This Rough Magic: A Novel

What I love most about British author Mary Stewart’s books is no less than what you can expect to find in this one. ‘This Rough Magic’ is a standalone all-nighter ‘chick flick’-style read, ideal for a rainy day or ‘girls only weekend’. Which is why for many years Stewart’s remained my #1 all time grand dame of mystery-romance-intrigue. I started reading Stewart’s novels, (most of them written in the 1960s), during my teen years in the 1970s. Stewart’s books carry a timeless quality, strengthened by her amazing talent for quickly setting a scene and developing believable real life characters. Stewart’s rich descriptive narrative and flair for engaging her readers with words, instantly drops you off in another time and place, makes you happy to be there, and most reluctant to leave. ‘This Rough Magic’ is a fast-paced plot involving international intrigue, and is a classic Stewart page-turner. Set in Greece, on the isle of Corfu, the reader is soon enchanted by the country’s warm music, language, mythical and artistic heritage, and rugged beauty which Stewart obviously visited and knew well. Greece was featured in another of Stewart's popular novels, ‘The Moonspinners’ (1964), which became a hit movie starring Hayley Mills. Swiftly, smoothly effortlessly, in ‘This Rough Magic,’ Stewart’s narrative lets the reader skip and dive headlong into the storyline like the silvery leap of a lone dolphin, the marvellous creature who Stewart’s main character, Lucy, feels an instant affinity with while swimming in the sea off Corfu. Lucy, a young disenchanted out-of-work British actress, is just looking for a much-needed change of scene and a relaxing sea and sun getaway at her sister’s home in Corfu. Instead, she’s soon caught up in a seemingly unconnected string of stressful incidents, a midnight rescue, uncertain romance, danger and...death. As always, in Stewart’s signature style ‘This Rough Magic’ is a superbly-told tale with unexpected twists and turns that will hold you breathless to the last page... and the last word. A recent novelist whose style emulates Stewart’s is American author, Carolyn Llewelyn, whose intrigue-style literary writing talent and novels, including ’The Masks of Rome’, I am also happily on the road to rediscovering.

This Rough Magic is one of those perfect books-it draws you on with suspense, involves you deeply with jewel-cut prose, and unlike most Stewart novels, is quite funny in spots. I love this book for its lightheartedness and its tragedy and its lovely romance, if that makes any sense. This is perfect romantic suspense, great for constant rereading.

An out of work actress staying in Corfu with her rich pregnant sister becomes embroiled in a dangerous mystery after encountering a famous reclusive actor and his passionate son. Throw in a few murders and our heroine is out to determine the who and why. One of Ms Stewart's best novels, it is totally absorbing describing a country and lifestyle in such vivid detail, and impressing her characters with warmth, understanding and plenty of realism.

Mary Stewart is a great writer with spectacular talent! I have heard that this is not even yet her best yet and am quite excited to read more of her books. This is a fabulous story and I encourage you to read it!

This has become the book that I compare all others to. I was litterally glued to it even after I finished it. I then read all of her other books from the same general time period. I was not disappointed in the least. This was definitely her peak time of writing. The only flaw I can find is that all other books are now ruined for me since none have ever come equal to it since. Mary Stewart, thank you for for sharing your talent with those of us fortunate enough to get a copy of this book.

I loved this book. It was given to me by my mother when I was 14. I had just discovered reading and would read any book I could get my hands on. I read this book in 3 days! After I began reading, I just couldn't stop. I love Mary Stewart and have read every one of her books!