Murder in the Magick Club by Byron A. Lorrier, Esq.

Publisher: Booksurge
Pages: 354

From the Publisher: “Pure porn!” the critics cry. “Throw it on the fire!” Murder in the Magick Club is an occult-themed murder mystery; perfect for your next banned-book bonfire. Murder in the Magick Club takes place in the exotic, faraway land of Tampa, Florida and offers an insider’s exposé of the “Salem of the South” . . . written straight from the spleen. Murder in the Magick Club is the first in a series wherein the victim needs killin’ and the murderer always gets away with it . . . maybe. All of the characters—moochy customers, cops, self-absorbed and wastrel staff, and the impotent, financially longsuffering owner of the Magick Club—are always ready with an easy bit of slander and perhaps an easy bit of murder. Murder in the Magick Club is a ripping good read to grab on the way to the beach, or to help set just-the-right-tone before the reader jumps off the Skyway Bridge. Perfect to curl up with a steaming hot cup of mugwort tea, a bottle or two of merlot, the beer bong &/or the hashish-stoked hookah.

Bryn Thomas is a down on his luck bar owner. The name of his club 'The Magick Club' (because real magic is spelled with a 'k') is meant to attract other of a similar nature. Those looking for a little magic in their lives. Unfortunately, those who seek magic for real are often those living on the fringe of society. The losers, the pimps, the people who are different from everyone else. The criminals and shysters work for Bryn, and once they get their hooks in him, he can't let them go.

Bryn is a little psychic, seeing his past lives, and his thieving employees tend to be a little as well. The whole story centers around the owner and the thugs he lives with (thugs being his employees and customers). It seems everyone who frequents this club is one step away from disaster. And the topping glory of it all is a death that takes place somewhere in the area of the club. Is it murder, an old drunk who has fallen and cracked his skull, or is there something else at work in the Magick Club?

Murder in the Magick Club by Bryon A. Lorrier, Esq. is a very long read. From the title one would believe that either the story is a mystery or urban fantasy with mystery elements. It is neither. I can't say there was exactly a hero or heroine in the story. Bryn's existence sucks, there's no other way to put it. He hates his life and everyone in it. He hates the cowans that exist in the world (for those of us not in the know a cowan is an unwelcome non-Pagan intruder. Non-craft person, an outsider. Term also used by freemasons to describe the same type of person. A person not of Wiccan beliefs. It is used to refer, as a derogatory term, for a 'fake' or 'gameplayer' Pagan; a FOOL who doesn't know what they are talking about - thanks Global Oneness - so I did learn something.) To make his life even more miserable that it was, he can remember everything about his past lives, knows how each existence was a failure and how he died over and over again without happiness, and this life will be no different. He's already seen his death. He gravitates to those with some psychic ability, not that he enjoys them or himself much. Heroine, none that I could discern. This is mostly a study of Bryn life and it's sadness.

Murder in the Magick Club is a book about the human condition, it full of character studies, all the underbelly elements of society are covered. So if you enjoy lengthy monologues and diatribes about the human condition, this is the book for you. If your looking for a mystery or urban fantasy, look elsewhere. There were a couple of moments that garnered a laugh or two. But I can say with certainty, this was not my cup of tea. I have read several very complimentary reviews of this book, so I know others really enjoyed this book and the characters found within, it may be that the problem is with me and what I was looking for and not finding within the pages. Many have called it a book of dark humor, seedy entertainment, and it is; and as I said there are humorous moments throughout the book. I will say it was an interesting read. I could not locate a website for this author, but the book is available at various locations. For more information try NewsWire.com. Blogger News and Maymays Memos have a very complimentary reviews.

I received this book for review from the author and all opinions expressed are my own.