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Seeking Dr. Magic
Chaos reigns around the world. Strange creatures, accorded the title "Phantom Ninjas" by the media, are leaping off tall buildings and somersaulting back up without any scratch - and then disappear. There follows more spontaneous acts of magic, confounding the world. Who - or what - is responsible? In the middle of the mystery arrives Detective Hetfield, a private investigator just recently released from the FBI due to an on-the-job injury. Hetfield, accustomed to fame as a star witness in the murder trial of a beloved actress, uses the media to put forward the theory that a person of extraordinary magical powers is behind all the incidents, and labels him Dr. Magic. Hetfield gets much more than what he bargained for when that powerful being does exist - in the form of a young man long disillusioned with his past - and cruelly takes him up on his offer.
For lovers of light-hearted and fun novels involving magic.
For lovers of light-hearted and fun novels involving magic.
242 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2013
6 people are currently reading
735 people want to read
About the author
Scott Spotson
18 books107 followersScott Spotson is a Canadian novelist who excels in imagining scenes of intrigue and adventure within ordinary lives while daydreaming, then pulls together various plots to create a compelling story.
Scott has written eleven books: "Life II," a time travel novel; and its sequel, "Bridge Through Time," "Seeking Dr. Magic," a novel that imagines what happens when a powerful wizard comes of age as a young man, and wreaks his havoc on the world, which is yet unaware of his existence; "Delusional," in which a woman in love suddenly experiences hallucinations and resolve to track down her tormentor before it's too late; "The Strange Life of Brandon Chambers," in which a young man suffers from hallucinations throughout his life, but others also see them and these illusions contain clues to a deeper meaning--or do they?; "Wizards Rising: The Cataclysm," in which four arrogant wizards take over North America and thrill the populace with deadly wizard games; "Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita," in which a bewildered young man must deal with the strange rules of an Earth-like society in an alternate universe; "My Wizard Buddy" series, children's books in which Tyler has a boy wizard as a real friend, not as an imaginary one, and "You Know You're Thin When...," a humor book using large single panel cartoons.
Scott has written eleven books: "Life II," a time travel novel; and its sequel, "Bridge Through Time," "Seeking Dr. Magic," a novel that imagines what happens when a powerful wizard comes of age as a young man, and wreaks his havoc on the world, which is yet unaware of his existence; "Delusional," in which a woman in love suddenly experiences hallucinations and resolve to track down her tormentor before it's too late; "The Strange Life of Brandon Chambers," in which a young man suffers from hallucinations throughout his life, but others also see them and these illusions contain clues to a deeper meaning--or do they?; "Wizards Rising: The Cataclysm," in which four arrogant wizards take over North America and thrill the populace with deadly wizard games; "Alia Tero: The Many Lives of Darren Datita," in which a bewildered young man must deal with the strange rules of an Earth-like society in an alternate universe; "My Wizard Buddy" series, children's books in which Tyler has a boy wizard as a real friend, not as an imaginary one, and "You Know You're Thin When...," a humor book using large single panel cartoons.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 1, 2014
A highly original work that impresses as much for the more fantastical elements as it does the human drama that plays out. The early part of the novel focuses on Hetfield, a thick skinned, glory hungry detective with a huge ego, someone who prides himself on original thinking and is obsessed with “pieces and clues, and eventually the hunt.” In equal parts brave, foolish and unrelenting we cannot help but be impressed by him. He is someone after all not to be put off by being sent hurtling head first from buildings, stranded amongst mountains in the south of France nor threatened by fire breathing dragons.
Whilst the main protagonist, at least for the majority of the novel, Hetfield is not ultimately the main character study in this work. This is something rather reserved for the eponymous Dr. Magic himself, a young man, all too human but possessed of incredible powers. One is reminded here of Lord Acton’s maxim about absolute power corrupting and we see that Dr. Magic is not the petty and cruel "demon" or “monster” he could easily have been nor can we judge him too harshly as his own parents once did. He has certainly done some questionable and even on occasion murderous things yet he is not evil. Rather he is someone who wants to be good and realises his incredible powers have stunted him as an individual, allowing him to escape into insular fantasy. He is a lost youth in need of acceptance and guidance from a paternal figure and in fulfilling this role, Hetfied himself, once the insular egotist also grows and matures as an individual.
This is the second work I have reviewed by the author and once again Scott Spotson proves himself extremely skilled in writing speculative, fantastical fiction which also possesses great depth and poignancy.
Whilst the main protagonist, at least for the majority of the novel, Hetfield is not ultimately the main character study in this work. This is something rather reserved for the eponymous Dr. Magic himself, a young man, all too human but possessed of incredible powers. One is reminded here of Lord Acton’s maxim about absolute power corrupting and we see that Dr. Magic is not the petty and cruel "demon" or “monster” he could easily have been nor can we judge him too harshly as his own parents once did. He has certainly done some questionable and even on occasion murderous things yet he is not evil. Rather he is someone who wants to be good and realises his incredible powers have stunted him as an individual, allowing him to escape into insular fantasy. He is a lost youth in need of acceptance and guidance from a paternal figure and in fulfilling this role, Hetfied himself, once the insular egotist also grows and matures as an individual.
This is the second work I have reviewed by the author and once again Scott Spotson proves himself extremely skilled in writing speculative, fantastical fiction which also possesses great depth and poignancy.
May 1, 2018
Characters
There are two characters - former Detective Tony Hetfield and "Dr. Magic." Each of them are very unique and everyone else feels like lifeless blobs that are just filler for the story constructed around these two characters. I really liked the inner strength and determination of Tony. He has to be one of my favorite characters written by this author. "Dr. Magic" has a somewhat tragic story but is an adult that never had to grow up. Very much felt like he had peter pan syndrome—having magic helps...
Plot
This is very much a modern mystery with an urban magic feel. I wouldn't say this necessarily a fantasy in a traditional sense but it did have that super hero feel and a magical abilities piece. There are lots and lots of layers to this story and the strength if this entire novel rests on its plot. Tony is driven to find the identity of Dr. Magic, but is also very principals—so what happens when the most dangerous person meets in an unstoppable force?
Overall
This book was very easy to read and enjoyable to turn the page to find out what came next. A few twists and turns kept things interesting where I wasn't 100% sure where the story was going to go. I appreciated that there were a few surprises where I was like "Where is he?" out loud. Any book that can make me do that is good! The downside was the secondary characters. They could have used some development to round out the novel and bring extra depth to the characters. Some were decent but others felt very flat.
In short this is a great plot and okay characters - so overall a good read! I'd recommend this book ahead of most of Spotson's other books just because I felt this book had the best flow. It was pretty consistent and I never felt bogged down by details or overwhelmed by information coming in. Instead I was able to follow along and just get immersed into the story. I didn't love the ending, I felt like the author wanted to give more closure and show that these characters were moving in a certain direction, but I actually would have preferred if it ended one chapter earlier. I get why it was done and actually appreciated the open-ended conclusion.
Rating
4 Stars
Overall an enjoyable read that was an easy page turner. If you like mysteries where you are following along as each layer is peeled away this is a great book. If you also like magic, this delivers!
This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
There are two characters - former Detective Tony Hetfield and "Dr. Magic." Each of them are very unique and everyone else feels like lifeless blobs that are just filler for the story constructed around these two characters. I really liked the inner strength and determination of Tony. He has to be one of my favorite characters written by this author. "Dr. Magic" has a somewhat tragic story but is an adult that never had to grow up. Very much felt like he had peter pan syndrome—having magic helps...
Plot
This is very much a modern mystery with an urban magic feel. I wouldn't say this necessarily a fantasy in a traditional sense but it did have that super hero feel and a magical abilities piece. There are lots and lots of layers to this story and the strength if this entire novel rests on its plot. Tony is driven to find the identity of Dr. Magic, but is also very principals—so what happens when the most dangerous person meets in an unstoppable force?
Overall
This book was very easy to read and enjoyable to turn the page to find out what came next. A few twists and turns kept things interesting where I wasn't 100% sure where the story was going to go. I appreciated that there were a few surprises where I was like "Where is he?" out loud. Any book that can make me do that is good! The downside was the secondary characters. They could have used some development to round out the novel and bring extra depth to the characters. Some were decent but others felt very flat.
In short this is a great plot and okay characters - so overall a good read! I'd recommend this book ahead of most of Spotson's other books just because I felt this book had the best flow. It was pretty consistent and I never felt bogged down by details or overwhelmed by information coming in. Instead I was able to follow along and just get immersed into the story. I didn't love the ending, I felt like the author wanted to give more closure and show that these characters were moving in a certain direction, but I actually would have preferred if it ended one chapter earlier. I get why it was done and actually appreciated the open-ended conclusion.
Rating
4 Stars
Overall an enjoyable read that was an easy page turner. If you like mysteries where you are following along as each layer is peeled away this is a great book. If you also like magic, this delivers!
This is a voluntary review. More reviews at creatingworldswithwords.wordpress.com.
October 3, 2018
Dr. Magic follows Detective Hatfield, who has been forcibly retired from the FBI due to an injury. While the case gave him notoriety and almost movie star status, he now works as a private investigator, riding the coattails of his previous popularity. Suddenly, all over the globe, reports and videos pour in of figures jumping off the tops of buildings only to spring back up unharmed. Detective Hatfield takes an interest in the mystery of a man he proclaims to be Dr. Magic. Refusing to play nice with his former FBI compatriots, he takes apart the mystery and identification of Dr. Magic.
Seeking Dr. Magic is a fast read of mystery and magical pandemonium. Even though Detective Hatfield takes enjoyment out of his new found star status, he's a likable character. Dr. Magic, however, is not.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
Seeking Dr. Magic is a fast read of mystery and magical pandemonium. Even though Detective Hatfield takes enjoyment out of his new found star status, he's a likable character. Dr. Magic, however, is not.
Read more at Cats Luv Coffee
March 24, 2017
The waters run deep in this story. There are many interesting layers that ebb and flow as the plot thickens throughout the story. Reality and fantasy unexpectedly intertwine at various intervals and at varying degrees. It's a fascinating read!
"Seeking Dr. Magic" is fantasy fiction that is firmly grounded in reality. It looks like the characters are all human - the bad guy, Dr. Magic, and the good guy, Detective Hetfield. Although the bad and the good qualities fluctuate between these two main characters, and challenge the reader to stop and ponder how the plot is evolving. Either way, both of them seek lots and lots of attention. Now what's not human about that?
Scott Spotson is an excellent writer and I love this story.
"Seeking Dr. Magic" is fantasy fiction that is firmly grounded in reality. It looks like the characters are all human - the bad guy, Dr. Magic, and the good guy, Detective Hetfield. Although the bad and the good qualities fluctuate between these two main characters, and challenge the reader to stop and ponder how the plot is evolving. Either way, both of them seek lots and lots of attention. Now what's not human about that?
Scott Spotson is an excellent writer and I love this story.
November 12, 2018
Seeking Dr. Magic threw me back in time when I was watching Bewitched, with Dr. Magic replacing Samantha, at a different scale though. The world is turned up-side down by some ninjas appearing out of nowhere jumping up and down from tall buildings. The scene is both amusing and inquiring. And we have Hetfield, the FBI former agent trying to substitute his pension with something more valuable, and also trying to solve the mystery of the ninja ghosts. Somehow, he manages to become humanized close to the end of the novel. There are two things that pull him out from the grey agent who knows everything and solves everything; his intuition that the plane caring him was saved by a supra-natural power, and the way he handles Matthews’s parents.
In the end, Dr. Magic appeared more like Darrin than Samantha, a young man who ran away from his family, troubled by his magic powers and unable to find a way in life.
In the end, Dr. Magic appeared more like Darrin than Samantha, a young man who ran away from his family, troubled by his magic powers and unable to find a way in life.
May 25, 2013
**I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review**
The Plot
Famous detective gets caught up in the chase to stop a super human who the world deems a threat. The deeper the detective goes, the more he realizes that it isn't that easy, because, after all Dr. Magic is "only human."
The Characters
Tony Hetfield - Famous Detective known the world over. Through the beginning and most of the book, actually, I didn't really care much for him. He seemed to love being famous and enjoyed being in the spotlight. I found him to be quite arrogant. Throughout the story we are "told" about his brilliance as an agent and that he was "world famous." However, I wasn't really "shown" this and maybe it's because I don't watch the news or keep up with trials but I just couldn't figure out how discovering the murderer of a celebrity makes him so famous. Then again, I guess it could be possible. I did start to like Hetfield toward the ending and enjoyed seeing his character grow. Same goes with Dr. Magic.
Dr. Magic - 21 year old with superhuman powers. He's immature and wants only to stop hiding from the world. He wants to be accepted for who he is. That's understandable. Once I learned more about him, I was able to sympathize, to a certain extent.
The Good Bits
The plot was original. The story pretty interesting. A few cheesy parts (but that's only because I've read tons of books and watched hundreds of movies, so of course some things will start to seem cliche after awhile. Every book has it. Mine do too.) I thought the story had lots of potential and I would have loved to have read it from Dr. Magic's view. I liked him so much more than Hetfield. Perhaps there'll be a second book that focuses on Dr. Magic's new relationship. A.K.A a male "bewitched." That would be interesting and I'd definitely read it!
Readability
It was a fairly easy read. A few typos here and there but nothing major. A few obscure vocabulary words were thrown in.
Overall, a good read.
The Plot
Famous detective gets caught up in the chase to stop a super human who the world deems a threat. The deeper the detective goes, the more he realizes that it isn't that easy, because, after all Dr. Magic is "only human."
The Characters
Tony Hetfield - Famous Detective known the world over. Through the beginning and most of the book, actually, I didn't really care much for him. He seemed to love being famous and enjoyed being in the spotlight. I found him to be quite arrogant. Throughout the story we are "told" about his brilliance as an agent and that he was "world famous." However, I wasn't really "shown" this and maybe it's because I don't watch the news or keep up with trials but I just couldn't figure out how discovering the murderer of a celebrity makes him so famous. Then again, I guess it could be possible. I did start to like Hetfield toward the ending and enjoyed seeing his character grow. Same goes with Dr. Magic.
Dr. Magic - 21 year old with superhuman powers. He's immature and wants only to stop hiding from the world. He wants to be accepted for who he is. That's understandable. Once I learned more about him, I was able to sympathize, to a certain extent.
The Good Bits
The plot was original. The story pretty interesting. A few cheesy parts (but that's only because I've read tons of books and watched hundreds of movies, so of course some things will start to seem cliche after awhile. Every book has it. Mine do too.) I thought the story had lots of potential and I would have loved to have read it from Dr. Magic's view. I liked him so much more than Hetfield. Perhaps there'll be a second book that focuses on Dr. Magic's new relationship. A.K.A a male "bewitched." That would be interesting and I'd definitely read it!
Readability
It was a fairly easy read. A few typos here and there but nothing major. A few obscure vocabulary words were thrown in.
Overall, a good read.
July 15, 2013
This was a unique read about magic, with a healthy dose of detective work thrown in. Neither of the two main characters were classic good guys. Each had a dark side, and at times, it wasn’t easy to tell who was the hero and who was the villain. This didn’t hinder the story at all, but instead, added depth to the characters.
The magic work was very in your face and showy. Yet it was still believable, in a fantasy story way. The detective work that Hetfield does while investigating Dr Magic was top notch. Detailed and realistic, yet not in a take-over-the-story kind of way.
I was disappointed in the ending though. Everything seemed to wrap up too quickly, and too neatly. While it’s not a typical ending, it still felt rushed, almost like there was a big build up to nothing.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, other than the ending. The characters were multidimensional, even if I didn’t like them personally. The magic was unique and specific. With a more detailed, exciting ending, this would be a great book.
The magic work was very in your face and showy. Yet it was still believable, in a fantasy story way. The detective work that Hetfield does while investigating Dr Magic was top notch. Detailed and realistic, yet not in a take-over-the-story kind of way.
I was disappointed in the ending though. Everything seemed to wrap up too quickly, and too neatly. While it’s not a typical ending, it still felt rushed, almost like there was a big build up to nothing.
Overall, this was an enjoyable read, other than the ending. The characters were multidimensional, even if I didn’t like them personally. The magic was unique and specific. With a more detailed, exciting ending, this would be a great book.
June 21, 2013
I did not know what to expect when I started reading this book. The cover makes me think of James Bond, but the story was the most ORIGINAL tale I've read in years. It captures your attention from the first page. Some crazy guy jumps off a roof. But wait! He lands safely and then jumps back up to the top of the building. Love it!
The main character is a detective named Hetfield (is that how you spell it? not sure) and he is an arrogant fame whore. lol. Then he dives into this mystery. Who is the guy jumping off buildings and not getting a scratch on him? Is it an alien? Is it Superman? What is going on?
I won't spoil the story by telling you any more. Although I wasn't crazy about the detective at first, he grew on me, and I loved the other guy (Dr. Magic) from the moment he first spoke. This is a clever and fun book. If you still aren't sure about reading it and are sitting on the proverbial fence, jump off on this side. Read the book. I think you'll enjoy it.
The main character is a detective named Hetfield (is that how you spell it? not sure) and he is an arrogant fame whore. lol. Then he dives into this mystery. Who is the guy jumping off buildings and not getting a scratch on him? Is it an alien? Is it Superman? What is going on?
I won't spoil the story by telling you any more. Although I wasn't crazy about the detective at first, he grew on me, and I loved the other guy (Dr. Magic) from the moment he first spoke. This is a clever and fun book. If you still aren't sure about reading it and are sitting on the proverbial fence, jump off on this side. Read the book. I think you'll enjoy it.
May 2, 2013
This is a book that will appeal to the younger audience and lovers of low-fantasy of any age. When thinking about this book the word romp strikes a chord. In this book magic is both a gift and a curse which leads to disaster as well as tremendous acheivements. There is a fine interplay between the characters and the development of them and their history gives the book a backbone that holds the story. There is a lot of action and there are quite a few surprises along the way.
I find it difficult to write anything more substantial in review because it would be too easy to spoil the plot. What I can say is that some of the essential moral / developmental elements are quite powerful but it took me quite some time to identify the deeper strand to the plot because I was not expecting them during the early stages of this romp.
I find it difficult to write anything more substantial in review because it would be too easy to spoil the plot. What I can say is that some of the essential moral / developmental elements are quite powerful but it took me quite some time to identify the deeper strand to the plot because I was not expecting them during the early stages of this romp.
June 18, 2013
I'm sure every young boy at some stage wishes that he had magical powers. As this story attests, having that wish granted is not always a good thing. Even though "Dr. Magic" has all the powers and seems to have everything going for him, it was with Detective Hetfield that I most identified with. Despite his human frailties of perhaps vanity and a desire to be the center of attention, it was his very humanness that I found attractive and could identify with. Even though he had no magical powers, using his keen sense of inquisitiveness and problem-solving ability, he was able to outwit the world's greatest magician with innate magical powers that defied reason and science. The ending was highly satisfactory and as with all great stories, came with a lesson and a moral we could all take to heart.
October 6, 2013
A limelight seeking retired agent, dubbed a wonder performing person Dr. Magic, and became the focus of the powerful human’s attention. This tale of magical fantasy is set in the modern world, and it takes one on a spell binding trip.
The book successfully delved into the emotions of a powerful but lonely human, and how a sympathetic agent managed to secure his trust. A Well written, World traipsing fantasy.
The book successfully delved into the emotions of a powerful but lonely human, and how a sympathetic agent managed to secure his trust. A Well written, World traipsing fantasy.
July 25, 2017
****I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review****
“Seeking Dr. Magic” is a genre bender, meshing aspects of a crime-drama with pure magical fantasy in a clever way. We follow along as ex-FBI agent, Tony Hetfield, tries to figure out who is behind bizarre magical acts happening all around the world, and why they are happening to begin with. Tony has the fortune, or misfortune depending on how you look at it, of naming this mysterious being responsible for these phantom ninjas, drawing the attention of Dr. Magic, who doesn’t enjoy the new title. Tony is used to the limelight from other high profile cases, but even this is getting to be more than he can handle as government agencies around the world try to catch Dr. Magic, and Tony by proxy, in order to eliminate him as a potential threat. It’s a cool concept, and Dr. Magic has some awesome abilities, but the book just needed … a bit more.
I liked the premise behind this a lot, mixing a traditional drama with fantasy hasn’t been done all that often, especially under this kind of lens. This isn’t a normal urban-fantasy where you have an underground society of fantastic beings living right under our noses. Dr. Magic is the only one like him, and he’s tired of living in the shadows. The fantasy elements were much more interesting than the mystery/thriller aspects of the book, however. For example, the abilities and limitations Dr. Magic has while he pushes the boundaries of reality is wonderful. I wish there had been more of that, and less of Detective Tony Hetfield.
Spotson shines when he is writing the fantastic, but not enough research was done on the FBI / detective side of things. Just because this is a fantasy doesn’t mean you can’t, or shouldn’t, do any research. I am a big fan of crime dramas and mystery / thrillers, so I may be pretty sensitive to Spotson’s portrayal of the FBI and other government and law enforcement, but seeing as how he included so much of it, I’d have liked to have seen more research done so those aspects felt more authentic. That way Tony would feel more like the hot shot ex-agent he’s supposed to be, rather than a guy who gets lucky with his hunches.
If Spotson had made Tony a celebrity who happened to be the first to call this being Dr. Magic, I don’t think anything would have been lost, as Tony doesn’t do much “detecting”. Then, Spotson could have spent more time building Dr. Magic, his familial relationships, and exploring why he is doing this now. Or turning it into a continuing series where Tony, and everyone else, is trying to find this guy and figure out how he can do these incredible things, that’d have been a lot of fun, too. Instead, the story wraps up pretty fast and really cleanly when I was aching for a bit more drama.
I enjoy books that blend genres, so I had high hopes for “Seeking Dr. Magic”, but the places the book was best were too sparse overall. It could have also used another round of editing as it would have helped the parts where Dr. Magic isn’t around flow better, and made everything feel more polished as a whole. Spotson has a great imagination, and he has a talent for blending genres in a unique way, so I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. But because I wanted more from this story and its characters at almost every turn, I’m giving this book 3.25 stars.
“Seeking Dr. Magic” is a genre bender, meshing aspects of a crime-drama with pure magical fantasy in a clever way. We follow along as ex-FBI agent, Tony Hetfield, tries to figure out who is behind bizarre magical acts happening all around the world, and why they are happening to begin with. Tony has the fortune, or misfortune depending on how you look at it, of naming this mysterious being responsible for these phantom ninjas, drawing the attention of Dr. Magic, who doesn’t enjoy the new title. Tony is used to the limelight from other high profile cases, but even this is getting to be more than he can handle as government agencies around the world try to catch Dr. Magic, and Tony by proxy, in order to eliminate him as a potential threat. It’s a cool concept, and Dr. Magic has some awesome abilities, but the book just needed … a bit more.
I liked the premise behind this a lot, mixing a traditional drama with fantasy hasn’t been done all that often, especially under this kind of lens. This isn’t a normal urban-fantasy where you have an underground society of fantastic beings living right under our noses. Dr. Magic is the only one like him, and he’s tired of living in the shadows. The fantasy elements were much more interesting than the mystery/thriller aspects of the book, however. For example, the abilities and limitations Dr. Magic has while he pushes the boundaries of reality is wonderful. I wish there had been more of that, and less of Detective Tony Hetfield.
Spotson shines when he is writing the fantastic, but not enough research was done on the FBI / detective side of things. Just because this is a fantasy doesn’t mean you can’t, or shouldn’t, do any research. I am a big fan of crime dramas and mystery / thrillers, so I may be pretty sensitive to Spotson’s portrayal of the FBI and other government and law enforcement, but seeing as how he included so much of it, I’d have liked to have seen more research done so those aspects felt more authentic. That way Tony would feel more like the hot shot ex-agent he’s supposed to be, rather than a guy who gets lucky with his hunches.
If Spotson had made Tony a celebrity who happened to be the first to call this being Dr. Magic, I don’t think anything would have been lost, as Tony doesn’t do much “detecting”. Then, Spotson could have spent more time building Dr. Magic, his familial relationships, and exploring why he is doing this now. Or turning it into a continuing series where Tony, and everyone else, is trying to find this guy and figure out how he can do these incredible things, that’d have been a lot of fun, too. Instead, the story wraps up pretty fast and really cleanly when I was aching for a bit more drama.
I enjoy books that blend genres, so I had high hopes for “Seeking Dr. Magic”, but the places the book was best were too sparse overall. It could have also used another round of editing as it would have helped the parts where Dr. Magic isn’t around flow better, and made everything feel more polished as a whole. Spotson has a great imagination, and he has a talent for blending genres in a unique way, so I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. But because I wanted more from this story and its characters at almost every turn, I’m giving this book 3.25 stars.
April 6, 2018
My first impression on reading Seeking Dr.Magic's initial pages was 'wow, this book really moves." And it does, the opening chapters blaze past in a whirl of action, information and miracles. This pacing largely persists throughout the entire book (though it does relent slightly as we progress) and often grants the transpiring events a delicious sense of real momentum. There are occasions, however, where it does move a little too fast, where the scene transitioned abruptly and left me confused. They're rare, but do happen.
Beyond that, the story boasts excellent characters with a good degree of complicated nuance. The best of these is the titular Dr.Magic, who is neither good nor evil and offers a personality divergent from most other deific beings. One qualm about the main characters, their personality traits, don't always mesh seamlessly. They don't contradict one another, but they can crop up abruptly and feel at odds with whatever scene is currently playing out. For instance, the main POV character (Tony Hatfield) is described as having a taste for the spotlight, but its only ever mentioned when he's in the spotlight. So, for long periods of the book he's running from reporters, concealing himself from various official agencies, and then the moment he steps into a new room, the author describes how he gets proverbially 'high' off the spotlight. In the context of the story, the differences makes sense, but the juxtaposition is so sharp it's jarring, especially since it's never mentioned outside of these specific situations. Dr.Magic suffers from some of these instances as well, where the author seems to describe him one way for a particular scene that disagrees with how the character Tony (and thus the readers) perceives him. The huge paragraph dedicated to this critique notwithstanding, though, these are only minor instances, and more due to the the book's hectic pacing than actually flaws int he characters themselves.
Finally, we have the prose, which, barring bouts of awkward phrasing, is quite good.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed reading Seeking Dr.Magic.
Beyond that, the story boasts excellent characters with a good degree of complicated nuance. The best of these is the titular Dr.Magic, who is neither good nor evil and offers a personality divergent from most other deific beings. One qualm about the main characters, their personality traits, don't always mesh seamlessly. They don't contradict one another, but they can crop up abruptly and feel at odds with whatever scene is currently playing out. For instance, the main POV character (Tony Hatfield) is described as having a taste for the spotlight, but its only ever mentioned when he's in the spotlight. So, for long periods of the book he's running from reporters, concealing himself from various official agencies, and then the moment he steps into a new room, the author describes how he gets proverbially 'high' off the spotlight. In the context of the story, the differences makes sense, but the juxtaposition is so sharp it's jarring, especially since it's never mentioned outside of these specific situations. Dr.Magic suffers from some of these instances as well, where the author seems to describe him one way for a particular scene that disagrees with how the character Tony (and thus the readers) perceives him. The huge paragraph dedicated to this critique notwithstanding, though, these are only minor instances, and more due to the the book's hectic pacing than actually flaws int he characters themselves.
Finally, we have the prose, which, barring bouts of awkward phrasing, is quite good.
All in all, I greatly enjoyed reading Seeking Dr.Magic.
October 7, 2017
Here is a gem. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel that never let up in its pace.
After solving the murder of a movie star, the now famous Tony Hetfield retired from the FBI and became a private investigator.
Suddenly he is caught up in another case that has captured the attention of the world. A man of superhuman talents threatens the lives of everyone, and for some reason, after Tony names him Dr. Magic, he chooses to communicate only with the detective, often only to tease and threaten him. Tony's task is hampered when he refuses to cooperate with the FBI and other law enforcement organizations in bringing this mysterious man to justice. Tony will dig for the facts in his own way.
So as Tony is alternately rescued from the antics of Dr. Magic and pursued for colluding with a possible criminal, he eventually unravels the mystery of Dr. Magic. His clever deductions remind me of Sherlock Holmes, which is a delight.
For the most part, the writing is good. The story never drags, and we are continually drawn in, page by page. Description is just enough to give us a picture while keeping up the pace. Tony is the point of view character, but in a couple of places that view point slips in and out of another person's head.
I keep thinking of Dr. Magic as a cartoon character, like Superman, but with a bad attitude. The ending seems a bit of a let-down, but I can't really fault it. It points out the wisdom of Tony's procedure, and it certainly reveals Dr. Magic as a man of potential. Perhaps we'll hear more about him in another novel.
After solving the murder of a movie star, the now famous Tony Hetfield retired from the FBI and became a private investigator.
Suddenly he is caught up in another case that has captured the attention of the world. A man of superhuman talents threatens the lives of everyone, and for some reason, after Tony names him Dr. Magic, he chooses to communicate only with the detective, often only to tease and threaten him. Tony's task is hampered when he refuses to cooperate with the FBI and other law enforcement organizations in bringing this mysterious man to justice. Tony will dig for the facts in his own way.
So as Tony is alternately rescued from the antics of Dr. Magic and pursued for colluding with a possible criminal, he eventually unravels the mystery of Dr. Magic. His clever deductions remind me of Sherlock Holmes, which is a delight.
For the most part, the writing is good. The story never drags, and we are continually drawn in, page by page. Description is just enough to give us a picture while keeping up the pace. Tony is the point of view character, but in a couple of places that view point slips in and out of another person's head.
I keep thinking of Dr. Magic as a cartoon character, like Superman, but with a bad attitude. The ending seems a bit of a let-down, but I can't really fault it. It points out the wisdom of Tony's procedure, and it certainly reveals Dr. Magic as a man of potential. Perhaps we'll hear more about him in another novel.
July 30, 2018
I received this book in exchange for an objective review.
The story is based on an interesting premise: what would happen if a baby with extraordinary magical powers was born to an ordinary normal couple? What kind of man would that child grow up to be? What values would he have? How would that he relate to the rest of mankind? In the author’s concept, there is no magic other than the almost unlimited powers of this strange child.
The story starts when the child, now a young man, bursts upon the unwary world through dramatic acts of magic recorded on cell phones and shared on social media and the news, causing worldwide confusion and terror. The main character who narrates the story is an FBI agent. As the story progresses, the FBI agent transitions to the private sector as a private investigator and takes on the task of finding, identifying, and ultimately understanding the powerful out-of-control wizard.
The narrative is fast paced and entertaining, but the author takes the time to develop characters along the way. The writing is smooth and competent, with a focus on plot and the relationship between the former FBI agent and Mr. Magic, the antagonist.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy an action-packed story that is, given the fantasy premise, a basically realistic book about how people react to what they cannot understand.
The story is based on an interesting premise: what would happen if a baby with extraordinary magical powers was born to an ordinary normal couple? What kind of man would that child grow up to be? What values would he have? How would that he relate to the rest of mankind? In the author’s concept, there is no magic other than the almost unlimited powers of this strange child.
The story starts when the child, now a young man, bursts upon the unwary world through dramatic acts of magic recorded on cell phones and shared on social media and the news, causing worldwide confusion and terror. The main character who narrates the story is an FBI agent. As the story progresses, the FBI agent transitions to the private sector as a private investigator and takes on the task of finding, identifying, and ultimately understanding the powerful out-of-control wizard.
The narrative is fast paced and entertaining, but the author takes the time to develop characters along the way. The writing is smooth and competent, with a focus on plot and the relationship between the former FBI agent and Mr. Magic, the antagonist.
I recommend this book to readers who enjoy an action-packed story that is, given the fantasy premise, a basically realistic book about how people react to what they cannot understand.
June 11, 2017
Nurse911: Having materialized into the waiting room out of thin air, our patient made quite the statement given their desired choice of entry. An investigative genre, Seeking Doctor Magic progresses through the eyes of Detective (and former FBI agent) Tony Hetfield as he takes on what could be considered one of the strangest events humankind has ever witnessed. The overnight celebrity is lead across the globe into a strange adventure unlike anything he's ever trained for in the FBI. I had no trouble grasping this piece for the suspense its plot strives for: a sense of wonder lingering after every clue, tension between characters, and even the thrill of the chase as Hetfield hunts down the notorious Dr. Magic.
March 23, 2018
I really enjoy books that blur lines and make you think deeper about motivations. The two main characters in this story had me asking myself who was the real hero. They both had some qualities of good and bad, as we all do, and at times I flipped my opinion. I won’t say how I ultimately ended up feeling, but I was feeling. Feeling and entertained.
The magical aspects were well done, and played a huge role right from the start. This one was on the lighter side, fantastical, feel good, fast-paced and easy to read in an afternoon. This isn’t my first book from this author and it won’t be my last. He has a wonderful imagination and such range.
The magical aspects were well done, and played a huge role right from the start. This one was on the lighter side, fantastical, feel good, fast-paced and easy to read in an afternoon. This isn’t my first book from this author and it won’t be my last. He has a wonderful imagination and such range.
March 30, 2018
The premise of the story is great – there´s an all-powerful mage in the world who has no idea what to do with his powers, so he mostly uses it to troll people. Good start. From the other, almost normal, side comes Tony. Tony is a forcefully retired FBI agent, who pushes the story forward. The story flows quickly and ends neatly… almost too quickly and too neatly. This is the general trend in the book, where things have a spark of brilliance in them, but don´t really build upon it. Never the less, it is a quick, fun read and the characters actually grew up on me through the course of the book.
June 16, 2018
I liked how different and unique it was. The story was very fresh and different which made it a joy to read. The way the magic was implemented was extremely well done, it was done very subtly and fitted in really well. The characters were all grey too, with their own moral and way of doing things.
The relationship that was built was a nice change too. It wasn’t I need to find out who this guy is to arrest him and get more fame. It was more I need to figure out this person, what makes him tick. Why he does what he does, in order to help him.
The relationship that was built was a nice change too. It wasn’t I need to find out who this guy is to arrest him and get more fame. It was more I need to figure out this person, what makes him tick. Why he does what he does, in order to help him.
January 23, 2016
Book Info
Paperback, 220 pages
Published March 25th 2013 by Createspace
ISBN 1481925628 (ISBN13: 9781481925624)
Source:From authorin exchange for honest review
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
Chaos reigns around the world. Strange creatures, accorded the title "Phantom Ninjas" by the media, are leaping off tall buildings and somersaulting back up without any scratch - and then disappear. There follows more spontaneous acts of magic, confounding the world. Who - or what - is responsible? In the middle of the mystery arrives Detective Hetfield, a private investigator just recently retired from the FBI, who is accustomed to fame as a star witness in the murder trial of a beloved actress. Hetfield, seeking ever more celebrity to boost his profile, uses the media to put forward the theory that a person of extraordinary magical powers is behind all the incidents, and labels him Dr. Magic. Hetfield gets much more than what he bargained for when that powerful being does exist - in the form of a young man long disillusioned with his past - and cruelly takes him up on his offer.
For lovers of witty and light-hearted wizard stories involving magic.
What initially led me to accepting a copy of this book from the author was the aspect of a magical being, the hint that it was a wizard causing the inevitable media circus and the character of Detective Hetfield actually reminded me of one that I had watched in a movie about a police detective who was also a "fame monger". Put all those bits and pieces together and believe it or not the author has pulled off a pretty entertaining story!
Although this is a thoroughly fun read it also has serious overtones as well which lend credibility to it's final outcome. Detective Tony Hetfield reminds me of a cross between investigative reporter Carl Kolchak in the Nightstalker television series , Detective Columbo and fictitious P.I. Remington Steele . Tony is a composite of the unrelenting determination of Kolchak to discover the truth no matter how bizarre, the ability to ferret out leads that others overlook with a canniness born of good investigative skills like Columbo and like the egotistical Remington Steele the skillful use of his charm and good looks to lull people into trusting him with information they would not normally divulge to others.
I have to admit that the entire time reading this book was like watching a Marvel Comics movie! It had the "larger than life" action scenes like something off the big screen and the intellectual appeal that will attract readers to not only Tony Hetfield but Dr Magic as well as both characters are very proficient at the real life game of chess they are playing, the only question in the readers mind is who will reach checkmate first?
Like others before me it is best to leave a lot out so as not to spoil the mystery of "Dr Magic" but the journey you will undertake as Detective Hetfield unravels the true origin and identity of this "prankster" is one you will not want to miss. Like myself and others who have enjoyed the unique aspects created by the author as he pits Hetfield against Magic the book will provide you with an excellent escape from reality for the time it takes to read the story. For myself that is a great incentive and I think it is the same for anyone else who enjoys fantasy as well.
Different than the usual sci-fi fantasy that I read as this one provides a unique paranormal twist to the main character's storyline. I have to say that would have finished quicker if had fewer interruptions the day I actually started the book as at a little over 200 pages it was very fast reading. My thanks to Scott for his initial query about reading the book, just wish could have gotten to it sooner.
Paperback, 220 pages
Published March 25th 2013 by Createspace
ISBN 1481925628 (ISBN13: 9781481925624)
Source:From authorin exchange for honest review
Book Buy Links
AMAZON
B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS
Chaos reigns around the world. Strange creatures, accorded the title "Phantom Ninjas" by the media, are leaping off tall buildings and somersaulting back up without any scratch - and then disappear. There follows more spontaneous acts of magic, confounding the world. Who - or what - is responsible? In the middle of the mystery arrives Detective Hetfield, a private investigator just recently retired from the FBI, who is accustomed to fame as a star witness in the murder trial of a beloved actress. Hetfield, seeking ever more celebrity to boost his profile, uses the media to put forward the theory that a person of extraordinary magical powers is behind all the incidents, and labels him Dr. Magic. Hetfield gets much more than what he bargained for when that powerful being does exist - in the form of a young man long disillusioned with his past - and cruelly takes him up on his offer.
For lovers of witty and light-hearted wizard stories involving magic.
My Thoughts
What initially led me to accepting a copy of this book from the author was the aspect of a magical being, the hint that it was a wizard causing the inevitable media circus and the character of Detective Hetfield actually reminded me of one that I had watched in a movie about a police detective who was also a "fame monger". Put all those bits and pieces together and believe it or not the author has pulled off a pretty entertaining story!
Although this is a thoroughly fun read it also has serious overtones as well which lend credibility to it's final outcome. Detective Tony Hetfield reminds me of a cross between investigative reporter Carl Kolchak in the Nightstalker television series , Detective Columbo and fictitious P.I. Remington Steele . Tony is a composite of the unrelenting determination of Kolchak to discover the truth no matter how bizarre, the ability to ferret out leads that others overlook with a canniness born of good investigative skills like Columbo and like the egotistical Remington Steele the skillful use of his charm and good looks to lull people into trusting him with information they would not normally divulge to others.
I have to admit that the entire time reading this book was like watching a Marvel Comics movie! It had the "larger than life" action scenes like something off the big screen and the intellectual appeal that will attract readers to not only Tony Hetfield but Dr Magic as well as both characters are very proficient at the real life game of chess they are playing, the only question in the readers mind is who will reach checkmate first?
Like others before me it is best to leave a lot out so as not to spoil the mystery of "Dr Magic" but the journey you will undertake as Detective Hetfield unravels the true origin and identity of this "prankster" is one you will not want to miss. Like myself and others who have enjoyed the unique aspects created by the author as he pits Hetfield against Magic the book will provide you with an excellent escape from reality for the time it takes to read the story. For myself that is a great incentive and I think it is the same for anyone else who enjoys fantasy as well.
Different than the usual sci-fi fantasy that I read as this one provides a unique paranormal twist to the main character's storyline. I have to say that would have finished quicker if had fewer interruptions the day I actually started the book as at a little over 200 pages it was very fast reading. My thanks to Scott for his initial query about reading the book, just wish could have gotten to it sooner.
[From author in exchange for honest review]
January 23, 2015
From jbgarner58.wordpress.com:
The problem with being a Starving Reviewer is that you don’t get to choose what you eat at each meal. Whatever literary cuisine is next on my ever-expanding menu list is what you get. After my last review, well, I had certainly wanted a palette cleanser so all I could do is cross my fingers. Like the song says, you might not get what you want but, if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need. As this next meal was plated for me, I could tell by the menu that it had potential at least. Promising to mix a mystery in a world with a sudden appearance of magic and the fantastic, Seeking Dr. Magic looked to have the potential for a fine fusion piece of literary cuisine. Would it fill me up happily or would I feel the need to starve myself once more?
Before we find out the answer, let’s review the Starving Review Creed:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre.
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible.
Let’s take it from the top, then. Seeking Dr. Magic has a solid premise and it approaches that premise in a logical manner. No spoilers to say that, if something truly magical and inexplicable appeared in our modern world, it would be a disrupting experience. Though mostly a character-driven piece, Mr. Spotson covers all his societal bases as well and approaches the angles of such a supernatural incident with a solid outlook on events. Nothing seems contrived and the plot flows in a logical fashion. I especially appreciate that once the ground rules for the supernatural events are laid out, they are adhered to, both in regards to earlier events in the book and all subsequent events. One of the quickest things that can sour a fusion dish like this is when the author starts to break the rules he himself has laid out.
Now, as I mentioned, I consider this to be a dish flavored the most by its characters. The main protagonist and antagonist are very well characterized and it is their interactions that drive the plot and are the best parts of the dish. Properly seasoned and well-baked, they both are real treats. Seeking is at its best when it focuses on these characters, either singularly or together. Some of the secondary characters are touched up nicely, especially two sets of parents in the middle act, but, with so much focus on the main pair, there is a bit of a lack of attention on other secondary characters. They tend to be considerably flatter and the scenes with them tend to be a bit more of a generic mush. However, these scenes aren’t poorly written and, with so much focus on the main characters, they are serviceable enough and don’t collapse the story.
Stylistically, Mr. Spotson’s literary cooking is solid and in some parts, especially his dialogue, it really shines. However, to be fair, some parts suffer from an uneven pacing, generally any stretch where there isn’t significant dialogue. It’s a minor issue though, as the author seems to recognize his strengths and keeps his characters interacting as much as is logically possible. At the end, there are no truly badly written parts, just sections that are fairly vanilla, spiced up considerably by any dialogue scene.
Though I can speak little of it (spoilers and such), I would have to say that, unlike some literary dishes that have a great initial bite but sours by the end, the best parts of Seeking is the entire third act. Writing a proper ending, especially to a stand-alone piece, is as hard as writing that initial hook and Spotson delivers here in spades. It was emotional, logical, and set a proper note of finality to close the book’s story with no dangling threads. Definite bravo there.
Where does that leave us at the end of the meal? To be completely honest, while Seeking Dr. Magic is not perfect, it is still a very enjoyable urban fantasy/mystery fusion dish that delighted me with its fleshed-out characters and flavor-popping finale. If you love either of those genres (or simply enjoy a good piece of popcorn literature), I would suggest you check this book out. You won’t be disappointed!
FINAL VERDICT: **** (Some light, fluffy popcorn with a flavor that sings because of great characterization!)
The problem with being a Starving Reviewer is that you don’t get to choose what you eat at each meal. Whatever literary cuisine is next on my ever-expanding menu list is what you get. After my last review, well, I had certainly wanted a palette cleanser so all I could do is cross my fingers. Like the song says, you might not get what you want but, if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need. As this next meal was plated for me, I could tell by the menu that it had potential at least. Promising to mix a mystery in a world with a sudden appearance of magic and the fantastic, Seeking Dr. Magic looked to have the potential for a fine fusion piece of literary cuisine. Would it fill me up happily or would I feel the need to starve myself once more?
Before we find out the answer, let’s review the Starving Review Creed:
I attempt to rate every book from the perspective of a fan of the genre.
I attempt to make every review as spoiler-free as possible.
Let’s take it from the top, then. Seeking Dr. Magic has a solid premise and it approaches that premise in a logical manner. No spoilers to say that, if something truly magical and inexplicable appeared in our modern world, it would be a disrupting experience. Though mostly a character-driven piece, Mr. Spotson covers all his societal bases as well and approaches the angles of such a supernatural incident with a solid outlook on events. Nothing seems contrived and the plot flows in a logical fashion. I especially appreciate that once the ground rules for the supernatural events are laid out, they are adhered to, both in regards to earlier events in the book and all subsequent events. One of the quickest things that can sour a fusion dish like this is when the author starts to break the rules he himself has laid out.
Now, as I mentioned, I consider this to be a dish flavored the most by its characters. The main protagonist and antagonist are very well characterized and it is their interactions that drive the plot and are the best parts of the dish. Properly seasoned and well-baked, they both are real treats. Seeking is at its best when it focuses on these characters, either singularly or together. Some of the secondary characters are touched up nicely, especially two sets of parents in the middle act, but, with so much focus on the main pair, there is a bit of a lack of attention on other secondary characters. They tend to be considerably flatter and the scenes with them tend to be a bit more of a generic mush. However, these scenes aren’t poorly written and, with so much focus on the main characters, they are serviceable enough and don’t collapse the story.
Stylistically, Mr. Spotson’s literary cooking is solid and in some parts, especially his dialogue, it really shines. However, to be fair, some parts suffer from an uneven pacing, generally any stretch where there isn’t significant dialogue. It’s a minor issue though, as the author seems to recognize his strengths and keeps his characters interacting as much as is logically possible. At the end, there are no truly badly written parts, just sections that are fairly vanilla, spiced up considerably by any dialogue scene.
Though I can speak little of it (spoilers and such), I would have to say that, unlike some literary dishes that have a great initial bite but sours by the end, the best parts of Seeking is the entire third act. Writing a proper ending, especially to a stand-alone piece, is as hard as writing that initial hook and Spotson delivers here in spades. It was emotional, logical, and set a proper note of finality to close the book’s story with no dangling threads. Definite bravo there.
Where does that leave us at the end of the meal? To be completely honest, while Seeking Dr. Magic is not perfect, it is still a very enjoyable urban fantasy/mystery fusion dish that delighted me with its fleshed-out characters and flavor-popping finale. If you love either of those genres (or simply enjoy a good piece of popcorn literature), I would suggest you check this book out. You won’t be disappointed!
FINAL VERDICT: **** (Some light, fluffy popcorn with a flavor that sings because of great characterization!)
April 30, 2014
An attention seeking magician gets exactly what he wants from the world when he has people appear around the globe doing the same impossible stunts and then simply disappearing. While the news goes crazy and conspiracists have a field day, one detective riding a popularity train after a well-publicized case decides he could help share the limelight. Naming the unknown person behind the extraordinary events, he becomes the focus of Dr. Magic. Or maybe we should say the victim of his magical pranks. Who is this mysterious man? What is his purpose? Will he go too far in getting attention?
Overall Thoughts
I have to admit that I wasn’t too sure about the book. The overall synopsis only grabbed me lightly. When I began reading, I have to say that I was hooked as I had to know what was going on. It is an interesting story that has you guessing at every page.
Plot
The plot is what keeps this story going, yet many times I found myself thinking the author was stretching himself to achieve the plot he wanted. It tended to be meshing the ‘real’ world to that of the magical ones that send the public into a tizzy. This causes the story to be rushed in several places.
Characters
The characters themselves were very interesting. The detective really didn’t deviate from his profile though he does grow a little in humility and understanding when he looks at Dr. Magic as more than a venue of getting attention for himself.
As for the magician himself, he stays mainly in the shadows until he reveals himself to the reader and the detective. Then we get to see more of him and begin to understand him better. He is an enigma that I feel is left underdeveloped as the story closes. So much had been built up around him that he lets me down in a big way.
Other minor characters tend to not feel real to me. I could not see some of the people interviewed by the detective acting the way they did. The drama seemed forced with these characters instead of natural. Reactions from the characters were nearly too dramatic. I think more description around the dialogue might have helped as well as more realistic dialogue.
Editing
There were many places within the story where I felt it was apparent that there was little to no editing. It wasn’t so much an issue with commas or grammar. It was more the flow of the story and inconsistencies. Several times it was worded that time had passed as in days and weeks while it had only be two or three days. The wording implied one thing while the timeframe laid out revealed something quite different. I found myself going back and reading sections over again to verify where my thoughts were heading.
Final Thoughts
This is a relatively short read and is a very interesting book. I think with more in the way of content editing, it could be an amazing story to really get the attention of readers. If you like versions of paranormal with some mystery, you should give the story a try. Again, it is not a long read.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author with no expectation of a positive review.
Overall Thoughts
I have to admit that I wasn’t too sure about the book. The overall synopsis only grabbed me lightly. When I began reading, I have to say that I was hooked as I had to know what was going on. It is an interesting story that has you guessing at every page.
Plot
The plot is what keeps this story going, yet many times I found myself thinking the author was stretching himself to achieve the plot he wanted. It tended to be meshing the ‘real’ world to that of the magical ones that send the public into a tizzy. This causes the story to be rushed in several places.
Characters
The characters themselves were very interesting. The detective really didn’t deviate from his profile though he does grow a little in humility and understanding when he looks at Dr. Magic as more than a venue of getting attention for himself.
As for the magician himself, he stays mainly in the shadows until he reveals himself to the reader and the detective. Then we get to see more of him and begin to understand him better. He is an enigma that I feel is left underdeveloped as the story closes. So much had been built up around him that he lets me down in a big way.
Other minor characters tend to not feel real to me. I could not see some of the people interviewed by the detective acting the way they did. The drama seemed forced with these characters instead of natural. Reactions from the characters were nearly too dramatic. I think more description around the dialogue might have helped as well as more realistic dialogue.
Editing
There were many places within the story where I felt it was apparent that there was little to no editing. It wasn’t so much an issue with commas or grammar. It was more the flow of the story and inconsistencies. Several times it was worded that time had passed as in days and weeks while it had only be two or three days. The wording implied one thing while the timeframe laid out revealed something quite different. I found myself going back and reading sections over again to verify where my thoughts were heading.
Final Thoughts
This is a relatively short read and is a very interesting book. I think with more in the way of content editing, it could be an amazing story to really get the attention of readers. If you like versions of paranormal with some mystery, you should give the story a try. Again, it is not a long read.
Disclaimer: I received this book from the author with no expectation of a positive review.
December 27, 2013
‘Seeking Dr. Magic’ by Scott Spotson is a fun read that combines mystery and the paranormal. I read it after the author’s ‘The Four Kings’. One thing I got in the end was that the wizards introduced in the stories were scary. The magical beings can easily summon anything they want. Coming back to ‘Seeking Dr. Magic’, if you like one person’s struggle to solve the mystery behind a powerful being, then this book is for you.
Tony Hetfield serves as the eyes and ears of the reader. After the events that occur during a murder case, he is released from the FBI and decides to start his ‘personal investigator’ profession. Things don’t go as planned because someone, named ‘Dr. Magic’ by Tony, decides to demonstrate his powers to the world. What follows is quite a gripping adventure as Tony tries to find the true identity of Dr. Magic. Tony comes across as quite an experienced detective. He also knows how the ‘system’ works and he’s able to cover his tracks. I enjoyed his character. He seems to be the person who wants to do things his own way.
As for Dr. Magic, the other main character, it was interesting to know more about him. The things that Tony discovers made Dr. Magic more ‘human’. In a sense, the magical being was just a kid, a kid who was born powerful and thus, different from the rest. As the story unfolds, we see that he is still a kid, trying to grow up without a human friend. It was surprising to know he had lived numerous lives, becoming someone else every time. But even with all the power, he couldn’t find one true friend. He’s able to conjure up beings for his amusement, but they aren’t ‘real’. Maybe that’s why he decides to let the world know he exists and have some fun. There are some limitations to his powers. He can’t seem to bring back people he had ‘moleculized’ and he can get hurt if not careful, just like any normal human.
You get to know from the beginning that Tony and Dr. Magic seem to share a special bond. A bond that makes Dr. Magic trust Tony and even give him enough for his true identity to be unraveled. The way Tony goes about in order to unmask Dr. Magic made sense. He did a lot of research and the author did a good job in explaining what went on in his head in order to ‘narrow down’ the suspects. The relationship between parents and their children was also touched in the story. I really liked reading about that. All the talk about parents being afraid of their child and not accepting him really enhanced the experience of the story.
I was expecting some more insight into the magical world. But in the end, I guess Dr. Magic was really the only ‘special’ one. I give ‘Seeking Dr. Magic’ by Scott Spotson 4.5 stars out of five. It’s a gripping tale about one man’s search for the truth, but leaves more to be desired when it comes to the magical world.
http://tempestraven.wordpress.com/201...
Tony Hetfield serves as the eyes and ears of the reader. After the events that occur during a murder case, he is released from the FBI and decides to start his ‘personal investigator’ profession. Things don’t go as planned because someone, named ‘Dr. Magic’ by Tony, decides to demonstrate his powers to the world. What follows is quite a gripping adventure as Tony tries to find the true identity of Dr. Magic. Tony comes across as quite an experienced detective. He also knows how the ‘system’ works and he’s able to cover his tracks. I enjoyed his character. He seems to be the person who wants to do things his own way.
As for Dr. Magic, the other main character, it was interesting to know more about him. The things that Tony discovers made Dr. Magic more ‘human’. In a sense, the magical being was just a kid, a kid who was born powerful and thus, different from the rest. As the story unfolds, we see that he is still a kid, trying to grow up without a human friend. It was surprising to know he had lived numerous lives, becoming someone else every time. But even with all the power, he couldn’t find one true friend. He’s able to conjure up beings for his amusement, but they aren’t ‘real’. Maybe that’s why he decides to let the world know he exists and have some fun. There are some limitations to his powers. He can’t seem to bring back people he had ‘moleculized’ and he can get hurt if not careful, just like any normal human.
You get to know from the beginning that Tony and Dr. Magic seem to share a special bond. A bond that makes Dr. Magic trust Tony and even give him enough for his true identity to be unraveled. The way Tony goes about in order to unmask Dr. Magic made sense. He did a lot of research and the author did a good job in explaining what went on in his head in order to ‘narrow down’ the suspects. The relationship between parents and their children was also touched in the story. I really liked reading about that. All the talk about parents being afraid of their child and not accepting him really enhanced the experience of the story.
I was expecting some more insight into the magical world. But in the end, I guess Dr. Magic was really the only ‘special’ one. I give ‘Seeking Dr. Magic’ by Scott Spotson 4.5 stars out of five. It’s a gripping tale about one man’s search for the truth, but leaves more to be desired when it comes to the magical world.
http://tempestraven.wordpress.com/201...
February 15, 2014
Every book has a driving force summoned to make it a memorable read. In regards to Seeking Dr.Magic, the driving force is the mysterious Magic that’s acquainted only with the young Protagonist referred to as Dr.Magic .
Although we are never introduced as of how the protagonist acquires mysterious powers and ability to thrash the whole world into whirlpools of despair, the author Scott Spotson billows the story to an unscathed tale which remnants the readers by the final word of last page.
With many Detective novels, I can instinctively guess the suspense just before the midst of the book, which was unlike the case with this novel. I must highly appreciate, Scott kept coming up with highly intriguing and undefinable mysteries throughout the novel that kept me second guessing as I was wrong every time with my primary instincts.
With the introduction of Ninjas performing dangerous daredevil stunts on high rise New York Buildings and all the news media going crazy over these mysteriously disappearing creatures, the life of our main lead, Detective Hetfield was always in a state of jeopardy.
The controller of these Ninjas, referred to as Dr.Magic is presented to be extremely powerful with his magic abilities who can produce dangerous Ninjas, Fire blazing Dragons, Challenge the storms and oceans and captor any person, just with a flick of his fingers.
The suspense remained intact throughout the novel. Why was Dr.Magic after Detective Hetfield? What he wanted of him? What was the dilemma behind his grotesque? What shall become of Hetfield with his tug of war with Dr.Magic on a side and the news media on the other?
So many questions kept beckoning my mind and held me right on the edge of my seat as I went on discovering the thrilling adventures and painful background behind the protagonists childhood, whom the world deemed a threat.
Although I am not completely satisfied with how the book ended as I feel the story was wrapped up too quickly after building a grand plot and platform for what could have been a 5 starer.
The end could have been definitely elongated to a smooth, content and memorable way rather than leaving it obscure.
I assume Scott was on a dead line as to finish with this book?
Well, maybe I over-said it.
Overall the entire read was a thrilling and whirlwind experience to me. Strong story and convincing characters with a great morale.
Not sure if the magic was as convincing as much as the plot and story? I’m yet to decide on it. But it was highly entertaining and thrilling and went perfectly balanced with the story.
Seeking Dr.Magic is a novel that would entertain any Young Adult reader loving Fantasy Genre with a right mix of Detective, Suspense and Magic.
So pull down the brim of your hat, slip on some dark shades, get into some black detective overcoat and grab this book and be rest assured for a entertaining and refreshing weekend.
Thumbs UP!!!
Although we are never introduced as of how the protagonist acquires mysterious powers and ability to thrash the whole world into whirlpools of despair, the author Scott Spotson billows the story to an unscathed tale which remnants the readers by the final word of last page.
With many Detective novels, I can instinctively guess the suspense just before the midst of the book, which was unlike the case with this novel. I must highly appreciate, Scott kept coming up with highly intriguing and undefinable mysteries throughout the novel that kept me second guessing as I was wrong every time with my primary instincts.
With the introduction of Ninjas performing dangerous daredevil stunts on high rise New York Buildings and all the news media going crazy over these mysteriously disappearing creatures, the life of our main lead, Detective Hetfield was always in a state of jeopardy.
The controller of these Ninjas, referred to as Dr.Magic is presented to be extremely powerful with his magic abilities who can produce dangerous Ninjas, Fire blazing Dragons, Challenge the storms and oceans and captor any person, just with a flick of his fingers.
The suspense remained intact throughout the novel. Why was Dr.Magic after Detective Hetfield? What he wanted of him? What was the dilemma behind his grotesque? What shall become of Hetfield with his tug of war with Dr.Magic on a side and the news media on the other?
So many questions kept beckoning my mind and held me right on the edge of my seat as I went on discovering the thrilling adventures and painful background behind the protagonists childhood, whom the world deemed a threat.
Although I am not completely satisfied with how the book ended as I feel the story was wrapped up too quickly after building a grand plot and platform for what could have been a 5 starer.
The end could have been definitely elongated to a smooth, content and memorable way rather than leaving it obscure.
I assume Scott was on a dead line as to finish with this book?
Well, maybe I over-said it.
Overall the entire read was a thrilling and whirlwind experience to me. Strong story and convincing characters with a great morale.
Not sure if the magic was as convincing as much as the plot and story? I’m yet to decide on it. But it was highly entertaining and thrilling and went perfectly balanced with the story.
Seeking Dr.Magic is a novel that would entertain any Young Adult reader loving Fantasy Genre with a right mix of Detective, Suspense and Magic.
So pull down the brim of your hat, slip on some dark shades, get into some black detective overcoat and grab this book and be rest assured for a entertaining and refreshing weekend.
Thumbs UP!!!
October 29, 2013
This review is from: Seeking Dr. Magic (Kindle Edition)
When I read Scott Spotson's other book, Life II, I automatically downloaded Seeking Dr. Magic, not realising it was a novella. I was somewhat shocked to discover myself at the end of the story when I was settling in for what I thought would be a long haul. ( Life II is over 500 pages long). That Seeking Dr. Magic turned out to be so short was disappointing.
Seeking Dr. Magic is an oddly quirky story that I find hard to categorise. It is a tale of imagination, yes, but is it something else? A moral fable, perhaps, warning that actions have consequences or that a normal life is not achievable unless one chooses to live life normally? This certainly is a lesson that Dr. Magic learns at the end of the story.
Despite the book's brevity, Spotson delivers (as I would have expected from him) a very compelling tale and produces two very credible, if not particularly attractive characters. Hetfield, retired FBI agent and fame junkie, is initially arrogant and lacking in charm but he grows in stature as he begins to become aware of the needs of others. Dr. Magic, self-centred, immature, morally bankrupt and extremely selfish, finds some sort of epiphany towards the end but not enough to make me warm to him. That, of course is my subjective reaction to a cleverly drawn character. I rather imagine I am supposed to feel like that.
Spotson is a writer of considerable imagination (see Life II for further evidence of this) and he is not afraid to give it free rein. Readers raised on a diet of DC and Marvel comics will easily accept the sudden appearance in society's midst of a mythical figure who possesses awesome powers but generally such `heroes' are not of this earth. Dr. Magic is human and one of the book's weaknesses is that Spotson does not attempt to explain how a human could have come to have been born with such powers. A minor failure here, I believe. There's always a possibility of a credible explanation. I thus had a problem with `...suspending my disbelief' and accepting that a human could possess such inexplicably limitless magic. (Hence the 4* as opposed to a 5* rating.)
These criticisms aside, however, I will say that aficionados of the fantasy novel will revel in this imaginative offering. Spotson's writing is fast-paced, unobtrusive and carries the reader along without allowing too much time for critical thought. He weaves a fascinating story from the material he has chosen to work with and I flashed through it in one sitting without my interest flagging...and I seldom, if ever, read fantasy! If you are a reader of fantasy fiction or sci-fi, you could do a lot worse than download this book. You will thoroughly enjoy it.
When I read Scott Spotson's other book, Life II, I automatically downloaded Seeking Dr. Magic, not realising it was a novella. I was somewhat shocked to discover myself at the end of the story when I was settling in for what I thought would be a long haul. ( Life II is over 500 pages long). That Seeking Dr. Magic turned out to be so short was disappointing.
Seeking Dr. Magic is an oddly quirky story that I find hard to categorise. It is a tale of imagination, yes, but is it something else? A moral fable, perhaps, warning that actions have consequences or that a normal life is not achievable unless one chooses to live life normally? This certainly is a lesson that Dr. Magic learns at the end of the story.
Despite the book's brevity, Spotson delivers (as I would have expected from him) a very compelling tale and produces two very credible, if not particularly attractive characters. Hetfield, retired FBI agent and fame junkie, is initially arrogant and lacking in charm but he grows in stature as he begins to become aware of the needs of others. Dr. Magic, self-centred, immature, morally bankrupt and extremely selfish, finds some sort of epiphany towards the end but not enough to make me warm to him. That, of course is my subjective reaction to a cleverly drawn character. I rather imagine I am supposed to feel like that.
Spotson is a writer of considerable imagination (see Life II for further evidence of this) and he is not afraid to give it free rein. Readers raised on a diet of DC and Marvel comics will easily accept the sudden appearance in society's midst of a mythical figure who possesses awesome powers but generally such `heroes' are not of this earth. Dr. Magic is human and one of the book's weaknesses is that Spotson does not attempt to explain how a human could have come to have been born with such powers. A minor failure here, I believe. There's always a possibility of a credible explanation. I thus had a problem with `...suspending my disbelief' and accepting that a human could possess such inexplicably limitless magic. (Hence the 4* as opposed to a 5* rating.)
These criticisms aside, however, I will say that aficionados of the fantasy novel will revel in this imaginative offering. Spotson's writing is fast-paced, unobtrusive and carries the reader along without allowing too much time for critical thought. He weaves a fascinating story from the material he has chosen to work with and I flashed through it in one sitting without my interest flagging...and I seldom, if ever, read fantasy! If you are a reader of fantasy fiction or sci-fi, you could do a lot worse than download this book. You will thoroughly enjoy it.
August 5, 2013
New review as of 5th August 2013
As per the author's request, I have now finished reading the edited version of Seeking Dr. Magic.
Once again, I'll say that this was a quick and easy read. I actually found myself better able to emphasise with the characters this time round, though Hetfield still came across as quite arrogant.
I liked the fact that Dr. Magic had interacted with Hetfield before and what had happened there. It gave more of a look into Dr. Magic's true personality. I could also see how lonely Dr. Magic truly was and how he attached himself so quickly to Hetfield.
I have to say, I did find several errors in the book. I also thought that the scenes with the Spanish speech could have been written slightly differently - the author alternated between writing a character's dialogue in Spanish and writing it in English while saying it was actually in Spanish. I personally feel it should have been one or the other, not both.
I liked Hetfield's relationship with Kathleen Mulligan. I felt it made him a more human character.
I also liked the scene between Dr. Magic and Hetfield before and during the fire wall - and I was better able to believe Dr. Magic's remorse at the end of the book. All told, I was better able to emphasise with the characters generally.
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
This book was a fairly quick, easy read. It made me think more of the sort of fantasy books I'd read as a child.
I liked the idea behind the book and I really could emphasise with Dr. Magic, though I felt that Tony wasn't a very likable character - he was quite arrogant and I had the impression he didn't truly care about Dr. Magic - not until towards the end, anyway.
I liked the explanations behind what Dr. Magic could do, though I would have liked more of an explanation about... how. Also, I still didn't really see much of a 'good' side to Dr. Magic... Why did he suddenly have this change of heart? He changed far too quickly and I really didn't trust his apparent decision to be 'normal'.
I did notice several errors in the book. There was some awkward phrasing and one whole line where there weren't any spaces between the words. Also, the two sets of parents were very similar to each other.
I think this book would work better for younger readers. It's the sort of thing I would have loved years ago, but I now question the motivations of characters a lot more now. I did enjoy it and it was really easy to read - I just think there could have been a lot more to it.
As per the author's request, I have now finished reading the edited version of Seeking Dr. Magic.
Once again, I'll say that this was a quick and easy read. I actually found myself better able to emphasise with the characters this time round, though Hetfield still came across as quite arrogant.
I liked the fact that Dr. Magic had interacted with Hetfield before and what had happened there. It gave more of a look into Dr. Magic's true personality. I could also see how lonely Dr. Magic truly was and how he attached himself so quickly to Hetfield.
I have to say, I did find several errors in the book. I also thought that the scenes with the Spanish speech could have been written slightly differently - the author alternated between writing a character's dialogue in Spanish and writing it in English while saying it was actually in Spanish. I personally feel it should have been one or the other, not both.
I liked Hetfield's relationship with Kathleen Mulligan. I felt it made him a more human character.
I also liked the scene between Dr. Magic and Hetfield before and during the fire wall - and I was better able to believe Dr. Magic's remorse at the end of the book. All told, I was better able to emphasise with the characters generally.
(I received this book for free as part of Goodreads First Reads giveaways).
(This review may contain spoilers).
This book was a fairly quick, easy read. It made me think more of the sort of fantasy books I'd read as a child.
I liked the idea behind the book and I really could emphasise with Dr. Magic, though I felt that Tony wasn't a very likable character - he was quite arrogant and I had the impression he didn't truly care about Dr. Magic - not until towards the end, anyway.
I liked the explanations behind what Dr. Magic could do, though I would have liked more of an explanation about... how. Also, I still didn't really see much of a 'good' side to Dr. Magic... Why did he suddenly have this change of heart? He changed far too quickly and I really didn't trust his apparent decision to be 'normal'.
I did notice several errors in the book. There was some awkward phrasing and one whole line where there weren't any spaces between the words. Also, the two sets of parents were very similar to each other.
I think this book would work better for younger readers. It's the sort of thing I would have loved years ago, but I now question the motivations of characters a lot more now. I did enjoy it and it was really easy to read - I just think there could have been a lot more to it.
June 3, 2013
A truly gripping story by Scott Spotson as this excerpt from the book will bear out…
"Just then, out of the corners of his eyes, he saw a reporter pick up his mobile phone and speak into it. Herfield was annoyed. He didn't approve of interruptions caused by mobile devices during organized events, attributing such behavior to unfortunate habits newly developed by the younger generation...
"The first image they saw was a grainy close-up of what appeared to be a ninja clad in a black outfit, standing on top of a building...They were fixated on the image of the solitary figure on top of the building, precariously situated close to the edge. Suddenly, the character deliberately leapt up, tucking his legs in. Throughout the room, everyone gave a short utterance of surprise, shocked. They saw the figure do one flip, then he disappeared from range. The clip then zoomed down several stories, so fast that they were unable to count how many. But it seemed like anywhere from five to ten.
"Then some yelled, "He's going to jump again!"
"Even before the speaker finished, they watched as the figure jumped up impossibly fast, as if in a blur. The figure once again left the range of the screen...
only to disappear...
"...in St. Petersburg, Russia, Cape Town, Africa, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil..."
FBI Special Agent Tony Hetfield has called a press conference. The plan is to announce his retirement and the start up of his detective agency. The above excerpt is what drew attention away from his big announcement. Hetfield doesn’t skip a beat, he knows that this person has to be a “super human being” to pull off what he had just seen. He sets out to meet this person and this is where things get truly interesting or some might say bizarre.
He does get his meeting but it was not what anyone would expect. He comes to hanging upside down on a bungee cord, not knowing how he got there, and not remembering taking the leap at all. He went seeking the person he had dubbed “Dr. Magic”, and this was the frightening result. He felt challenged in a way he hadn’t been in a very long time.
This story will appeal to readers of all ages. There is dram, suspense, mystery and an abundance of action. This is the Brain VS Brawn showdown that will have you on the edge of your seat every step of the way. It is an easy read with just a bit over
200 pages. Once you read it you will be hoping to see it on the big screen.
"Just then, out of the corners of his eyes, he saw a reporter pick up his mobile phone and speak into it. Herfield was annoyed. He didn't approve of interruptions caused by mobile devices during organized events, attributing such behavior to unfortunate habits newly developed by the younger generation...
"The first image they saw was a grainy close-up of what appeared to be a ninja clad in a black outfit, standing on top of a building...They were fixated on the image of the solitary figure on top of the building, precariously situated close to the edge. Suddenly, the character deliberately leapt up, tucking his legs in. Throughout the room, everyone gave a short utterance of surprise, shocked. They saw the figure do one flip, then he disappeared from range. The clip then zoomed down several stories, so fast that they were unable to count how many. But it seemed like anywhere from five to ten.
"Then some yelled, "He's going to jump again!"
"Even before the speaker finished, they watched as the figure jumped up impossibly fast, as if in a blur. The figure once again left the range of the screen...
only to disappear...
"...in St. Petersburg, Russia, Cape Town, Africa, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil..."
FBI Special Agent Tony Hetfield has called a press conference. The plan is to announce his retirement and the start up of his detective agency. The above excerpt is what drew attention away from his big announcement. Hetfield doesn’t skip a beat, he knows that this person has to be a “super human being” to pull off what he had just seen. He sets out to meet this person and this is where things get truly interesting or some might say bizarre.
He does get his meeting but it was not what anyone would expect. He comes to hanging upside down on a bungee cord, not knowing how he got there, and not remembering taking the leap at all. He went seeking the person he had dubbed “Dr. Magic”, and this was the frightening result. He felt challenged in a way he hadn’t been in a very long time.
This story will appeal to readers of all ages. There is dram, suspense, mystery and an abundance of action. This is the Brain VS Brawn showdown that will have you on the edge of your seat every step of the way. It is an easy read with just a bit over
200 pages. Once you read it you will be hoping to see it on the big screen.
July 3, 2013
Full review has been posted on Happy Indulgence Book Blog. Check it out for more reviews!
Seeking Dr Magic had a very comic book feel about it, where two arch enemies are pitted against each other. Like the relationship between Joker and Batman, these two need each other like fire and water.
The protagonist is Tony Hetfield, Ex-FBI and self-made private investigator who has a thirst for fame. He gets more than he bargains for when his media interview is interrupted by a strange occurrence; Phantom Ninjas who somersault off tall buildings without a scratch. Hetfield deduces that a man called Dr Magic is behind this work of magic, and he begins his trial of tracking down Dr Magic and finding out who he is. The two begin a quid pro quo as Dr Magic uses his magic to transport Hetfield from Chicago to New York at a blink of an eye, and then begins their strangely co-dependent relationship.
Throughout the book, Hetfield believes that Dr Magic is not an evil man, and he hides the identity of his nemesis from the FBI and US Government. Dr Magic is a 21 year old boy who just wants some recognition and fame for his amazing powers, which Hetfield relates to throughout the book. How Hetfield deduces who Dr Magic is and how he came to be is true of his PI caliber, as he learns how to side step Dr Magic’s threats and uses his investigative skills to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The way the media, FBI and general population responded to Hetfield, in his celebrity status as the man who named Dr Magic, reminded me of a comic book. These characters are blown out of the water by several traits, especially the villain and his thirst for power and Hetfield and his need for fame. While the whole world is in awe of Dr Magic and fears him, it’s Hetfield that breaks him out of his pattern and believes in him.
Overall, I enjoyed Seeking Dr Magic, it’s a story that pretty much shows you that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. It’s a story about believing in yourself and taking responsibility for your actions. I’d recommend this story to readers of all ages, with it’s mystery, suspense and action.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for sending me this book!
Seeking Dr Magic had a very comic book feel about it, where two arch enemies are pitted against each other. Like the relationship between Joker and Batman, these two need each other like fire and water.
The protagonist is Tony Hetfield, Ex-FBI and self-made private investigator who has a thirst for fame. He gets more than he bargains for when his media interview is interrupted by a strange occurrence; Phantom Ninjas who somersault off tall buildings without a scratch. Hetfield deduces that a man called Dr Magic is behind this work of magic, and he begins his trial of tracking down Dr Magic and finding out who he is. The two begin a quid pro quo as Dr Magic uses his magic to transport Hetfield from Chicago to New York at a blink of an eye, and then begins their strangely co-dependent relationship.
Throughout the book, Hetfield believes that Dr Magic is not an evil man, and he hides the identity of his nemesis from the FBI and US Government. Dr Magic is a 21 year old boy who just wants some recognition and fame for his amazing powers, which Hetfield relates to throughout the book. How Hetfield deduces who Dr Magic is and how he came to be is true of his PI caliber, as he learns how to side step Dr Magic’s threats and uses his investigative skills to get to the bottom of the mystery.
The way the media, FBI and general population responded to Hetfield, in his celebrity status as the man who named Dr Magic, reminded me of a comic book. These characters are blown out of the water by several traits, especially the villain and his thirst for power and Hetfield and his need for fame. While the whole world is in awe of Dr Magic and fears him, it’s Hetfield that breaks him out of his pattern and believes in him.
Overall, I enjoyed Seeking Dr Magic, it’s a story that pretty much shows you that anything is possible if you set your mind to it. It’s a story about believing in yourself and taking responsibility for your actions. I’d recommend this story to readers of all ages, with it’s mystery, suspense and action.
I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for sending me this book!
September 30, 2013
Seeking Dr. Magic is the intriguing tale of retired FBI Special Agent Tony Hetfield who stumbles across a real life wonder—the devious Dr. Magic. He appears seemingly out of nowhere with a gaggle of followers performing incredible feats and turns Hetfield’s life into a living hell by putting him at the center of the events. Hetfield’s gut tells him there is more to Dr. Magic than what the main media thinks so he begins an investigation of the mysterious magician with dangerous, exciting, and jaw-dropping results.
Aside from the awfully interesting premise, Seeking Dr. Magic’s best quality is its use of traditional storytelling. It smacks of old detective stories and film noir in terms of style. The settings, the descriptions, the characters, and the world all have the familiar taste of early 1980’s detective fiction, but Spotson puts a new spin on it with the elements of fantasy. Fans of both the crime-solving and urban fantasy genres will definitely enjoy the way the story unfolds. Dr. Magic himself also has an impish appeal to him that keeps the reader sucked within the pages.
However, there are some problems. The main one is pacing. The novel is plot-centric rather than character-centric, which is not a crime at all, but it also means that it takes a long time to connect with Hetfield on a personal level. It isn’t until the double digit chapters that we learn anything about the protagonist aside from the fact that he loves being famous and he doesn’t think Dr. Magic is evil. This notion might frustrate some readers.
Additonally, the traditional storytelling is both a gift and a curse. On the one hand, it is refreshing to read a story that follows a certain beat and flow with its diction without any cheap gimmicks or purple prose or clever references that one has to Google. On the other hand, there are some instances of language that most modern writers avoid: specifically, adverbs after a dialogue tag, starting nearly every chapter off with a setting and not dialogue, and the characters’ dialogue is incredibly formal. This, however, is up to a reader’s preference. Some people enjoy it and others don’t. It can go either way, really.
Despite the drawbacks, Seeking Dr. Magic is still well told and with vibrant imagination.
Aside from the awfully interesting premise, Seeking Dr. Magic’s best quality is its use of traditional storytelling. It smacks of old detective stories and film noir in terms of style. The settings, the descriptions, the characters, and the world all have the familiar taste of early 1980’s detective fiction, but Spotson puts a new spin on it with the elements of fantasy. Fans of both the crime-solving and urban fantasy genres will definitely enjoy the way the story unfolds. Dr. Magic himself also has an impish appeal to him that keeps the reader sucked within the pages.
However, there are some problems. The main one is pacing. The novel is plot-centric rather than character-centric, which is not a crime at all, but it also means that it takes a long time to connect with Hetfield on a personal level. It isn’t until the double digit chapters that we learn anything about the protagonist aside from the fact that he loves being famous and he doesn’t think Dr. Magic is evil. This notion might frustrate some readers.
Additonally, the traditional storytelling is both a gift and a curse. On the one hand, it is refreshing to read a story that follows a certain beat and flow with its diction without any cheap gimmicks or purple prose or clever references that one has to Google. On the other hand, there are some instances of language that most modern writers avoid: specifically, adverbs after a dialogue tag, starting nearly every chapter off with a setting and not dialogue, and the characters’ dialogue is incredibly formal. This, however, is up to a reader’s preference. Some people enjoy it and others don’t. It can go either way, really.
Despite the drawbacks, Seeking Dr. Magic is still well told and with vibrant imagination.
November 19, 2013
This is a book that I have found very hard to classify with regard to genre.
I originally thought it would be urban fantasy because of the use of the word magic in the title. However, that genre is generally built upon the trope that there is a society of magical beings (perhaps hidden in the real world) that the story involves, which is not the case here because the only character with 'magical' abilities is the titular Dr. Magic.
Then I thought I could look at it from the point of the superhero genre (I'm an old comic book fan), and if you scrinch up your eyes and look at it sideways you can see similarities in this story with Alan Moore's 'Watchmen'. The protagonist is trying to 'deal' with the world's first true superhuman; a being with god-like powers of creation and movement. However, that genre is thoroughly based on high drama and action, which this book isn't. As the blurb says, it is a light-hearted and fun novel.
There are also aspects of a police procedural here as well, because the point-of-view character is an ex-FBI Special Agent turned Private Investigator who uses his detective skills to 'seek' Dr. Magic in a thoroughly logical manner. However, finding and 'dealing' with Dr. Magic are two very different things, as our main character quickly finds out.
And finally there are the miraculous acts of Dr Magic himself, which both demonstrate his incredible power and simultaneously baffle because of their apparent lack of motive. And it is the revelation of some of these motives in the story's denouement which leads me to the only firm commitment to a genre for this book that I am willing to make.
This book would happily sit in the YA area of the bookstore; it is kid friendly and there are lessons to be learnt from this story.
Taking into account all the above, I felt the book lacked some focus. This was emphasised for me by the apparent lack of motive for the actions of Dr. Magic. In the end there does turn out to be a motive, but in my opinion, what is missing from the story is the protagonist, and the rest of the world, asking: 'Why is Dr. Magic doing what he is doing?'.
My rating would be 3.5 stars, but definitely not 4.
I originally thought it would be urban fantasy because of the use of the word magic in the title. However, that genre is generally built upon the trope that there is a society of magical beings (perhaps hidden in the real world) that the story involves, which is not the case here because the only character with 'magical' abilities is the titular Dr. Magic.
Then I thought I could look at it from the point of the superhero genre (I'm an old comic book fan), and if you scrinch up your eyes and look at it sideways you can see similarities in this story with Alan Moore's 'Watchmen'. The protagonist is trying to 'deal' with the world's first true superhuman; a being with god-like powers of creation and movement. However, that genre is thoroughly based on high drama and action, which this book isn't. As the blurb says, it is a light-hearted and fun novel.
There are also aspects of a police procedural here as well, because the point-of-view character is an ex-FBI Special Agent turned Private Investigator who uses his detective skills to 'seek' Dr. Magic in a thoroughly logical manner. However, finding and 'dealing' with Dr. Magic are two very different things, as our main character quickly finds out.
And finally there are the miraculous acts of Dr Magic himself, which both demonstrate his incredible power and simultaneously baffle because of their apparent lack of motive. And it is the revelation of some of these motives in the story's denouement which leads me to the only firm commitment to a genre for this book that I am willing to make.
This book would happily sit in the YA area of the bookstore; it is kid friendly and there are lessons to be learnt from this story.
Taking into account all the above, I felt the book lacked some focus. This was emphasised for me by the apparent lack of motive for the actions of Dr. Magic. In the end there does turn out to be a motive, but in my opinion, what is missing from the story is the protagonist, and the rest of the world, asking: 'Why is Dr. Magic doing what he is doing?'.
My rating would be 3.5 stars, but definitely not 4.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews