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A Spector Locked-Room Mystery #1
Death and the Conjuror
An enthralling locked-room murder mystery inspired by crime fiction of the Golden Age, Death and the Conjuror is the critically acclaimed debut novel by Tom Mead. Selected as one of Publishers Weekly's Mysteries of the Year. 1936, London. A celebrity psychiatrist is discovered dead in his locked study. There seems to be no way a killer could have escaped unseen. There are no clues, no witnesses, and no evidence of the murder weapon. Stumped by the confounding scene, Inspector Flint, the Scotland Yard detective on the case, calls on retired stage magician turned part-time sleuth Joseph Spector. Spector has a knack for explaining the inexplicable, but even he finds that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye. As he and the Inspector interview the colourful cast of suspects, they uncover no shortage of dark secrets... or motives for murder. And when a second murder occurs, this time in an impenetrable elevator, they realise the crime wave will become even more deadly unless they can catch the culprit soon. Reviews for Death and the intricate "impossible" crime that completely fooled me.' Peter Lovesey 'A sharply drawn period piece with memorable characters.' New York Times 'A novel to intrigue and delight.' John Connolly 'A real treat for mystery fans.' Ragnar Jonasson 'A beautiful, dark, atmospheric story.' Victoria Dowd'Sparkling, exhilarating. Mead is a dazzling new talent.' TP Fielden
288 pages, Paperback
First published July 12, 2022
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December 25, 2022
Death and the Conjuror
by Tom Mead, narrated by Jake Ruddle
No way I was going to figure this one out! Once we get to the denouement my head was spinning and then doing flips and pretty much just gave up before it was finished. No mere mortal could have thought all of this up. I'd have certainly made a lousy villain back in these olden days.
It's 1930s London and there is a murder. Psychiatrist Anselm Rees has been murdered and the murderer has disappeared under impossible circumstances. What we have here is a closed room mystery but actually there is more than one closed room mystery before the story is over. It's the job of Scotland Yard Inspector George Flint to find the murderer and when confronted with the impossibility of the crime he calls on retired stage magician-turned-part-time sleuth Joseph Spector.
We have a large cast of characters, including Patient A, Patient B, Patient C, the doctor's daughter and her rake of a boyfriend, an actress, a producer, several maids, the staff of a hotel, and more. Just a whole slew of suspicious people and almost witnesses but there are no answers. It will take magician and sleight of hand man such as Spector to figure this one out.
I enjoyed this story very much and the narrator did an excellent job narrating this book. You do have to really like this kind of old fashioned story telling where, in the end, the explanation for everything is long, detailed, verging on impossible, and requiring numerous contortions and eye squinting to really see how things pull together. But it was fun and I felt like I was right there in the parlor with all the characters while Spector laid out the happenings for us. Such clever fun although too clever for me.
Pub July 12th
Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
by Tom Mead, narrated by Jake Ruddle
No way I was going to figure this one out! Once we get to the denouement my head was spinning and then doing flips and pretty much just gave up before it was finished. No mere mortal could have thought all of this up. I'd have certainly made a lousy villain back in these olden days.
It's 1930s London and there is a murder. Psychiatrist Anselm Rees has been murdered and the murderer has disappeared under impossible circumstances. What we have here is a closed room mystery but actually there is more than one closed room mystery before the story is over. It's the job of Scotland Yard Inspector George Flint to find the murderer and when confronted with the impossibility of the crime he calls on retired stage magician-turned-part-time sleuth Joseph Spector.
We have a large cast of characters, including Patient A, Patient B, Patient C, the doctor's daughter and her rake of a boyfriend, an actress, a producer, several maids, the staff of a hotel, and more. Just a whole slew of suspicious people and almost witnesses but there are no answers. It will take magician and sleight of hand man such as Spector to figure this one out.
I enjoyed this story very much and the narrator did an excellent job narrating this book. You do have to really like this kind of old fashioned story telling where, in the end, the explanation for everything is long, detailed, verging on impossible, and requiring numerous contortions and eye squinting to really see how things pull together. But it was fun and I felt like I was right there in the parlor with all the characters while Spector laid out the happenings for us. Such clever fun although too clever for me.
Pub July 12th
Thank you to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.
March 16, 2022
London,1936. There had been "an increase in 'impossible' crimes-typically high-society affairs, where men in locked rooms were killed under impractical circumstances...murder as a puzzle." so stated Scotland Yard Inspector George Flint.
Dr. Anselm Rees, having left Vienna five months prior, resided in an upscale suburb in London with his daughter, Lidia. As a noted psychiatrist, he was in the process of treating three patients, referred to as Patients A, B and C. All sessions were conducted in his study. Three late night panicked telephone calls ensued. Oh no! The good doctor had been found murdered! Both the study door and French windows were locked from the inside, no weapon nor fingerprints found. According to housekeeper Olive, "I can tell you that-not five minutes ago the doctor was alive and well in this room because I heard him talking on the telephone."
Inspector Flint requested the expertise of Joseph Spector, professional trickster. "Though his gait and dress sense were those of a very old man...like all conjurors he played up to the confusion." "An impossible crime in a locked room-Spector, as magician, might be able to tell how the trick was done." But wait...an impossible art theft...a second baffling murder. Are these deceptive, puzzling crimes connected?
Who are the suspects? Dr. Lidia Rees, daughter of Dr. Anselm Rees, seemed to be matter of fact about her father's demise. Her playboy boyfriend had many secrets. What of Patients A, B, and C? Why did the Rees family emigrate to London from Vienna? So many unanswered questions.
"Death and the Conjuror" by Tom Mead is a Golden Age locked room mystery of the finest caliber. Do you think you can easily solve the murder mystery? Reader, guess again! I hope author Mead considers writing a series with the pairing of Inspector George Flint and retired magician Joseph Spector as sleuths on a quest to solve mind boggling, seemingly impossible crimes. Highly recommended.
Thank you Penzler Publications/ Mysterious Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dr. Anselm Rees, having left Vienna five months prior, resided in an upscale suburb in London with his daughter, Lidia. As a noted psychiatrist, he was in the process of treating three patients, referred to as Patients A, B and C. All sessions were conducted in his study. Three late night panicked telephone calls ensued. Oh no! The good doctor had been found murdered! Both the study door and French windows were locked from the inside, no weapon nor fingerprints found. According to housekeeper Olive, "I can tell you that-not five minutes ago the doctor was alive and well in this room because I heard him talking on the telephone."
Inspector Flint requested the expertise of Joseph Spector, professional trickster. "Though his gait and dress sense were those of a very old man...like all conjurors he played up to the confusion." "An impossible crime in a locked room-Spector, as magician, might be able to tell how the trick was done." But wait...an impossible art theft...a second baffling murder. Are these deceptive, puzzling crimes connected?
Who are the suspects? Dr. Lidia Rees, daughter of Dr. Anselm Rees, seemed to be matter of fact about her father's demise. Her playboy boyfriend had many secrets. What of Patients A, B, and C? Why did the Rees family emigrate to London from Vienna? So many unanswered questions.
"Death and the Conjuror" by Tom Mead is a Golden Age locked room mystery of the finest caliber. Do you think you can easily solve the murder mystery? Reader, guess again! I hope author Mead considers writing a series with the pairing of Inspector George Flint and retired magician Joseph Spector as sleuths on a quest to solve mind boggling, seemingly impossible crimes. Highly recommended.
Thank you Penzler Publications/ Mysterious Press and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 20, 2022
In 1936 a prominent Austrian psychiatrist is murdered in his London home. He is found dead in a room locked from the inside. The Scotland Yard detective assigned to the case hates locked room mysteries, so of course he calls upon the semi-retired magician Joseph Spector to help him solve the murder. Fortunately, the doctor had only 3 patients, so that kept the list of suspects under control. Unfortunately, they all had alibis. Later, there is another locked room murder to muddy the waters.
I like locked room murder mysteries and I did enjoy this one. However, the fact that the characters kept referring to John Dickson Carr just acted as a reminder that his books are much more entertaining than this one, and that is primarily due to his characters. The magician/detective in this book was no fun at all. The resolution of the murders was extremely convoluted, but that is par for the course in this genre. If this book is the start of a series I will probably try the next book. The narration of the audio book was very good.
I received a free copy of this audio book from the publisher.
I like locked room murder mysteries and I did enjoy this one. However, the fact that the characters kept referring to John Dickson Carr just acted as a reminder that his books are much more entertaining than this one, and that is primarily due to his characters. The magician/detective in this book was no fun at all. The resolution of the murders was extremely convoluted, but that is par for the course in this genre. If this book is the start of a series I will probably try the next book. The narration of the audio book was very good.
I received a free copy of this audio book from the publisher.
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March 27, 2024Retired stage magician as series detective, which I obviously found irresistible and I love a 20s or 30s Golden Age type murder.
Very much a puzzle book rather than character driven. A few crucial clues were so concealed in the text that the author felt obliged to put your actual footnotes in the denouement speech to evidence they were mentioned (for which I'll have to take his word because the publisher didn't bother to update the references from the print page numbers for the ebook). That felt a bit cheaty for me. Would I have felt like that without the footnotes? Dunno. The actual murder plan was very ingenious but the footnotes left me feeling vaguely narked.
A thing that may or may not bother you: there are a lot of uses in this that just are not the right word for the job, eg "She was diffuse--almost icy--in her approbation", or describing a policeman's nervous voice as "insipid", or someone waking "with a priapic jolt". Bit disappointing from House of Zeus.
Very much a puzzle book rather than character driven. A few crucial clues were so concealed in the text that the author felt obliged to put your actual footnotes in the denouement speech to evidence they were mentioned (for which I'll have to take his word because the publisher didn't bother to update the references from the print page numbers for the ebook). That felt a bit cheaty for me. Would I have felt like that without the footnotes? Dunno. The actual murder plan was very ingenious but the footnotes left me feeling vaguely narked.
A thing that may or may not bother you: there are a lot of uses in this that just are not the right word for the job, eg "She was diffuse--almost icy--in her approbation", or describing a policeman's nervous voice as "insipid", or someone waking "with a priapic jolt". Bit disappointing from House of Zeus.
July 2, 2022
This is a story of a murdered man, psychiatrist Anselm Rees, in a room locked from the inside. Set in the 1930's Inspector Flint of the police is stumped so confers with his friend Mr Spector a retired magician. Together they work through the comings and goings of the psychiatrist Anselm Rees and his patients, three in particular who appear to be hiding something, Then there is the odd couple Dr Rees daughter and her fiancé who appear to have nothing in common.
The books has quite a few twists and turns and both Flint and Spector find themselves caught up in the hunt, although as they draw nearer the tables start to turn and it appears that someone may be hunting them.
Is there a logical explanation or is it indeed an act of sheer magic! I really did enjoy the characters and the plot in this exciting whodunnit.
Thank you Penzler Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
The books has quite a few twists and turns and both Flint and Spector find themselves caught up in the hunt, although as they draw nearer the tables start to turn and it appears that someone may be hunting them.
Is there a logical explanation or is it indeed an act of sheer magic! I really did enjoy the characters and the plot in this exciting whodunnit.
Thank you Penzler Publishers and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this digital ARC.
March 26, 2024
A really fantastic locked room mystery. Great on a reread, too.
July 21, 2022
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
DEATH AND THE CONJUROR (Joseph Spector Book #1) by Tom Mead is an entertaining throwback historical locked-door mystery set in 1930’s London and featuring a retired stage magician turned amateur sleuth.
Joseph Spector has retired from his job of mystifying audiences with his magical illusions, but still is available for consultation to his friend, Inspector George Flint from Scotland yard for assistance when the scene of a murder seems impossible. Psychiatrist Anselm Rees in found murdered in his home office by his daughter and one of his patients. The door and windows were locked and there was nowhere for escape, so Flint takes this impossible case to Spector for his assistance.
There are many suspects and a lot of misdirection in this locked-room mystery. When a second murder occurs, Spector must sort the truths from illusions for this murderer to be brought to justice.
This was an enjoyable read which reminded me of my love of the old style of murder mysteries especially Christies’ Poirot series. Spector was a wonderful character with his past profession being the perfect set-up to be of use to Inspector Flint. I also enjoyed when Spector explained how some of his illusions and slight-of-hand tricks were accomplished. All the suspects and secondary characters were well drawn to keep me guessing all the way to the end. The plot was well paced and full of red herrings and twists.
This is the first book in new this historical mystery series and I will be looking out for more stories featuring Spector in the future.
DEATH AND THE CONJUROR (Joseph Spector Book #1) by Tom Mead is an entertaining throwback historical locked-door mystery set in 1930’s London and featuring a retired stage magician turned amateur sleuth.
Joseph Spector has retired from his job of mystifying audiences with his magical illusions, but still is available for consultation to his friend, Inspector George Flint from Scotland yard for assistance when the scene of a murder seems impossible. Psychiatrist Anselm Rees in found murdered in his home office by his daughter and one of his patients. The door and windows were locked and there was nowhere for escape, so Flint takes this impossible case to Spector for his assistance.
There are many suspects and a lot of misdirection in this locked-room mystery. When a second murder occurs, Spector must sort the truths from illusions for this murderer to be brought to justice.
This was an enjoyable read which reminded me of my love of the old style of murder mysteries especially Christies’ Poirot series. Spector was a wonderful character with his past profession being the perfect set-up to be of use to Inspector Flint. I also enjoyed when Spector explained how some of his illusions and slight-of-hand tricks were accomplished. All the suspects and secondary characters were well drawn to keep me guessing all the way to the end. The plot was well paced and full of red herrings and twists.
This is the first book in new this historical mystery series and I will be looking out for more stories featuring Spector in the future.
July 12, 2022
Many thanks to NetGalley and The Mysterious Press for this Advanced Reader Copy and the opportunity to review Death and the Conjuror. All opinions and comments are my own.
Fans of Locked Room mysteries will find much to keep them occupied in Death and the Conjuror by Tom Mead, set in 1936 London. The plot is straightforward enough -- psychologist seeing three rather unique patients is found dead in his locked study. But nothing else is straightforward about “Death and the Conjuror,” as readers will soon learn.
Inspector George Flint is delegated to solve the “murder as a puzzle,” as our author has it. He knows he needs help, and calls upon Joseph Spector -- the “old magician.” The conjuror of our title. What follows is a careful setting out of clues, details about past events, and especially, motives for murder. The author even obligingly goes over the seven different scenarios for a locked room mystery (as first advanced by John Dickson Carr in his book, The Hollow Man in 1935).
The body count increases by one, in another impossible crime. The press begins looking for “the phantom killer.” Readers may begin to agree that, as Spector says, they’re faced with a “puzzle with too many pieces.” But he is a magician, after all. Never fear, gentle reader, because you will be “rewarded” with the Golden Age Interlude: solve the mystery before those in the book do. Go on. I’ll wait. Ah, all done? Well, then, sit back and get ready for the gathering of the suspects and the Big Reveal.
Before that happens, however, we are told that Flint does not trust Spector. This, after everything? Oh, ye of little faith. Locked room mysteries have to be explained, of course. So, the magician weaves his magic, and a murderer appears. And at this point, if this was an old-time radio drama, the narrator would be intoning, “Crime Does Not Pay.”
Death and the Conjuror is very plot- and character-driven, as you can imagine. It ticks all the boxes for a locked room mystery. That being said, I never thought I got a handle on Joseph Spector as “detective,” nor as a well-rounded fictional individual. There was a kind of cypher quality to him that I couldn’t get past. Perhaps the plot was supposed to be the “everything” in this book. Maybe in the next one (I’m sure that’s the plan) Mr. Mead can conjure up a better personality for his main character.
Fans of Locked Room mysteries will find much to keep them occupied in Death and the Conjuror by Tom Mead, set in 1936 London. The plot is straightforward enough -- psychologist seeing three rather unique patients is found dead in his locked study. But nothing else is straightforward about “Death and the Conjuror,” as readers will soon learn.
Inspector George Flint is delegated to solve the “murder as a puzzle,” as our author has it. He knows he needs help, and calls upon Joseph Spector -- the “old magician.” The conjuror of our title. What follows is a careful setting out of clues, details about past events, and especially, motives for murder. The author even obligingly goes over the seven different scenarios for a locked room mystery (as first advanced by John Dickson Carr in his book, The Hollow Man in 1935).
The body count increases by one, in another impossible crime. The press begins looking for “the phantom killer.” Readers may begin to agree that, as Spector says, they’re faced with a “puzzle with too many pieces.” But he is a magician, after all. Never fear, gentle reader, because you will be “rewarded” with the Golden Age Interlude: solve the mystery before those in the book do. Go on. I’ll wait. Ah, all done? Well, then, sit back and get ready for the gathering of the suspects and the Big Reveal.
Before that happens, however, we are told that Flint does not trust Spector. This, after everything? Oh, ye of little faith. Locked room mysteries have to be explained, of course. So, the magician weaves his magic, and a murderer appears. And at this point, if this was an old-time radio drama, the narrator would be intoning, “Crime Does Not Pay.”
Death and the Conjuror is very plot- and character-driven, as you can imagine. It ticks all the boxes for a locked room mystery. That being said, I never thought I got a handle on Joseph Spector as “detective,” nor as a well-rounded fictional individual. There was a kind of cypher quality to him that I couldn’t get past. Perhaps the plot was supposed to be the “everything” in this book. Maybe in the next one (I’m sure that’s the plan) Mr. Mead can conjure up a better personality for his main character.
August 23, 2024
What a muddled mish-mash this book is. I’m very surprised a publisher actually considered adding it to their list. From the outset the premise seems very odd. While one has seen detectives of every stamp, it is stretching credulity rather far to believe that a detective would consult an ex-magician on his cases. The rest of the story seems peppered with nonsense, all of which makes for a very unsatisfying read. While there is not much that can be said in its favour, there is much to criticise.
Firstly, the poor grammar is unforgivable, and as this is an advance copy, one can only hope that this will be picked up prior to publication (although this is doubtful). The number of sentences begun with prepositions is shocking. And (!) what is with all the Americanisms? Elevator for lift, apartment for flat – why? The anachronistic term ‘mental health’ also struck a discordant note. Hardly a term that was in use within this book’s setting.
Mead’s sloppy prose has made a bumbling idiot of Flint, his Scotland Yard detective. He has him asking the deceased doctor’s patient whether the doctor mentioned fearing for his life or having any enemies. The man was a psychiatrist – is it likely he would confide such a thing to his patient? Another time a suspect mentioned bumping into the doctor’s daughter on the stairs, and the detective asked whether she seemed someone capable of violence. How on earth could he tell from such an encounter? Mead has one character state categorically that he is not comfortable discussing his mental issues, then he goes on to describe his symptoms at great length and detail. For a detective, Flint has an extremely poor interview technique, accepting the vaguest answers at face value, and probing not at all. He also misrepresents facts. At one time he tells his conjurer sidekick, of one suspect “Publisher says he blundered out of the restaurant like he was in a trance”. He said nothing of the kind. Again, Spector says “Claude Weaver, the novelist famed for his fugue-like blackouts”. This is not true at all, as only Dr Rees knew of the blackouts.
The plot galumphs along with all the subtlety of a brickbat upside the head. The character Edgar Simmonds comes from absolutely nowhere, then is mentioned by two characters virtually simultaneously – a very heavy deus ex machina.
The author seems to lack a basic understanding of the social structure and behaviour of the times. Lidia Rees is hardly the ‘wealthy debutante’ that the detective Flint dubs her. She works for a living! Mead’s characters act erratically in every situation and their inconsistent behaviour defies credulity.
There is a great deal more, but enough said. A quotation from the book – “Like all novice efforts it lacks a certain finesse. But makes up for it in enthusiasm”. Mead could have been writing about this very book.
Firstly, the poor grammar is unforgivable, and as this is an advance copy, one can only hope that this will be picked up prior to publication (although this is doubtful). The number of sentences begun with prepositions is shocking. And (!) what is with all the Americanisms? Elevator for lift, apartment for flat – why? The anachronistic term ‘mental health’ also struck a discordant note. Hardly a term that was in use within this book’s setting.
Mead’s sloppy prose has made a bumbling idiot of Flint, his Scotland Yard detective. He has him asking the deceased doctor’s patient whether the doctor mentioned fearing for his life or having any enemies. The man was a psychiatrist – is it likely he would confide such a thing to his patient? Another time a suspect mentioned bumping into the doctor’s daughter on the stairs, and the detective asked whether she seemed someone capable of violence. How on earth could he tell from such an encounter? Mead has one character state categorically that he is not comfortable discussing his mental issues, then he goes on to describe his symptoms at great length and detail. For a detective, Flint has an extremely poor interview technique, accepting the vaguest answers at face value, and probing not at all. He also misrepresents facts. At one time he tells his conjurer sidekick, of one suspect “Publisher says he blundered out of the restaurant like he was in a trance”. He said nothing of the kind. Again, Spector says “Claude Weaver, the novelist famed for his fugue-like blackouts”. This is not true at all, as only Dr Rees knew of the blackouts.
The plot galumphs along with all the subtlety of a brickbat upside the head. The character Edgar Simmonds comes from absolutely nowhere, then is mentioned by two characters virtually simultaneously – a very heavy deus ex machina.
The author seems to lack a basic understanding of the social structure and behaviour of the times. Lidia Rees is hardly the ‘wealthy debutante’ that the detective Flint dubs her. She works for a living! Mead’s characters act erratically in every situation and their inconsistent behaviour defies credulity.
There is a great deal more, but enough said. A quotation from the book – “Like all novice efforts it lacks a certain finesse. But makes up for it in enthusiasm”. Mead could have been writing about this very book.
May 1, 2022
I felt like I was reading a book from the Golden Age of detective fiction when I curled up with this one. This ingenious (and fair-play) locked-room mystery should win over a new generation of readers to this delightfully devious style of classic mystery.
July 13, 2022
Death and the Conjuror is the first book in a series about elderly magician Joseph Spector, who assists his friend Detective Flint in solving some complicated locked room type murders. It’s set in 1930s London, and plays out as an homage to the Golden Age of Crime novels of that time, with the enigmatic amateur detective patiently following the clues to get to the truth when no one else can. I’m not sure what made me request it as I’m limiting requests for new authors, possibly a friend’s recommendation. Overall I enjoyed it and didn’t guess whodunnit, but was slightly disappointed by the superficiality of the characters.
When famous psychiatrist Anselm Rees is found inside his home office, locked from the inside, with his throat slashed, Scotland Yard are stumped, so call on retired trickster Spector to help solve the crime. Could it have been one of Rees’ celebrity clients - a reclusive writer, a kleptomaniac actress and an anxious musician, his cool and composed daughter or her foppish fiancé, or the mystery man who turned up on the night of the crime?
“But that’s all magic is, my dear. Taking the mundane and making it remarkable. And still, the trick teaches us something about perception. No matter how deceptive you thought you were being, my view was always clearer than yours. You may have thought you were tricking me. But of course, all along I was tricking you.”
For a mystery set in 1936, this felt uncomfortably modern - there were few period details to fix us in that particular time period and some of the language was rather anachronistic, including Americanisms that I doubt were in use at the time. I did learn some wonderful new words though, like hornswoggle and persiflage, and what mullions are (thanks Google!) The writing style is chatty - at one point breaking the fourth wall to invite the reader to solve the mystery themselves - and the plot moves along at a decent clip. I didn’t feel involved with any of the characters though - even Spector, we got very little backstory or insight into his personality, and I didn’t feel the relationship with bumbling detective George Flint. I did like the explanations for the various “magic” tricks though. I’m not sure if I will continue the series, but do recommend this for Agatha Christie fans who like a devious murderer.
3.5 rounded up for thoroughly bamboozling me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC; I am posting this honest review voluntarily. Death and the Conjuror is available now.
When famous psychiatrist Anselm Rees is found inside his home office, locked from the inside, with his throat slashed, Scotland Yard are stumped, so call on retired trickster Spector to help solve the crime. Could it have been one of Rees’ celebrity clients - a reclusive writer, a kleptomaniac actress and an anxious musician, his cool and composed daughter or her foppish fiancé, or the mystery man who turned up on the night of the crime?
“But that’s all magic is, my dear. Taking the mundane and making it remarkable. And still, the trick teaches us something about perception. No matter how deceptive you thought you were being, my view was always clearer than yours. You may have thought you were tricking me. But of course, all along I was tricking you.”
For a mystery set in 1936, this felt uncomfortably modern - there were few period details to fix us in that particular time period and some of the language was rather anachronistic, including Americanisms that I doubt were in use at the time. I did learn some wonderful new words though, like hornswoggle and persiflage, and what mullions are (thanks Google!) The writing style is chatty - at one point breaking the fourth wall to invite the reader to solve the mystery themselves - and the plot moves along at a decent clip. I didn’t feel involved with any of the characters though - even Spector, we got very little backstory or insight into his personality, and I didn’t feel the relationship with bumbling detective George Flint. I did like the explanations for the various “magic” tricks though. I’m not sure if I will continue the series, but do recommend this for Agatha Christie fans who like a devious murderer.
3.5 rounded up for thoroughly bamboozling me!
Thanks to NetGalley and Penzler Publishers for the ARC; I am posting this honest review voluntarily. Death and the Conjuror is available now.
July 22, 2022
Best things about this book:
- classic locked-room mystery providing all the information the reader needs to solve it. (Note: I did not figure it out, but you might!)
- the amateur detective is a magician!
- fun, atmostpheric setting
Frustrating things about this book:
- this is not a historical mystery. It is supposedly set in the past (I forgot what the time period is supposed to be, and you'll see why if you read this yourself), but I think that's only a device to ensure that the author doesn't have to account for modern police procedure or use technology.
- the characters' behavior only makes sense if you squint and also accept that they all have strange psychological issues.
- the characters' relationships also make no sense. Ex: the detective somehow lets a magician more or less steer the entire case. Ex: the detective and magician talk openly, in public, and even in front of witnesses/suspects, about all the details of the case, including deeply personal information they've uncovered. This somehow never has any bad repercussions.
- The characters all speak in the same style, which is overly ornate and full of odd usage errors, as though a thesaurus was carelessly employed. For example, a character is "bemused" by a magic trick, and "the magician [gives] a soft chuckle, delighting in the young man's rancour." Rancour?
There is nothing to suggest that the character has abruptly shifted from bemusement to bitterness. At one point, the detective's case is described as "diaphanous." This odd usage didn't appear in every paragraph, but it was frequent enough to be distracting.
I wanted to love this book, because I enjoy historical mysteries. However, part of what I like about them is the way those books bring the past to life. That wasn't what this novel was trying to do.
- classic locked-room mystery providing all the information the reader needs to solve it. (Note: I did not figure it out, but you might!)
- the amateur detective is a magician!
- fun, atmostpheric setting
Frustrating things about this book:
- this is not a historical mystery. It is supposedly set in the past (I forgot what the time period is supposed to be, and you'll see why if you read this yourself), but I think that's only a device to ensure that the author doesn't have to account for modern police procedure or use technology.
- the characters' behavior only makes sense if you squint and also accept that they all have strange psychological issues.
- the characters' relationships also make no sense. Ex: the detective somehow lets a magician more or less steer the entire case. Ex: the detective and magician talk openly, in public, and even in front of witnesses/suspects, about all the details of the case, including deeply personal information they've uncovered. This somehow never has any bad repercussions.
- The characters all speak in the same style, which is overly ornate and full of odd usage errors, as though a thesaurus was carelessly employed. For example, a character is "bemused" by a magic trick, and "the magician [gives] a soft chuckle, delighting in the young man's rancour." Rancour?
There is nothing to suggest that the character has abruptly shifted from bemusement to bitterness. At one point, the detective's case is described as "diaphanous." This odd usage didn't appear in every paragraph, but it was frequent enough to be distracting.
I wanted to love this book, because I enjoy historical mysteries. However, part of what I like about them is the way those books bring the past to life. That wasn't what this novel was trying to do.
September 19, 2023
Almost too clever. I wasn’t able to figure this locked door Mystery out. Set a couple of years before WW2 with a Viennese psychologist and his daughter. Rather weird and yet intriguing. Josep Spector is a mystery.
March 23, 2022
This one had me at conjuror. The crime-solving magician sounds like an awesome character for a story. Not just any story either, a murder mystery, specifically an impossible by design locked variety of one.
This was a pitch perfect pastiche of golden age mysteries, from personae dramatis to the appropriately convoluted solution to the puzzle. Twisting and turning and casting suspicion this way and that, with a bunch of perfectly golden-age-style characters all of whom could theoretically do a murderous turn or two, this challenging murder nugget has a lot to offer. The lead detective and the detecting magician certainly have enough to stay busy.
I really enjoyed this read. It had all the charm of a bygone era without any of its dated nonsense and a charming meta-wink-wink-nudge-nudge quality to it too daring the readers to play along. This cunning nostalgia tinted mystery is sure to delight armchair detectives. The solution is tougher than you think. All my early suspicions were going out fo the window chapter by chapter. Made it all the more fun. Such a quick read too. Like a good magician, this book tricks you and makes you enjoy it. And yes, there are some magic tricks in here too along with the other tricks, of a more murderous variety. Conveniently enough, all of the tricks come with explanations. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
This was a pitch perfect pastiche of golden age mysteries, from personae dramatis to the appropriately convoluted solution to the puzzle. Twisting and turning and casting suspicion this way and that, with a bunch of perfectly golden-age-style characters all of whom could theoretically do a murderous turn or two, this challenging murder nugget has a lot to offer. The lead detective and the detecting magician certainly have enough to stay busy.
I really enjoyed this read. It had all the charm of a bygone era without any of its dated nonsense and a charming meta-wink-wink-nudge-nudge quality to it too daring the readers to play along. This cunning nostalgia tinted mystery is sure to delight armchair detectives. The solution is tougher than you think. All my early suspicions were going out fo the window chapter by chapter. Made it all the more fun. Such a quick read too. Like a good magician, this book tricks you and makes you enjoy it. And yes, there are some magic tricks in here too along with the other tricks, of a more murderous variety. Conveniently enough, all of the tricks come with explanations. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
This and more at https://advancetheplot.weebly.com/
October 19, 2022
A perfectly serviceable golden-age-style mystery. The down side is that locked room stories almost always end up being too complicated for their own good and this one is no exception. But I figured as much going in so I did not bother to try and play along and figure it out.
The audio was underwhelming, the reader took on a slow, affected voice for Spector that I didn't love and the read overall was rather flat. Would have liked something a little more enthusiastic, especially with such a cast of characters.
The audio was underwhelming, the reader took on a slow, affected voice for Spector that I didn't love and the read overall was rather flat. Would have liked something a little more enthusiastic, especially with such a cast of characters.
August 19, 2022
Wonderful new entry in the locked room genre,the first of hopefully many adventures with Inspector Flint and his ally in crime solving,the magician Joseph Spector.If you’re a fan of Dickson Carr,Clayton Rawson et al,this will be just the ticket.
Two impossible murders in hermetically sealed locations and a stolen painting for good measure gives you an idea of what to come,highly recommended!
Two impossible murders in hermetically sealed locations and a stolen painting for good measure gives you an idea of what to come,highly recommended!
March 21, 2025
Un misterio clásico muy bien ambientado. Muy recomendable para los amantes del ¿Quién lo hizo? Y a los que les gusta los crímenes de habitación cerrada.
April 7, 2022
it's 1930s England and the death of a world renowned psychiatrist, has rocked Scotland yard to its core. The Dr. was found in his office, alone and locked in from the inside.
How did the perpetrator get out? Can Scotland yard figure it out before it is too late?
With no clues, no witnesses, and not one trace of a murder weapon the stumped detective on the case calls on retired stage magician and now sleuth Joseph Spector to help unravel the mystery and bring the person responsible to justice.
I found the premise brilliant! The mystery of the locked room and no seeming motive was so delicious I couldn't put the book down. The twists and turns and all the second guessing lasted right up until the big reveal at the end. Expertly done. I do have some issues with the book. I felt the introduction to Spector lacking. It left me wondering if there was a book before that I had missed where he was properly introduced. That could have been done so much better. More back story and understanding as to why the detective decided to approach him in the first place for help. I felt like a big part of the whole story was missing and that is still how I felt when it ended.
I loved all the characters. Touching on the different types of psychomachia was clever and made the characters more tangible. Della really was a conundrum and I would have actually liked to have known more about her for my own curiosity. The only character I didn't much care for was the daughter Lidia. I think she was deliberately made unlikeable which shows how much skill the author has.
If you love a good whodunnit that will leave you guessing until the very end then this crime debut will have you scratching your head and thirsting for me.
Solid 4 stars maybe even 4,5. Thank you netgalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
If you can overlook that then this book was beyond magnificent. I crushed it in one sitting. My hope is that this become a series.
How did the perpetrator get out? Can Scotland yard figure it out before it is too late?
With no clues, no witnesses, and not one trace of a murder weapon the stumped detective on the case calls on retired stage magician and now sleuth Joseph Spector to help unravel the mystery and bring the person responsible to justice.
I found the premise brilliant! The mystery of the locked room and no seeming motive was so delicious I couldn't put the book down. The twists and turns and all the second guessing lasted right up until the big reveal at the end. Expertly done. I do have some issues with the book. I felt the introduction to Spector lacking. It left me wondering if there was a book before that I had missed where he was properly introduced. That could have been done so much better. More back story and understanding as to why the detective decided to approach him in the first place for help. I felt like a big part of the whole story was missing and that is still how I felt when it ended.
I loved all the characters. Touching on the different types of psychomachia was clever and made the characters more tangible. Della really was a conundrum and I would have actually liked to have known more about her for my own curiosity. The only character I didn't much care for was the daughter Lidia. I think she was deliberately made unlikeable which shows how much skill the author has.
If you love a good whodunnit that will leave you guessing until the very end then this crime debut will have you scratching your head and thirsting for me.
Solid 4 stars maybe even 4,5. Thank you netgalley and Penzler Publishers, Mysterious Press for my ARC in exchange for an honest review
If you can overlook that then this book was beyond magnificent. I crushed it in one sitting. My hope is that this become a series.
July 11, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Mysterious Press for this ARC!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set in 1930s London on a rainy night, accomplished Psychiatrist, Dr. Rees, has a slew of phone calls and visitors, only to wind up dead in his office. But who could have done it?? With only a small window of time for the crime to have occurred, no foreseeable way in or out of his office, and a whole cast of characters, this is one locked room mystery you won’t want to miss out on!
Could it be his daughter Lidia or her fiancé, Marcus? What about his three patients, A, B, and C?
With so many twists and turns in this case, Inspector Flint brings in retired magician to help him solve what happened to poor Dr. Rees. I honestly had no idea what happened or whodunit the entire story and it was so fun to see it all come together in the end.
I definitely recommend this book if you love classic whodunits, magicians, and lots of twists.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Set in 1930s London on a rainy night, accomplished Psychiatrist, Dr. Rees, has a slew of phone calls and visitors, only to wind up dead in his office. But who could have done it?? With only a small window of time for the crime to have occurred, no foreseeable way in or out of his office, and a whole cast of characters, this is one locked room mystery you won’t want to miss out on!
Could it be his daughter Lidia or her fiancé, Marcus? What about his three patients, A, B, and C?
With so many twists and turns in this case, Inspector Flint brings in retired magician to help him solve what happened to poor Dr. Rees. I honestly had no idea what happened or whodunit the entire story and it was so fun to see it all come together in the end.
I definitely recommend this book if you love classic whodunits, magicians, and lots of twists.
March 9, 2022
I really enjoyed Death and the Conjuror!
It felt like going back in time and reading a classic whodunnit mystery novel and it was so entertaining. I loved the whole atmosphere and vibe of it. I don't know how to explain it but the writing was just so aesthetic. And the book was the perfect length to tell the story and not drag on too long as some mysteries tend to.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I wish that the answer to the mystery was a little less complicated. But maybe that's just me?
It would be awesome if this story turned into a series because I'd totally love reading about Spector solving more crimes! :D
I received an ARC from Netgalley.
It felt like going back in time and reading a classic whodunnit mystery novel and it was so entertaining. I loved the whole atmosphere and vibe of it. I don't know how to explain it but the writing was just so aesthetic. And the book was the perfect length to tell the story and not drag on too long as some mysteries tend to.
The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I wish that the answer to the mystery was a little less complicated. But maybe that's just me?
It would be awesome if this story turned into a series because I'd totally love reading about Spector solving more crimes! :D
I received an ARC from Netgalley.
January 13, 2024
Thoroughly enjoyable, playful, intricate locked room mystery that pays homage to the golden age. Great fun
April 13, 2023
Death and the Conjuror (Joseph Spector, #1) by Tom Mead.
I've been a fan of John Dickson Carr the writer of several locked room mysteries such as: The Burning Court, The Case of the Constant Suicides, Till Death Do Us Part and Three Coffins featuring Dr. Gideon Fell. In this fantastic locked room tale Tom Mead resurrects Carr's masterful writing on the highest level. To give this novel five stars is not nearly it's due. I'm a fan! This book had me reading at 3:00 am until dawn and then some.
Joseph Spector appears to be the brains behind the investigation as was Dr. Fell. A character I intend to learn more about in hopefully the next of many in this new series.
I've been a fan of John Dickson Carr the writer of several locked room mysteries such as: The Burning Court, The Case of the Constant Suicides, Till Death Do Us Part and Three Coffins featuring Dr. Gideon Fell. In this fantastic locked room tale Tom Mead resurrects Carr's masterful writing on the highest level. To give this novel five stars is not nearly it's due. I'm a fan! This book had me reading at 3:00 am until dawn and then some.
Joseph Spector appears to be the brains behind the investigation as was Dr. Fell. A character I intend to learn more about in hopefully the next of many in this new series.
June 10, 2022
Is Tom Mead a time traveler? Death and the Conjuror is such a wonderful Golden Age-style mystery that it is hard to believe he wrote it in 2022! If, indeed, he is a time traveler, I hope he takes this book with him; I am sure it will be widely enjoyed.
From the very first chapter the descriptions of the physical settings, the stage, the homes, the cast of characters, and the writing style carried me to 1936. The subjects that arose during the course of the book were very appropriate to the time: like psychiatry, the stage, the significance of dreams. Spector even specifically acknowledges the seven types of locked-room problems identified by John Dickson Carr in his book The Hollow Man.
Joseph Spector is a wonderful character, definitely quirky but not incredible, with the air of intellectual superiority characteristic of such sleuths. The other characters were also nicely drawn, like Inspector Flint, whose “attitude towards crime was philosophical; while largely against it, he could still see it as a societal necessity”. Here is our introduction to Marcus Bowman, ”The fellow was tall and spindly, rather spiderish in a pin-striped suit and garish bow tie. He has a film-star moustache and slick, brilliantined black hair. His eyes were as damp and unintelligent as a dog’s. ”
The plot moves along nicely with lots of unexpected events and false leads during the investigation. Solutions in locked room mysteries are often very convoluted and verge on the implausible. After all, if it were obvious, it wouldn’t be much fun. Certainly I did not figure out the solution, which was clever but a bit less credible than ideal (but no worse than many other locked room mysteries I have read, so to a degree it is true to the genre) . To say more risks spoilers, and the flaws were certainly not serious enough for me to recommend skipping the book. This mild dissatisfaction cost this otherwise wonderful book one star.
This appears to be Tom Mead’s first novel, but he has written much short fiction, and this does not read like a debut.
As a bonus, in the Acknowledgments the author mentions a number of Golden Age mystery writers who inspired him, among which were several with whom I was not familiar. Now I can look forward to some Golden Age mysteries while I wait for Joseph Spector #2!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
From the very first chapter the descriptions of the physical settings, the stage, the homes, the cast of characters, and the writing style carried me to 1936. The subjects that arose during the course of the book were very appropriate to the time: like psychiatry, the stage, the significance of dreams. Spector even specifically acknowledges the seven types of locked-room problems identified by John Dickson Carr in his book The Hollow Man.
Joseph Spector is a wonderful character, definitely quirky but not incredible, with the air of intellectual superiority characteristic of such sleuths. The other characters were also nicely drawn, like Inspector Flint, whose “attitude towards crime was philosophical; while largely against it, he could still see it as a societal necessity”. Here is our introduction to Marcus Bowman, ”The fellow was tall and spindly, rather spiderish in a pin-striped suit and garish bow tie. He has a film-star moustache and slick, brilliantined black hair. His eyes were as damp and unintelligent as a dog’s. ”
The plot moves along nicely with lots of unexpected events and false leads during the investigation. Solutions in locked room mysteries are often very convoluted and verge on the implausible. After all, if it were obvious, it wouldn’t be much fun. Certainly I did not figure out the solution, which was clever but a bit less credible than ideal (but no worse than many other locked room mysteries I have read, so to a degree it is true to the genre) . To say more risks spoilers, and the flaws were certainly not serious enough for me to recommend skipping the book. This mild dissatisfaction cost this otherwise wonderful book one star.
This appears to be Tom Mead’s first novel, but he has written much short fiction, and this does not read like a debut.
As a bonus, in the Acknowledgments the author mentions a number of Golden Age mystery writers who inspired him, among which were several with whom I was not familiar. Now I can look forward to some Golden Age mysteries while I wait for Joseph Spector #2!
I received an advance review copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher.
July 13, 2022
A retired stage magician named Spector is asked to help solve a locked room murder. The dead body of Dr Anselm Rees, celebrity psychiatrist, has been discovered in his study. Both the door & windows were locked from the inside & the room is thoroughly searched by the police & no note or weapon is found virtually ruling out suicide. Witnesses can vouch for the fact that after the departure of the final visitor of the day, Rees dismisses his housekeeper for the night & continues his work, even taking a phone call, but soon after is found dead. Suspects include the doctor's prickly daughter, her boyfriend, & three anonymous patients referred to as Patient A, B. & C.
This sounded like an intriguing read. I used to love watching Jonathan Creek & this sounded along similar lines, someone to explain the sleight of hand that allows a murderer to almost get away with it. Unfortunately this story did not work for me. Although the two main characters (Spector & Inspector Flint) show promise for further adventures, there's no real introduction to the characters to let the reader get to know them, just straight into the story. The story line itself was too convoluted, plot points came from out of nowhere, & Spector was, at times, irritating & condescending. Finally, it was supposedly set in 1930s but it could have been from any time to be honest, as there's not enough scene setting. As a reader I like to be able to picture the scenes, it allows me to become invested in the story line, & when you can't, you find yourself with the experience I had reading this - my attention wandered constantly & a book that should have taken me two days to read at the max took five. 2.5 stars (rounded down on sites without half star ratings).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This sounded like an intriguing read. I used to love watching Jonathan Creek & this sounded along similar lines, someone to explain the sleight of hand that allows a murderer to almost get away with it. Unfortunately this story did not work for me. Although the two main characters (Spector & Inspector Flint) show promise for further adventures, there's no real introduction to the characters to let the reader get to know them, just straight into the story. The story line itself was too convoluted, plot points came from out of nowhere, & Spector was, at times, irritating & condescending. Finally, it was supposedly set in 1930s but it could have been from any time to be honest, as there's not enough scene setting. As a reader I like to be able to picture the scenes, it allows me to become invested in the story line, & when you can't, you find yourself with the experience I had reading this - my attention wandered constantly & a book that should have taken me two days to read at the max took five. 2.5 stars (rounded down on sites without half star ratings).
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
April 29, 2025
Es el Londres de los años 30 y hay un asesinato. El psiquiatra Anselm Rees ha sido asesinado y el asesino ha desaparecido en circunstancias imposibles. Lo que tenemos aquí es un misterio de habitación cerrada, pero en realidad hay más de un misterio de habitación cerrada antes de que termine la historia. El trabajo del inspector de Scotland Yard George Flint es encontrar al asesino y, cuando se enfrenta a la imposibilidad del crimen, llama al mago de escenario retirado convertido en detective a tiempo parcial, Joseph Spector.
𝙈𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨
📝Esta fue una lectura agradable que me recordó mi amor por el viejo estilo de misterios de asesinatos.
📝Spector es un personaje maravilloso, y su profesión pasada era es el escenario perfecto para ser útil al inspector Flint. También disfruté cuando Spector explicó cómo se lograron algunas ilusiones y trucos ligeros.
📝 Todos los sospechosos y personajes secundarios estan muy bien dibujados para mantenerte adivinando todo el tiempo hasta el final.
📝La trama tiene un buen ritmo y esta llena de pistas falsas y giros.
📝La solución es más difícil de lo que crees. Todas mis primeras sospechas se fueron desvaneciendo capítulo a capítulo.
📝Como buen mago, este libro te engaña y te hace disfrutarlo. Y sí, también hay algunos trucos de magia aquí junto con los otros trucos, de una variedad más asesina.
🤓En conclusión, un libro del que he disfrutado mucho y que espero que sea una serie donde tengamos mas entregas.
𝙈𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙨
📝Esta fue una lectura agradable que me recordó mi amor por el viejo estilo de misterios de asesinatos.
📝Spector es un personaje maravilloso, y su profesión pasada era es el escenario perfecto para ser útil al inspector Flint. También disfruté cuando Spector explicó cómo se lograron algunas ilusiones y trucos ligeros.
📝 Todos los sospechosos y personajes secundarios estan muy bien dibujados para mantenerte adivinando todo el tiempo hasta el final.
📝La trama tiene un buen ritmo y esta llena de pistas falsas y giros.
📝La solución es más difícil de lo que crees. Todas mis primeras sospechas se fueron desvaneciendo capítulo a capítulo.
📝Como buen mago, este libro te engaña y te hace disfrutarlo. Y sí, también hay algunos trucos de magia aquí junto con los otros trucos, de una variedad más asesina.
🤓En conclusión, un libro del que he disfrutado mucho y que espero que sea una serie donde tengamos mas entregas.
July 22, 2022
Can't decide if this book is a serious attempt at writing a bad imitation of a Golden Age mystery, or just a very bad book.
There are no characters to care about. No real protagonist except for a quasi cryptic Conjuror whose "special knowledge" bears no relationship to the solving of the mystery. The quintessential "locked room puzzle" is "solved" in the last chapter, but through a mechanism that begs disbelief. The only semi-sympathetic character (the Doctor's Daughter) is basically absent in the last three chapters. The magical trick of a bird in a cage bears no resemblance to the actual solution.
The pacing is slow, with numerous numbing recaps and restatements. No real surprises, very pedestrian drama, and the weakest of murderers.
OMG, the Cliches! At first they are distracting, then they become incessant. 3 or 4 or 5 per page. The laziest kind of writing. Its funny and then it's really annoying.
Listen up, people, if you love these golden age mysteries, there are thousands available online at The Gutenberg Project or Roy Glashan's Library. Go, read the Masters, not this "pale imitation."
There are no characters to care about. No real protagonist except for a quasi cryptic Conjuror whose "special knowledge" bears no relationship to the solving of the mystery. The quintessential "locked room puzzle" is "solved" in the last chapter, but through a mechanism that begs disbelief. The only semi-sympathetic character (the Doctor's Daughter) is basically absent in the last three chapters. The magical trick of a bird in a cage bears no resemblance to the actual solution.
The pacing is slow, with numerous numbing recaps and restatements. No real surprises, very pedestrian drama, and the weakest of murderers.
OMG, the Cliches! At first they are distracting, then they become incessant. 3 or 4 or 5 per page. The laziest kind of writing. Its funny and then it's really annoying.
Listen up, people, if you love these golden age mysteries, there are thousands available online at The Gutenberg Project or Roy Glashan's Library. Go, read the Masters, not this "pale imitation."
July 6, 2022
Thoroughly enjoyed, and was saddened that I couldn't find more. (Ha!This is his Debut.) I want a series.
This starts like all Masterpiece episodes, however, the author has chosen magic as his gimmick, and I loved it. The personality, charm, and magic of Spector is endearing. I liked him. Spector is called in by Scotland Yard. Who better to figure out how a murder is committed in a locked room than a magician. This worked for me.
The narrator, Jake Ruddle, was perfect.
Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for accepting my request to read and review Death and the Conjuror.
This starts like all Masterpiece episodes, however, the author has chosen magic as his gimmick, and I loved it. The personality, charm, and magic of Spector is endearing. I liked him. Spector is called in by Scotland Yard. Who better to figure out how a murder is committed in a locked room than a magician. This worked for me.
The narrator, Jake Ruddle, was perfect.
Thank you NetGalley and HighBridge Audio for accepting my request to read and review Death and the Conjuror.
October 27, 2023
Joseph Spector was one of the greatest magicians. Since his semi-retirement he's turned his talents to amateur detective work because, as Inspector George Flint says, there has been a spate of "'impossible crimes'--typically high society affairs, where men in locked rooms were killed under impractical circumstances, or where, for example, a body was found strangled in a snowy field, with only a single set of footprints trailing backward from the corpse." So, when an impossible crime crops up Flint calls on the master illusionist to find the trick.
And, of course, an impossible crime is what we've got. Famous psychiatrist Anselm Rees is found with his throat cut in his locked study. The only means of entry--the inside door (locked with the key in the lock on the inside) and the French doors--also secured with the key inside. A mysterious man had visited the doctor shortly before his death, but Rees was heard speaking on the telephone after the man left. It seems impossible, but there must be an answer.
Rees and Flint look the for culprit among the doctor's three patients and his household: Floyd Stenhous, a musician who suffers from nightmares; Della Cookson, an actress with kleptomaniac tendencies; and Claude Weaver, a misanthropic writer who fears he may be going insane. Then there is his daughter Lidia Rees, also a psychologist, who seems strangely calm at her father's death and who has the most unsuitable fiance, Marcus Bowman. Bowman is a Bright Young Thing who may be in desperate need of the cash Lidia will inherit. But the hurdle our detectives must get over is how did the killer get out of the room? Spector will need all the tricks in his repertoire to pull that rabbit out of his hat.
A very nicely done, very self-aware mystery in the style of the Golden Age. It plays with the tropes that were popular at the time--the puzzle plot, a locked room that gives a tip of the hat to the master John Dickson Carr, and the accomplished amateur to help the police find their way. I love how Flint tells us straight up that the Golden Age was a time when there as a huge uptick in these puzzle plot mysteries. The Detective Club was full of ingenious crime novelists coming up with intricate plots to fool their readers--while at the same time waving the clues right under their noses. All in the name of fair play. And the public loved being fooled.
I enjoy a good locked room mystery and Mead does a good job--though I have to admit to feeling just a bit cheated when the solution was revealed. But as Spector tells us at the end of the novel--magicians do cheat (and writers are magicians with words, after all). But what he does really well is make me believe that this could have been written in the Golden Age. The historical period is well represented and the tone and setting is pitch perfect. Spector and Flint make a good team and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. ★★★★ and 1/2 (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
And, of course, an impossible crime is what we've got. Famous psychiatrist Anselm Rees is found with his throat cut in his locked study. The only means of entry--the inside door (locked with the key in the lock on the inside) and the French doors--also secured with the key inside. A mysterious man had visited the doctor shortly before his death, but Rees was heard speaking on the telephone after the man left. It seems impossible, but there must be an answer.
Rees and Flint look the for culprit among the doctor's three patients and his household: Floyd Stenhous, a musician who suffers from nightmares; Della Cookson, an actress with kleptomaniac tendencies; and Claude Weaver, a misanthropic writer who fears he may be going insane. Then there is his daughter Lidia Rees, also a psychologist, who seems strangely calm at her father's death and who has the most unsuitable fiance, Marcus Bowman. Bowman is a Bright Young Thing who may be in desperate need of the cash Lidia will inherit. But the hurdle our detectives must get over is how did the killer get out of the room? Spector will need all the tricks in his repertoire to pull that rabbit out of his hat.
A very nicely done, very self-aware mystery in the style of the Golden Age. It plays with the tropes that were popular at the time--the puzzle plot, a locked room that gives a tip of the hat to the master John Dickson Carr, and the accomplished amateur to help the police find their way. I love how Flint tells us straight up that the Golden Age was a time when there as a huge uptick in these puzzle plot mysteries. The Detective Club was full of ingenious crime novelists coming up with intricate plots to fool their readers--while at the same time waving the clues right under their noses. All in the name of fair play. And the public loved being fooled.
I enjoy a good locked room mystery and Mead does a good job--though I have to admit to feeling just a bit cheated when the solution was revealed. But as Spector tells us at the end of the novel--magicians do cheat (and writers are magicians with words, after all). But what he does really well is make me believe that this could have been written in the Golden Age. The historical period is well represented and the tone and setting is pitch perfect. Spector and Flint make a good team and I look forward to reading the next book in the series. ★★★★ and 1/2 (rounded up here)
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
July 17, 2022
The publishers summary says this book has a “baffling plot.” And that’s true, though the feeling the reader takes away from it is something different than what they surely meant to convey.
The setup for this mystery is a fine one, an homage to John Dickson Carr and the Locked Room Mystery. Accompanying that is a solid set of suspects and an amateur sleuth who plays the archetypal role well enough.
But the positives end there. First, there’s the aforementioned “baffling plot.” Which might have been fun had it led to a logical conclusion. Alas, the solve for this was incredibly convoluted in a way that just renders it poorly done. And contrary to the through-the-fourth-wall moment that the author half-jokingly inserts into the narrative to mimic genre structure, you actually do NOT have all the information you need to solve this. Or anything close to it.
Mysteries that rely on an info dump at the end to solve the case are almost always terrible unless they have some other element to recommend the reading experience, like strong atmosphere or excellent characters. Both of those things can at least partially save a book for me even if the solve is a mess. Unfortunately, this book has very little atmosphere and the characters, while satisfactory enough, are not uniquely intriguing.
Audiobook readers: Obviously I’m not recommending this book in any format, but it certainly doesn’t lose anything in audio format if you’re still interested in it. The story works fine for the medium and the narrator is excellent.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
The setup for this mystery is a fine one, an homage to John Dickson Carr and the Locked Room Mystery. Accompanying that is a solid set of suspects and an amateur sleuth who plays the archetypal role well enough.
But the positives end there. First, there’s the aforementioned “baffling plot.” Which might have been fun had it led to a logical conclusion. Alas, the solve for this was incredibly convoluted in a way that just renders it poorly done. And contrary to the through-the-fourth-wall moment that the author half-jokingly inserts into the narrative to mimic genre structure, you actually do NOT have all the information you need to solve this. Or anything close to it.
Mysteries that rely on an info dump at the end to solve the case are almost always terrible unless they have some other element to recommend the reading experience, like strong atmosphere or excellent characters. Both of those things can at least partially save a book for me even if the solve is a mess. Unfortunately, this book has very little atmosphere and the characters, while satisfactory enough, are not uniquely intriguing.
Audiobook readers: Obviously I’m not recommending this book in any format, but it certainly doesn’t lose anything in audio format if you’re still interested in it. The story works fine for the medium and the narrator is excellent.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
December 31, 2024
A new entrant into the "locked room" genre, Death and the Conjuror introduces the mysterious Joseph Spector. Spector is a retired magician who has apparently assisted the constabulary with murder inquiries in the past. Spector is surrounded by airs of mystery and the supernatural, but we learn very little about him aside from a visit to his rather eccentric home.
There are multiple locked room mysteries in this story: two murders and a theft. Tom Mead sets them up fairly and then explains - complete with footnotes to prior pages - the who, the why and most interestingly the how. It is all set up quite fairly and all of the explanations make sense. There is a good deal of suspense, particularly with regard to events at a hotel. Those scenes were the most chilling.
The only drawback in my view are the characters. Everyone felt quite flat and lifeless, and that is probably because the mysteries were prioritized above character development. To some authors the puzzle is the thing (which is not always a negative; Agatha Christie often fit that bill). I unfortunately found the climax - a bit of action after the time-honored gathering of suspects - to be a bit of a stretch.
That said, I will be looking for the next installment as this series shows great potential!
There are multiple locked room mysteries in this story: two murders and a theft. Tom Mead sets them up fairly and then explains - complete with footnotes to prior pages - the who, the why and most interestingly the how. It is all set up quite fairly and all of the explanations make sense. There is a good deal of suspense, particularly with regard to events at a hotel. Those scenes were the most chilling.
The only drawback in my view are the characters. Everyone felt quite flat and lifeless, and that is probably because the mysteries were prioritized above character development. To some authors the puzzle is the thing (which is not always a negative; Agatha Christie often fit that bill). I unfortunately found the climax - a bit of action after the time-honored gathering of suspects - to be a bit of a stretch.
That said, I will be looking for the next installment as this series shows great potential!
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