The Magus of Sicily

‘If this book is not popular with fans of The White Lotus, something is definitely awry . . . [a] sumptuously set mystery’ Daily Mirror

‘Invokes Italy’s most exquisite island as a setting for myth and murder . . . Truly evocative’ Financial Times

‘Tension that keeps us rooted to the page’ Daily Mail

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An island of myth, legend . . . and murder?

As the summer sun beats down on the ancient town of Acitrezza, a folk festival plays out in the picturesque harbour. Music, laughter and the aroma of local delicacies fill the air, and a traditional pantomime draws a crowd.

For rookie journalist Nedda Leonardi, it’s just another day’s reporting in a calendar of unremarkable events. Until that is, the performers dive in the sparkling Ionian Sea for their finale… and emerge with a corpse. Could this be Nedda’s big break?

After one trick too many, Calogero Maugeri, self-styled Magus and con artist, is a wanted man. But his attempts to clean up his act and keep a low profile are thwarted when it’s revealed he has a suspicious connection to the dead man pulled from the sea.

A young reporter keen for a scoop and a reformed swindler desperate to clear his name… can this improbable pair solve the most unusual of murders?

Discover the first mystery in your new favourite crime series set on Italy’s most beautiful island: Sicily. A gripping and atmospheric page-turner, perfect for fans of Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano series.

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Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones:

‘I devoured all Philip’s novels’ Val McDermid

‘Clever and great fun’ The Times

‘An irresistible concoction of crime and culture’ Daily Mail

‘As delightful as a Spritz by the Rialto – a must for all Italy lovers’ David Hewson

‘Superb – always gripping, beautifully constructed and vivid’ Stephen Glover

‘Sinister and shimmering’ L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of Maestra

‘Vividly described’ Literary Review

‘The lively, colourful narrative scuds along as briskly as a water taxi…you’ll enjoy the ride’ Italia Magazine