When Ivy was a child, she lived every child’s dream when she found out that magic was real – but not for her. Ivy’s twin sister Tabitha is the magical one. Tabitha’s the one who goes on a magical journey to a school like Hogwarts and then, as an adult, teaches magic to young people. Left behind in the normal world, Ivy becomes a private investigator and tries to forgot that her sister exists. When she is approached to investigate a brutal murder at her sister’s school, Ivy must dive into the magical world that she tried to ignore. In Magic for Liars, author Sarah Gailey blends murder mystery noir and the ‘magical school’ genre in a deftly twisting tale.
While it may seem strange, the meld of fantasy with noir mystery sparks in Gailey’s capable hands. The traditional noir elements take on new twist in the magical world, since magic was the murder weapon, and all the suspects have magic at their disposal. However, the true heart of the novel is Ivy and her relationship with her magical sister. The pain from the broken bond between the two is palpable, and Gailey explores their love/hate relationship with ease and familiarity. Gailey also explores the nature of memory, the fear of missing out, and jealousy between the golden child and the ‘normal one.’ Besides the deeper themes, the book is a very entertaining murder mystery, and Ivy uses her PI skills deftly to ferret out witnesses and manipulate suspects into giving up information. For anyone who wished Harry Potter was a little darker and more adult, check out Magic for Liars.
Review by Shannon Wood
Adult Services Librarian
Nordonia Hills Branch Library
