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Jessica Daniel #2.5
As If by Magic
After finding an abandoned package at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel has two choices. One option leads to the entire north west transport network grinding to a halt—and more importantly Jessica missing her train—the other involves her opening the box.
For Jessica, the choice is clear—but what’s in the box, who left it, and how will it affect her weekend away?
This 50,000-word “half-book” was released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of UK no.1 bestselling novel Locked In being released. It contains a bonus features section, with scans of the original hand-written plot outline and the full first chapter of the upcoming Think Of The Children (Jessica Daniel book four).
It can be read standalone, or as part of the rest of the Jessica Daniel series.
For Jessica, the choice is clear—but what’s in the box, who left it, and how will it affect her weekend away?
This 50,000-word “half-book” was released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of UK no.1 bestselling novel Locked In being released. It contains a bonus features section, with scans of the original hand-written plot outline and the full first chapter of the upcoming Think Of The Children (Jessica Daniel book four).
It can be read standalone, or as part of the rest of the Jessica Daniel series.
161 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 17, 2012
115 people are currently reading
439 people want to read
About the author
Kerry Wilkinson
69 books1,066 followersRecent and upcoming UK releases:
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
24 October 2023: The Night Of The Sleepover
15 December 2023: After The Sleepover
2024: The Girl On The Side Of The Road
2024: The Missing Body
Kerry Wilkinson has sold more than two million books - and had No.1 crime bestsellers in the UK, Australia, Canada, South Africa and Singapore. He has also written two top-20 thrillers in the United States. His book, Ten Birthdays, won the RNA award for Young Adult Novel of the Year in 2018 and Close To You won the International Thriller Award for best ebook in 2020.
As well as his Jessica Daniel series, Kerry has written a trilogy featuring private investigator Andrew Hunter, the Whitecliff series, the Silver Blackthorn trilogy - a fantasy-adventure serial for young adults - plus numerous standalone novels. He has been published around the world in more than a dozen languages.
Originally from the county of Somerset, Kerry spent way too long living in the north of England, picking up words like 'barm' and 'ginnel'.
When he's short of ideas, he rides his bike, hikes up something, or bakes cakes. When he's not, he writes it all down.
Find out more at: http://kerrywilkinson.com or http://facebook.com/KerryWilkinsonBooks
Find out more at: his website or Facebook
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 21, 2018
Novellas are often throwaway stories, but this one did not disappoint. For a 153-pager it packs in a lot plot-wise and also Jessica-wise. The plotline is surprisingly complex with some unique elements. In addition, the characters are well highlighted for a half-book.
The story starts out with DS Jessica and DC Dave Rowlands finding an unmarked box in a train station. Is it a bomb? Noooo, but its contents are quite intriguing. Dave’s weird friend Hugo has a nice little return role in this story, which is very apropos as it takes a real weirdo to figure out the box enigma. Suffice to say, the box is just the tip of the mystery we get in this little bookette.
Jessica and Dave are in the car a lot. When they are in the car, they have nothing to do but mercilessly go after each other like big sister, little brother. I found their repartee highly amusing. Sharp, but not murderous. The overall ambience of the tale is a touch more lighthearted than the previous Jessica novels, something I enjoyed.
Another highlight for me was the magician angle and learning how some of those unbelievable tricks work. I also enjoyed Jessica’s interactions with her bosses. And make sure you read the “bonus features” at the end where Mr. Wilkinson includes some original handwritten notes he took down as he was plotting the novella.
I just love Kerry Wilkinson and have read several of his novels. He is one of the few authors that I have on my “read everything he writes before I die” list. He has been pretty prolific despite his young age, and I look forward to reading through his whole backlog as he continues to put out new novels.
I highly recommend As If By Magic. It can be read before book 3 or book 4 of the Jessica Daniel series or actually as a standalone at any time.
The story starts out with DS Jessica and DC Dave Rowlands finding an unmarked box in a train station. Is it a bomb? Noooo, but its contents are quite intriguing. Dave’s weird friend Hugo has a nice little return role in this story, which is very apropos as it takes a real weirdo to figure out the box enigma. Suffice to say, the box is just the tip of the mystery we get in this little bookette.
Jessica and Dave are in the car a lot. When they are in the car, they have nothing to do but mercilessly go after each other like big sister, little brother. I found their repartee highly amusing. Sharp, but not murderous. The overall ambience of the tale is a touch more lighthearted than the previous Jessica novels, something I enjoyed.
Another highlight for me was the magician angle and learning how some of those unbelievable tricks work. I also enjoyed Jessica’s interactions with her bosses. And make sure you read the “bonus features” at the end where Mr. Wilkinson includes some original handwritten notes he took down as he was plotting the novella.
I just love Kerry Wilkinson and have read several of his novels. He is one of the few authors that I have on my “read everything he writes before I die” list. He has been pretty prolific despite his young age, and I look forward to reading through his whole backlog as he continues to put out new novels.
I highly recommend As If By Magic. It can be read before book 3 or book 4 of the Jessica Daniel series or actually as a standalone at any time.
June 4, 2019
This is a short novel in the Jessica Daniel series by author Kerry Wilkinson.
DS Jessica Daniel and DC David Rowlands are waiting for a train at Manchester Piccadilly station to take them to a training course neither are looking forward to. While they stand waiting for the train Jessica notices an unmarked package on the platform. Fearing it may be a bomb, she nevertheless decides to open it only to discover something very strange inside. The box and its contents lead Jessica and David across the city to try and unravel the mystery within the box.
Considering this is a short novel there is so much crammed within the book and a decent read. I enjoy the writing of Kerry Wilkinson and this put me in the mood to read one of his full length novels.
DS Jessica Daniel and DC David Rowlands are waiting for a train at Manchester Piccadilly station to take them to a training course neither are looking forward to. While they stand waiting for the train Jessica notices an unmarked package on the platform. Fearing it may be a bomb, she nevertheless decides to open it only to discover something very strange inside. The box and its contents lead Jessica and David across the city to try and unravel the mystery within the box.
Considering this is a short novel there is so much crammed within the book and a decent read. I enjoy the writing of Kerry Wilkinson and this put me in the mood to read one of his full length novels.
January 15, 2018
A short novel featuring Manchester Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniels starts with a box left on the platform at Manchester Piccadilly station and moves through fraud and two murders to an unresolved ending.
July 3, 2025
An excellent short story and well worth reading.
September 19, 2015
An enjoyable short story which was essentially a number of stories within one but all of them connected. This time around the characters of DS Jessica Daniel and her colleagues really shone through, the scenes between her and her partner Dave being especially funny. I'm not normally a fan of magician stories within a crime story but felt that it worked brilliantly in As If by Magic with a couple of surprise twists. I also liked the addition of the handwritten notes at the end of the book showing part of Kerry Wilkinson's planning process before he began putting the story together.
September 4, 2012
Not the best Jessica Daniel book. it reads like a number of short stories stitched together. Consequently the characters are a bit thin. For prior readers of these books that isn't a problem as they know the characters already, but new readers will be left wanting. Worth buying, but the other books in the series are better.
May 18, 2013
Definately the weakest book of the series for me. I just seemed to bat back and forth between a few shorter stories and no high intrigue or tension building in the conclusion. It just ended without really wrapping much up.
May 9, 2017
I really enjoyed this book. I have read the 7 books in the series. To me this gave more insight in to who Jessica is. She came off as less self centered. Perhaps I read the other books with a narrow vision of the real Jessica. The story line itself was unique. Tied together characters in different ways. It must not be easy to come up with stories when there are so many similar writings in this genre.
January 18, 2020
Interesting read. I seem to have skipped slipped around, so takes me a bit to acclimate! I thoroughly recommend these stories that Kerry Wilkinson comes up with. Good job!
I really enjoy these books that this wonderful man writes. I love the way his mind works! He must be a tiny bit cracked, as I may also be. LOL
I really enjoy these books that this wonderful man writes. I love the way his mind works! He must be a tiny bit cracked, as I may also be. LOL
February 5, 2020
This is a short book in the Jessica Daniel series. She is a wonderful character, and it was good to be back with her in this one. It involves Jessica and her coworker Dave finding a box at a train station that they fear could be a bomb. It's not, but soon they are embroiled in another tough case. Even though this book wasn't as long as the others, it was still a good addition to the series.
July 11, 2017
Different and intriguing. Also, fun!
A nice, different style of writing with the sectioned parts. Loved it. But, I don't recall if I read what happened to the one guy in that one part.
A nice, different style of writing with the sectioned parts. Loved it. But, I don't recall if I read what happened to the one guy in that one part.
August 22, 2018
Great
As always a thrilling experience! I love Kerry! I'm reading every book she has written and loving it. There are some I can't find, like the one where Adam is blown up or when he comes back and what happened to Bex! I'm so curious about these things.
As always a thrilling experience! I love Kerry! I'm reading every book she has written and loving it. There are some I can't find, like the one where Adam is blown up or when he comes back and what happened to Bex! I'm so curious about these things.
September 13, 2022
Although this one was an ‘in between the main book series’ novella of 140 odd pages, I got a bit lost and disinterested with the story. That said, I’m totally invested in the character of Jessica and her colleagues at the police station and am happily carrying on with the main series.
May 17, 2017
Magic interesting
Enjoyed reading this book,with a twist of magic and magic proDucts enlightening as to how the props work. Enjoyable read!
Enjoyed reading this book,with a twist of magic and magic proDucts enlightening as to how the props work. Enjoyable read!
June 17, 2017
3.5 stars. Not exactly sure why this book has a fractional number. It is short but not that short. It seems to be written in a more jocular style than the previous books.
June 23, 2017
Fascinating intrigue
Really drawn into this series which seems to become more thrilling as each segment seems to bring something from a previous segment.
Really drawn into this series which seems to become more thrilling as each segment seems to bring something from a previous segment.
March 23, 2018
I found this a little harder to get into than the earlier books in the series. Alright but not the best.
July 10, 2019
A good story
The story kept me interested throughout and didn't really expect the very ending of the book to be as it was.
The story kept me interested throughout and didn't really expect the very ending of the book to be as it was.
January 21, 2023
Short story, good, but not as good as the others in the series, but still love the main character👍
March 25, 2017
Not near as good as the others
The ending wasn't like I expected. Kerry is much better in the other Jessica Daniel books. Hopefully the next one will be better
The ending wasn't like I expected. Kerry is much better in the other Jessica Daniel books. Hopefully the next one will be better
October 8, 2019
Another excellent book
Another excellent book from Kerry Wilkinson. I always get the ‘who done it wrong’ in his books. I can never put his books down.
Another excellent book from Kerry Wilkinson. I always get the ‘who done it wrong’ in his books. I can never put his books down.
June 28, 2015
As If By Magic (A Jessica Daniel Kindle Exclusive) (#2.5)
Blurb
After finding an abandoned package at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel has two choices. One option leads to the entire North West transport network grinding to a halt—and more importantly Jessica missing her train—the other involves her opening the box.
For Jessica, the choice is clear—but what’s in the box, who left it, and how will it affect her weekend away?
This 50,000-word “half-book” was released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of UK no.1 bestselling novel Locked In being released. It contains a bonus features section, with scans of the original hand-written plot outline and the full first chapter of the upcoming Think Of The Children (Jessica Daniel book four).
It can be read standalone, or as part of the rest of the Jessica Daniel series.
Review
Found this to be a nice short read in between books – another excellent addition to the Jessica Daniel series.
Jessica still has the banter between her and Dave and you get to know Hugo a bit more. Great book and can’t really do much of a review or would give the story away.
Blurb
After finding an abandoned package at Manchester’s Piccadilly Station, Detective Sergeant Jessica Daniel has two choices. One option leads to the entire North West transport network grinding to a halt—and more importantly Jessica missing her train—the other involves her opening the box.
For Jessica, the choice is clear—but what’s in the box, who left it, and how will it affect her weekend away?
This 50,000-word “half-book” was released to celebrate the one-year anniversary of UK no.1 bestselling novel Locked In being released. It contains a bonus features section, with scans of the original hand-written plot outline and the full first chapter of the upcoming Think Of The Children (Jessica Daniel book four).
It can be read standalone, or as part of the rest of the Jessica Daniel series.
Review
Found this to be a nice short read in between books – another excellent addition to the Jessica Daniel series.
Jessica still has the banter between her and Dave and you get to know Hugo a bit more. Great book and can’t really do much of a review or would give the story away.
February 10, 2013
I loved the Afterword...to quote:
'As I walked through the streets of London, there were two things that struck me:
1. The streets are not paved with gold and are, in fact, more likely to be covered with fast food wrappers;
2. They have this weird ball of light-type thing in the sky which I have rarely seen in northern skies'. And she had a bottle of champagne and wondered what would happen if she just left it in a door-way?
And so the story came to her and she wrote it...
And by the way I've been to Manchester several times and it's true the sun rarely shines there - the only time it didn't rain, it snowed!
'As I walked through the streets of London, there were two things that struck me:
1. The streets are not paved with gold and are, in fact, more likely to be covered with fast food wrappers;
2. They have this weird ball of light-type thing in the sky which I have rarely seen in northern skies'. And she had a bottle of champagne and wondered what would happen if she just left it in a door-way?
And so the story came to her and she wrote it...
And by the way I've been to Manchester several times and it's true the sun rarely shines there - the only time it didn't rain, it snowed!
August 11, 2012
Another excellent Jessica Daniel book, would have loved it to be longer but you can't have everything can you. Love the characters in these books especially Jessica she is great, would have to work for her (poor Dave lol) but would love to have a friend like her :o)
Looking forward to the next one, roll on 2013 xxx
Looking forward to the next one, roll on 2013 xxx
July 12, 2015
Another good read. This time Jessica Daniel and her colleague spot an abandoned package at Manchester railway station which leads to murder, magic and mystery. This book is a novella so not as long as normal books. I enjoyed this one as much as the previous two. Jessica is endearing herself to me and I like the familiarity of the other cast who pop in and out.
July 11, 2014
A BRILLIANT BOOK... no spoilers
this was great Hugo is an amazing character and I love the way that each book you get to know the characters better...... couldn't put it down.. can't wait for the next book !!!!
this was great Hugo is an amazing character and I love the way that each book you get to know the characters better...... couldn't put it down.. can't wait for the next book !!!!
March 17, 2016
Another fantastic read
Really enjoyed this short read! You get to find out a bit more about the characters & their dynamics and I'm becoming a massive Jessica Daniel fan :) A really good quick read.
Really enjoyed this short read! You get to find out a bit more about the characters & their dynamics and I'm becoming a massive Jessica Daniel fan :) A really good quick read.
July 29, 2012
Great so far :) I really love the character of Jessica!
Loved this book I wish it wasn't 6 months till the next Jessica Daniel book :(
Loved this book I wish it wasn't 6 months till the next Jessica Daniel book :(
July 23, 2012
love Kerry Wilkinson's style. characters are great. especially the incomparable Hugo!!! if you've not read the others, get them now!!
October 22, 2012
I love this Jessica Daniel series !
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews