Elizabeth II’s coronation is looming, but DI Edgar Stephens is busy investigating the death of a local fortune-teller. Meanwhile, his old pal, the magician Max Mephisto, is rehearsing for his television debut, a coronation day variety show. But upon hearing that their wartime commander, Colonel Cartwright, has been found dead in his flat, the two men join forces to find out what happened. While Max is stuck in rehearsals, Edgar finds himself heading to New York, hot on the trail of a mesmerist he’s sure has valuable information for them—and his trusty sergeant, Emma, investigates some important leads at home. As the clock ticks down to coronation day, the team must scramble to keep Max’s small-screen debut from ending in a dangerously explosive finale.
Author Info
Elly Griffiths is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ruth Galloway and Brighton mystery series, as well as the standalone novels The Stranger Diaries, winner of the Edgar Award for Best Novel; The Postscript Murders; and Bleeding Heart Yard. She is the recipient of the CWA Dagger in the Library Award and the Mary Higgins Clark Award. She lives in Brighton, England.
Reviews
"Griffiths excels at depicting the post-WWII transition from variety shows to television. A love triangle involving Holmes, Stephens, and aspiring magician Ruby French, the detective’s fiancée and Mephisto’s daughter, adds a human interest angle likely to engage both series fans and new readers."--Publishers Weekly "Amusing, atmospheric, and thoroughly engaging, providing an insightful look at vaudeville and the art of legerdemain. Perfect for fans of the eccentric (and often endearing) characters created by Simon Brett and Christopher Fowler."--Booklist "In the third case for the Magic Men (Smoke and Mirrors, 2016, etc.), half the fun is the journey through postwar England to the surprising denouement."--Kirkus Reviews PRAISE FOR THE MAGIC MEN MYSTERIES: “Absorbing…Another great series.” —San Jose Mercury News “Thoroughly enjoyable.” —The Guardian “Clever, immensely likeable.” —The Wall Street Journal “Enormously engaging.” —The Daily Mail “Original, lively, and gripping.” —The Independent “A wild ride full of mayhem, magic and murder.” —The Absolute “Excellent…Evoking both the St. Mary Mead of Agatha Christie and the theater world Ngaio Marsh.” —Booklist “Suspenseful.” —Publishers Weekly —
