Murder By Magic
| Company type | Anthology |
|---|---|
| Industry | Publishing |
| Founded | 2004 |
| Founder | Rosemary Edghill (editor) |
| Products | Fantasy-inspired mystery tales anthology |
| Parent | Warner Aspect (branch of Warner Books) |
Murder by Magic is a 2004 compilation of fantasy-inspired mystery tales, released by Warner Aspect, a branch of Warner Books, and curated by Rosemary Edghill. This anthology contains twenty narratives divided into five thematic sections, each introduced by concise author biographies.
Part 1: Murder Most Modern
Piece of Mind by Jennifer Roberson: A private investigator, formerly a police officer whose marriage ended partly due to a case, teams up with a new neighbor gifted with the ability to converse with animals to unravel the mystery.
Special Surprise Guest Appearance By... by Carole Nelson Douglas: In Las Vegas, a magician meets Majicka, a former assistant turned performer who reveals an enigmatic illusion. He offers one million dollars—the sum that could have saved her ill son—in exchange for the secret, uncovering that the trick involves more than mere mirrors.
Dopplegangster by Laura Resnik: A series of mob-related deaths occur under puzzling conditions—victims are shot through bulletproof vests inside locked rooms. Each reportedly encounters a double of themselves prior to dying.
Mixed Marriages Can Be Murder by Will Graham: Detective duo Mr. and Mrs. Steele are commissioned to safeguard a new project from theft before it enters production. Despite their polished appearance, they conceal a more ruthless disposition.
The Case of The Headless Corpse by Josepha Sherman: When Randolph Dexter, head of Dexter Arcane Industries, is discovered decapitated, agents Wren and Coyote from the Magical Bureau of Investigation take on the case. They face an interdimensional creature impervious to magic and must find a method to banish it before further fatalities occur.
Part 2: Murder Unclassifiable
A Death in the Working by Debra Doyle: In an alternate universe, Inquestor-Principal Jerre syn-Casleyin probes the demise of a mage believed to have been killed for financial gain. (Debra Doyle co-developed the concept with Rosemary Edghill.)
Cold Case by Diane Duane: Detective Sergeant Rob DeFalco, who can communicate with spirits, tackles unsolved murders by conversing with victims. He is assigned to investigate Tamara Eldridge’s homicide, which is complicated by another related death.
Snake in the Grass by Susan R. Matthews: Following Austin’s death caused by a Kinsey snake during the Taber rite, Galen is charged with capturing the serpent. The god King Snake implies that Austin’s death was not as straightforward as it appeared.
Double Jeopardy by M.J. Hamilton: After Isadore’s passing and the theft of her amulet, her sister Lillith must reclaim it from their cousin Morgan and deliver both amulets to newborn twins to preserve cosmic equilibrium.
Witch Sight by Roberta Gellis: Brenda, the sole witch at her girls’ school, becomes a suspect when her only friend is murdered. She must clear her name and uncover the true culprit.
Overrush by Laura Ann Gilman: An investigation into an insurance fraud case turns fatal when a wizard’s body is discovered. The cause seems connected to his failure to release magic; another individual experiences similar effects but survives.
Part 3: Murder Most Genteel
Captured in Silver by Teresa Edgerton: The First Minister, Prosper de Rouille, is found dead inside a locked chamber. Lord High Constable Gabriel-Louis-Constant Jauscourt undertakes the investigation to determine how the assassin managed to enter and exit without detection.
A Night at the Opera by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller: Lord Nicholas Charles delves into the mysterious death of Wolheim, uncovering that he was subjected to eighty-five transformations by an unidentified spellcaster.
A Tremble in the Air by James D. Macdonald: Mrs. Roger Collins reports sightings of a ghostly apparition; investigator Orville Nesbit is summoned but encounters skepticism and opposition from Mr. Roger Collins.
Murder Entailed by Susan Krinard: During a gathering hosted by Lady Olivia Dowling, Lord Roderick Featherstonehaugh is suffocated. Olivia resists police involvement, unaware of the lord’s hidden complexities or the identity of his murderer.
Part 4: Murder Fantastical
Dropping Hints by Lawrence Watt-Evans: An unforeseen heir assumes the title of Duke of Croy, ill-prepared for leadership, and seeks to establish peace with his wizard neighbor, Rasec. When Rasec is slain by one among five identical homunculi, the true killer must be determined.
Au Purr by Esther Friesner: Alisande discovers the death of her sister Magda. Her demon servant Scalini pledges vengeance but mistakenly targets Magda’s husband and children. Disguised as a feline, Alisande investigates to prevent Scalini’s misguided wrath and reveal the actual murderer.
Getting the Chair by Keith R.A. DeCandido: Lieutenant Torin ban Wyvald and Danthres Tresyllione probe a wizard’s homicide at Unicorn Precinct. Despite a flawed magical examination, three enchanted objects—a lamp, a chair, and a couch—provide crucial testimony. (This story precedes Dragon Precinct featuring the same characters)
Part 5: Murder Most Modern
The Necromancer's Apprentice by Lillian Stewart Carl: After Amy Robsart Dudley’s demise and speculation surrounding her husband Robert Dudley’s involvement, Erasmus Pilbeam is called upon to summon Amy’s spirit to expose the real perpetrator. The séance goes awry when Erasmus’s apprentice inadvertently releases the ghost.
Grey Eminence by Mercedes Lackey: At an English boarding school for magical students, Nan Killian and Sarah Jane—who owns an African Grey parrot—are summoned for urgent tasks. When called out one night, they confront a perilous threat stalking them.