What do you think?
Rate this book
Case Files of Henri Davenforth #3
Magic Outside the Box
Henri is quite accustomed to dangerous and unusual cases landing in his lap. Being partnered to the Shinigami Detective likely has something to do with it. What he is NOT accustomed to is the queen herself marching into his lab and handing them such a case.
Former Royal Mage Joseph Burtchell was found dead in his home, all signs pointing to murder. However, it’s in question as to how the murderer accomplished the deed—the house was locked, the wards fully up, and the body bearing a peculiar wound.
It’s a locked room mystery, one with a suspiciously absent murder weapon and lack of suspects. Henri’s left baffled. Jamie’s excited, relishing the challenge the case represents.
Who’s powerful enough to thwart a royal mage’s wards and murder him undetected?
Former Royal Mage Joseph Burtchell was found dead in his home, all signs pointing to murder. However, it’s in question as to how the murderer accomplished the deed—the house was locked, the wards fully up, and the body bearing a peculiar wound.
It’s a locked room mystery, one with a suspiciously absent murder weapon and lack of suspects. Henri’s left baffled. Jamie’s excited, relishing the challenge the case represents.
Who’s powerful enough to thwart a royal mage’s wards and murder him undetected?
228 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 28, 2019
432 people are currently reading
415 people want to read
About the author
Honor Raconteur
62 books841 followersEver since I was a toddler, I have been making up stories. I’d entertain anyone willing to listen to my wild fantasies about unicorns and gargoyles and amazing people. At 13, I started writing the stories down. At 23, I finished the first book that was, in my opinion, good enough to publish.
I spent three years trying to publish my book, Jaunten, the old fashioned way. The problem was my story was outside of the norm for young adult fantasy – it didn’t have vampires or the supernatural in it, it was clean enough to earn a PG rating, and there wasn’t any dark overlord to defeat. No literary agent would pick it up because it didn’t fit the “fantasy formula” that all of the popular books did.
I put the idea of having my book published off to the side for a while as I finished a Bachelors in English at Middle Tennessee State University. But as I worked on my third degree, the idea of being published came back to me. This time, while working as a paralegal, I had a better grasp of the laws involved of doing self-publishing. For six months, I did a great deal of research in how to do self-publishing the debt-free way.
It was hard. I was working full time, going to school full time, and living on my own. I never really had a break. I was always working on something. At times I felt like my brain would just go into meltdown from having to learn so many different things to make my idea work.
After six months, I thought I knew enough to publish myself. I put Jaunten out as an ebook, created a website and forum so that fans could communicate with me, and spread the word as best I could. Within three months, I was selling internationally. Within six months, I was making enough to quit my day job and sit at home, writing full time.
After six months of writing, publishing, and building up a reputation, I started to be approached by other people wanting to emulate what I did. I soon realized that there was a niche out there waiting for me to fill it—a place where original fiction could be published and released into the world. As of February 2012, I started my own publishing house, called Raconteur House. Since that point I have signed on four additional authors (not including yours truly) and am attracting more in a steady stream.
I have continued to write and publish the rest of the series through my House. When I’m not writing or editing, I like to go out into the community and give presentations of how to be an author. It’s actually really fun to talk to all of these people who want to be authors. Most people think that you can’t make any money being an author—actually, you can. And you can do quite well. It’s just a matter of working really hard, having a little talent, and knowing how to market your books. All I’m doing with these presentations is giving people the know-how to make their dreams come true.
While it’s true that you don’t need a college education to be an author, I encourage everyone to be as educated as possible. I have a lot of experience and education that most people don’t, and that’s what gives me an edge in writing. I’ve lived in places as obscure as Tehachapi, California and other places as large as Salt Lake City, Utah. I hold three different college degrees. I practice two different martial arts. I think I’ve tried every life experience that came my direction. All of that is incorporated into my books, and that’s what gives reality to my worlds and characters.
Even if I abruptly stop selling books tomorrow—which I don’t see happening—I would still continue to write. Creating characters and worlds is that much fun. Once you start, you become quickly addicted.
I spent three years trying to publish my book, Jaunten, the old fashioned way. The problem was my story was outside of the norm for young adult fantasy – it didn’t have vampires or the supernatural in it, it was clean enough to earn a PG rating, and there wasn’t any dark overlord to defeat. No literary agent would pick it up because it didn’t fit the “fantasy formula” that all of the popular books did.
I put the idea of having my book published off to the side for a while as I finished a Bachelors in English at Middle Tennessee State University. But as I worked on my third degree, the idea of being published came back to me. This time, while working as a paralegal, I had a better grasp of the laws involved of doing self-publishing. For six months, I did a great deal of research in how to do self-publishing the debt-free way.
It was hard. I was working full time, going to school full time, and living on my own. I never really had a break. I was always working on something. At times I felt like my brain would just go into meltdown from having to learn so many different things to make my idea work.
After six months, I thought I knew enough to publish myself. I put Jaunten out as an ebook, created a website and forum so that fans could communicate with me, and spread the word as best I could. Within three months, I was selling internationally. Within six months, I was making enough to quit my day job and sit at home, writing full time.
After six months of writing, publishing, and building up a reputation, I started to be approached by other people wanting to emulate what I did. I soon realized that there was a niche out there waiting for me to fill it—a place where original fiction could be published and released into the world. As of February 2012, I started my own publishing house, called Raconteur House. Since that point I have signed on four additional authors (not including yours truly) and am attracting more in a steady stream.
I have continued to write and publish the rest of the series through my House. When I’m not writing or editing, I like to go out into the community and give presentations of how to be an author. It’s actually really fun to talk to all of these people who want to be authors. Most people think that you can’t make any money being an author—actually, you can. And you can do quite well. It’s just a matter of working really hard, having a little talent, and knowing how to market your books. All I’m doing with these presentations is giving people the know-how to make their dreams come true.
While it’s true that you don’t need a college education to be an author, I encourage everyone to be as educated as possible. I have a lot of experience and education that most people don’t, and that’s what gives me an edge in writing. I’ve lived in places as obscure as Tehachapi, California and other places as large as Salt Lake City, Utah. I hold three different college degrees. I practice two different martial arts. I think I’ve tried every life experience that came my direction. All of that is incorporated into my books, and that’s what gives reality to my worlds and characters.
Even if I abruptly stop selling books tomorrow—which I don’t see happening—I would still continue to write. Creating characters and worlds is that much fun. Once you start, you become quickly addicted.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews
July 17, 2024
This is a charming series about an American police detective dumped into another world, a world that’s like the Edwardian era plus magic.
If you can give the books their premise, they’re fun, sweet reads. The writing, however, increasingly seems slapdash and so it’s gotten harder for me to ignore how goofy the premise really is.
The books are structured as journal entries, primarily by a learned, fussy magician who is the American’s investigative partner, with occasional entries by the American, and with handwritten commentary added by one of them or by another magician.
Any complexity in world-building is solved by tossing word “magic” at it. Automobiles! Blackberries and cellphones! Motorcycles! These and other marvels can be produced and distributed almost immediately after the American describes to a tinkering magician how they work.
The author heavily lays down facts that turn out to be irrelevant to the solution of the case. They’re not really red herrings, they’re just highlighted facts that never get mentioned again. (For example, while trying to identify suspects, the detective interviews the man who threw a party the victim attended night before he was murdered. The man exclaims twice, and in great detail, that his wife — the cohost of the party — is out in the garden and too sad to talk to anyone. The detectives don’t talk to her, and she is never mentioned again.)
The magician partner’s journal entries show that he is developing romantic feelings for the American detective. This is obvious and everyone recognizes this — everyone, that is, except for the supposedly-observant detective who reads all the journal entries where the magician writes down all of his feelings.
And there’s sloppiness: The magician uses words like “thermos,” which is a genericized German trademark, not a common word that would spontaneously develop in some other universe. The author repeatedly uses “principal” for “principle,” and there are other, similar homonym mix-ups. She also says that waking up a royal magician is “a corporal punishment,” which made me want to quote Inigo Montoya.
And yet these are, as I said, charming books. The characters are likeable and loyal, and nothing awful happens to them, at least in the present. I don’t hate the books, I just have to keep wilfully disregarding how thrown-together they are.
If you can give the books their premise, they’re fun, sweet reads. The writing, however, increasingly seems slapdash and so it’s gotten harder for me to ignore how goofy the premise really is.
The books are structured as journal entries, primarily by a learned, fussy magician who is the American’s investigative partner, with occasional entries by the American, and with handwritten commentary added by one of them or by another magician.
Any complexity in world-building is solved by tossing word “magic” at it. Automobiles! Blackberries and cellphones! Motorcycles! These and other marvels can be produced and distributed almost immediately after the American describes to a tinkering magician how they work.
The author heavily lays down facts that turn out to be irrelevant to the solution of the case. They’re not really red herrings, they’re just highlighted facts that never get mentioned again. (For example, while trying to identify suspects, the detective interviews the man who threw a party the victim attended night before he was murdered. The man exclaims twice, and in great detail, that his wife — the cohost of the party — is out in the garden and too sad to talk to anyone. The detectives don’t talk to her, and she is never mentioned again.)
The magician partner’s journal entries show that he is developing romantic feelings for the American detective. This is obvious and everyone recognizes this — everyone, that is, except for the supposedly-observant detective who reads all the journal entries where the magician writes down all of his feelings.
And there’s sloppiness: The magician uses words like “thermos,” which is a genericized German trademark, not a common word that would spontaneously develop in some other universe. The author repeatedly uses “principal” for “principle,” and there are other, similar homonym mix-ups. She also says that waking up a royal magician is “a corporal punishment,” which made me want to quote Inigo Montoya.
And yet these are, as I said, charming books. The characters are likeable and loyal, and nothing awful happens to them, at least in the present. I don’t hate the books, I just have to keep wilfully disregarding how thrown-together they are.
January 28, 2024
The story and characters just get better and better.
Overall rating - 5/5
Recommend book - definitively
Tags - mystery, police procedure, alternate world, magic, closed room, familiar, creating family, surviving, steampunk
Cliffhanger - none
Sex - none
Violence - some, not gory, not overly descriptive
Triggers - none
Rereading - first chance I get
Series - incomplete
Reading out of order - enough back ground info is given throughout the story that it could be read out of order and there are no significant spoilers for earlier books
Reading the next - as soon as it's written and available for sale, no pressure Honor.
Love the world building and characters. I wouldn't want to travel the way Jamie did but I would like to visit.
Love that the author has continued to have Jamie and Sherard make comments through out Henri's case files. The comments are in different writing styles for e-ink devices and in different colors for non black and white devices so that you can tell Henri (blue) vs Jamie (black) vs Sherard (green).
Recommend author - Yes, definitely. Honor Raconteur has become one of my auto-buys. Still working my way through Racontuer's backlist but I have enjoyed and re-read everything that I've purchased and/or borrowed through KU so far. Love that many of her series are complete. Currently re-reading Deepwords, Imagineers, and now the 3 Case File stories, ooh but the Fae Artifactor is trying to get my attention.
( Why change to a template rather than just writing out a review? I started thinking about what I'm looking for in a review, regardless of the review's rating, and wanted to make sure I was providing that information to a potential reader. I also tend to start a review and then get distracted by the next shiny book before I finish it, so this is my attempt to help me finish the review before moving on.)
cross posted goodreads, bookbub, amazon
Overall rating - 5/5
Recommend book - definitively
Tags - mystery, police procedure, alternate world, magic, closed room, familiar, creating family, surviving, steampunk
Cliffhanger - none
Sex - none
Violence - some, not gory, not overly descriptive
Triggers - none
Rereading - first chance I get
Series - incomplete
Reading out of order - enough back ground info is given throughout the story that it could be read out of order and there are no significant spoilers for earlier books
Reading the next - as soon as it's written and available for sale, no pressure Honor.
Love the world building and characters. I wouldn't want to travel the way Jamie did but I would like to visit.
Love that the author has continued to have Jamie and Sherard make comments through out Henri's case files. The comments are in different writing styles for e-ink devices and in different colors for non black and white devices so that you can tell Henri (blue) vs Jamie (black) vs Sherard (green).
Recommend author - Yes, definitely. Honor Raconteur has become one of my auto-buys. Still working my way through Racontuer's backlist but I have enjoyed and re-read everything that I've purchased and/or borrowed through KU so far. Love that many of her series are complete. Currently re-reading Deepwords, Imagineers, and now the 3 Case File stories, ooh but the Fae Artifactor is trying to get my attention.
( Why change to a template rather than just writing out a review? I started thinking about what I'm looking for in a review, regardless of the review's rating, and wanted to make sure I was providing that information to a potential reader. I also tend to start a review and then get distracted by the next shiny book before I finish it, so this is my attempt to help me finish the review before moving on.)
cross posted goodreads, bookbub, amazon
September 4, 2019
I love reading about Jamie and Henri!
May 11, 2022
This is a highly enjoyable magical romp- it reminds me a little of the world created by C L Polk in her Kingston series.
December 17, 2023
3.75
Locked room mystery!
Locked room mystery!
November 18, 2024
Well, I still love this serie, I love the banter so much and there is a purple talking cat 😍
But I don't wonder, if crime is so easily solvable in real life I should become a detective XD The only problem is that in real life there is no magic :(
So, this ended up being my least favorite of the serie and I hope it picks up again, but I will definitely keep going with this serie :)
But I don't wonder, if crime is so easily solvable in real life I should become a detective XD The only problem is that in real life there is no magic :(
So, this ended up being my least favorite of the serie and I hope it picks up again, but I will definitely keep going with this serie :)
September 24, 2021
I see why people complain about sloppy editing. Some typos, same laziness, and “erstwhile” doesn’t mean what the author thinks it means.
Still, something incredibly charming about this universe and the main characters work so well together.
Still, something incredibly charming about this universe and the main characters work so well together.
May 8, 2020
good mystery well studied
in this book, the main characters solve it with logic, in a safe manner. ok, they get shot at, but they know why and can expect it enough to manage it. they don’t get saved at the last minute. Ross. they work it out the old fashioned way. it was a great mystery. a little too much relationship forwardish stuff. i love their new partner. and i swear sherard is gay. (it just works for him as a character. of course, i want even more fabulous clothing on him)
in this book, the main characters solve it with logic, in a safe manner. ok, they get shot at, but they know why and can expect it enough to manage it. they don’t get saved at the last minute. Ross. they work it out the old fashioned way. it was a great mystery. a little too much relationship forwardish stuff. i love their new partner. and i swear sherard is gay. (it just works for him as a character. of course, i want even more fabulous clothing on him)
November 7, 2024
Wonderful world building
Can I say how happy I am to re-enter this world? Book 3 in The Case Files of Henri Davenforth was a delight, and it kept me guessing until close to the end. I had the wrong villain in mind! So good to be wrong. I can’t wait to start book 4.
Can I say how happy I am to re-enter this world? Book 3 in The Case Files of Henri Davenforth was a delight, and it kept me guessing until close to the end. I had the wrong villain in mind! So good to be wrong. I can’t wait to start book 4.
June 14, 2021
3.5 stars.
Another solid installment of the series. I'm really enjoying the humour, banter, Earth references, clean content, and relationships between the main four characters.
Another solid installment of the series. I'm really enjoying the humour, banter, Earth references, clean content, and relationships between the main four characters.
December 3, 2020
Love this story and characters
The characters and story are wonderful. I'm loving this series. Can't wait to keep going. I keep finding paragraphs that I want to re-read. There are really sweet moments in this book that I love.
The characters and story are wonderful. I'm loving this series. Can't wait to keep going. I keep finding paragraphs that I want to re-read. There are really sweet moments in this book that I love.
December 15, 2022
A beloved retired royal mage is mysteriously murdered in what is called a locked room mystery, as the investigating trio led by Earthling Jamie Edwards, with her partner Detective Magical Examiner Henri Davenforth and Royal Mage Sherrod Seaton, is once again assigned to the case, this time by Kingston's queen herself. They are baffled as to how the murderer skipped past the magical wards, or how a bullet killed without ever having been fired from any conventional weapon.
In this third in the series of eight novels, the author's ingenuity begins to flag. This novel is short but still manages to seem too long.
Once again, the text is riddled with split infinitives--"struggling to NOT grimace," "when I’ve got something to ACTUALLY report,” and "probably in an effort to NOT dig at old wounds" appear within five scant pages. The use of split infinitives is fine when and if a point is being distinctly made; its use designed to attract special attention. Unfortunately, I think Raconteur must believe they're required!
Again, humor is the author's bread and butter. Examples: "“How are you doing fifty?!” Jamie called back without turning her head, “Ellie and I worked on the engine! This is a souped-up version!” Heavens preserve us, both women were going to get me killed with their tinkering. “Just because you CAN go that fast doesn’t mean you should!” “Look, Henri, I paid for the whole speedometer, so I’m going to use the whole speedometer.” "Even Sherard sounded heartened by this. (Hard to see his face with a cat still on his neck.)" "‘All due respect’ was a wonderful expression because it didn’t specify how much respect was actually due. Could be none."
Maybe I'm just saturated, think I'll take a break. Next up, Ice Planet Barbarians!
In this third in the series of eight novels, the author's ingenuity begins to flag. This novel is short but still manages to seem too long.
Once again, the text is riddled with split infinitives--"struggling to NOT grimace," "when I’ve got something to ACTUALLY report,” and "probably in an effort to NOT dig at old wounds" appear within five scant pages. The use of split infinitives is fine when and if a point is being distinctly made; its use designed to attract special attention. Unfortunately, I think Raconteur must believe they're required!
Again, humor is the author's bread and butter. Examples: "“How are you doing fifty?!” Jamie called back without turning her head, “Ellie and I worked on the engine! This is a souped-up version!” Heavens preserve us, both women were going to get me killed with their tinkering. “Just because you CAN go that fast doesn’t mean you should!” “Look, Henri, I paid for the whole speedometer, so I’m going to use the whole speedometer.” "Even Sherard sounded heartened by this. (Hard to see his face with a cat still on his neck.)" "‘All due respect’ was a wonderful expression because it didn’t specify how much respect was actually due. Could be none."
Maybe I'm just saturated, think I'll take a break. Next up, Ice Planet Barbarians!
October 8, 2023
Author NEEDS an editor and enough work ethic to actually correct her writing. Some sentences are so mangled they are incomprehensible or mean the opposite of what the author tried to say! Probably 3.5*, but the careless writing is getting bad enough to exhaust my good will for rounding up.
I find it deeply ironic that the incompetent character is being mercilessly ridiculed and severely punished, yet the author is blissfully blind to her own incompetence when it comes to writing grammar and scene setting mistakes.
Other than that, the story is still enjoyable, and I love the characters. There is the same problem as with the second book - not enough character development happening and there are too many pointless motions. Some of that is excusable as a more realistic portrayal of an unusual murder investigation. However, with the series so heavily driven by the strength of the main cast of characters, lack of character development becomes a serious detriment.
The character development that did happen (Sanderson) was a bit over the top and seemed excessive and unrealistic.
I find it deeply ironic that the incompetent character is being mercilessly ridiculed and severely punished, yet the author is blissfully blind to her own incompetence when it comes to writing grammar and scene setting mistakes.
Other than that, the story is still enjoyable, and I love the characters. There is the same problem as with the second book - not enough character development happening and there are too many pointless motions. Some of that is excusable as a more realistic portrayal of an unusual murder investigation. However, with the series so heavily driven by the strength of the main cast of characters, lack of character development becomes a serious detriment.
The character development that did happen (Sanderson) was a bit over the top and seemed excessive and unrealistic.
September 3, 2019
4.5 wonderful stars!!
I was sooo anticipating this book and was not disappointed. The first third of the book was slightly slower paced than the first two installments, but the greater development of friendships and characters themselves made up for it in my opinion. I freaking love Henri!!! I want more Henri please! Great addition to my favorite series by this author. I would most definitely recommend this book to friends, family and random strangers.
I was sooo anticipating this book and was not disappointed. The first third of the book was slightly slower paced than the first two installments, but the greater development of friendships and characters themselves made up for it in my opinion. I freaking love Henri!!! I want more Henri please! Great addition to my favorite series by this author. I would most definitely recommend this book to friends, family and random strangers.
August 14, 2020
I have really enjoyed previous books in this series very much but this was a bit of a let down. The overall "possible" romance between Henri and Jamie goes nowhere in this story. There is only slightly more fleshing out of setting and world building. Our hero Henri comes across as a bit fussy and less appealing because of it. This is really a basic whodunit story and felt like filler to the series.
July 6, 2023
I so enjoy the overall story and the MCs for this series, but sadly there are just far too many typos and other editing errors for me to overlook anymore, even for a KU free book. I was really hoping these editing errors would get better after the first book, but it actually seems to have gotten worse in later books in the series. I may give another book in the series a try, but I’m just not sure I can deal with the quality issues anymore.
September 27, 2022
good, not great. generally lacking.
I had a hard time getting through this one. It was a little dull and not much happened.
The investigation hit a dead end at about 40% into the book, and our heroes seemed to flounder around.
It all worked out in the end, but... well, it all felt kind of perfunctory.
I'm still going to read the next one, but I'm going into it with less momentum.
I had a hard time getting through this one. It was a little dull and not much happened.
The investigation hit a dead end at about 40% into the book, and our heroes seemed to flounder around.
It all worked out in the end, but... well, it all felt kind of perfunctory.
I'm still going to read the next one, but I'm going into it with less momentum.
September 1, 2019
Loved it!!!
I loved this book!!! The world building is so good and the characters are so believable! Love the building relationship between Henri and Jamie and really love the interesting cases they solve!!!
I loved this book!!! The world building is so good and the characters are so believable! Love the building relationship between Henri and Jamie and really love the interesting cases they solve!!!
September 29, 2019
Can’t wait for the next book! This series is amazing.
August 11, 2025
Another sparkling performance from the author and characters.
Rating: 5⭐️✨
What a great mystery and story! Both sad, satisfying and it will be the story the propels an important element of this series into more development and exploration for Jamie and her closest friends.
In addition, Royal Mage Sherard, now a close friend and colleague, is here, Clint the talking magical cat, and one of Jamie’s police ducklings, McSparrin, and she’s got Ellie the magician engineer, to soup up the engine of the cars she rides in to go 50 mph instead of 30!
Again, it’s a fantastic formula for a story. Henri is writing his cases but in such a way that the reader can see it published in the future. But his friends, Jamie and Sherard insert themselves into these pages via hilarious notes and even entire sections which he then smartly remarks upon. All in different colored ink. Black ink for Henri, blue ink for Jamie and green ink for Sherard. And if that sounds chaotic, it’s not. It’s remarkably clear whose voice it is and the emotionally tones carry through vividly.
Another sparkling performance from the author and characters.
Fabulous!
Highly recommended. Highly addictive.
Love the covers.
Cover by Katie Griffin
The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):
Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1
Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2
Magic Outside the Box #3
Breaking and Entering 101 #4
Three Charms for Murder #5
Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6
Death Over the Garden Wall #7
This Potion is da Bomb #8
All In A Name #9
A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10
All Fun and Games #11
Rating: 5⭐️✨
What a great mystery and story! Both sad, satisfying and it will be the story the propels an important element of this series into more development and exploration for Jamie and her closest friends.
In addition, Royal Mage Sherard, now a close friend and colleague, is here, Clint the talking magical cat, and one of Jamie’s police ducklings, McSparrin, and she’s got Ellie the magician engineer, to soup up the engine of the cars she rides in to go 50 mph instead of 30!
Again, it’s a fantastic formula for a story. Henri is writing his cases but in such a way that the reader can see it published in the future. But his friends, Jamie and Sherard insert themselves into these pages via hilarious notes and even entire sections which he then smartly remarks upon. All in different colored ink. Black ink for Henri, blue ink for Jamie and green ink for Sherard. And if that sounds chaotic, it’s not. It’s remarkably clear whose voice it is and the emotionally tones carry through vividly.
Another sparkling performance from the author and characters.
Fabulous!
Highly recommended. Highly addictive.
Love the covers.
Cover by Katie Griffin
The Case Files of Henri Davenforth (11 book series to date):
Magic and the Shinigami Detective #1
Charms and Death and Explosions (oh my!) #2
Magic Outside the Box #3
Breaking and Entering 101 #4
Three Charms for Murder #5
Grimoires and Where to Find Them #6
Death Over the Garden Wall #7
This Potion is da Bomb #8
All In A Name #9
A Matter of Secrets and Spies #10
All Fun and Games #11
May 4, 2022
This series just keeps getting better. The characters are likable, the mysteries are complex without being overly complicated, and the solutions hang together exactly as they should. In this installment, a retired Royal Mage has been murdered and the Queen personally asks Jamie and Henri to investigate. Assisting are current Royal Mage Seaton, Jamie's protege Officer Brannigan, and her 'familiar' Felix -- an intelligent purple cat like creature. The case takes them out of Kingston for the first time.
Some have complained about sloppy writing and/or editing but there's clearly nothing that bothered me enough that I actually can recall it, let alone made me stop reading. I get a kick out of the 'margin notes' that one or the other of the characters leaves at the end (sometimes the beginning) of each chapter. Oh, and in the Kindle versions, at least, there's a different font style used depending on whether it's Henri or Jamie writing -- so there's not danger of being confused about point of view. A clever use of the technology, I think.
I do wish the author would include a map of Henri's world, which is, technologically, approximately equivalent to the 1920s, but with a more British/Victorian sense of "propriety". And magic of course. Anyway, I just find them extremely fun to read and relaxing.
Some have complained about sloppy writing and/or editing but there's clearly nothing that bothered me enough that I actually can recall it, let alone made me stop reading. I get a kick out of the 'margin notes' that one or the other of the characters leaves at the end (sometimes the beginning) of each chapter. Oh, and in the Kindle versions, at least, there's a different font style used depending on whether it's Henri or Jamie writing -- so there's not danger of being confused about point of view. A clever use of the technology, I think.
I do wish the author would include a map of Henri's world, which is, technologically, approximately equivalent to the 1920s, but with a more British/Victorian sense of "propriety". And magic of course. Anyway, I just find them extremely fun to read and relaxing.
December 24, 2022
Another Great Book
Suppose you took Sherlock Holmes, changed him into a female and place him on an alien planet, would you have the makings of this series. No, you wouldn’t because compared to this series Holme is quite sterile. I am a great Conan Doyle fan so for me to say that is really something. One of the things that brings joy to this set of books is that Jamie is trying to fit her modern day self into a situation like that of the turn of two centuries ago. Sherlock would fit right in. She’s doesn’t quite do so. She is also trying to learn how to deal with a world where magic is very much part of everyday life while solving cases at the same time, ot to mention the consequences of the mad witch’s experiments. That makes for a great read. It is also brightening Henri’s life up considerably, whether he wants it to or not. Don’t let him kid you; he wants it to not matter what he says. He has actually already admitted to enjoying having Jamie as his partner. Life is never going to be boring for these investigators and the best thing about that is that we the readers can ride along with them as they solve things liked this locked room murder. Here’s to many more ride alongs.
Suppose you took Sherlock Holmes, changed him into a female and place him on an alien planet, would you have the makings of this series. No, you wouldn’t because compared to this series Holme is quite sterile. I am a great Conan Doyle fan so for me to say that is really something. One of the things that brings joy to this set of books is that Jamie is trying to fit her modern day self into a situation like that of the turn of two centuries ago. Sherlock would fit right in. She’s doesn’t quite do so. She is also trying to learn how to deal with a world where magic is very much part of everyday life while solving cases at the same time, ot to mention the consequences of the mad witch’s experiments. That makes for a great read. It is also brightening Henri’s life up considerably, whether he wants it to or not. Don’t let him kid you; he wants it to not matter what he says. He has actually already admitted to enjoying having Jamie as his partner. Life is never going to be boring for these investigators and the best thing about that is that we the readers can ride along with them as they solve things liked this locked room murder. Here’s to many more ride alongs.
April 25, 2020
Another wonderful entry in this series. Jamie and Henri are back for another mystery, this time it's a road trip for a locked door murder mystery. Penny and Seaton and Clint all come along for support as well. The mystery and procedure of solving it were well done from my layman's viewpoint anyway. The characters are engaging and continuing to grow in fun ways. We had some excitement from some different areas this time - Jamie doesn't do something that causes her magical core to go out of whack in this book, which I appreciated.
The mystery kept me guessing as new clues came in and I appreciated that. There's some nice resolution to some drama that's been building back in Kingston as well.
The only thing that I wasn't so thrilled about was that it felt like Raconteur is trying to get Jamie and Henri into a romantic relationship and I think that kind of ruins their friendship a bit. But if that is indeed what she's doing, she's doing it slowly and low-key enough I can live with it.
Overall, loved it. Probably need to go re-read all three books now.
The mystery kept me guessing as new clues came in and I appreciated that. There's some nice resolution to some drama that's been building back in Kingston as well.
The only thing that I wasn't so thrilled about was that it felt like Raconteur is trying to get Jamie and Henri into a romantic relationship and I think that kind of ruins their friendship a bit. But if that is indeed what she's doing, she's doing it slowly and low-key enough I can live with it.
Overall, loved it. Probably need to go re-read all three books now.
August 9, 2025
That was quite an interesting and frustrating case.
I was right alongside them, getting frustrated by all the dead ends. But I'm glad that even though the "who" was hard to pin down, at least we, the readers, could figure out how it happened thanks to the clues we were given.
This time the team goes to another city where an important figure has been murdered. As always the investigation was engaging, even with all the dead ends, and it was interesting seeing our main leads in another environment.
We finally got a subtle subtone of romance, and this seems it's going to be a beautiful slow burn romance... And I'm going to enjoy the journey, as I really already like their relationship.
We also get a new offer to our main leads, that will widen their scope of work and I can't wait to see how that goes.
POV: dual
Tropes: magical other world, detective MC, magical examiner MC, crime solving, 1900's setting.
Spice: none ( by the way it's going it's probably going to be a clean slow burn romance)
CW: detailed description of crime scene, some violence.
I was right alongside them, getting frustrated by all the dead ends. But I'm glad that even though the "who" was hard to pin down, at least we, the readers, could figure out how it happened thanks to the clues we were given.
This time the team goes to another city where an important figure has been murdered. As always the investigation was engaging, even with all the dead ends, and it was interesting seeing our main leads in another environment.
We finally got a subtle subtone of romance, and this seems it's going to be a beautiful slow burn romance... And I'm going to enjoy the journey, as I really already like their relationship.
We also get a new offer to our main leads, that will widen their scope of work and I can't wait to see how that goes.
POV: dual
Tropes: magical other world, detective MC, magical examiner MC, crime solving, 1900's setting.
Spice: none ( by the way it's going it's probably going to be a clean slow burn romance)
CW: detailed description of crime scene, some violence.
August 28, 2021
Why?, How?
Why when I am mythered (bothered, out of sorts discumnobulated etc) do I turn to our dear friend Henri Davenforth? How does Honor create a world that is like your favourite armchair in front of a roaring fire? In short the world and life of Henri and Jamie are such a pleasant, pleasurable read that if you are “out of sorts” these wonderfully crafted tales have the “magic” to take you away from your worries for a brief time so that you are “rested, recharged” etc. A wonderful series that does not have the need for gross violence, foul words or over descriptive personal interaction. Thank you Honor, please continue with “our” Henri and Jamie for a few more years to come. One word of caution, please restrict the industrial revolution as this could upset the balance of humour that you so cleverly knit into the world of Henri and his exploits.
Why when I am mythered (bothered, out of sorts discumnobulated etc) do I turn to our dear friend Henri Davenforth? How does Honor create a world that is like your favourite armchair in front of a roaring fire? In short the world and life of Henri and Jamie are such a pleasant, pleasurable read that if you are “out of sorts” these wonderfully crafted tales have the “magic” to take you away from your worries for a brief time so that you are “rested, recharged” etc. A wonderful series that does not have the need for gross violence, foul words or over descriptive personal interaction. Thank you Honor, please continue with “our” Henri and Jamie for a few more years to come. One word of caution, please restrict the industrial revolution as this could upset the balance of humour that you so cleverly knit into the world of Henri and his exploits.
September 27, 2021
When you've got a murder in a locked house, it becomes hard to work out how. When the victim is a very powerful magician who was beloved by pretty much everyone, it becomes even harder. When the means of death is something never seen before, it becomes nigh on impossible.
Or so it seems.
Once again, our intrepid duo are called to come up with answers and once again they manage it (with the help of several people fast becoming regulars). The world is explored a little more as are the characters.
Again another delightful romp which doesn't tax the brain (mostly because we're not given names until they are). Slight hiccough in one place where there appears to be some missing text (although that could be my kindle copy?) but I managed to work out the gist of things. There are a few editing glitches, I think (or at least so it seemed to me) but still an enjoyable read.
Or so it seems.
Once again, our intrepid duo are called to come up with answers and once again they manage it (with the help of several people fast becoming regulars). The world is explored a little more as are the characters.
Again another delightful romp which doesn't tax the brain (mostly because we're not given names until they are). Slight hiccough in one place where there appears to be some missing text (although that could be my kindle copy?) but I managed to work out the gist of things. There are a few editing glitches, I think (or at least so it seemed to me) but still an enjoyable read.
May 19, 2023
While the series still delivers on the cozy, pseudo-victorian, pseudo-steampunk fantasy police novel front, slowly it gets a bit tedious and the actual plot is getting a bit thin. The solution is basically there all the time, the protagonists just take some random detours to fill some more pages.
While its still relaxing to see all the people being nice to each other (expect for the designated bad-guy-who-will-surely-reappear-as-a-villain-in-another-book and, of course, the rather boring murderer), it still makes the series lack any real conflict between people you care about.
In total, it felt pretty weak, the novelty wore off and the plot didn't take over. Also the worldbuilding is still minimal, at best. There are elves are were-people, but they just seem to be another form of human, not even worth mentioning most of the time.
While its still relaxing to see all the people being nice to each other (expect for the designated bad-guy-who-will-surely-reappear-as-a-villain-in-another-book and, of course, the rather boring murderer), it still makes the series lack any real conflict between people you care about.
In total, it felt pretty weak, the novelty wore off and the plot didn't take over. Also the worldbuilding is still minimal, at best. There are elves are were-people, but they just seem to be another form of human, not even worth mentioning most of the time.
October 15, 2020
I love seeing more of Clint. He is a very handy Felix, and very adorable 😍. Will Henri be getting his own Felix?
I am now wondering if Sherard is going to write any reports, especially since it seems the three of them are going to be working together a lot more in the future. That would be very interesting.....
It was really nice getting out of Kingston and seeing more of the country/world. Also, Belladonna's notes 😮. I sense eventual communication with Earth.
I feel sorta sorry for Sanderson. But mostly I feel gleeful at his demise *cackling*. He was really an idiot for attacking in the police station though. Who does that?? Sanderson, of course.
Overall, another intriguing mystery solved, another adventure awaits! And I really want to shove those two together!
I am now wondering if Sherard is going to write any reports, especially since it seems the three of them are going to be working together a lot more in the future. That would be very interesting.....
It was really nice getting out of Kingston and seeing more of the country/world. Also, Belladonna's notes 😮. I sense eventual communication with Earth.
I feel sorta sorry for Sanderson. But mostly I feel gleeful at his demise *cackling*. He was really an idiot for attacking in the police station though. Who does that?? Sanderson, of course.
Overall, another intriguing mystery solved, another adventure awaits! And I really want to shove those two together!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 5, 2021
I enjoy this series' premise, and the writing falls somewhere around what I remember Murder, She Wrote to be like. The mystery itself was pretty easy for me to piece together, but I like the lighthearted approach and the weird mismatch of an Edwardian(?) magic type world with current tech/pop culture references is just silly enough for me without becoming obnoxious. There are a few things (namely in the oblivious slow burn romance category but also in the rapid adaption of our tech to magically created equivalent) that will make me roll my eyes and skim ahead a little but since I read this for an escapist good time, I let it slide more than I probably would otherwise. It's not a bug it's a feature in this case.
April 4, 2020
I love everything about this series. I love the fact that Henri enjoys his food. He is smart, kind and funny. He is my kind of hero. Jamie is a character I admire a lot. She was thrown into a world totally different, yet similar enough to make what's missing stand out. Strawberries yes, I'd miss them.
The characters, story and humor is perfect for me. My husband started reading them after I told him how good they were and agreed with me.
Finally - I read a lot on Kindle Unlimited, like I would my local library if we lived in town. But this series is one I want to have in my library so I can pull it out whenever I want to.
The characters, story and humor is perfect for me. My husband started reading them after I told him how good they were and agreed with me.
Finally - I read a lot on Kindle Unlimited, like I would my local library if we lived in town. But this series is one I want to have in my library so I can pull it out whenever I want to.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 192 reviews