2024 Reading Challenge

2024 Reading Challenge
Jill Elizabeth has read 1 book toward her goal of 285 books.
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2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Jill Elizabeth has read 5 books toward her goal of 265 books.
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Book Review: Now You See Them by Elly Griffiths

This is such a great series! I’m really impressed with how Griffiths has managed to transition her characters from the Magic Men of the early books into an aging (gracefully of course!) cast of still fully engaging and constantly evolving characters whose lives (and plot lines) move on appropriately with time… The misdirection and drama of the early stories continues to play a role in the later ones, albeit in different directions. So many times authors seem to feel compelled to keep their characters in the moment of their introduction – both psychologically and in terms of the action they encounter – and it feels forced because, well, it is. Time passes, people age and their lives change – so to, characters. When an author manages that transition well, as Griffiths does, the result is a series with longevity that continues to provide new opportunities for character development and story lines that don’t feel like rehashed tales of days gone by…

In this latest installment, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Emma’s character struggle with the role she’s been forced into by circumstance, choice, and reality. The dynamic between her and Edgar added an interesting new tension to the series. I never doubted they’d figure it out, but wasn’t sure exactly how – and when the revelation on her plans for the future came out in the end, it felt perfectly organic and solid. Not to mention, it offers up excellent opportunities for future stories!

There was a little less emphasis on Max in this one than I like to see. He was there and important, of course, but he wasn’t the key to this one. That worked, given the story, although I do hope to see more of him in future books because he is, without a doubt, one of my favorites. He’s such a delightful blend of old school and perennially contemporary… It’s a fine line to walk but he does it – as he does all things – with aplomb and panache.

I’ve tried reading Griffiths’ contemporary stories but just never seem to connect with them the way I do these Magic Men stories. She is a very talented writer and if you don’t know her work – or only know the more modern stuff – you should definitely check these out. They’re well-written, original, and the characterization is spot-on fantastic!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my obligation-free review copy.

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