“A gripping murder mystery featuring a magical couple...”
As the nation’s foremost investigators of the paranormal, Isolde and Warren Wilby are accustomed to bumping up against things that go bump in the night. They have made quite a name for themselves as the detectives of the uncanny, the monstrous, the strange. After a decade of wedded bliss and dozens of fantastical adventures, there is little in the world that can still surprise them.
But when a famous artist dies under suspicious circumstances, Isolde finds herself investigating a murder that may not have happened, and a crime scene that seems to shift beneath her feet. Not one to be easily thwarted, Isolde is compelled to take greater and greater risks in pursuit of her elusive answers. Meanwhile, the laws that govern magic appear to be breaking, and those cracks are spreading to the everyday world.
The mystery will carry the devoted duo to seedy underworlds, enchanted gardens, and subterranean military zoos. Old friends will come to the Wilbies’ aid as they infiltrate secret societies, battle vicious imps, and flee from a pack of venomous wolves. Equipped with Isolde’s hexes, Warren’s muscle, and an enchanted bag full of magical relics, the Hexologists will have to risk life and limb to unravel the riddle at the heart of A Tangle of Time.
REVIEW: If you have somehow encountered A Tangle of Time before reading The Hexologists – you don’t need to put this one down and go hunting for the first book in the series. While you’ll be missing out on a treat – I find Iz’s and War’s company rather addictive – you won’t unduly flounder. Bancroft deftly drops in all the details you need to make sense of what is going on, anyway. And this one opens with a crisis already unfurling, you need to keep sharp anyway.
I don’t want to say too much about the narrative, because so much of the various twists come as a delightful surprise. I’m a sucker for timey-wimey plots anyway – though it’s a device that’s easy to get wrong and much harder to get right. Bancroft triumphantly succeeds in getting it right. But at the heart of this story is a murder mystery. A once-famous artist reached out to Isabel, wanting her help, but Isabel didn’t believe the issue was particularly serious – and is devastated when she turns up dead.
In many ways, this book is as cosily familiar as late-night cocoa. There’s a murder, but something isn’t quite right about it – in fact, things start to go spectacularly wrong quite quickly for the married couple investigating it. One of them has magical skills, while the other is handy in a fight or when people need to be charmed or placated – Warren is a sweetie, while Isabel’s people skills aren’t the best. There are all sorts of shenanigans involving a variety of creatures and some monsters. The ultimate villain is frighteningly plausible and utterly terrifying for it.
But what makes this book stand out is the sheer quality of the writing. Bancroft’s world-building is creative, his descriptions to the point and his occasional ponderings into the nature of the world are beautifully expressed. I love the relationship between Isabel and Warren – their love for each other is unlikely in all sorts of ways. Their temperaments and skill sets are highly complementary specifically because they are so different. But their feelings for each other are so tender and strong and completely believable. Along with a hefty dose of physical attraction for each other, that Bancroft effectively portrays without giving us anything too graphic. Something I very much appreciate, after having been ambushed recently with yet another torrid bedroom scene I didn’t want or expect.
I love that I completely understand the motivations of the main villain – and to some extent sympathise with them. I love that Bancroft left me with a lump in my throat for the poor dead artist whose murder triggers all the chaos that ensues – and that as everything began to unravel, I couldn’t work out exactly what was going or why. And I particularly love that once all was explained, it made complete sense and was a thoroughly satisfying conclusion All in all, this is one of my reading highlights of the year so far and I’m looking forward to reading more of this highly entertaining and memorable series. Very highly recommended for fantasy fans who enjoy twisty plotting and quirky characters. While I obtained an arc of A Tangle of Time from the publishers via Netgalley, the opinions I have expressed are unbiased and my own.
10/10
Paperback edition
This reviewer received a free of charge product for review.
