This Rough Magic by Mary  Stewart

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Category: Adult
Genre: Suspense, Romance
Content: Strong Language



When Lucy's sister Phyllida suggests that she join her for a quiet holiday on the island of Corfu, Lucy is overjoyed. Her work as an actress has temporarily come to a halt. But the peaceful idyll does not last long. A series of incidents, seemingly unconnected - but all surrounded in mystery - throws Lucy's life into a dangerous spin, as fear, danger and death - as well as romance - supplant the former tranquillity.

I finally got a Mary Stewart read in this year. I've been slowly working my way through her books for a few years now. Slowly because there are only so many of them, and I am really trying to savor them. That being said, some have been better than others, but I've never gone away feeling like I didn't enjoy any of them. From what I had read about her books, I really thought I had probably already read the best ones, but somehow I missed out on reading this one sooner. I think this one is one of my favorites. A big part of that, being that it reminded me a little of The Moonspinners. Probably because this one was also again set in the Greek Isles.

I love being transported to the Greek Isles by Mary Stewart. Each time she makes me feel as though I'm there. This time we are on beautiful Corfu.

I really want to go there someday, but for now I'll have to live vicariously through Mary Stewart's books.

As for the rest of the story, I thought it was very good, even though it was obvious who the perpetrator was. I liked the love interest and the main character was very capable. I really liked that about her. There is the standard Mary Stewart instalove, but it didn't bother me in this book. There were also some very suspenseful moments that kept me on the edge of my seat. I would probably rank this one 4th on my list.

Here's how I would rank the ones I've read so far.

1. The Moonspinners
2. Nine Coaches Waiting
3. Madam Will You Talk?
4. This Rough Magic
5. The Ivy Tree
6. My Brother Michael
7. Wildfire at Midnight
8. Airs Above the Ground
9. The Stormy Petrel