Magic in the Weave is the 4th Gabriel Taverner historical mystery by Alys Clare. Released 1st Feb 2022 by Severn House, it's 256 pages and is available in hardcover, audio, and ebook formats. (Paperback format due out in 1st quarter 2023). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately.

Set during the reign of James I, a band of performers has fled London ostensibly to escape the plague. Dr. Gabriel Taverner and his household and friends become involved with the players, whose performances are compelling and Gabe is worried that his sister Celia has become uncomfortably close to some of them who had other reasons for escaping London.

The plot is well paced and constructed and I was engaged from the beginning. There is a significant supernatural element which I admittedly found somewhat surplus to requirements in a murder mystery, especially a historical mystery without the access to forensic tests which modern settings possess. That being said, the characterizations are top notch, and the supernatural aspects weren't *too* overpowering. The dialogue is accessible and the author manages to suffuse the speech with verisimilitude without sacrificing clarity. 

Since it's the 4th book in a continuing series, some of the interrelationships and character backgrounds will be spoiled by being read out of order, but the mystery and denouement are (mostly) self contained in this volume and could be read as a standalone. 

Four stars. A well crafted mystery.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

The review of Magic in the Weave by Alys Clare is in the May 2022 issue of Gumshoe Review and is exclusive to them until June 2022. You may read the review on their website at:
<http://www.gumshoereview.com/php/Review-id.php?id=6851>

Alys Clare involves Dr. Gabriel Taverner in intrigue and murders in the players come to his town in Magic in the Weave. As the bodies start dropping, his sister becomes involved in the players activities as she makes some clothing props for them. The tale is early in the reign of King James after the death of Elizabeth. Plots may be active among the players. Dr. Taverner has to find out what is really going on before worse happens.

I loved reading this book! I found the writing to be very insightful and interesting. I was intrigued by the premise and I enjoyed reading it from start to finish.

It was great to return to the world of Gabriel Tavener

When the plague hits London the closed theatres set off on a 'Plague Tour' - Plymouth their latest stop
Gabriel finds himself unnerved at the latest production of 'Othello' and when his good friend Coroner
Theo Davey tells him of an overheard conversation regarding a cast member and a 'terrible secret
his concern grows .
Hopes that the Theatre group would soon move on are dashed when a cast member is taken seriously ill .
Gabriel fears his eyes are deceiving him , he has always been levelheaded but the mystique surrounding the theatre group makes him doubt what is in front of him .
As matters escalate with members of the troupe now dying Gabriel must use all his wits to catch the killer

I must say that this was not quite what i expected from this latest book featuring Gabriel and his friends - The plague was hardly featured in the story and Gabriel's reactions were almost uncharacteristic - but I did enjoy it overall
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I loved the atmosphere of this book, bewitching, creepy. The mystery kept me reading, however I was disappointed because I thought it was predictable. I did finish to the end, but it did take some time and forcing myself. I didn't read any of her other books, so maybe that would help to read them first. Thank you netgallery and Alys Clare for the ARC of this novel!

Good to have a new Gabriel Tavener book, and this one was a taught, well constructed historical mystery thriller, with a vein of Gothic Horror running throughout. All our favourite characters were back and the story forged ahead at a steady pace. A few verbal anachronisms did jar - 'no great shakes' is hardly a phrase of the times, and referring to any drug as 'illegal' (or indeed, even as a drug) would have been a unknown concept in the reign of James I - but these did not mar the general quality of the rest of the writing. The words 'sex' or 'sexual' were used often enough to strike a discordant note, since this constant reference was decidedly anachronistic, and the author's seeming obsession with seeking sexual references and subtexts in Shakespeare's plays was rather disconcerting. One thing that stood out as ridiculously unbelievable was the apparent time taken for Celia to make an embroidered handkerchief and a velvet cloak. Any experienced needleworker would know that the time claimed by the plotline for these items to be completed by one woman - especially to the standard and quality described - is completely impossible in a pre-sewing machine age. Nevertheless, the book was a thoroughly enjoyable read and can be heartily recommended.

Magic in the weave by Alys Clare.
A Gabriel Tavener Mystery Book 4.
October, 1604. Plague has hit London, and the theatres are closed. But the capital's loss is Plymouth's gain, when a London theatre troupe, the Company, arrive on their 'Plague Tour'. Country physician Gabriel Taverner is both bewitched and unnerved by the Company's sexually charged staging of Othello. The play thrums with magic and witchcraft - perilous subjects, with the King's deadly spies lurking around every corner. When Gabriel's good friend, Coroner Theophilus Davey, tells him of a dangerous, whispered conversation overheard during a brief break, suggesting one of the cast fled London in possession of a terrible secret, Gabriel is even more relieved the Company will soon be on their way. But then one of the actors collapses, and Gabriel finds himself caught in a waking nightmare, where nothing is as it appears. Death is stalking the Company - but how can Gabriel hope to catch a cold-blooded killer, if he can't even trust the evidence of his own eyes?
A ok read with some good characters. I liked the story. Slow but readable. 3*.

A gothic story and an excellent historical mystery with a paranormal aspect and plenty of twists.
Alys Clare can surely write a story that will keep you hooked and this one is no exception.
Excellent storytelling and plot development, great characters, and a solid mystery.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I loved this book!! I have never read anything like this before, and I enjoyed it all!
I went into this book cold - I hadn't read any of the Gabriel Taverner books before. So this book, no.4 in the series was my first. I obviously cannot say how much previous books plot points appeared in this book, but I can say that you can enjoy this book without having read the others.
Alys Clare was amazing at building an atmosphere and mood - with their writing, I was immediately and vividly transformed back into the medieval times. I think the whole atmospheric writing was my favourite part about this book. The plot was OK, and the 'mystery' element did keep me reading, but that wasn't Clare's strongest point.
The reason I couldn't give this book the full 5* was because of the ending. It all got a bit racing and ended very quickly. It also went a bit hectic and unbelievable towards the end too.

Overall I loved this, and will be reading Alys Clare again!

Twists, Turns And Uncertainty…
The fourth in the Gabriel Tavener series of mysteries, 1604, and a ‘Plague Tour’ arrives in Plymouth. This theatre company enchants the locals, not least physician Gabriel Tavener but something dangerous is afoot and it’s not too long before he finds himself on the search for a killer where absolutely nothing is as it seems. A magical adventure with twists, turns and uncertainty throughout and laced with well crafted characters. A fitting addition to the series.

Plymouth in 1604 is exciting for lovers of theatre when a troupe of players turns up there, fleeing a plague-hit London. But there's something uncanny about their performances, physician Gabriel Taverner thinks. And his sister is a little too interested in one of the company, His friend, coroner Theophilus Davey, tells him about an overheard conversation which suggests the troupe carries a terrible secret. Then the murders begin.

I enjoyed this story of mystery, suspense and suspected magic (dangerous at a time when the new King, James, is known to be terrified of witchcraft). Alys Clare seeds her clues cleverly throughout the book, and her sense of time and place are convincing.

What I didn't find so convincing was the over-sexual nature of the players' presentation of Othello. It didnn't come across that way to me, and that took away some of the enjoyment. You have to be able to sense what the main character keeps on feeling; but I didn't.

I also found the descriptions of Gabriel's wanderings around an ancient inn which seems to be at the heart of the dark magic confusing, and not in a good, sympathising with the character, way.

But apart from those drawbacks I found it a fast-moving, fun read and the period details were a real treat.

Thank you to NetGalley and Severn House Publishing for an e-galley of this novel.

Alys Clare is one of my favorite historical mystery writers and the Gabriel Taverner series can be counted on to add stories to the series which allow the characters to continue in development as well as present an intriguing mystery novel. Gabriel is a physician in 1604 in a small town outside Plymouth in England and he is presented in such a way that I can easily believe he has medical knowledge that is useful and helpful to his patients but makes me aware of how small that sphere of working knowledge actually is. He doesn't have all the answers and he doesn't cure every ailment he comes across. That is especially true in this story which is steeped in dark magic. Maybe even a ghost or two?

A group of players has arrived in Plymouth during their self-proclaimed Plague Tour to get away from the plague in London. Yes, in 2022 we are reading about another plague right when we are all so involved in our own plague/virus. Unfortunately, a story set in this time period in English history is often using the backdrop of plague to add drama and unrest to a plot. This isn't essentially a plague plot, but the subject does come up often. Instead, this plot revolves around a group of men who have dark secrets and an aura of invulnerability for any murder and mayhem they indulge in. Combining a dark secret and a public house going back hundreds of years add up to a real feeling of menace which is wonderfully portrayed by this author. This is a good book to read when you have all (or almost all) the lights on in your favorite reading room. The group of players perform several plays by one of their members, Will Shakespeare, who wasn't able to be on this Plague Tour with them. I really loved all the dissecting of the meanings behind those plays. So, Shakespeare plays and woo-woo shivers too? Yep, some fine reading!

Dr Gabriel Tavener never seems to rest even though he should be living a quieter life. It's 1604 and because plague has shut the theaters in London, a troupe turns up in Plymouth and puts on Othello. The play feels risqué to Gabriel but that turns out to be the least of the problems it engenders as well, murdered bodies begin to turn up. Gabriel, a scientist who has also worked as a spy, finds himself solving the crime while trying to keep his sister Celia safe. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It's a bit more complicated, given the politics of the time,, than some historical mysteries and it does help to have read the earlier books. That said, it's a good addition to the series.

A worthy new addition to a well established and beloved series set in Plymouth at the start of the Stuart period of British history.

Weird and violent murderous shenanigans happening among a talented travelling company of Shakespearean thespians hailing from London and presumably fleeing the deadly fingers of the plague lurking around the country. But it's the omnipresent feelings of doom, fear, conspiracy and treason that makes this compelling story a marvellous piece of historical fiction.
Taking place before the Gunpowder Plot against James I, the author is able to brilliantly render all the uncertainties so prevalent in England between the death of Queen Elizabeth and the first years of the new reign.

A marvellously dark tapestry of magical shenanigans full of twists and turns, unforgettable characters, violent deaths and an atmosphere of permanent dread that will linger with some readers well after the last page.

An engrossing and well crafted novel that deserves to be really enjoyed without any moderation whatsoever!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Canongate/Severn House for this terrific ARC

In 1604, as the plague rages through London, theatres are shut down. A group of players, desperate for work, travels to coastal Plymouth to stage their productions in the inn-yard of the Saracen’s Head, an ancient tavern hiding secrets of its own. Local physician, Gabriel Taverner, attends a production of Othello and can’t help but notice the eerie mysticism surrounding the players and their props. The rousing sexual innuendo of the production, bordering on blasphemy, makes Gabriel surmise there is more beneath the surface than most of the audience are aware of and several layers of truth being juggled. When a whispered conversation hints at deadly secrets carried from London by the actors, Gabriel and the coroner, his time-honoured friend, Theo Davey, find themselves steeped in murder and magic, and facing a ruthless band of killers.
Stories of magic and mysticism are always fascinating to me. The narrative is filled with tension, darkness and danger, mirrored by the dim winding corridors and tunnels beneath the Saracen’s Head and the strange comings and goings of the actors, who are often not who they seem. The true spirit of the times is well laid out here and Gabriel’s fallibility is subtly evoked in his oft-times confusion as to what is actually happening. This will appeal to readers interested in 17th-century theatre and is well recommended to those who love a haunting tale.

1604 October. The Company of players have left London due to the plague and have arrived in Plymouth to put on a series of plays. But fear and unease surround them. Soon some of the company are either ill or turn up dead. Can Dr Taverner determine what killed them and why, and so then find the murderer.
A well-written and entertaining historical mystery. With its cast of varied and likeable characters. Another good addition to this series.
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for the opportunity to review “Magic in the Weave.” All opinions and comments are my own.

Gabriel Taverner, his sister Celia, his friends and others in 1604 Plymouth contend with a host of trouble in “Magic in the Weave,” number four in the series detailing the adventures of a physician in a kingdom still getting used to the new Stuart king.

A troupe of players is performing in town, escaping the plague in London, and Celia gets involved, much to Gabe’s consternation. Overheard arguments immediately seem to bode of trouble. And trouble comes swiftly in “Magic in the Weave,” whether from the dead bodies that start to pile up, from the threat of the plague that keeps Gabe and everyone on tenterhooks, or especially, from the overall feeling of the weird experiences that are permeating all and sundry. It’s obvious that the actors are hiding something. A whole lot of something.

I did wonder in one spot, when in reading one passage that it was known that the source of the plague was bites from fleas. I don’t believe that this was known in the 16th century; in fact, I believe this proof didn’t come about until late in the 19th. Ah, well, foretelling the future is a wonderful thing, I have to suppose.

Is it supernatural forces at work? Or a sinister but human hand? Our author, Alys Clare weaves a complex tale of making things not what they seem in “Magic in the Weave.” Arrogance has its price, when one decides to do something exciting, or be clever. Men have been sent to see it goes no further.
And at the end there’s a hint of a vast, terrible conspiracy that is being fought against. The reason why minions of the King are riding out into the countryside. Remember the time frame of this book. I will leave it to your further investigation.

I enjoyed “Magic in the Weave,” as it took a lot of twists and turns I didn’t see coming. Gabriel and his friends are full, well-realized characters (especially liked when our author reminds us about the perils of intolerance and his beliefs about medicine), and I want to read more of their stories and see where they are going.

This is unlike anything I've read before. I loved every bit of it. The mystery of it was wonderful. I did not see the ending coming. I enjoyed the characters, they were so rich. The climax was extremely well thought out, and the ending was amazing. I loved this book.

(I will be posting on my good reads and tiktok)

Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for gifting an e-arc of Magic in the Weave. All opinions are my own.

This book was a little confusing to start, I had a hard time determining if the first character point of view was a man or a a woman until like half way through the first chapter. From there the story picks up, but continues to kind of abruptly switch between character point of views which I didn't really love as a storytelling device. The book is full of twists and turns with red herrings and "magic". I wish there would have been further explanations of the core mystery and the illusions or magic depicted in the story. A lot of the plot lines didn't feel completely finished by the end of the book I was left unsatisfied.

I did love the historical aspects of this story and I thought the mystery was well plotted. I love reading a book where you learn things (nerd, I know) and the herbal medical knowledge was great. I felt like the author had really done their research and worked to make sure the book was mostly factually accurate (it is historical fiction afterall). I would read more books with these character, only to see if the plot was stronger and if some of the loose ends in this book are tied up.