海角大神

And for its next trick, the novel 鈥淭he Magician鈥檚 Lie鈥� by Greer Macallister just might become a hit.

鈥淭he Magician's Lie鈥� tells the story of The Amazing Arden, a female illusionist who runs into trouble when her husband turns up dead and it looks like he was the victim of one of her tricks. She tries to convince policeman Virgil Holt that she had nothing to do with her husband鈥檚 death.

Annie Philbrick of Mystic, Conn.鈥檚 Bank Square Books called this novel a 鈥渂uzz book鈥� this past May at Book Expo America, according to industry newsletter . 鈥淸It鈥檚] a little taste of聽鈥楾he Night Circus,鈥櫬燼nd a聽little salt of聽鈥榃ater for Elephants,鈥欌�� she said.

Now the book is attracting other critical praise. IndieBound selected 鈥淢agician鈥� for its list for January (2015), with Meagan Albin of Guilford, Conn.鈥檚 Breakwater Books writing that the novel 鈥渂lends magic, mystery, and romance.鈥�

Meanwhile, reviewer Kerry McHugh wrote that perspective switches can be 鈥渏arring鈥� but that 鈥淢acallister captures the whimsy and wonder of the traveling magic shows of the 20th century with stunning detail.鈥澛�

was also won over by the book, with publication staff giving it a starred review and calling it 鈥渨ell-paced, evocative, and adventurous鈥�. Arden [has a] rollicking life鈥�. [The end] satisfyingly cap[s] off this top-notch novel.鈥�

And writer Elisabeth Clark of Pensacola鈥檚 West Florida Public Library wrote that Arden鈥檚 story is 鈥渕oving and spectacular 鈥� a captivating world of enchantment and mystery that readers will be loath to leave.鈥�

However, showed less enthusiasm for the book, calling Arden鈥檚 story 鈥渓ong [and] dull" with an "unsurprising resolution". The review also says that "Macallister makes a concerted effort to ensure historical accuracy, but her prose is labored and lacks intensity. Nevertheless, devotees of illusion may enjoy the story based on the author's detailed focus on early costumes, movement and techniques.鈥�