Audiobook Review: This Rough Magic by Mary Stewart

This Rough Magic
Author: Mary Stewart
Narrator: Helen Johns
Publication: Hodder & Stoughton (July 26, 2018)
Length: 11 hours and 50 minutes

Description: The pioneer of romantic suspense, Mary Stewart leads her listeners on a thrilling journey to a Mediterranean island paradise in this tale of mystery, murder and intrigue, perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Barbara Pym.

Lucy Waring, a young, out-of-work actress from London, leaps at the chance to visit her sister for a summer on the island paradise of Corfu, and what's more, a famous but reclusive actor is stayin in a villa nearby. But Lucy's hopes for rest and romance are shattered when a body washes up on the beach and she finds herself swept up in a chilling chain of events.

I shuddered, and drank my coffee, leaning back in my chair to gaze out across pine tops furry with gold towards the sparkling sea, and surrendering myself to the dreamlike feeling that marks the start of a holiday....

My Thoughts: This was another entertaining romantic suspense title by a pioneer in the genre. Actress Lucy Waring comes from London to spend time with her older sister on the island of Corfu. This idyllic setting should be a wonderful spot to spend a summer while planning what to do next in her career.

She is surprised and very pleased to find that one of her neighbors is Sir Julian Gale whose disappearance from the London stage caused all sorts of rumors. He has always been someone Lucy has looked up to. She does get a chance to meet him when she unknowing visits his rose garden and finds him as charming as she had imagined he would be. However, his son Max who is there in Greece with him is not as charming. Lucy and Max take an almost instant dislike to one another.

The final neighbor is Godfrey Manning who is a nature photographer working on a book. 

Lucy's plans for a quiet vacation in a beautiful setting are ruined when the son of her sister's housekeeper is lost at sea while working on Mannings boat and another fisherman's body washes up on the shore. 

Lucy finds herself in the middle of a smuggling operation with a smuggler who isn't hesitant to kill anyone who gets in his way. She isn't sure if she should if it is Max or Godfrey who is the villain of the piece. 

I loved the wonderful setting of the story. Stewart's descriptions made me wish that I could visit Corfu as it was 50 or so years ago. I thought that there was a nice amount of suspense in the story and a sweet slow-burn romance too. Helen Johns did a nice job with the narration. She made each character unique and used her voice to build the suspense. 

I bought this one from Chirp. You can buy your copy here.