OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Inspector Mage" by Aleese Hughes.]

Inspector Russell Gaines was known for his dominance in closing cases using his unique mage gift. But Russell isn't an inspector anymore; he gave up the title when he failed to bring down the notorious serial killer known as the New Age God. Now only money could bring the down-on-his-luck drunkard back to the scene of a crime.

When he's offered an enormous sum to solve the recent murder that took place in the home of the prestigious Melton family, Russell is quick to jump back into the game. Despite Gaines's intentions to solve the case, he finds the mystery behind Julie Melton and the secret she's keeping even more intriguing. Julie, on the other hand, can see right through the former inspector's charms. But if they could see past each other's flaws and work out their differences, they might be able to work together and close the case once and for all.

Do you like fantasy stories with mages and magic? How about a good murder mystery? If you answered "yes" to both questions, you're going to want to check out Inspector Mage: Blood on the Floor by Aleese Hughes. I loved the concept of blending these two genres to create an engaging murder mystery novel with a bit of magic to help do the solving. Since this was the first novel in the series, there was a lot of world-building in the early chapters, which slowed down the pace initially, but the author quickly pulled the reader into the mystery as the story progressed.

Overall, I enjoyed the plot, and the author's writing was easy to follow. I had a lot of fun gathering the clues and making my guess about what had happened and who committed the crime. I was a little disappointed that the culprit was so easy to figure out. I was not shocked by the plot twist because I had a strong suspicion about who was guilty before I even got to the halfway point in the book, but I did get the satisfaction of being right about my instincts. I had also hoped to see more growth in Russell's character, but he didn't have much of a chance to deal with his addiction in this novel. I hope to see him take positive steps in dealing with his past in future books.

Still, I thought the author did an excellent job of setting the book up for a sequel with even higher stakes and a more complex mystery to solve. Hughes piqued my interest and made me want to read further into the series. I also found no proofreading errors in this well-edited book. Therefore, I rate Inspector Mage three out of four stars. I reduced the rating by one star to reflect the issues mentioned in the previous paragraph.

I'd recommend Inspector Mage to mature teens and college-age readers because the main characters were in their early twenties and thirties, making this book fit better into the New Adult category than Young Adult. The adult characters partook in occasional excessive drinking and drunken behavior. Otherwise, Inspector Mage was free of profanities and erotic content. Adult readers may also enjoy the fantasy-mystery blend and better relate to the mature characters portrayed in the book.

******
Inspector Mage
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon

This sounds like a really interesting book. I have never read stories that combine crime and fantasy, but because I am a fan of both genres, I might pick up this book soon. It's unfortunate that it seems so easy to figure out who the culprit is, but since the book is part of the series, there might be more suspenseful chapters coming up later. Thanks for the helpful review!

I dint really enjoy much complex stories. I mean if it's good enough to understand then it's fine, if it has that old English style then it's not for me. Thanks for the review.

So interesting novel which i enjoy reading it. He should'nt have give up at first. In life one need to give a try at all time.

Thanks for the great review. very interesting to read. I like the plot and it's intriguing. I'm looking forward to digging into the novel. Great job!

I love this book. The magic the secrets and the lies they all form something to induce me in eagerness to read. I love the character Russell Gaines.

Thanks for the review, Although I have never read books that combine magic, fantasy and crime, I am sure this will be a good time to start. Thanks.

This looks interesting. Crime and magic combined together is definitely worth reading.

I thought he did an excellent job! Especially with so much "help" from others.

This is an amazing murder mystery young-adult novel highlighting alcoholism, lost hope, reinventing oneself, unique characterization, and a fast-paced plot. The book is temporarily free on Amazon Kindle and has an inciteful OnlineBookClub review. Congrats on the BOTD selection.

You had me at mage, magic, and murder! Now combining these three to create an epic book come to reality, is definitely my kind of thing. I can't wait to read this book completely and also experience the characters' growth. I enjoy the mystery and suspense behind solving the murder. Well done on an amazing and intriguing story and on receiving #BOTD. Also well done on a well-written and honest review.

This book sounds so interesting! I love fantasy, and I don't read too many mystery novels but I'd certainly be willing to give this one a go due to the magical elements.

I don't particularly care for novels featuring magic and magicians, so this one isn't for me. But I read the first chapter, and the book is nicely written. I'm certain those who prefer this genre will enjoy the story. Congrats to the author on BOTD.

The book is quite interesting, most especially with the the fact that magic is involved. Magic and mystery worth the read. It give this suspense, wanting to know what happens at last. I love it

This sounds like a very intriguing story full of mysteries and suspense. I'm itching to know how Julie was able to guard her long-kept secret and how inspector Mage handled the murder case.
Congrats to the author.