REVIEW: The Wizard and the Welshman – The Wizard and the Welshman #1 – Laura Rayndrop

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London, December 1886. A woman is gruesomely murdered, a mysterious organ missing from her cracked-open chest. Investigating the case, Kensington’s top inspector, Hal Hawthorne, quickly discovers that the victim wasn't human—and neither is her killer. When he saves the captivating wizard November from becoming the next target, Hal is thrust into a world of nightmarish creatures and dark magic. But the deeper Hal becomes entangled in the case, the more he comes to believe that November isn’t just a wizard with mind-bending powers, but also holds the key to unraveling the web of dark magic and murder.
Can Hal solve the case and protect November, or will the murderer claim him and destroy Hal’s life forever? And what will Hal have to sacrifice to stop the killings and save the man he’s come to love?

In 1886 Kensington a woman is found murdered with her chest cut open. Inspector Hal Hawthorne is on the job and discovered the woman was a prostitute and alive when she was cut open. He is determined to bring the killer to justice but unfortunately, he has no idea where his search will lead him.

Hal has a new partner, Donoghue, who can’t take the sight of blood and who doesn’t go above and beyond. In the dead woman’s pocket, they found a note from someone named November and the first order of business is to find him. His first stop was the brothel that the victim worked at. But his attempt for information was a huge failure.

Hal’s captain is not interested in a prostitute’s life but wants him to find the missing wife of an American diplomat something Hal refuses to do. Still working on his case November shows up to inform Hal that the murder was committed by a wizard and finding him will not be easy. Hal does not believe in the supernatural, but that disbelief was soon proved wrong when he runs into all types of supernatural’s.

Helena the dead woman was a witch, and Hal would get more than he could have imagined in the world of the supernatural. When Hal discovers that November is in danger of ending up like Helena, he finds him just in time before his chest was cut open. Now Hal is determined to protect November by having him stay with him.

Hal is surprised when Donoghue joins him and proves he is a better partner than he could ever have imagined. The three men follow leads, but the killer is always a step ahead of them. Hal begins to have feelings for November, he is gay, and it is a secret he has kept for fear of losing his job and ending up in jail. Being gay was a prison sentence so he has resigned himself to being alone.

Hal is like a dog with a bone, he never gives up despite the danger, and there is a whole lot of danger both to him, November and Donoghue. Killing a wizard is not easy and arresting him is out of the question when he can zap himself out of any prison he is put in. This entire situation is a hope and a prayer.

This book is filled with so much suspense that at times I read it at the edge of my seat. Surprises, secrets, violence and a search for a violent killer kept me glued to the book until the end, an end that left some unfinished business which hopefully will be provided in the next book which I hope will not be a long wait.