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The Jack of Hearts
Fifteen years escaping magic. Now she’s the killer’s final act.
London, November 1893
A woman is found sawn in half in a narrow alley—her body laid inside a magician’s coffin, hands folded in prayer, a white rose in her palms. Between her fingers: a playing card. The Jack of Hearts. Inked with a chilling message… The first of six.
Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has spent fifteen years hunting killers—but nothing like this. The murder is no random act of violence. It is precise. Theatrical. A macabre recreation of an illusion devised by the long-dead stage magician, the Magnificent Maguire. And the killer—already christened by the press as The Coffin Conjurer—has promised this is only the opening act.
But Maguire’s legacy was never buried. For fifteen years, Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire has lived as a ghost. Presumed dead after the fire that killed her father, she has built a new life in the shadows—using the very skills he taught her: sleight of hand, misdirection, and the art of disguise. Now, as the secret force behind one of London’s most formidable private investigation agencies, she protects the women society overlooks… and keeps her past locked firmly away. After all, magic took everything she loved. She has no intention of letting it take anything more.
But when the Coffin Conjurer begins using her father’s illusions as a blueprint for murder and sends her a Jack of Hearts—the nickname her father gave her— playing card, Jack knows her past has finally caught up with her. After Inspector Flint catches her searching his office for clues to the killer’s identity the morning after the first murder, he refuses to let the rare woman to pull one over on him disappear again. Together, they may just have a chance of stopping him. She knows the world of magic and illusions. He knows how to catch a killer. But in London’s most murderous magic show, the Coffin Conjurer has always been ten steps ahead—and has already chosen the star of the final act… Jack Maguire.
London, November 1893
A woman is found sawn in half in a narrow alley—her body laid inside a magician’s coffin, hands folded in prayer, a white rose in her palms. Between her fingers: a playing card. The Jack of Hearts. Inked with a chilling message… The first of six.
Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has spent fifteen years hunting killers—but nothing like this. The murder is no random act of violence. It is precise. Theatrical. A macabre recreation of an illusion devised by the long-dead stage magician, the Magnificent Maguire. And the killer—already christened by the press as The Coffin Conjurer—has promised this is only the opening act.
But Maguire’s legacy was never buried. For fifteen years, Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire has lived as a ghost. Presumed dead after the fire that killed her father, she has built a new life in the shadows—using the very skills he taught her: sleight of hand, misdirection, and the art of disguise. Now, as the secret force behind one of London’s most formidable private investigation agencies, she protects the women society overlooks… and keeps her past locked firmly away. After all, magic took everything she loved. She has no intention of letting it take anything more.
But when the Coffin Conjurer begins using her father’s illusions as a blueprint for murder and sends her a Jack of Hearts—the nickname her father gave her— playing card, Jack knows her past has finally caught up with her. After Inspector Flint catches her searching his office for clues to the killer’s identity the morning after the first murder, he refuses to let the rare woman to pull one over on him disappear again. Together, they may just have a chance of stopping him. She knows the world of magic and illusions. He knows how to catch a killer. But in London’s most murderous magic show, the Coffin Conjurer has always been ten steps ahead—and has already chosen the star of the final act… Jack Maguire.
406 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 22, 2026
About the author
Maddison Michaels
14 books445 followersMaddison Michaels, is an award-winning historical romantic suspense author, who captivates readers with her signature blend of "Sexy History with a Dash of Mystery." Her debut novel, "The Devilish Duke," won the prestigious Romance Writers of Australia RUBY Award in 2019, along with two of her subsequent novels being finalists in the 2021 and 2022 RUBY Awards. Maddison is the published author of ten historical romance novels, that promise page-turning mystery and suspense, and keep readers hooked until the last word. She’s also set to release two non-fiction writing craft books, aimed to help her fellow writers let their stories take flight!
Maddison draws on her success as an author, along with her previous 17-year career as a police officer, prosecutor, and teacher of senior NSW Police officers, to offer writing courses, webinars and coaching services to mentor aspiring and established authors. Maddison helps her fellow writers infuse their writing with authenticity and master their craft. Her upcoming podcast ‘The Writer’s Nest’ will explore and discuss various strategies and ways writers can use their personality to unleash their writing.
She lives in Northern New South Wales, Australia, with her own handsome hero, little princess, and fur babies. She’s recently taken up golf with her husband (you don’t want to know her handicap… even she doesn’t want to know, lol) and she’s a committed coffee connoisseur (read: total caffeine addict), who always starts her day with a cup of liquid gold!
When not whisking herself away to a world of historical romance or helping other writers hone their craft, Maddison loves engaging with her readers. You can contact her through her contacts page, or visit her on most social media platforms, where she shares her writing journey, writing news, life snippets, and behind-the-scenes tidbits.
Maddison draws on her success as an author, along with her previous 17-year career as a police officer, prosecutor, and teacher of senior NSW Police officers, to offer writing courses, webinars and coaching services to mentor aspiring and established authors. Maddison helps her fellow writers infuse their writing with authenticity and master their craft. Her upcoming podcast ‘The Writer’s Nest’ will explore and discuss various strategies and ways writers can use their personality to unleash their writing.
She lives in Northern New South Wales, Australia, with her own handsome hero, little princess, and fur babies. She’s recently taken up golf with her husband (you don’t want to know her handicap… even she doesn’t want to know, lol) and she’s a committed coffee connoisseur (read: total caffeine addict), who always starts her day with a cup of liquid gold!
When not whisking herself away to a world of historical romance or helping other writers hone their craft, Maddison loves engaging with her readers. You can contact her through her contacts page, or visit her on most social media platforms, where she shares her writing journey, writing news, life snippets, and behind-the-scenes tidbits.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
September 26, 2026
I have read and loved all of MS Michael’s romances and now she has taken a different direction and started a historical mystery murder series and book one is fabulous.
When the body of a woman is found sawn in half in an alley with a rose and a Jack of Hearts playing card in her hands with one of six written on it, the hunt is one for the killer.
Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has never seen anything like this in all of his years in policing but what he does know is that he needs to find the madman who has done this. It is a precise replica of a magical illusion performed by the long dead magician the Magnificent Maguire and the press have named the killer the Coffin Conjurer, and now the hunt starts for the killer.
Jacqueline “Jack” Maguire the daughter of James Maguire the famous magician who was killed in a fire that all said was an illusion gone wrong, Jack who was thought to have died in the fire as well has been living her life well and is now known as Jack Hart she and two friends Cordy and Sera run Hart Investigating Agency and these three woman have a very good success rate at solving crimes they are well trained at what they do, Jack is a very competent magician herself but after the death of first her mother then father she left all that behind but when she receives a Jack of Hearts Card, the nickname her father had for her with a message that says she will be six of six, Jack is forced to do what ever she can to stop this madman if she can find out who it is before he comes for her.
Jack must team up with Inspector Flint to find the killer as a team one who sticks by the rules and one who is happy to bend them but together they search clues and as more bodies turn up in macabre situations they must work fast.
This is a fabulous book, awesome characters witty at times even with all of the macabre goings on, there are twists and turns I didn’t see coming, I loved Tobias and Jack and they are getting closer in many ways, and the ending is fabulous, I loved this one so much and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical murder mystery and the start of a series, I can’t wait for book two.
My thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
When the body of a woman is found sawn in half in an alley with a rose and a Jack of Hearts playing card in her hands with one of six written on it, the hunt is one for the killer.
Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has never seen anything like this in all of his years in policing but what he does know is that he needs to find the madman who has done this. It is a precise replica of a magical illusion performed by the long dead magician the Magnificent Maguire and the press have named the killer the Coffin Conjurer, and now the hunt starts for the killer.
Jacqueline “Jack” Maguire the daughter of James Maguire the famous magician who was killed in a fire that all said was an illusion gone wrong, Jack who was thought to have died in the fire as well has been living her life well and is now known as Jack Hart she and two friends Cordy and Sera run Hart Investigating Agency and these three woman have a very good success rate at solving crimes they are well trained at what they do, Jack is a very competent magician herself but after the death of first her mother then father she left all that behind but when she receives a Jack of Hearts Card, the nickname her father had for her with a message that says she will be six of six, Jack is forced to do what ever she can to stop this madman if she can find out who it is before he comes for her.
Jack must team up with Inspector Flint to find the killer as a team one who sticks by the rules and one who is happy to bend them but together they search clues and as more bodies turn up in macabre situations they must work fast.
This is a fabulous book, awesome characters witty at times even with all of the macabre goings on, there are twists and turns I didn’t see coming, I loved Tobias and Jack and they are getting closer in many ways, and the ending is fabulous, I loved this one so much and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good historical murder mystery and the start of a series, I can’t wait for book two.
My thanks to Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley for my copy to read and review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
London, November 1893 & a woman is found sawn in half in a narrow alley. Between her fingers: a playing card. The Jack of Hearts. Inked with a chilling message… The first of six. Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has spent fifteen years hunting killers. A macabre recreation of an illusion devised by the long-dead stage magician, the Magnificent Maguire. But Maguire’s legacy was never buried. For fifteen years, Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire has lived as a ghost. Presumed dead after the fire that killed her father. Now, as the secret force behind one of London’s most formidable private investigation agencies, she protects the women society overlooks… and keeps her past locked firmly away. But when the Coffin Conjurer begins using her father’s illusions as a blueprint for murder and sends her a Jack of Hearts—the nickname her father gave her— playing card, Jack knows her past has finally caught up with her. After Inspector Flint catches her searching his office for clues to the killer’s identity the morning after the first murder, he refuses to let the rare woman to pull one over on him disappear again. Together, they may just have a chance of stopping him.
The start of a new series & what a starter! I was drawn in from the first page & held captive until the end. Fast paced, wonderful characters, a villain who sends chills down your spine, macabre murders plus sizzling chemistry between Tobias & Jack & wonderful research. A captivating, engrossing, edge of the seat book which ticked every box for me. I loved both Tobias & Jack, they grew close as they worked together, they were both strong, intelligent, independent & honourable. The villain is truly villainous, ruthless & deadly focused on his aims. There are surprises plus twists & turns. I look forward to the rest of the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
The start of a new series & what a starter! I was drawn in from the first page & held captive until the end. Fast paced, wonderful characters, a villain who sends chills down your spine, macabre murders plus sizzling chemistry between Tobias & Jack & wonderful research. A captivating, engrossing, edge of the seat book which ticked every box for me. I loved both Tobias & Jack, they grew close as they worked together, they were both strong, intelligent, independent & honourable. The villain is truly villainous, ruthless & deadly focused on his aims. There are surprises plus twists & turns. I look forward to the rest of the series
I voluntarily read and reviewed a special copy of this book; all thoughts and opinions are my own
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my, oh my!!! What a book! I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves reading murder mysteries.
Set in 1893 Victorian London, it starts with a lady called Mary, who is approached by a stranger on the street and asked to audition as a magic assistant. Even though her gut is telling her not to trust this stranger, she still goes for the audition. But what will happen to Mary?
A gruesome killer, said to be worse than Jack the Ripper and hiding in plain sight, wants to destroy the illusion of magic. Who is he, and will he be caught?
FMC Jack, 28, runs an all-women investigation agency. Strong and courageous.
MMC Tobias, 35, is a police officer who is bold, brave and cocky.
The author has clearly done a great deal of research into 19th-century magic and illusions. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, to the point where I was suspecting everyone of being the killer!
There were also certain moments that made me laugh right in the middle of all the seriousness, which I absolutely loved.
This book gave me Seven and Zodiac vibes mixed with The Greatest Showman. I could honestly see this book being turned into a movie very easily. It has so much potential!
Set in 1893 Victorian London, it starts with a lady called Mary, who is approached by a stranger on the street and asked to audition as a magic assistant. Even though her gut is telling her not to trust this stranger, she still goes for the audition. But what will happen to Mary?
A gruesome killer, said to be worse than Jack the Ripper and hiding in plain sight, wants to destroy the illusion of magic. Who is he, and will he be caught?
FMC Jack, 28, runs an all-women investigation agency. Strong and courageous.
MMC Tobias, 35, is a police officer who is bold, brave and cocky.
The author has clearly done a great deal of research into 19th-century magic and illusions. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, to the point where I was suspecting everyone of being the killer!
There were also certain moments that made me laugh right in the middle of all the seriousness, which I absolutely loved.
This book gave me Seven and Zodiac vibes mixed with The Greatest Showman. I could honestly see this book being turned into a movie very easily. It has so much potential!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
I was given the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book and it did not disappoint.
Once again, Maddison has delivered a story that makes me believe that she, herself, is a magician. Through misdirection and clever plotlines, she leads us in one direction while hiding the killer in plain sight. All her characters, with one or two exceptions, are likeable, which makes our hearts race when we feel their lives are in peril. Jack and Tobias’s story does not finish at the end of the novel which leads me to believe Maddison hasn’t finished with them yet and, if I’m not mistaken, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of at least four of the other characters. Fingers crossed, the magic will continue sooner rather than later. I heartily recommend this book and all of Maddison Michael’s previous books and look forward to future stories.
Once again, Maddison has delivered a story that makes me believe that she, herself, is a magician. Through misdirection and clever plotlines, she leads us in one direction while hiding the killer in plain sight. All her characters, with one or two exceptions, are likeable, which makes our hearts race when we feel their lives are in peril. Jack and Tobias’s story does not finish at the end of the novel which leads me to believe Maddison hasn’t finished with them yet and, if I’m not mistaken, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of at least four of the other characters. Fingers crossed, the magic will continue sooner rather than later. I heartily recommend this book and all of Maddison Michael’s previous books and look forward to future stories.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
In The Jack of Hearts, you will find thrilling historical suspense with more than a touch of remarkably hot, but clean, romance. In fact, it achieved the highest award I can give it: the "I stayed up until 3 am to finish this because I had to know what happens" award. (*wince*) I also really enjoyed the addition of stage magic, which I honestly don't think I've seen combined into a historical murder mystery before. If you like C. S. Harris's Sebastian St. Cyr mysteries, you will like this story and, delightfully, there are apparently two more coming after this one. Recommended.
September 6, 2026
This is a well written great thriller with lots of shocking scenes.
Jacqueline's (Jack), father was a magician who was murdered years ago. She now runs an all-female detective agency.
Tobias is an inspector for Scotland Yard, who also happens to be a member of the aristocracy.
When murders start happening that are magic tricks that her father performed, they team up to help solve them.
The story is interesting, and sometimes creepy, has lots of secondary characters, a romantic sub-plot, lots of twists and turns, and an unexpected ending.
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Jacqueline's (Jack), father was a magician who was murdered years ago. She now runs an all-female detective agency.
Tobias is an inspector for Scotland Yard, who also happens to be a member of the aristocracy.
When murders start happening that are magic tricks that her father performed, they team up to help solve them.
The story is interesting, and sometimes creepy, has lots of secondary characters, a romantic sub-plot, lots of twists and turns, and an unexpected ending.
I wish I could give it more than 5 stars!
I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a great start to a brand new series!
Meet Jack and Tobias, strangers that are forced to work together as they try to solve a string of murders that have roots in Jack's very own past.
The plot is really well thought out and the story full of twists and turns that will keep you want to know more.
The culprit was very well hidden, just like in a greatly executed magic trick!
I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.
Meet Jack and Tobias, strangers that are forced to work together as they try to solve a string of murders that have roots in Jack's very own past.
The plot is really well thought out and the story full of twists and turns that will keep you want to know more.
The culprit was very well hidden, just like in a greatly executed magic trick!
I received an advance copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily, thanks to the author for it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I absolutely loved this book! I read a lot of historical mysteries, but I honestly can’t remember reading one that incorporated magic and illusion quite like The Jack of Hearts. It gave the mystery such a fresh and fascinating twist, and it was so cleverly woven into the story. The whole world of Victorian magicians, illusions and deception was just so much fun to read.
This was also one of those books where I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter…” and suddenly it was 3am because I HAD to know who the killer was.
And that ending! I did not see it coming… although afterwards I realized there were little things along the way that made me think I probably should have. The twists towards the end were fantastic and had me completely hooked.
Atmospheric, clever, fast-paced and genuinely different from so many other historical mysteries I’ve read. I loved the characters, loved the magic element, and especially loved trying to work out what was real, what was illusion and what on earth was going on.
Such a great read. I highly recommend and I can’t wait for the next one!
This was also one of those books where I kept telling myself, “Just one more chapter…” and suddenly it was 3am because I HAD to know who the killer was.
And that ending! I did not see it coming… although afterwards I realized there were little things along the way that made me think I probably should have. The twists towards the end were fantastic and had me completely hooked.
Atmospheric, clever, fast-paced and genuinely different from so many other historical mysteries I’ve read. I loved the characters, loved the magic element, and especially loved trying to work out what was real, what was illusion and what on earth was going on.
Such a great read. I highly recommend and I can’t wait for the next one!
September 22, 2026
Jack is incredibly intelligent, smart, loyal to the bone, caring, and resilient. Having had a traumatic childhood, she is still struggling to heal and overcome her fears. But she is so brave that when an opportunity presents itself to get closure, she will not shy away from it.
Jack also has a very well-justified distaste for law enforcement. Hence, her inner conflict when a decent, handsome policeman caught her attention in every possible way.
Enter Inspector Tobias Flint. He is a walking green flag, and I love how protective he is of Jack without undermining her autonomy. I would've loved to read more about him, especially his POV on the incident from 15 years ago.
The tension between these two is so good!! And the scene of how they met, chef's kiss. I laughed so freaking much. That being said, I really liked how he doesn't miss anything about Jack, and how good he is at reading her. But mostly, how patient he is.
The plot was beyond engaging, super interesting, and the crime scenes were quite creative given that it is about a killer "exposing" the tricks behind a famous magician's acts and destroying his legacy.
Mystery and romance aside, the book is also about female empowerment and overcoming patriarchy (even in small ways), and since we are dealing with magicians, about the blurry line between perception and reality (which I always find fascinating).
Jack also has a very well-justified distaste for law enforcement. Hence, her inner conflict when a decent, handsome policeman caught her attention in every possible way.
Enter Inspector Tobias Flint. He is a walking green flag, and I love how protective he is of Jack without undermining her autonomy. I would've loved to read more about him, especially his POV on the incident from 15 years ago.
The tension between these two is so good!! And the scene of how they met, chef's kiss. I laughed so freaking much. That being said, I really liked how he doesn't miss anything about Jack, and how good he is at reading her. But mostly, how patient he is.
The plot was beyond engaging, super interesting, and the crime scenes were quite creative given that it is about a killer "exposing" the tricks behind a famous magician's acts and destroying his legacy.
Mystery and romance aside, the book is also about female empowerment and overcoming patriarchy (even in small ways), and since we are dealing with magicians, about the blurry line between perception and reality (which I always find fascinating).
September 25, 2026
This was the first book I’ve read from this author. I really enjoyed it. I’m just getting into historical mystery and loving it. This book was no exception.
This isn’t a cozy mystery. Think more along the lines of Jack the Ripper. Inspector Tobias Flint has been assigned to the case of the first victim. He’s never seen anything like it in his career. As the clues keep increasing, so does the body count.
Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire father’s illusions are being used as the background for the deaths that have been taking place. Jack and Tobias team up to solve the case and preserve Jack’s father’s name and reputation. There is instant chemistry between the two, but Jack isn’t quite ready for a relationship, but Tobias will wait.
I’m looking forward to what will bring these two together next.
This isn’t a cozy mystery. Think more along the lines of Jack the Ripper. Inspector Tobias Flint has been assigned to the case of the first victim. He’s never seen anything like it in his career. As the clues keep increasing, so does the body count.
Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire father’s illusions are being used as the background for the deaths that have been taking place. Jack and Tobias team up to solve the case and preserve Jack’s father’s name and reputation. There is instant chemistry between the two, but Jack isn’t quite ready for a relationship, but Tobias will wait.
I’m looking forward to what will bring these two together next.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This is the sort of mystery that reminds me why I love the genre.
The plot is tightly constructed, the pacing is sharp, and there’s very little wasted movement. Every chapter seems to add another layer to the investigation, and I appreciated how carefully the clues were placed without making the solution obvious.
What really lifted the book for me, though, was the dynamic between Jack and Tobias. Their chemistry feels effortless rather than forced, and there’s a constant undercurrent of tension between them that adds another dimension to the story without taking over from the mystery itself.
I also liked that the investigation felt substantial. There were multiple threads in play, but they came together in a way that felt deliberate and satisfying rather than convenient. The final section in particular was extremely well handled.
It’s fast, intelligent and very confidently plotted, with characters I genuinely wanted to keep following after the mystery was solved. An excellent historical mystery and an easy five stars from me.
The plot is tightly constructed, the pacing is sharp, and there’s very little wasted movement. Every chapter seems to add another layer to the investigation, and I appreciated how carefully the clues were placed without making the solution obvious.
What really lifted the book for me, though, was the dynamic between Jack and Tobias. Their chemistry feels effortless rather than forced, and there’s a constant undercurrent of tension between them that adds another dimension to the story without taking over from the mystery itself.
I also liked that the investigation felt substantial. There were multiple threads in play, but they came together in a way that felt deliberate and satisfying rather than convenient. The final section in particular was extremely well handled.
It’s fast, intelligent and very confidently plotted, with characters I genuinely wanted to keep following after the mystery was solved. An excellent historical mystery and an easy five stars from me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a NetGalley ARC.
Inspector Tobias Flint is faced with an intricate case involving a series of abominable murders. A jack of hearts has been left at each crime scene. Luckily, he is assisted by Jack Hart, an expert in magic aka Jaqueline Maguire aka Jack of Hearts!
The plot is so well woven that you will be intrigued and left wondering until the very end. The only thing I didn't like was being forced into the mind of the killer. This may please readers who enjoy Edgar Allan Poe, but I'm not a fan of his stories.
Still, I really hope that this is a series. I can’t wait to read what happens next.
Inspector Tobias Flint is faced with an intricate case involving a series of abominable murders. A jack of hearts has been left at each crime scene. Luckily, he is assisted by Jack Hart, an expert in magic aka Jaqueline Maguire aka Jack of Hearts!
The plot is so well woven that you will be intrigued and left wondering until the very end. The only thing I didn't like was being forced into the mind of the killer. This may please readers who enjoy Edgar Allan Poe, but I'm not a fan of his stories.
Still, I really hope that this is a series. I can’t wait to read what happens next.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is a Victorian historical romance, and murder mystery. It's set among the macabre world of Victorian illusions.
We have all probably seen the lady sawn in half by magicians, but not like this one.
Our villain is a master of disguise who gives our hero and heroine nothing to help catch him.
Our heroine runs her own investigation company and doesn't like the useless police. Our hero is a detective inspector who is actually good at his job, but he knows when he needs special help.
A wonderful scary story that could definitely stop you from ever wanting to be a magician's assistant.
Great fun.
We have all probably seen the lady sawn in half by magicians, but not like this one.
Our villain is a master of disguise who gives our hero and heroine nothing to help catch him.
Our heroine runs her own investigation company and doesn't like the useless police. Our hero is a detective inspector who is actually good at his job, but he knows when he needs special help.
A wonderful scary story that could definitely stop you from ever wanting to be a magician's assistant.
Great fun.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The villian’s point of view always is a draw for me when reading mysteries. I absolutely love reading from the view of the villain. Maddison does it perfectly. Lots of red herrings and I have to be honest, one of the surprises really got me. I had absolutely no clue. A mark of a good story. Tobias and Jack were the perfect couple. Lots of tension, lots of action, lots of mystery and mayhem, and lots of fun reading. It was frightening at times and I was tense. Applauding so loudly, Maddison. Excellent read. Not your typical Victorian romance.
Want to Read
September 4, 2026Description
Fifteen years escaping magic. Now she’s the killer’s final act.
London, November 1893
A woman is found sawn in half in a narrow alley—her body laid inside a magician’s coffin, hands folded in prayer, a white rose in her palms. Between her fingers: a playing card. The Jack of Hearts. Inked with a chilling message… The first of six.
Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has spent fifteen years hunting killers—but nothing like this. The murder is no random act of violence. It is precise. Theatrical. A macabre recreation of an illusion devised by the long-dead stage magician, the Magnificent Maguire. And the killer—already christened by the press as The Coffin Conjurer—has promised this is only the opening act.
But Maguire’s legacy was never buried. For fifteen years, Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire has lived as a ghost. Presumed dead after the fire that killed her father, she has built a new life in the shadows—using the very skills he taught her: sleight of hand, misdirection, and the art of disguise. Now, as the secret force behind one of London’s most formidable private investigation agencies, she protects the women society overlooks… and keeps her past locked firmly away. After all, magic took everything she loved. She has no intention of letting it take anything more.
But when the Coffin Conjurer begins using her father’s illusions as a blueprint for murder and sends her a Jack of Hearts—the nickname her father gave her— playing card, Jack knows her past has finally caught up with her. After Inspector Flint catches her searching his office for clues to the killer’s identity the morning after the first murder, he refuses to let the rare woman to pull one over on him disappear again. Together, they may just have a chance of stopping him. She knows the world of magic and illusions. He knows how to catch a killer. But in London’s most murderous magic show, the Coffin Conjurer has always been ten steps ahead—and has already chosen the star of the final act… Jack Maguire.
Fifteen years escaping magic. Now she’s the killer’s final act.
London, November 1893
A woman is found sawn in half in a narrow alley—her body laid inside a magician’s coffin, hands folded in prayer, a white rose in her palms. Between her fingers: a playing card. The Jack of Hearts. Inked with a chilling message… The first of six.
Inspector Tobias Flint of Scotland Yard has spent fifteen years hunting killers—but nothing like this. The murder is no random act of violence. It is precise. Theatrical. A macabre recreation of an illusion devised by the long-dead stage magician, the Magnificent Maguire. And the killer—already christened by the press as The Coffin Conjurer—has promised this is only the opening act.
But Maguire’s legacy was never buried. For fifteen years, Jaqueline “Jack” Maguire has lived as a ghost. Presumed dead after the fire that killed her father, she has built a new life in the shadows—using the very skills he taught her: sleight of hand, misdirection, and the art of disguise. Now, as the secret force behind one of London’s most formidable private investigation agencies, she protects the women society overlooks… and keeps her past locked firmly away. After all, magic took everything she loved. She has no intention of letting it take anything more.
But when the Coffin Conjurer begins using her father’s illusions as a blueprint for murder and sends her a Jack of Hearts—the nickname her father gave her— playing card, Jack knows her past has finally caught up with her. After Inspector Flint catches her searching his office for clues to the killer’s identity the morning after the first murder, he refuses to let the rare woman to pull one over on him disappear again. Together, they may just have a chance of stopping him. She knows the world of magic and illusions. He knows how to catch a killer. But in London’s most murderous magic show, the Coffin Conjurer has always been ten steps ahead—and has already chosen the star of the final act… Jack Maguire.
September 22, 2026
This is a thrilling book that you want to read in one setting! The characters are rich and full of depth. The case is scary, yet captivating. I couldn't put it down, but I didn't want to see what would happen next either. This one will captivate you!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Dragonblade Publishing via NetGalley for providing this ARC. All opinions are my own.
I just found a new historical mystery series to read! This was really good. Jack was such a fascinating character; her tragic backstory and the private detective business she now runs were perfect. It was nice to see a nobleman-turned-detective have a family that basically openly disowned him for his work, still, privately at least, support him. The illusions and magic were literally amazing- the Victorian obsession with the macabre displayed brilliantly. I cannot wait to read the next book! I definitely recommend!
I just found a new historical mystery series to read! This was really good. Jack was such a fascinating character; her tragic backstory and the private detective business she now runs were perfect. It was nice to see a nobleman-turned-detective have a family that basically openly disowned him for his work, still, privately at least, support him. The illusions and magic were literally amazing- the Victorian obsession with the macabre displayed brilliantly. I cannot wait to read the next book! I definitely recommend!
September 26, 2026
𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 𝙳𝚛𝚊𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚋𝚕𝚊𝚍𝚎 𝙿𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚒𝚜𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚟𝚒𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚜𝚒𝚍𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗 𝚟𝚒𝚊 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝙶𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢. 𝙰𝚕𝚕 𝚘𝚙𝚒𝚗𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚖𝚢 𝚘𝚠𝚗. This book was marked as Read Now on NetGalley and I'm so glad that I was able to read this book at the correct time.
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The Jack Of Hearts by Maddison Michaels is a historical, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance set in London. Two individuals from different backgrounds are forced together because of a series of murders that are connected to a tragic incident that happened in the past.
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𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔?:
- Police inspector x magician's daughter slow burn, enemies to lovers romance.
- Magic, murder mystery and thievery in London somewhere during the 1800s.
- Trigger warning— You get to see the mind of a serial killer. It's like reading his diary entries and reliving everything— his wants, his desires, his psyche. It's raw and unedited and I felt this story was quite dark for Dragonblade Publishing because from what I know, this publisher is mostly known for smutty romance stories. Then there is also the abuse what the
- Women who are friends and also partners in crime.
- Mad magician who is a serial killer who takes after a famous and brilliant magician in the whole of London.
- POVs that shift between the killer to the Inspector Tobias to Magician's daughter Jacqueline. You have to figure out whose POV it is when you start reading.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍:
- The pacing of the book was fast. I couldn't wait to find out what was happening because of that.
- I liked the police investigation and the office politics scenarios in the story. which I haven't read about on bookstagram till date in the historical fiction genre.
- Chapter 8 made me squirm and I had a hard time reading it because it felt like it was a full fledged reveal of how a killer operates. That chapter took a really dark navigation in the book and I had to double check that I was reading the correct book because I didn't expect such a dark way of story telling from this book.
- The slow, steady writing and story telling style was a good thing. It helped mold and grow the story into something better.
- I liked the way how Seraphina, Cordelia and Jacqueline looked out and cared for each other. Their female friendship dynamic was great to read.
-
- I think the author leaving out whose POV it is at the start of each chapter was a good move. I would have wanted the character's name plastered before the chapter began, but I feel as I kept reading it was getting obvious whose POV it was based on how the chapter began and the writing choice.
- I was surprised that the story was quite dark and gory in equal measure and all the way as I read i had to double check whether I was reading the same book from the same publisher.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
- There wasn't a pause in the writing style to harbour names that were popping up in the story. There were so many names that it was hard to keep track of them.
- The sentence structure would at many times and at many places be too long and overly descriptive of what was happening. There should be simple explanation of the scene in the sentence.
- I felt that the language style for the characters felt too modern and it felt she was a time traveler and came straight from another era. I also felt her English was leaning more towards American English than British English.
- There were certain dialogues that didn't needed to be mentioned who was saying it. It was pretty obvious who would ask certain questions in the given scenario. I felt that the whole story required a decent amount of editing to rectify all that.
- There wasn't anything much intriguing in the writing of the story but only the way the plot twists and turns kept popping out. I felt the writing was plain. Very plain and wanted to see some more writing personality in it. Some dialogues felt repeated. One of them was— "we have to find him again before he does this to someone else." There wasn't anything interesting happening with the dialogues most of the time.
- At one point in the story 74.1% to be precise, the writing style was jam packed with dialogue, dialogue and dialogue. Looking back to all the chapters I read so far, they all had this same writing style and it felt like a drag. There should have been lots of variation in how the whole dialogue and writing aspect was handled. It was mostly— Tobias asked Jack, Jack spoke back to Tobias, Ian or Dr. Mortem were talking back to each other giving Tobias updates and then another murder would happen. Then everyone would go to the murder scene and it was a whole cycle. Very very rarely there were scenes where something different would happen but that was nothing different. This story had a huge huge chance of being something big. It had nice twists and reveals— the villain was cunning and I loved that aspect of it but like I said earlier, those aspects needed lots of change.
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The Jack Of Hearts by Maddison Michaels is a historical, slow burn, enemies to lovers romance set in London. Two individuals from different backgrounds are forced together because of a series of murders that are connected to a tragic incident that happened in the past.
────────────────────────────────────────
𝚆𝚑𝚘 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔?:
- Police inspector x magician's daughter slow burn, enemies to lovers romance.
- Magic, murder mystery and thievery in London somewhere during the 1800s.
- Trigger warning— You get to see the mind of a serial killer. It's like reading his diary entries and reliving everything— his wants, his desires, his psyche. It's raw and unedited and I felt this story was quite dark for Dragonblade Publishing because from what I know, this publisher is mostly known for smutty romance stories. Then there is also the abuse what the
- Women who are friends and also partners in crime.
- Mad magician who is a serial killer who takes after a famous and brilliant magician in the whole of London.
- POVs that shift between the killer to the Inspector Tobias to Magician's daughter Jacqueline. You have to figure out whose POV it is when you start reading.
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍:
- The pacing of the book was fast. I couldn't wait to find out what was happening because of that.
- I liked the police investigation and the office politics scenarios in the story. which I haven't read about on bookstagram till date in the historical fiction genre.
- Chapter 8 made me squirm and I had a hard time reading it because it felt like it was a full fledged reveal of how a killer operates. That chapter took a really dark navigation in the book and I had to double check that I was reading the correct book because I didn't expect such a dark way of story telling from this book.
- The slow, steady writing and story telling style was a good thing. It helped mold and grow the story into something better.
- I liked the way how Seraphina, Cordelia and Jacqueline looked out and cared for each other. Their female friendship dynamic was great to read.
-
- I think the author leaving out whose POV it is at the start of each chapter was a good move. I would have wanted the character's name plastered before the chapter began, but I feel as I kept reading it was getting obvious whose POV it was based on how the chapter began and the writing choice.
- I was surprised that the story was quite dark and gory in equal measure and all the way as I read i had to double check whether I was reading the same book from the same publisher.
𝚆𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚗𝚎𝚌𝚝 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚘𝚛 𝚏𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 𝚞𝚗𝚞𝚜𝚞𝚊𝚕 𝚘𝚛 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
- There wasn't a pause in the writing style to harbour names that were popping up in the story. There were so many names that it was hard to keep track of them.
- The sentence structure would at many times and at many places be too long and overly descriptive of what was happening. There should be simple explanation of the scene in the sentence.
- I felt that the language style for the characters felt too modern and it felt she was a time traveler and came straight from another era. I also felt her English was leaning more towards American English than British English.
- There were certain dialogues that didn't needed to be mentioned who was saying it. It was pretty obvious who would ask certain questions in the given scenario. I felt that the whole story required a decent amount of editing to rectify all that.
- There wasn't anything much intriguing in the writing of the story but only the way the plot twists and turns kept popping out. I felt the writing was plain. Very plain and wanted to see some more writing personality in it. Some dialogues felt repeated. One of them was— "we have to find him again before he does this to someone else." There wasn't anything interesting happening with the dialogues most of the time.
- At one point in the story 74.1% to be precise, the writing style was jam packed with dialogue, dialogue and dialogue. Looking back to all the chapters I read so far, they all had this same writing style and it felt like a drag. There should have been lots of variation in how the whole dialogue and writing aspect was handled. It was mostly— Tobias asked Jack, Jack spoke back to Tobias, Ian or Dr. Mortem were talking back to each other giving Tobias updates and then another murder would happen. Then everyone would go to the murder scene and it was a whole cycle. Very very rarely there were scenes where something different would happen but that was nothing different. This story had a huge huge chance of being something big. It had nice twists and reveals— the villain was cunning and I loved that aspect of it but like I said earlier, those aspects needed lots of change.
September 17, 2026
What could be more fun than mixing yearning, murder, and Victorian-era magic shows? Jack of Hearts by Maddison Michaels manages to mix all these elements together and come up with a well-written great murder mystery/love story which I welcomed as a much-needed break from all the romantasy books I have been reading from the past 5 months.
Jack Maguire, daughter of the late magician Magnificent Maguire, is working quietly in her investigation agency when London is suddenly gripped by fear from a murderer who have been staging macabre magical illusions all over the city, but which resulted in death rather than entertainment. Fearing that these deaths might have something to do with her past, she works closely together with Scotland Yard police inspector Tobias Flint to catch and stop the murder before he kills again.
With a background in writing historical romances, the author knew how to put together a good romance novel, but I really appreciate that the love story isn’t taking center-stage here, the murder mystery is so there is no spice. However, the love story served to greatly enhance the overall plot and even hints at possible sequels in the future which is a good thing because I thought that there wasn’t enough yearning in this book to satisfy us romance fans.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it five stars was that I found some typos that clearly need another once-over from an editor before its release. Also, there were some parts in the book that I found to be overly repetitive but did nothing to advance or enhance the plot.
****Spoiler Alert****
A good example of this was whenever Jack’s friends Sera or Cordy talk about how Tobias Flint is Jack’s inspector, she would always say, “He’s not my anything” and really make a point about this. By the fourth time, I was thinking, “we get it already!”
********
Overall, this is a great book an I can’t wait to read more of this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade publishing for this ARC.
Jack Maguire, daughter of the late magician Magnificent Maguire, is working quietly in her investigation agency when London is suddenly gripped by fear from a murderer who have been staging macabre magical illusions all over the city, but which resulted in death rather than entertainment. Fearing that these deaths might have something to do with her past, she works closely together with Scotland Yard police inspector Tobias Flint to catch and stop the murder before he kills again.
With a background in writing historical romances, the author knew how to put together a good romance novel, but I really appreciate that the love story isn’t taking center-stage here, the murder mystery is so there is no spice. However, the love story served to greatly enhance the overall plot and even hints at possible sequels in the future which is a good thing because I thought that there wasn’t enough yearning in this book to satisfy us romance fans.
The only thing that prevented me from giving it five stars was that I found some typos that clearly need another once-over from an editor before its release. Also, there were some parts in the book that I found to be overly repetitive but did nothing to advance or enhance the plot.
****Spoiler Alert****
A good example of this was whenever Jack’s friends Sera or Cordy talk about how Tobias Flint is Jack’s inspector, she would always say, “He’s not my anything” and really make a point about this. By the fourth time, I was thinking, “we get it already!”
********
Overall, this is a great book an I can’t wait to read more of this series!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade publishing for this ARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Review of advance copy received by NetGalley
3.5! This was a decent read! Fast-paced and unique premise, at least compared to other books I've picked up lately.
A serial killer is on the loose, striking down victims using popular magic show illusions of a world-famous magician who tragically died 20 years ago. Now his daughter, long thought dead, has been called out by the killer and must get involved. Can she and the handsome detective (I'm quoting the book here, folks) solve the case and stop the killer before it's too late?
This book markets itself as historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and romance. I would say it mostly delivers on all these, but to me it mostly reads as a romance that's trying really hard not to be considered romance. I don't really mind that, though it wasn't initially what I expected. It's just a little cheesy in places, even while trying to be serious. The murders are all particularly gory, but the overall tone of the book just isn't as heavy. It kind of feels like a Bridgerton-type historical fiction, which is loosely based on history I guess, but you aren't really focused on it. The author does give a nice tidbit at the end of the book to explain the history of the magic tricks she discussed, which was cool!
Overall, I think if you go into this expecting a romantic mystery, you'll be about on the mark for expectations and fun. The story does suck you in pretty quickly and I couldn't guess who the murderer was, which is always a plus for me.
3.5! This was a decent read! Fast-paced and unique premise, at least compared to other books I've picked up lately.
A serial killer is on the loose, striking down victims using popular magic show illusions of a world-famous magician who tragically died 20 years ago. Now his daughter, long thought dead, has been called out by the killer and must get involved. Can she and the handsome detective (I'm quoting the book here, folks) solve the case and stop the killer before it's too late?
This book markets itself as historical fiction, mystery, thriller, and romance. I would say it mostly delivers on all these, but to me it mostly reads as a romance that's trying really hard not to be considered romance. I don't really mind that, though it wasn't initially what I expected. It's just a little cheesy in places, even while trying to be serious. The murders are all particularly gory, but the overall tone of the book just isn't as heavy. It kind of feels like a Bridgerton-type historical fiction, which is loosely based on history I guess, but you aren't really focused on it. The author does give a nice tidbit at the end of the book to explain the history of the magic tricks she discussed, which was cool!
Overall, I think if you go into this expecting a romantic mystery, you'll be about on the mark for expectations and fun. The story does suck you in pretty quickly and I couldn't guess who the murderer was, which is always a plus for me.
September 23, 2026
The Jak of Hearts by Maddison Michaels is an entertaining historical romance that combines mystery, adventure, and chemistry into a fast-paced and enjoyable read. Set against a richly detailed historical backdrop, the story delivers plenty of intrigue while balancing romance and suspense effectively.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its engaging cast of characters. The protagonists are likable, layered, and easy to root for, with a relationship that develops naturally amid the challenges they face. Their banter and growing connection add warmth and emotional depth to the story, making the romance feel both believable and satisfying.
Michaels also does an excellent job weaving mystery elements into the plot. Unexpected twists, hidden secrets, and moments of danger keep the story moving and add tension beyond the central romance. The historical setting is vividly portrayed, providing atmosphere without overwhelming the narrative.
At times, some plot developments rely on familiar genre conventions, and a few secondary characters could have been explored more fully. While the pacing is generally strong, certain sections move quickly through important revelations that might have benefited from additional development.
Overall, The Jak of Hearts is a charming and engaging historical romance filled with adventure, intrigue, and memorable characters. With its appealing blend of mystery and romance, it earns a solid four-star rating and is a great choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of suspense.
One of the novel's greatest strengths is its engaging cast of characters. The protagonists are likable, layered, and easy to root for, with a relationship that develops naturally amid the challenges they face. Their banter and growing connection add warmth and emotional depth to the story, making the romance feel both believable and satisfying.
Michaels also does an excellent job weaving mystery elements into the plot. Unexpected twists, hidden secrets, and moments of danger keep the story moving and add tension beyond the central romance. The historical setting is vividly portrayed, providing atmosphere without overwhelming the narrative.
At times, some plot developments rely on familiar genre conventions, and a few secondary characters could have been explored more fully. While the pacing is generally strong, certain sections move quickly through important revelations that might have benefited from additional development.
Overall, The Jak of Hearts is a charming and engaging historical romance filled with adventure, intrigue, and memorable characters. With its appealing blend of mystery and romance, it earns a solid four-star rating and is a great choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction with a touch of suspense.
September 19, 2026
Thank you to Dragonblade and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an ARC. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed reading this historical thriller with romantic elements. I don’t typically read scary/horror stories, but I was hoping for something with magic, spooky vibes, and romance—and Jack of Hearts definitely delivered.
Jack Hart (born Jaqueline Maguire) is the daughter of a famous magician, though both of her parents have died tragically. She now lives under an assumed name and runs a ladies investigation agency. She crosses paths with a police inspector named Tobias Flint, after someone appears to be using her father’s signature magical illusions as part of a grotesque murder plot.
The story is mostly told through Jack and Tobias’ POV with a little bit of the murderer throughout as well. I really loved getting to know Jack and Tobias, and I thought the murderer POV chapters were used to good effect (though they can be disturbing). The historical period and setting of London in 1893 was perfect for the type of story we have here.
This is definitely heavy on the macabre/horror at points, so be prepared for that.
The mystery elements are handled really well—I could follow the clues to figure out who the murderer was, but there were still some shocking surprises left for me after that point. At times, there were some repetitive moments in the text, but overall the story was captivating and satisfying in its conclusion.
I loved the progression in the relationship from rivals (she doesn’t trust the police) to lovers, and I also liked getting to know her friends in the agency. I’m curious what will be next for them in this series.
I really enjoyed reading this historical thriller with romantic elements. I don’t typically read scary/horror stories, but I was hoping for something with magic, spooky vibes, and romance—and Jack of Hearts definitely delivered.
Jack Hart (born Jaqueline Maguire) is the daughter of a famous magician, though both of her parents have died tragically. She now lives under an assumed name and runs a ladies investigation agency. She crosses paths with a police inspector named Tobias Flint, after someone appears to be using her father’s signature magical illusions as part of a grotesque murder plot.
The story is mostly told through Jack and Tobias’ POV with a little bit of the murderer throughout as well. I really loved getting to know Jack and Tobias, and I thought the murderer POV chapters were used to good effect (though they can be disturbing). The historical period and setting of London in 1893 was perfect for the type of story we have here.
This is definitely heavy on the macabre/horror at points, so be prepared for that.
The mystery elements are handled really well—I could follow the clues to figure out who the murderer was, but there were still some shocking surprises left for me after that point. At times, there were some repetitive moments in the text, but overall the story was captivating and satisfying in its conclusion.
I loved the progression in the relationship from rivals (she doesn’t trust the police) to lovers, and I also liked getting to know her friends in the agency. I’m curious what will be next for them in this series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.5 stars
Spice level: 1.5🌶 kissing and some more physical innuendo
A gruesome murder is staged as a magic act. Jack -- daughter of a famous magician, and of two parents lost to violent crime -- is drawn into the case, as is Tobias, a police officer from an aristocratic background.
There is a good deal of interesting, complicated backstory: Jack's parents and her earlier life, and Tobias's situation, even though much of his history is still held back. Both strands come out naturally, more shown than explained. The plot is similarly intricate, with genuine turns, including a few late ones. The result is a substantial story and real character work, and there are moments when the leads have clear chemistry. The scene in Tobias's office was lovely.
The writing needed another pass. I noticed about a dozen obvious typos and grammar errors. Dialogue sometimes sat in sentences too tangled for speech, and there were clauses that did not agree with their subjects. One emotional, relationship-defining conversation also felt markedly twenty-first-century, which pulled me out of the period. A few small plot holes could likewise have been caught by a careful edit or an extra beta read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for providing a free Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Spice level: 1.5🌶 kissing and some more physical innuendo
A gruesome murder is staged as a magic act. Jack -- daughter of a famous magician, and of two parents lost to violent crime -- is drawn into the case, as is Tobias, a police officer from an aristocratic background.
There is a good deal of interesting, complicated backstory: Jack's parents and her earlier life, and Tobias's situation, even though much of his history is still held back. Both strands come out naturally, more shown than explained. The plot is similarly intricate, with genuine turns, including a few late ones. The result is a substantial story and real character work, and there are moments when the leads have clear chemistry. The scene in Tobias's office was lovely.
The writing needed another pass. I noticed about a dozen obvious typos and grammar errors. Dialogue sometimes sat in sentences too tangled for speech, and there were clauses that did not agree with their subjects. One emotional, relationship-defining conversation also felt markedly twenty-first-century, which pulled me out of the period. A few small plot holes could likewise have been caught by a careful edit or an extra beta read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for providing a free Advance Review Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced review copy of The Jack of Hearts in exchange for an honest review. This is set to publish Sept 22.
I loved the premise of this book—Victorian England? Check. Romance? Check. Murder? Check. The start of a new series? Check, check, check! On paper, this had so many things I love, but unfortunately, it just didn’t completely win me over.
I really enjoyed the setting and the backstories, and I could tell a lot of research went into the world of illusion and magic, which was fascinating. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, though, and at times I found myself struggling to remember who was who. That’s somewhat understandable with the first book in a new series, but it did make the story harder for me to get fully invested in.
The romance was probably the biggest miss for me. I found it underwhelming and never really felt the chemistry I was hoping for. While the mystery and historical elements kept me interested enough to finish, something about the overall story just missed the mark.
A solid 3.5 stars. There was plenty here that I liked, but unfortunately not quite enough to leave me eager to continue with the series.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced review copy of The Jack of Hearts in exchange for an honest review. This is set to publish Sept 22.
I loved the premise of this book—Victorian England? Check. Romance? Check. Murder? Check. The start of a new series? Check, check, check! On paper, this had so many things I love, but unfortunately, it just didn’t completely win me over.
I really enjoyed the setting and the backstories, and I could tell a lot of research went into the world of illusion and magic, which was fascinating. There were quite a few characters to keep track of, though, and at times I found myself struggling to remember who was who. That’s somewhat understandable with the first book in a new series, but it did make the story harder for me to get fully invested in.
The romance was probably the biggest miss for me. I found it underwhelming and never really felt the chemistry I was hoping for. While the mystery and historical elements kept me interested enough to finish, something about the overall story just missed the mark.
A solid 3.5 stars. There was plenty here that I liked, but unfortunately not quite enough to leave me eager to continue with the series.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is one of those stories that you will not be able to put down and cause chills at the same time. Rather dark with the issues Jack and Tobias deal with, but truly a wonderful story. I loved how Jack and Tobias’ s relationship was described -could feel it in my bones. I adored their brutal honesty, instead of the “circling each other” some stories do. What I didn’t like was the f-bomb (thus the 4 stars) In my opinion, it is not needed and I was glad it was used. Very sparingly. The twist of this story came out of nowhere and shocked me to no end! It was very interesting how the author dealt with Jack’s first.glimpse into Tobias’s family world. Her reactions felt real. I await the next in the series with great relish! The magic tricks were wonderfully presented and got a taste of what really goes on there.
I received this story for free and these are my own opinions
I received this story for free and these are my own opinions
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Tropes: opposites attract; MC's solve a mystery
Steam level: none (flirtatious banter)
2.5 stars squeaked up. I love historical romance mysteries while this would best be described as mystery nudging toward horror with HR trappings. The plot was twisty toward the end and the ideas throughout could be compelling, but individual scenes were pretty lurid. Also, I never quite got into the world of the characters because the language was more American than British and MFC Jack's behavior was pretty modern for the time period. I did enjoy the focus on magic and the main characters' backstory.
Bottom line: if you're looking for a "cozy" HR mystery, this may not be for you.
This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Dragonblade for this opportunity.
Steam level: none (flirtatious banter)
2.5 stars squeaked up. I love historical romance mysteries while this would best be described as mystery nudging toward horror with HR trappings. The plot was twisty toward the end and the ideas throughout could be compelling, but individual scenes were pretty lurid. Also, I never quite got into the world of the characters because the language was more American than British and MFC Jack's behavior was pretty modern for the time period. I did enjoy the focus on magic and the main characters' backstory.
Bottom line: if you're looking for a "cozy" HR mystery, this may not be for you.
This is my honest, voluntary review of an advanced reader copy of this book. Thanks to the author, Net Galley, and Dragonblade for this opportunity.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A thriller with a romantic subplot? Count me in! London, late 19th century: Tobias is a Scotland Yard inspector of noble birth, while Jack (Jaqueline) runs an all-female detective agency that uses unorthodox methods. Jack has a past filled with tragedy and death, all connected to the world of magic. Jack and Tobias’s paths cross when a mysterious magician begins kidnapping and killing innocent women, mimicking famous magic shows.
I absolutely loved this book. The story is intriguing and well-written, the pace is fast-paced, and I never mind a romantic subplot. I had some suspicions about the culprit’s identity, but the ending is full of unexpected twists! I can’t wait to read the next books in this series, and I’ll definitely check out this author’s other books as well!
I absolutely loved this book. The story is intriguing and well-written, the pace is fast-paced, and I never mind a romantic subplot. I had some suspicions about the culprit’s identity, but the ending is full of unexpected twists! I can’t wait to read the next books in this series, and I’ll definitely check out this author’s other books as well!
September 22, 2026
Magically suspenseful. Readers who enjoy a thrilling murder mystery and a forced partnership with romantic tension will devour The Jack of Hearts.
The story follows Jack, a private investigator, and her highly skilled crew, as they find themselves in the middle of a series of murders even they can't solve. Clues from Jacks past may be the only way to solve the case. With the help of Scotland Yard's best Inspector, Tobias Flint, this unlikely duo may be the only thing standing between London and a potential serial killer.
My only issue with this book is that there wasn’t more of it! By the end of my journey with these characters, I have grown to enjoy them and want to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for me to read and honestly review.
The story follows Jack, a private investigator, and her highly skilled crew, as they find themselves in the middle of a series of murders even they can't solve. Clues from Jacks past may be the only way to solve the case. With the help of Scotland Yard's best Inspector, Tobias Flint, this unlikely duo may be the only thing standing between London and a potential serial killer.
My only issue with this book is that there wasn’t more of it! By the end of my journey with these characters, I have grown to enjoy them and want to see what happens next.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC for me to read and honestly review.
September 10, 2026
This first installment of what promises to be an entertaining series sets up an unusual backdrop for a Regency cozy mystery romance, while still including the common tropes of forced partnership, independent and gifted heroine, a grumpy hero with a (kind of) hidden identity and a mixed crew of helpers, which in this series are literally investigators and not just amateur sleuths.
The grizzly descriptions was what made the mystery slightly less cozy, but nevertheless a welcome new series in the genre.
Looking forward to future instalments.
Thanks netgalley for the arc. Opinions are my own.
The grizzly descriptions was what made the mystery slightly less cozy, but nevertheless a welcome new series in the genre.
Looking forward to future instalments.
Thanks netgalley for the arc. Opinions are my own.
September 27, 2026
This was a great story involving magic, murder and an unlikely partnership between Jack and Tobias. Someone is murdering women and leaving behind the jack of hearts playing card. Jack knows they are coming for her. Her father was a great magician and many envied him. When Jack starts investigating the murder she is found by Tobias, a detective of Scotland Yard. She hates police, he is a mostly by the books officer. Working together they have an attraction and a partnership they did not see coming. Jack's past is coming to get her and it is always one step ahead until the ultimate magic trick determines who will win.
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