The Mystery At Dunvegan Castle by T L Huchu

I would like to thank Tor UK for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for a fair and honest review

Publisher – Tor UK

Published – Out Now

Price – £16.99 hardback £8.99 Kindle eBook

Ghostalker Ropa Moyo and her rag-tag team of magicians are back in The Mystery at Dunvegan Castle, the third book in the spellbinding Edinburgh Nights series by T. L. Huchu.

She came for magic. She stayed to solve a murder . . .

Ropa Moyo is no stranger to magic or mysteries. But she’s still stuck in an irksomely unpaid internship. So she’s thrilled to attend a magical convention at Dunvegan Castle, on the Isle of Skye, where she’ll rub elbows with eminent magicians.

For Ropa, it’s the perfect opportunity to finally prove her worth. Then a librarian is murdered and a precious scroll stolen. Suddenly, every magician is a suspect, and Ropa and her allies investigate. Trapped in a castle, with suspicions mounting, Ropa must contend with corruption, skulduggery and power plays. Time to ask for a raise?

Warning – this book follows on from the previous two great novels in the Edinburgh Nights series  The Library of the Dead by T L Huchu — Runalong The Shelves and Our Lady of Mysterious Ailments by T L Huchu — Runalong The Shelves

In long running series the biggest danger is repetition. What no one wants is for their story to become predictable. If the same beats fall every novel the reader may find it cosy, but it can sometimes become dull. To stop this good series often can deliver a story that redirects the character or even may finally bring certain long simmering plot elements to the fore. I’ve really enjoyed TL Huchu’s awesome Edinburgh Nights series that tells us of a young ghost talker now potential sorcerer working in a near future post-apocalyptic Edinburgh and now with The Mystery At Dunvegan Castle this instalment of the series manages to deliver both and an intriguing locked haunted castle mystery to boot.

To briefly recap in the near future Scotland tied to go independent and a war was raged which England won and now Scotland is believed to know its place under their not so benign rule. Food and medicine are scarce but magic and ghosts are real. Ropa Moyo was a former burglar, constant ghost talker and now working for Sir Ian Callandar one of Scottish Magic’s most important people as an unpaid investigator but where the lull of learning spells and potential power is a mighty incentive. Sir Ian has asked Ropa to attend a meeting at Dunvegan Castle where the Four School of Scottish magic, the high and mighty and many other important people meet for an annual conference. At this also arrives honoured guests from Ethiopia that bear a priceless gift for loan. But the room is plunged into darkness, a murder and theft is committed. Now Ropa is charged with getting to find the culprits but she soon finds everyone has a motive.

There is a brilliant slang term Ropa uses at one point in this novel ‘Politricks’ that covers political trickery and this story for me is very much exploring the intrigue of the world that Huchu has created now over three books. This story explores the wider chess board that Ropa is finding herself a player (or piece) on and it is also a story not afraid to do something different. Ropa is not on her home turf of Edinburgh the real and very famous Isle of Skye and Dunvegan Castle which has an interesting real and in this novel magical history involving the fae too. Ropa is also without either the support of her grandmother and sister both far away and thanks to the theft now uncontactable. Even her powerful mentor Sir Ian is absent using his considerable magical power to keep the Castle under a barrier 24/7 until the culprit is caught - he even cannot sleep. This means Ropa is pretty much apart from a couple of friends helping cover ground, is now acting on their own.

Ropa our lead character and narrator is as always a delight A teenage prodigy, geek just as able to discuss history via their ever constant love of podcasts and knowledge as to be on the lookout for things to steal. Huchu brings Ropa to life through their language that balances slang, pop science and geekery to make a unique and for me hugely enjoyable voice to propel us through the story. But Ropa a young Black woman coming from the poorer side of town has from the off been seen by many in Sir Ian’s circle as an interloper. She hasn’t the family connections or wealth most in Scottish magical Society have (no convenient secret family bank account here) and so this time as she has to investigate the high and mighty, we get to see how Ropa is seen by her peers. This story doesn’t make Ropa the Chosen One with a sudden gift for commanding people; or show Ropa just accepted into the forces of authority no this story very much puts these two on warring sides and Ropa is very much alone. Huchu mentions throughout Machiavelli (whom Ropa is currently studying) and the depressing thing that becomes apparent is how petty and small town cruel these people are and ever looking for a chance to show Ropa who is charge and make her pay for her attitude. For me compared to many contemporary fantasies this is the first time I’ve felt the actual response here feels the most likely when those in power get threatened by a talented yet unconnected reengage and we feel this time Ropa may be too exposed.

The other big element explored and moves into a different gear is the ‘cold war’ between England and Scotland. The books have hinted a further conflict is on the cards and this story explores why Scotland is viewed as a weak opponent by the King and his government (unsurprisingly all the small-minded power politics) There are hints of charges suggested in the book. A mysterious Black Lord who is potentially after a powerful artefact. The splendidly enigmatic and often scary Lord Samarasinghe is introduced the Sorcerer Royal who arrives unannounced and very much enjoys pricking the many egos of everyone and proves a compelling match for Ropa to trade wits with and again he feels a far stronger potential threat than any previously encountered. We also get non-UK powers introduced with a fabulous duo of Ethiopian magicians who we find are easily two of the most powerful met so far in the series and very unhappy at how their priceless treasures have been lost. Huchu creates a spellbinding alternate history for Ethiopia being one of the cornerstones of magic also sets up an interesting debate on which is more power Scottish magic with its roots in science and the Enlightenment or the traditional religious focused magic now seen. This raises all sorts of debates on appropriation and how other cultures get removed from the narrative of history. My overall sense is all these plots are now brought to the boil for future instalments to now run free with. I cannot wait to see how this all develops.

Finally, we have a very good mystery to solve too. There are lots of suspects; adding in magic makes theft harder to solve and it gives Ropa a few chances to shine. I loved a particular confrontation where she realises that she too has some authority and does use it to hep an innocent suspect escape prison. We can feel the growth from who we met in our first book. We also see a simmering romance between Ropa and her friend Priya start to edge into actually telling each other how they’re feeling about each other and all of this then makes the danger of what happens if Ropa fails here rather clear. There is also the most beautiful magical duel towards the end which reveals exactly how powerful these magicians can be when they’re not debating formulas and trying to gain a seat at the high tables. The pace of the whole story is really fast, full of history, legends and revelations and we cover a lot of ground in the few days Ropa has to solve things. Sides are having to be chosen and which one will Ropa choose is a key part of this story

The Mystery At Dunvegan Castle for me opens up the Edinburgh Nights series to a wider magical world and it could now go in many directions. The chessboard has been hit and the pieces scattered. New players are also showing their hands and I am very keen to know what happens next. One fo the most interesting UK fantasy series out there. If you’ve not yet joined Ropa’s adventures what is keeping you. If you’ve enjoyed them so far then a treat lies in store. Highly recommended!