Water for Elephants meets The Night Circus in The Magician’s Lie, a debut novel in which the country’s most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husband’s murder – and she has only one night to convince a small-town policeman of her innocence. 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 … 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.
A USA Today Bestseller!
“[A] well-paced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel…”—Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review
“This is a book in which storylines twist, spiral and come together again in an ending as explosive as a poof of smoke from your chimney…or a top hat.” — Oprah.com
“Smart, intricately plotted…a richly imagined thriller.” —PEOPLE magazine
“This debut novel is historical fiction that blends magic, mystery, and romance.”—Boston Globe, Pick of the Week
“It’s a captivating yarn…. Macallister, like the Amazing Arden, mesmerizes her audience. No sleight of hand is necessary. An ambitious heroine and a captivating tale are all the magic she needs.”—Washington Post
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A winding story of tragedy, deceit, survival, and love carefully woven together with a bit of supernatural mystery.
Narrated from two perspectives, the plot moves in waves of thrills and lulls revealing the life story of a famed magician charged with murder.
Wonderfully detailed in a historical setting, this unique story held my interest until the end.
I really loved this book ,I couldn’t put it down !
I’ve put off writing this review for a few days because I don’t really know where to start. I really enjoyed this book. MacAllister is a powerful storyteller. This is an author I will follow and read everything she writes. The Magician’s Lie is captivating and will have you asking questions and guessing until the end.
The book was captivating but I gave it three stars because I was a bit disappointed with the ending. With all the build-up leading to the climax, the resolution seemed weak and incomplete.
I wanted to go in reading this not really knowing to much about it. And I am glad I did. This book takes place in late 1800’s and early 1900’s my kinda book. It’s about a girl named Arden is a famous illusionist. Who is being accused of her husband death. She is caught by a officer named Virgil Holt. I liked where this went because when office Holt bought her in. She told her story from the beginning and i could see it and feel it. I really understand Arden. I am not going to tell everything because I would like everyone to give this book just a chance. But one person that haunted Arden was a boy named Ray who thought he could do things like heal himself. He gave me the creeps and at times I was scared for our main character. Arden also meets another man in telling her story Clyde oh he is heart breaker. I loved this book and enjoyed it. I didn’t want it to end. If you like magic and really good story I recommend this story. Can’t wait to read more Greer Macallister.
Unique twist
With a nod for inspiration to Alias Grace, by Margaret Atwood, Macallister crafts a tale that questions the guilt of a woman accused of bloody murder in 1905. Known for cutting men in half on stage, the Amazing Arden is the prime suspect when her husband’s body is found cleaved by an ax. With wrists and ankles handcuffed to a chair, she tries to convince the small-town sheriff of her innocence. She flashes back to her past: studying to become a professional ballerina, running to escape a dangerous persuer, working as a maid at the Biltmore mansion in North Carolina, tutelage by the famous illusionist, Adelaid Herrmann. Arden’s freedom may hinge on the story she tells the sheriff, the favor she might grant him, or her ability to escape his jail. (It was Whoopie Goldberg’s pick for Book of the Month Club and Jessica Chastain has optioned the movie rights!)
Loved this book, it was a real page-turner. Kept me guessing the whole story. Loved the characters and loved the ending!
There aren’t a lot of books based around vaudeville, so that makes this an interesting read. But, I have read better books of that era. But, it’s a light, entertaining read.
Different. Unrealistic but a fun read.
This was such a good story. Good character development. You really wanted to keep reading to see what happens to them.
Loved loved loved!’