been. show more Elevators and guns exist alongside gas lamps, carriages, sorcery, and sword-play. I loved the mixture of medieval and Victorian England, and the way the Church was such a significant part of daily life.

This is exactly the kind of book I love reading for pleasure: quick moving, intelligent, imaginative, and filled with personable characters.

I look forward to reading the full length Lord Darcy novel, Too Many Magicians, and the final collection of stories, Lord Darcy Investigates. show less

Not SF and not that interesting to me. Great writer, and I have read some of his early works.
This book - the part I read - is not SF. I enjoyed a couple of his SF books but I just could not finish this.