This Rough Magic

by Mary Stewart

The pioneer of romantic suspense, Mary Stewart leads her readers on a thrilling journey to a Mediterranean island paradise in this tale of mystery, murder and intrigue, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym. 

Lucy Waring, a young, out-of-work actress from London, leaps at the chance to visit her sister for a summer on the island paradise of Corfu, and what's more, a famous but reclusive actor is staying in a villa nearby. But Lucy's hopes for rest and romance are shattered when a body washes up on the beach and she finds herself swept up in a chilling chain of events. 

I shuddered, and drank my coffee, leaning back in my chair to gaze out across pine tops furry with gold towards the sparkling sea, and surrendering myself to the dreamlike feeling that marks the start of a holiday . . .

(P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

• Publish Date: 1964 (first published 1 August 1964)
• Publish Status: Unknown
• Imprint: Hodder And Stoughton
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 285
• Language: English

Reviews

[MurderByDeath]

It took awhile, but I've come to a book that my mom and I don't necessarily agree on.  She remembers this book fondly, while I have more ambivalent feelings about it.     I was less than 8 pages in before I was ready to chuck it all and go to Corfu; Stewart's creation of the setting was downright seductive.  I loved the scenes with the dolphin too - even the midnight scene, which ratcheted up the suspense and had me muttering threats at the author under my breath until the end.  The way the caves figured into the plot was fun and no way did I see how the book was going to end - where Stewart was taking her readers - although she does foreshadow the culprit early enough that the who was not a shock, even if the what certainly was.   The entire title-referencing-Shakespeare, went right over my head (I was expecting, you know actual magic), but Shakespeare's The Tempest plays a big part throughout the book.  I have no idea if her characters' theories hold any water, but the parallels they drew were fun to read about.    What I didn't like was, unfortunately, the entire "Romantic" part of the romantic suspense.  "Didn't like" might be too strong; it just failed to move me in any way at all.  The scene on the beach (at midnight - the one with the dolphin) felt like a realistic evolution of the moment, but when the characters go straight from that one moment to this weird assumption that their relationship is a fait accompli, I felt like entire chapters of character development were missing.  As a result I never bought into the romance part of their relationship.   Not a bad read at all, but not as strong as Touch Not the Cat, for example; which started off slow, but had me riveted by the end.