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The Erin O'Reilly Mysteries #6
Black Magic
A cop watches your hands; a magician shows you the wrong one.
New Year’s Eve is a time for new beginnings, but it’s business as usual for Detective Erin O’Reilly and her K-9, Rolf. A midnight magic show on Broadway goes horribly wrong and a woman dies onstage. Is it a dreadful accident or an act of murderous sabotage? It’s up to Erin to unravel the web of deception surrounding the death, even as her personal life threatens to spiral into chaos.
She's caught the eye of Irish mobster Morton "Cars" Carlyle, and worse, she's beginning to like him back. It seems obvious that a relationship between a police officer and a criminal is a disaster waiting to happen. But as Erin is coming to discover, in the underworld and on the stage, things are rarely as they seem.
New Year’s Eve is a time for new beginnings, but it’s business as usual for Detective Erin O’Reilly and her K-9, Rolf. A midnight magic show on Broadway goes horribly wrong and a woman dies onstage. Is it a dreadful accident or an act of murderous sabotage? It’s up to Erin to unravel the web of deception surrounding the death, even as her personal life threatens to spiral into chaos.
She's caught the eye of Irish mobster Morton "Cars" Carlyle, and worse, she's beginning to like him back. It seems obvious that a relationship between a police officer and a criminal is a disaster waiting to happen. But as Erin is coming to discover, in the underworld and on the stage, things are rarely as they seem.
- GenresMystery
204 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2019
324 people are currently reading
57 people want to read
About the author
Steven Henry
37 books81 followersSteven Henry is the USA Today bestselling author of the Erin O’Reilly mysteries and the Clarion Chronicles.
Steven learned how to read almost before he learned how to walk. Ever since he began reading stories, he wanted to put his own on the page. He lives a very quiet and ordinary life in Minnesota with his wife and dog.
Steven learned how to read almost before he learned how to walk. Ever since he began reading stories, he wanted to put his own on the page. He lives a very quiet and ordinary life in Minnesota with his wife and dog.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
February 12, 2020
Well, Steven, this has been one of my favorite books of your series. I don't know how you come up with your storylines. This was a good one.
You are great at writing snarky dialogue. I love it. There's a fantasy series that I like (by Michael J. Sullivan), and the two main characters, who are a team of Robin Hood types, have some good snarky conversations and lines. But I think you are much better at it. It adds a lot of flavor to the characters and the scene. When the two morgue guys show up at the crime scene and then start singing, "I'm not half the man I used to be," that was so sickly funny, I laughed out loud. Do you and your wife banter about with such lines?
Anyway, I also like the character, Carlyle, and not just because that's my middle name. Jung said we have the person we show the world, but we also have (what he called) the shadow self. Maybe an easier way of saying it is, we are all a mix of the person we are, outwardly, along with the person we wish we could be. We, then, all make our choices based on the mixture. Carlyle is one of those people wrestling with his inner mix. Especially since you have done a good job of giving his back story.
Good work, Steven! You've done it again!
You are great at writing snarky dialogue. I love it. There's a fantasy series that I like (by Michael J. Sullivan), and the two main characters, who are a team of Robin Hood types, have some good snarky conversations and lines. But I think you are much better at it. It adds a lot of flavor to the characters and the scene. When the two morgue guys show up at the crime scene and then start singing, "I'm not half the man I used to be," that was so sickly funny, I laughed out loud. Do you and your wife banter about with such lines?
Anyway, I also like the character, Carlyle, and not just because that's my middle name. Jung said we have the person we show the world, but we also have (what he called) the shadow self. Maybe an easier way of saying it is, we are all a mix of the person we are, outwardly, along with the person we wish we could be. We, then, all make our choices based on the mixture. Carlyle is one of those people wrestling with his inner mix. Especially since you have done a good job of giving his back story.
Good work, Steven! You've done it again!
October 8, 2023
New Year's Eve and Erin is celebrating with one of her brothers and his wife and kids. At midnight, her brother and his wife kiss and then tease Erin about where is her boyfriend. She says Rolf is the best and he gives her cheek a lick. Just as she starts heading home, she gets a call. There's been an accident in the theater district. A magician's assistant has literally been cut in half.
As Vic and Erin work to find the killer, they discover the two possible murderers might just get away with it--they are both crafty magicians and the assistant who died during the trick was cheating them both.
Plus, it's been two months since she and Carlyle shared a kiss and she has since blocked him. What do you do when you're a cop who loves a mobster?
Another fun and fast read. I'm going to drop a hint to Mr. Henry. Get these characters a TV series!
As Vic and Erin work to find the killer, they discover the two possible murderers might just get away with it--they are both crafty magicians and the assistant who died during the trick was cheating them both.
Plus, it's been two months since she and Carlyle shared a kiss and she has since blocked him. What do you do when you're a cop who loves a mobster?
Another fun and fast read. I'm going to drop a hint to Mr. Henry. Get these characters a TV series!
November 8, 2023
Pretty damn excited for our Mr. Carlyle and detective.
Suits with silk shirts and ties? A bar with his house upstairs? Speaks with an accent? Giving lucifer vibes and I absolutely loved that guy! So cute.
Damnn i am hanging onto every word morton god damn carlyle speaks. 🫠🫠🫠
Clearly i was hyper focused on the duo instead of the case itself. Loved every second of it. Binge listened to the audio book for 5 hours straight!
Suits with silk shirts and ties? A bar with his house upstairs? Speaks with an accent? Giving lucifer vibes and I absolutely loved that guy! So cute.
Damnn i am hanging onto every word morton god damn carlyle speaks. 🫠🫠🫠
Clearly i was hyper focused on the duo instead of the case itself. Loved every second of it. Binge listened to the audio book for 5 hours straight!
May 26, 2024
Review
Once again, I must admit that I have been completely fascinated by this book I have only just finished! I was completely unable to put it down once I started reading it. Perhaps it us the inclusion of the K9 dog.. But to put it mildly , I really appreciate the excellent story as it unfolds! I shall follow this story line as long as possible.
Once again, I must admit that I have been completely fascinated by this book I have only just finished! I was completely unable to put it down once I started reading it. Perhaps it us the inclusion of the K9 dog.. But to put it mildly , I really appreciate the excellent story as it unfolds! I shall follow this story line as long as possible.
October 4, 2021
I’m really into K9 stories so I’m working my way through this series. I’m enjoying the Carlyle story and guessing how this will end when I get to end of the storyline. I’m in book 8 of 12 so my review is really about all 8 books so far. I recommend the series!! For me, they are short reads so I’m working through 1 or 2 a week. It’s hard to put them down….
February 14, 2020
Great Magic
Well sure didn't see that coming! Talk about twist & turns to find the killer! Your on the edge one minute, the next your sitting back, then on the edge! Then the ending sends you over the cliff, with a while New twist great writing all the way.
Well sure didn't see that coming! Talk about twist & turns to find the killer! Your on the edge one minute, the next your sitting back, then on the edge! Then the ending sends you over the cliff, with a while New twist great writing all the way.
October 26, 2019
Black Magic
I am loving this series of books by Steven Henry. They are exciting, thrilling and full of mystery. I like how human it is showing about Erin. She is a darn good detective, she loves dogs, as much as I do, and she is so down to earth in her outlook of herself. Read these books, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
I am loving this series of books by Steven Henry. They are exciting, thrilling and full of mystery. I like how human it is showing about Erin. She is a darn good detective, she loves dogs, as much as I do, and she is so down to earth in her outlook of herself. Read these books, and I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
August 23, 2019
Love this series
Erin O'Reilly K-9 Mysteries is one of my favorite series. Black Magic started out strong and just kept going. I love the characters and the action is non-stop. I highly recommend this book.
Erin O'Reilly K-9 Mysteries is one of my favorite series. Black Magic started out strong and just kept going. I love the characters and the action is non-stop. I highly recommend this book.
February 16, 2026
This book was perhaps my favorite yet in the series. The dialogue and sass was downright hysterical sometimes and throughout the whole book I was just way to amused. The drama between Erin and Carlyle's relationship drama did take center stage in this since pretty much everyone else was to shady for you to completely trust. For some reason I am trusting Keane less and less and I don't know if that is intentional or not. The more I read these books the more engrossed I get into the series. I love seeing Erin's life outside of the job and her relationship with her dad (who is liable to hit the roof when he realizes Erin is sleeping with a gangster). I am not completely sold on Carlyle and Erin's relationship just yet and perhaps maybe that is the point. The dynamics of the Eight-ball is one of my favorite things to read. Webb in particular is really growing on me. He is this weird mix between dad material and teacher trying to corral a bunch of unruly teenagers. Rolf continues to be this adorable mix between badass Shepherd and cuddly fluffball.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2021
Magic and murder go hand in hand!
New Year’s Eve, a magic show on Broadway and a magician's, beautiful, female assistant is literally sawn in half. The murder is committed in front of 600 witnesses after the magician's props were sabotaged. This is a case with many twists and turns and Erin is not quite 'up to par.' Her friendship with Carlyle is causing confusion and conflict and the Irish mob are also out for revenge.
New Year’s Eve, a magic show on Broadway and a magician's, beautiful, female assistant is literally sawn in half. The murder is committed in front of 600 witnesses after the magician's props were sabotaged. This is a case with many twists and turns and Erin is not quite 'up to par.' Her friendship with Carlyle is causing confusion and conflict and the Irish mob are also out for revenge.
May 21, 2020
Exceptional Story
I can't say enough about this series, it's more than great. I am so happy Erin and Cars are together and I hope it works out for them. Great writer, great series.....
I can't say enough about this series, it's more than great. I am so happy Erin and Cars are together and I hope it works out for them. Great writer, great series.....
May 13, 2021
Still stuck on this series.
Erin, Rolf, Vic and Webb dance with deception as they tussle the murder of a magician’s female assistant. Again, strong policework, sarcasm and some nasty perps fully entertained this mystery reader.
Erin, Rolf, Vic and Webb dance with deception as they tussle the murder of a magician’s female assistant. Again, strong policework, sarcasm and some nasty perps fully entertained this mystery reader.
April 14, 2024
Another scintillating and intriguing story in this ongoing series. I love these characters. I wasn’t sure what to expect between Erin and her Irishman but I’m wondering where it’ll end up. Great narration makes the story come alive. I can’t wait to listen to the next book now.
November 12, 2025
This was just as interesting as the prior books. A good series to binge read. This took some surprising turns in the relationship between Cars and Erin. The plot was interesting and the characters added to the story giving it greater depth.
August 13, 2020
We have officially crossed over into no man's land.
October 15, 2019
It has been several months since the end of Book 5 and life has returned to normal for Erin O'Reilly, or well, almost. But you apparently can't save the life of a guy in the Irish Mob several times without attracting all kinds of attention. Meanwhile, Erin and her team are trying to figure out who wanted a magician's assistant dead enough to sabotage the machinery. Life-like characters and witty dialogue abound in Black Magic: Book 6 in The Erin O'Reilly mysteries.
November 8, 2019
I didn’t enjoy this as much as the previous books, I thought the investigation was quite weak and I didn’t really enjoy the move towards a romance rather than a crime novel. The author obviously feels Erin and Carlyle’s relationship adds another dimension to the story, but I’m afraid it just irritated me.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews