Ok, so we found this series on a library run this summer, but I PURCHASED them, I loved them so much! The story is a wonderful mix of genuine historical setting (New York's famous Bowery District, at the turn the century) and magic!
The MC, Sacha, is a Jewish immigrant who tries to hide his Jewishness from his co-apprentice, a wealthy young girl his same age, Lilly. They are apprentices of the (in)famous Inspector Wolf.
The first case, preventing the murder of Harry Houdini, soon revolves around Sacha's grandfather and Kabbalist "magic" -- which is really the non-practice of magic, but not for the evil commercial reasons put forward by the villain.
We entered this series on the second book, which features the electrocution of the "Klezmer King" (a klezmer is a clarinet). I'm always on the lookout for new, different music-related stories.
I won't spoil either mystery, but Ms. Moriarty is a superb plotress and I'm reading to deconstruct her wizardry in these two.
