"Magic, mystery, loyalty and courage abound in a spellbinding race to save Houdini’s legacy."
July 2024 Book of the Month
Another wonderful historical tale from Emma Carroll. Set in 1926 and based on the larger-than-life story of Harry Houdini and his mysterious sudden death in 1926. Imbued with the spirit of the Vaudeville age, when audiences on seaside promenades and in theatres sat completely captivated by escape artists, magicians, clairvoyants and musicians, this is a compelling story.
The wonderfully named Gloria Copperfield (Glory) and best friend Dennis, who is Houdini’s greatest fan, grab the opportunity to see him perform in their quiet seaside town of Sidford by the Sea, but soon they are propelled into a greater adventure than they could ever have imagined.
They find themselves assisting the great man when it becomes clear that someone is trying to steal his priceless secrets from the mysterious trunk No.8 and they end up on transatlantic trip of a lifetime accompanied by Denis’s Gran and Glory’s big sister Ettie.
Can they help Bess Houdini preserve her husband’s legacy? What family secrets will they discover on the way? Touching on some issues still very relevant to our times, like the racism Denis’s family encounters or a same-sex relationship that is kept quiet for fear of it not being accepted and with vividly described settings, empathetic characters and an intriguing mystery, this is another absolute winner.
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