Magician's Lie

Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister
312 Pages


"The Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. One night in Waterloo, Iowa, with young policeman Virgil Holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an all-too-real murder? When Arden's husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later that night, the answer seems clear.

But when Virgil happens upon the fleeing magician and takes her into custody, she has a very different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless-and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding. Over the course of one eerie night, Virgil must decide whether to turn Arden in or set her free... and it will take all he has to see through the smoke and mirrors."


An interesting look at magicians and the vaudeville circuit.  Recommended to readers of historical fiction.  

Disappearance Boy

Disappearance Boy by Neil Bartlett
282 Pages

"Reggie Rainbow has found the perfect profession for someone who likes to keep himself to himself: it's his job to make sure that some things stay out of sight and out of mind.  Childhood polio has left him with a limp, but his strong arms and nimble fingers are put to perfect use behind the scenes, helping the illusionist Mr Brookes to 'disappear' a series of glamorous assistants twice nightly. But in 1953, bookings for magic acts are scarce, even in London. So when Mr Brookes is unexpectedly offered a slot at the Brighton Grand, Reggie finds himself back out on the road and living in a strange new town. The sea air begins to work its own peculiar kind of magic, and, as the bunting goes up in the streets outside the theatre for the Grand's forthcoming Coronation spectacular, Reggie begins to wonder just how much of his own life is an act - and what might have happened to somebody who disappeared from that life long ago."


Reggie and Pamela find comfort in each other as they search for meaning in their lives.  A nicely written, short novel with a interesting narrative style. 

Bluffton: My summers with Buster

Bluffton: My summers with Buster by Matt Phelan, 223 pages

A graphic novel, told from the point of view of Henry, a young boy who lives in Bluffton year round, this is about the performers who come to stay during the off season. Specifically, the story of Henry’s growing friendship with Buster Keaton, vaudeville star. The pictures in the book really are what move the story as there are actually very few words. Henry clearly longs for more excitement and wishes he had the talent that Buster or some of the other performers do. Buster is more interested in doing things that a regular kid would be doing, like playing baseball. I’m not a big fan of graphic novels but this was pretty good. Based in fact, since the performers really did spend the off seasons in Bluffton for many years, Henry and his family are fictional, but those characters bring the story to life.