Murder, Magic, and What We Wore

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Pub Date 19 Sep 2017 | Archive Date 19 Sep 2017
Random House Children's | Knopf Books for Young Readers

Description

Fans of Patrice Kindl’s Keeping the Castle or Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer’s Sorcery and Cecelia will adore this funny Regency-era mystery about a determined young woman with a magical trick up her sleeve . . .
 
The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.
 
Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely.
 
Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and, in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.
 
It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it?

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore blew my bonnet off. Kelly Jones has found a fresh way to share the delights of the magical regency. I truly love this book!” —Caroline Stevermer, coauthor of Sorcery & Cecilia, or the Enchanted Chocolate Pot
 
“A deliciously enchanting adventure full of magic, mystery and delight.” —Stephanie Burgis, author of Kat, Incorrigible
Fans of Patrice Kindl’s Keeping the Castle or Patricia C. Wrede and Caroline Stevermer’s Sorcery and Cecelia will adore this funny Regency-era mystery about a determined young woman with a magical...

Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9780553535204
PRICE $17.99 (USD)
PAGES 304

Average rating from 83 members


Featured Reviews

Murder, Magic, and What We Wore is a young adult novel written by Kelly Jones. I was excited about the opportunity to read this book because it is set in the Regency era, one of my absolute favorite historical periods.

Annis Whitworth is a young woman whose life is thrown into upheaval by her father’s death. She did not know her father very well because he was often traveling, and his sudden death prompts many questions about his occupation. This event also seems to serve as the catalyst for Annis learning that she can sew “glamours” that transform garments and the person wearing them.

Annis sets up a shop in a little village- using a disguise, of course, because no well-bred young woman would ever do something like work in trade. This places her in a position to discover more about what her father did, and who may be responsible for his death.

I loved the setting of this book. I was also fascinated by the element of magic found within this particular interpretation of Regency England. I wish the magic would have been more fleshed out- how much magic is present and what other uses for magic are there? I found the mystery element to be rather well done, and the big reveal was a bit of a surprise for me. Jones also plays a "trick" of sorts, and while I did make note of one coincidence, I did not realize the extent of this trick- well played, Ms. Jones! Naturally, I cannot say any more, and I fear I have already said too much, so I'll have to remain vague on the matter.

I would recommend Murder, Magic, and What We Wore. It’s reminiscent of other Regency-era YA novels like Patrice Kindl’s Keeping the Castle, Cindy Anstey’s books, and Alison Goodman’s Lady Helen books. Annis is a lively protagonist, and I would be interested to see if there is going to be a sequel to this book.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

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