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    The Magician’s Lie
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    The Magician’s Lie
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    The Magician’s Lie
    Ebook358 pages5 hours

    The Magician’s Lie

    By Greer Macallister

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    A USA TODAY BESTSELLER'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 magazineThe Amazing Arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. But one night she swaps her trademark saw for an axe.When Arden's husband is found dead later that night, the answer seems clear, most of all to young policeman Virgil Holt.Captured and taken into custody, all seems set for Arden's swift confession. But she has a different story to tell. Even handcuffed and alone, Arden is far from powerless, and what she reveals is as unbelievable as it is spellbinding.A magical and mysterious historical thriller, perfect for fans of The Night Circus and Water for Elephants.REVIEWS'[A] well-paced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel...' Publishers Weekly, STARRED Review'A wonderfully dark and intriguing historical thriller. The Amazing Arden is a fabulous heroine who keeps us guessing until the curtain falls. I loved it!' Hazel Gaynor, author of 'The Girl Who Came Home''This debut novel is historical fiction that blends magic, mystery, and romance.' Boston Globe'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'In The Magician's Lie, Greer Macallister has created a rich tapestry of mystery, magic, and lost love. The novel drew me in with its lush details and edge-of-your-seat plot. The tale of the tragic Amazing Arden, a female magician, will have you questioning how the truth of a tale can be different than the material facts, and how what you feel can be stronger than the soundest logic.' Margaret Dilloway, author of 'How to be an American Housewife' and 'The Care of Handling Roses with Thorns''Twisted together with magic, a drenching touch of evil, betrayal, love, and wonderful storytelling will make this a tale you won't soon forget. Is her story real, or a magician's lie?' Becky Milner, Vintage Books (Vancouver, WA)'Greer Macallister handles the reader with the command and brilliance of a world class ringmaster. The Magician's Lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense. Bravo!' Erika Robuck, author of 'Call me Zelda' and 'Fallen Beauty''The Magician's Lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative and above all magical. Don't miss this immersive novel of suspense and wonder from an exciting new voice in historical fiction!' M.J. Rose'A suspenseful and well-researched tale of magic, secrets and betrayal that will keep you guessing until the end.' J. Courtney Sullivan, author of 'The Engagements and Maine''Like her heroine the Amazing Arden, Greer Macallister has created a blend of magic that is sure to delight her audience. The Magician's Lie is a rich tale of heart-stopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. Readers beware: those who enter Macallister's delicious world of magic and mystery won't wish to leave!' Allison Pataki, author of 'The Traitor's Wife'
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherLegend Press
    Release dateApr 3, 2017
    ISBN9781787199972
    Unavailable
    The Magician’s Lie
    Author

    Greer Macallister

    Raised in the Midwest, Greer Macallister earned her MFA in creative writing from American University. Her historical novels, including The Magician’s Lie, Girl in Disguise, Woman 99, and The Arctic Fury, have been named Book of the Month, Indie Next, LibraryReads, Target Book Club, and Amazon Best Book of the Month picks and optioned for film and television. As G. R. Macallister, she is the author of the Five Queendoms series, which Paste Magazine called “the best feminist fantasy series you probably haven’t read yet.” A regular contributor to Writer Unboxed and the Chicago Review of Books, she lives with her family in Boston. 

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    Reviews for The Magician’s Lie

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    156 ratings24 reviews

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    • 2/5
      THE MAGICIAN’S LIE had the potential to be amazing (just like the main character’s stage name), but, for me at least, it fell short. I thought it would be a historical mystery, with a plot filled with clues to help expose who killed Arden’s husband, but it wasn’t. Instead, it was a book of backstories as Arden tells Officer Holt how she became a famous illusionist. Some of her tale was interesting, like when she described the tricks of the magic trade. Overall though, the plot and characters couldn’t hold my attention, and in the end I had no idea what lie the title was referring to. Just didn’t work for me.Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
    • 2/5
      I'm sorry to say, this book waivered between holding my interest and losing my attention. There were moments of suspense, followed my pages of dull storyline.
    • 4/5
      The narrative of this was interesting, as I was drawn into the mysteries of the "magician". However, I would have really enjoyed a bit more historical perspective and character development.
    • 4/5
      This book was riveting, spellbinding and pulls you into the story. I was entranced by Arden's telling of her story. Arden's life is full of fear, narrow escapes, and missed opportunities. Its a difficult life but Arden survives. There are some dark and shocking scenes of abuse in the book that may leave you sucking in your breath and gasping. Yet they tell the story of survival as well. Brilliant debut from this new historical fiction writer.
    • 4/5
      I thought this book was pretty intriguing. She kept me very interested in the story of Ada's life. I was a little disappointed in the ending and thought it wasn't very imaginative... There was quite a build up to the end but I felt like it just fell flat.
    • 4/5
      I wasn't sure about this when I started the audio but it definitely pulled me in---in some ways a little long-winded and an incredible amount of words to be fit into supposedly one "night" but it was good enough to keep me interested and curious about both of the stories---the magician's and the policeman's.
    • 4/5
      I really liked the historical details Macallister included in her novel about one of the first female illusionists. With the country on the cusp of a successful suffragette movement, I thought Arden's rise in both her skill and the popularity of her show helped prove women could entertain/co-run a business, as well as men. Her idea to cut a man in half instead of a women seemed to be very eventful. The basic story in this novel, of how Miss Bates eventually becomes the Amazing Arden, as she tells it to Officer Virgil Holt, was quite interesting, but told in such a manner, that I wasn't always sure if I was catching the clues we were being given. The cruelty of her cousin Ray was very disturbing, and I liked Ada's gumption. Even though it was difficult to leave her mother, Ada was able to run away from a bad home situation, eventually landing at the Biltmore Estate as a maid. As Miss Bates, she befriends a gardener named Clyde and eventually the two make their way to NYC, she to dance and he to make his fortune. What I found distracting was the back and forth storytelling as she sits handcuffed, in a police station in Iowa. In some ways, she and Holt are damaged in similar ways, but only one of them can heal physical wounds, while the other learns during a night of storytelling, that maybe he can face emotional ones.
    • 4/5
      This is the story of Ada Bates and her rise to fame as “The Amazing Arden”, master illusionist. As a young teen, she is thrown into contact with her cousin Ray, a very disturbed young man. He threatens her with bodily harm. Ray believes he has special healing powers; he believes he can hurt her and heal her. When she receives no help from her mother, after begin injured, she runs away from home with another young man, Clyde, who works on the same farm where she is living. Thus begins her eventual life and future career under the tutelage of Adelaide Herrmann, who actually did exist and was a rare female illusionist. Ultimately, Ada/Arden is accused of murder. The reader will decide if she is guilty or innocent, telling lies or telling the truth.The story is presented as Ada’s confession to Virgil Holt, the local sheriff who has arrested her for the murder of her husband. She begins in 1892, the year she leaves home and continues to their present time, 1905. Ada tells her story slowly, reeling in the reader completely, even when the story taxes credibility. Like Ada, the reader will be a captive until the final page as the many character’s lives converge.The sheriff, Virgil, believes that “Arden” has magical powers that can heal his injuries if he can convince her to do it. He wants to trade her freedom for his cure. Some of the will scenes seem contrived and require the suspension of disbelief. In the end, the reader will be left wondering about many elements of the story. Could Ada help Virgil? Is her story believable? What is the magician’s real lie? After you read it, you may continue to wonder about many elements of the story, but you will not wonder about whether or not you enjoyed it. That will be a given.
    • 4/5
      3.5 The amazing Arden, caught fleeing into the night after the murder of her supposed husbands murder. Virgil Holt is the lawman who catches her and he has a big problem of his own. Started off vey slowly and in the beginning it was hard to accept the premise that makes this story work. It is when Arden begins to tell her story to Holt that the novel becomes fascinating, that is if you are a lover of magic and illusions. Loved reading about how these illusions are performed, the planning behind them. All the performers and props that are needed. Arden's life itself is astounding and she has a secret gift of he own that will be part of the reason Virgil will continue to let her tell her story. The writing itself gets stronger as the story continues.In the end Virgil will not get exactly why he wanted from her but will learn something very valuable nonetheless. As for what happens to Arden, well to find out you will have to read the book.ARC from NetGalley.
    • 4/5
      The Magician's Lie is a story told over the course of one night by the magician herself. She is telling her story to the lawman who has captured her as she is running away from what he is sure is the scene of the crime where she has killed her husband. Virgil Holt is the lawman. He is aware of Arden's abilities because he has seen her performance that very night in Waterloo, Iowa. It is a performance in which she performs the shocking illusion of cutting a man in half. Soon after the show a body is discovered in the theater basement, lifeless and blooded by the ax used in the performance.He is the lone police officer from the small town of Janesville, Iowa, and he has traveled three-fourths of the way there on horseback when she unexpectedly walks into the cafe where he has stopped. Janesville is where he takes her, expecting to extract a confession pretty quickly.But Arden seems unaware of the murder or even the identity of who has been killed. She begins to tell a detailed and fascinating story of her childhood, her mother and father, and the frightening evil presence that enters her life as she enters her teen years. Virgil can't help but be caught up in her story, even as he doubts whether it is true or simply a ruse like all the illusions he has seen her perform. Though she is handcuffed, both arms and ankles, with multiple pair of handcuffs, Virgil still has the uncomfortable feeling that maybe she can escape, and maybe she knows more about him than he has revealed. Is she reading his mind, or simply a good reader of people's faces? Regardless, he begins to sense that she could help him with his unique troubles just as she has apparently used the power to heal herself from injuries that she has sustained at various times in her life. Would she trade a life changing favor to him for her freedom?The story of the making of a talented and creative illusionist is reminiscent of Water For Elephants, in the sense that a fascinating tale is told from the vantage point of a narrator who was actually there, but is now at another critical juncture in life, so both tales, past and present, must be resolved by the end of the book. This task is performed very well indeed by author Greer Macallister. It is a murder mystery, a love story, a poignant tale of good and evil with perhaps a touch of magic, but is any of it true? The book is due in stores January 2015, and I think it will be very much worth your time, so be on the lookout for it!
    • 5/5
      This book does not come out until January 2015. But I have to say one thing. (More to come after release) READ IT>
    • 4/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      adult historical fiction (1890s-1900s America) with magic and suspense--LOTS of suspense (and some violence--I had to skip over a few bits at the end). Definitely one to recommend.
    • 4/5
      When famous magician, the Amazing Arden, finishes her show, her husband is found murdered and she runs. A police officer catches up with her and takes her in for questioning. He listens to her life story as she tries to explain and hopes he’ll believe that she didn’t do it. It’s a story of poverty and abuse, and an escape to a life of performance. The story goes back and forth in time. It’s set between the late 19th century and 1905. I quite enjoyed it, but wasn’t overly crazy about the end. I really liked the setting and the atmosphere of the story. I also love the cover. There was an interview with the author at the end of my copy; I had been wondering as I read, and it was confirmed, that Arden’s magician mentor in the story was a real woman. There really weren’t many women illusionists at the time (nor are there now, I don’t think). One of the events near the end of the story (a fire at a theatre in Chicago) also really happened.
    • 5/5
      “But this is life, and when bad things come to us, there isn't much choice. You survive them or you don't.”

      I doubt I have ever given five stars to an ARC. I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to books, and I do give out a large amount of near-enough or full-on five stars, even if others have rated it one. As long as it keeps me hooked and the characters are enjoyable, I'm happy.

      The Magician's Lie is all of that and more.

      What I liked:

      - Amazing Arden's amazing life story.
      - Amazing Arden's torturous love stories.
      - Amazing Arden's mind.
      - The writing.
      - The amazing plot.

      What I didn't like:

      Nothing. Shocked? I am, too. Because The Magician's Lie is perfect in every single way. There is absolutely nothing I would change about it.

      Full review to come on 100% Rock closer to the release date.
    • 4/5
      The plot of The Magician’s Lie wasn’t my favorite. The bad guy and his love of hurting people and animals was too creepy. The parts where he hurt animals weren’t drawn out and were bearable, but are worth mentioning for people like me who hate when animals get hurt in books. Overall, my favorite parts were the uneventful ones, when the focus was on Arden building her career as a magician. As one of the only female magicians, she was a trailblazer, but on top of that, she also incorporated a feminist message into the tricks she designed. I thought Arden was a fantastic character, interesting, passionate, and successful. Although I would have loved this book even more had it focused solely on Arden’s career without adding an outside antagonist, I’d still recommend it.

      This review first published by Doing Dewey.
    • 2/5
      The opening really drew me in. But I couldn't finish the book. The tale switches back and forth between the 'present' and the main character's past. The past was interesting enough--although too much melodrama for my personal taste--but the 'present' had no presence. It felt like a facade that was stuck in for effect. Perhaps in the end it all ties together, but about half-way through, I wasn't getting any enjoyment out of reading. I put the book down for good...and was ever so relieved!I think some people might find it entertaining as a light summer read, so I don't want to discourage anyone from giving it a shot. It just wasn't for me.
    • 4/5
      This novel hits all my buttons. Life in a circus (well almost a circus, a traveling magic show). Magic, that may be real. A mystery at the core of it. I enjoyed it very much.

      The Amazing Arden is a rarity in the early 1900's. She is the headlining magician of her own show, in a field dominated by men. To grow her audience, she imagines more and more dangerous tricks, culminating in sawing a man in half. Interspersed with the story of life on the road, is the threat of her cousin, Ray, her childhood tormenter. He has never forgotten Arden and wants to possess her. When Arden's husband is found dead after a show, she becomes the main suspect and over the course of one night, tells her life's story to Virgil, a lawman.

      I loved the glimpses of life on the road, and the discussions of the various tricks. That kind of stuff is fascinating to me. I have always harbored a secret desire to live a life like this. Arden's story is fascinating, from her early childhood dreams of becoming a dancer, to her becoming a part of a magic show. As she learns about her new profession, so does the reader.

      The book is written in a flashback format. Some scenes set in the present, with her talking to Virgil. Most of the book set in the past, as she tells him about her life. I normally do not like books that jump back and forth in time, but this was ok. Still, my least favorite parts were when Arden interacted with Virgil. I always wanted to get back to the "real" story.

      The book contains some violence and death. It was very compelling, the type of book I wanted to stay up late to read. I recommend it.
    • 4/5
      This book ticks a lot of boxes that I like to have ticked: historical fiction, trains, magic that may be real, mystery, just the right about of romance... so naturally, I enjoyed it. The writing was ok, and the story moves along.
    • 3/5
      I was intrigued by the premise of this book, probably because I really liked Ann Patchett's The Magician's Assistant, but I was disappointed. The story of Arden's life was ok and pulled me in enough to take me to the end of the book, but her interaction with the policeman interviewing her, and his reactions to her, seemed really implausible and irritating. Soap opera. I ended up skipping through them toward the end just to get back to the story. Overall a book I'll probably forget by next week.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I won this book via Bookreporter's Sneak Peek program.From the first few pages, much is revealed. Arden describes,in her own voice and in vivid detail, her daily preparations for her shows and the performance itself. She hints about being a victim of domestic abuse and how, that very night, she plans to leave this life behind by killing her torturer. The characters Holt and Mose, the police officers, are introduced. It is mentioned that their relationship is tense, both professionally and personally.Holt and Muse are called to the scene of a murder. A man, identified as Arden's husband, has been found dead and she is declared a suspect. But she is nowhere to be found. When their paths cross later that evening, Holt, seeing a golden opportunity to redeem himself, takes her into custody. She paints a dramatically different picture of events leading to the murder. Macallister's writing style is very readable and the language is lyrical. Her descriptions are graphic and original. The character development is good in that I could get a sense of them. I enjoyed the dialogue as well. Although she makes use of both time and point-of-view shifts when narrating Arden's story, the plot is easy to follow.Overall I enjoyed this novel. The plot was compelling and there were cliffhangers and plot twists. I even read the "reading group guide questions" and "conversation with the author" at the end to gain further insight. Before reading this, I had not read a lot of historical fiction, but now I am inclined to explore this genre further. It has also motivated me to add novels such as Water for Elephants and The Night Circus to my to-be-read list. This novel is reminiscent of that genre.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      Absolutely spellbinding historical fiction. One of the first female magicians in the country in 1905, the Amazing Arden is accused of murdering her husband. Fleeing the scene of the crime, she is captured by local lawman Virgil Holt. As Holt tries to determine her guilt or innocence, Arden weaves a mesmerizing tale. But what is the truth? Did she do it or not? And will Holt turn her in or let her go? This is a great read for book groups and fans of Water for Elephants.

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      Review based on ARC.It really wasn't what I was expecting. The Amazing Arden is the most famous illusionist... illusionist. Right. I get that. But then that word "magic" kept appearing everywhere (reviews, descriptions). And it's not really that kind of book. Not that there isn't a magic, per se, but this is no fantasy.So what is it? It's a murder-mystery, a love story, a story about a woman learning about her strengths, and her weaknesses (and of both, she has many). It's a tale, and you (or, rather, Virgil Holt, small-town officer) must decide where there is truth, and where there is illusion.It starts with murder. It begins with a spectacular show, where the Amazing Arden uses an Ax to cut a man in half. And then voila! He's whole again. It commences with a couple of police-friends enjoying the Amazing Arden's show and then some drinks afterwards.. something to help ease the pain.And then, once the show is over, one officer is called to investigate the murder of the Amazing Arden's husband. And the other, tiny-town officer Virgil Hold, heads off toward home. Stopping for a brief bite, Holt suddenly finds himself with the Amazing Arden in his hands---the prime suspect for the murder his pal was called to investigate. And she appears to be fleeing. So Holt takes her in to his office. It is now up to Holt to decide whether and to what extent Arden is innocent, and so the tale begins.Arden insists on not skipping to the end. She insists on telling of her origin, her loves, her losses, her lessons. And as her tale unfolds, Holt must decide---is she telling the truth? How far does her illusion extend? What can she do for him? What must he do for her?To say more is to give away too much. It reads quickly enough--dragging only a little toward the middle. Macallister has created at least one great character (Ray), a couple of pretty darn good characters (Miss Bates and Holt), and several additional characters to fill the pages and move the story along. While I didn't particularly like Clyde (though I imagine some will love him!), and I thought a few of the characters were rather two-dimensional, I don't think I *needed* to like Clyde or those other characters. They simply aren't the point.And the magic? Well, perhaps there's magic. Or perhaps it's an illusion of magic. Or perhaps we'll never know...

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I'm not sure how I first heard about this book; perhaps it was on John Scalzi's blog as he quite often gives writers a chance to talk about their big idea for a book. If so, then I am glad I was paying attention because I thought this book was terrific.Ada Bates was born in 1880 as an illegitimate granddaughter of a wealthy Philadelphia couple. She and her mother lived with her grandparents until 1892 when her mother ran off with her music instructor to Tennessee, taking Ada with them. There they turned to farming on land that the stepfather's brother owned. Although her mother was gifted musically Ada was not but she started dancing when her mother and stepfather made music together. Her mother sent away for instructions in ballet and Ada practised faithfully. It seemed like an idyllic lifestyle until cousin Ray joined the household. Ray was strong and good looking but he liked to hurt himself and others. When Ada had a chance to dance in front of a New York ballet instructor Ray threw her out of a barn loft and broke her leg. Ada knew she had to escape from him or he would do worse things to her. She ended up working for a female illusionist and she showed real talent. When her employer decided to retire she offered Ada the whole company in return for 20 percent of the box office. Ada accepted and went on to garner even more attention than her previous employer. One of her illusions was to saw a man in half. She performs this trick in Waterloo Iowa on July 23, 1905. The trick went off as planned but shortly after the end of the show Ada's husband is found dead and stuffed into the box used in the trick. Ada is nowhere to be found. A police officer from a nearby town, Virgil Holt, who attended the magic show and was around when the body was found, encounters Ada close to his home and he takes her into custody. Over the course of the night Ada tells him about her life but steadfastly denies killing her husband.The historical details rang true but the plot, with its twists and turns, was what really held my attention. I'm sure I wasn't the only one who hoped that Ada had murdered her husband. But you will have to read the book to the very end, as I did, to find out what happened.Highly recommended.