BODY AND SOUL

The song. That’s what London constable and sorcerer’s apprentice Peter Grant first notices when he examines the corpse of Cyrus Wilkins, part-time jazz drummer and full-time accountant, who dropped dead of a heart attack while playing a gig at Soho’s 606 Club. The notes of the old jazz standard are rising from the body—a sure sign that something about the man’s death was not at all natural but instead supernatural.

Body and soul—they’re also what Peter will risk as he investigates a pattern of similar deaths in and around Soho. With the help of his superior officer, Detective Chief Inspector Thomas Nightingale, the last registered wizard in England, and the assistance of beautiful jazz aficionado Simone Fitzwilliam, Peter will uncover a deadly magical menace—one that leads right to his own doorstep and to the squandered promise of a young jazz musician: a talented trumpet player named Richard “Lord” Grant—otherwise known as Peter’s dear old dad.

With DCI Nightingale on medically restricted duty following the events of Midnight Riot, Peter is working with the Murder Squad investigating some rather gruesome murders - men who have had their privates bitten off while in the midst of intercourse. There is also a second troubling case of jazz musicians dying shortly after playing a gig that may or may not be murder.  PC Lesley May was badly injured and disfigured in the same event that injured Nightingale and is also on medical leave but, being bored, is unofficially helping with research. Peter is hesitant to go visit Lesley because he is not sure he can look at her disfigured face without reaction and he does not want to hurt her. He throws himself into both investigations, along with his wizard training. In the process he meets and begins a relationship with the beautiful and mysterious Simone.  As the investigations continue it becomes clear that the two cases are tied to each other and that there is a dangerous rogue magician pulling strings to create chaos.

This books builds on the events and relationships from the previous book. We learn more about the magic, the characters and the world where magic, while preferably ignored, is officially recognized to exist. I can hardly wait to dive into book three. Recommend series. ~~ Stephanie L Bannon

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