The Blood Card

DI Edgar Stephens and magician Max Mephisto reunite to investigate a cold case from their wartime service in a special ops unit called the Magic Men. The discovery of their former commander's death coincides with preparations for Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 coronation, pulling them into a complex mystery. The investigation leads Edgar and Max from Brighton's theatrical community to London's variety circuit, where a planned television broadcast of the coronation creates tension. Their pursuit reveals connections between wartime secrets, the entertainment world, and a potential threat to the nation. The story moves between the grittiness of post-war Britain and the fading glamour of variety shows, incorporating real historical elements around the coronation. The partnership between a detective and a stage magician brings together two distinct approaches to uncovering truth and deception. The Blood Card explores themes of loyalty and betrayal while examining how war changes relationships and raises questions about national identity during Britain's transition into a new era.

Readers describe The Blood Card as a solid addition to the Magic Men Mystery series, with an engaging mix of magic history, post-war British culture, and murder mystery elements. Readers appreciated: - Historical details about vaudeville and stage magic - The continued character development of Max and Edgar - The 1953 coronation backdrop - The interweaving of real events with fiction Common criticisms: - Slower pacing than previous books in the series - Too many subplots that don't fully connect - Less focus on the magic/performance aspects - Some found the ending rushed Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (3,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) Several readers noted they preferred reading the series in order, as character relationships build across books. One reviewer on Goodreads wrote: "The historical atmosphere and magic elements make up for the somewhat meandering plot." Multiple Amazon reviewers mentioned the authentic portrayal of 1950s Britain as a highlight.

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🎭 The Blood Card is part of the Stephens and Mephisto Mystery series, which follows a detective and magician duo solving crimes in 1950s Brighton, England. 🎪 Author Elly Griffiths was inspired to write the series after learning about real-life magicians who served in the British Army's Magic Gang during World War II, using illusion techniques to deceive enemy forces. 👑 The book's plot involves the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, a pivotal moment in British history that drew an estimated 27 million television viewers - marking the first time a coronation was broadcast live. ✨ Griffiths writes under a pen name; her real name is Domenica de Rosa, and she chose "Elly Griffiths" after her grandmother. 🎪 The book explores the world of variety shows and music halls, which were a crucial part of British entertainment in the 1950s but were beginning to decline with the rise of television.