'A top-hat-and-tails performance . . . suspenseful, compendious, moving and persuasive'
Michael Chabon, author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay

'A daredevil feat of writing that will remind you how much fun reading can be'
Daily Telegraph

'The perfect read for people who find themselves longing for a good, meaty page turner'
Guardian

Charles Carter, dubbed Carter the Great by Houdini himself, was born into privilege but became a magician out of need: Only when dazzling an audience can he defeat his fear of loneliness. But in 1920s America the stakes are growing higher, as technology and the cinema challenge the allure of magic and Carter's stunts become increasingly audacious. Until the night President Harding takes part in Carter's act only to die two hours later, and Carter finds himself pursued not only by the Secret Service but by a host of others desperate for the terrible secret they believe Harding confided in him.

Seamlessly blending reality and fiction, Gold lays before us a glittering and romantic panorama of our modern world at a point of irrevocable change.

Reader reviews:

'Beautifully written nuanced characters and an enthralling narrative make this book a delight to read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'One of those rare books that got me hooked chapter after chapter like a good TV series' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐

'A great story and mystery about a legendary magician; one of my all time top 10 books I have read' ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐