The Magus of Sicily A gripping thriller set on Italy's most beautiful island

<p><b>''If this book is not popular with fans of </b><i><b>The White Lotus</b></i><b>, something is definitely awry . . . [a] sumptuously set mystery'' </b><i>Daily Mirror</i><br><b><br>''Invokes Italy''s most exquisite island as a setting for myth and murder . . . Truly evocative'' </b><i>Financial Times</i><br><br><b>''Tension that keeps us rooted to the page'' </b><i>Daily Mail</i><br><br>------------<br><br><i>An island of myth, legend . . . and murder?</i><br><br>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.<br><br>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?<br><br>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.<br><br>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?<br><br><b>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 </b><b>Andrea Camilleri''s Inspector Montalbano series.</b><br><br>------------<br><br><b><u>Praise for Philip Gwynne Jones</u>:</b><br><br>''I devoured all Philip''s novels''<b> Val McDermid</b><br><br>''Clever and great fun'' <b><i>The Times</i></b><br><br>''An irresistible concoction of crime and culture'' <b><i>Daily Mail</i></b><br><br>''As delightful as a Spritz by the Rialto - a must for all Italy lovers'' <b>David Hewson</b><br><br>''Superb - always gripping, beautifully constructed and vivid'' <b>Stephen Glover</b><br><br>''Sinister and shimmering'' <b>L.S. Hilton, bestselling author of <i>Maestra</i></b><br><br>''Vividly described'' <i><b>Literary Review</b></i><br><br>''The lively, colourful narrative scuds along as briskly as a water taxi...you''ll enjoy the ride''<i> <b>Italia Magazine</b></i></p>