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Hocus Pocus
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Expected 11 Aug 26A young magician travels across the world seeking fame and fortune all the while hiding a secret, in a novel based on the renowned, real-life Indian stage magicians performing in the United States in the 1800s.
Samuel Thomas, a man of uncertain parentage, is a young magician convinced that he is destined for greatness in a far-off land. Seeking honor and acclaim, he journeys across the globe—from India to London to the fog-shrouded streets of Boston in 1816, the infamous Year Without a Summer. In this season of unrelenting cold, Samuel arrives in a city alive with ambition, contradiction, and tension.
Enter Walter in some ways a world away from Samuel, hailing from the upper echelons of Boston society, but also nursing a problem of his own. Proprietor of the New Boston Museum which is on the brink of bankruptcy, Walter is desperate to find ways to keep it open—and Samuel is the ideal fit for the first live addition to the collection.
While the perfect solution to each other’s problems, the relationship between the two men quickly becomes complicated as Walter grows more and more fascinated, and even obsessed, with the young foreigner. As Samuel becomes subsumed within the museum and dependent on Walter, he must reckon with just how much he’s willing to give up to achieve success. Richly detailed and vividly conjured, Hocus Pocus is a story about art, ambition, and desire, and captures the crackling energy and wonder of a bygone era through the eyes of a young performer.
Samuel Thomas, a man of uncertain parentage, is a young magician convinced that he is destined for greatness in a far-off land. Seeking honor and acclaim, he journeys across the globe—from India to London to the fog-shrouded streets of Boston in 1816, the infamous Year Without a Summer. In this season of unrelenting cold, Samuel arrives in a city alive with ambition, contradiction, and tension.
Enter Walter in some ways a world away from Samuel, hailing from the upper echelons of Boston society, but also nursing a problem of his own. Proprietor of the New Boston Museum which is on the brink of bankruptcy, Walter is desperate to find ways to keep it open—and Samuel is the ideal fit for the first live addition to the collection.
While the perfect solution to each other’s problems, the relationship between the two men quickly becomes complicated as Walter grows more and more fascinated, and even obsessed, with the young foreigner. As Samuel becomes subsumed within the museum and dependent on Walter, he must reckon with just how much he’s willing to give up to achieve success. Richly detailed and vividly conjured, Hocus Pocus is a story about art, ambition, and desire, and captures the crackling energy and wonder of a bygone era through the eyes of a young performer.
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 11, 2026
About the author
Brinda Charry
11 books144 followersBorn in India, Brinda Charry has lived in the USA for over two decades. THE EAST INDIAN, a historical novel set in colonial America, is her American debut and was published by Scribner USA, Scribe UK, and Harper Collins-India in 2023. It won the Society of American Historians Award (formerly the James Fenimore Cooper Prize) for Historical Fiction, was shortlisted for the Barnes and Noble Discover Prize and the Crossword prize; longlisted for the Mark Twain Voice in American Literature Prize and the JCB Prize. Brinda is also a specialist in Shakespeare and other writers of the English Renaissance and has published numerous books and articles in that field. She considers herself a novelist-turned-academic- re-turned novelist. She lives in New Hampshire.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Hocus Pocus is based on the renowned, real-life Indian stage magicians performing in the United States in the 1800s.
Two men meat at a time when Samuel Thomas dreams of greatness in a far-off land, and Walter Mepham tries to revitalize the New Boston Museum which is on the brink of bankruptcy. They develop a relationship which is the driving force of this novel. Samuel is a man who strongly knows what he wants and he values his freedom but compromises in some aspect to work for Walter. And that also brings the aspect of how much one can bend to stay true to oneself.
In the backstory, we learn about Kumar Samee who grew up in an orphanage in Madras, India, where the magicians of the city were among the most skilled in the world. At the age of ten, he was taken from his grandparents and put into orphanage under a pretext of a better future. He was of light skin and the British officers of the East India Company saw it more fit for him to be at orphanage where he was named Samuel Thomas.
Walter Mepham is a man of a very peculiar taste, collecting things that are rare and curious. Things that seem almost as idolatry as stated by his father-in-law. George Tablot, among Boston’s wealthiest, doesn’t approve of the museum and his son-in-law. Walter’s love for his curiosities is much greater than for his wife. Sarah recognizes it and it pains her even more when Walter sends her on the missions to ask her father for money for his failing museum.
Ezra Harvey, assistant at museum, suggests bringing lecturers and performances to the museum in order to revitalize it. Walter is very peculiar in his choices but is willing to implement Ezra’s ideas to see what comes of them, but he wants the performer to be of the highest order.
Samuel, who is freshly arrived in the US from London, takes his first steps at a tavern in Boston. At twenty-five, he already considers himself to be an excellent magician and he catches the attention of Walter.
The story is richly detailed, vividly imagined and narrated with outstanding prose. At times the prose takes time to explore a subject among such themes as art, ambition and desire. Interestingly capturing the time when magic shows are all the rage across the world.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Two men meat at a time when Samuel Thomas dreams of greatness in a far-off land, and Walter Mepham tries to revitalize the New Boston Museum which is on the brink of bankruptcy. They develop a relationship which is the driving force of this novel. Samuel is a man who strongly knows what he wants and he values his freedom but compromises in some aspect to work for Walter. And that also brings the aspect of how much one can bend to stay true to oneself.
In the backstory, we learn about Kumar Samee who grew up in an orphanage in Madras, India, where the magicians of the city were among the most skilled in the world. At the age of ten, he was taken from his grandparents and put into orphanage under a pretext of a better future. He was of light skin and the British officers of the East India Company saw it more fit for him to be at orphanage where he was named Samuel Thomas.
Walter Mepham is a man of a very peculiar taste, collecting things that are rare and curious. Things that seem almost as idolatry as stated by his father-in-law. George Tablot, among Boston’s wealthiest, doesn’t approve of the museum and his son-in-law. Walter’s love for his curiosities is much greater than for his wife. Sarah recognizes it and it pains her even more when Walter sends her on the missions to ask her father for money for his failing museum.
Ezra Harvey, assistant at museum, suggests bringing lecturers and performances to the museum in order to revitalize it. Walter is very peculiar in his choices but is willing to implement Ezra’s ideas to see what comes of them, but he wants the performer to be of the highest order.
Samuel, who is freshly arrived in the US from London, takes his first steps at a tavern in Boston. At twenty-five, he already considers himself to be an excellent magician and he catches the attention of Walter.
The story is richly detailed, vividly imagined and narrated with outstanding prose. At times the prose takes time to explore a subject among such themes as art, ambition and desire. Interestingly capturing the time when magic shows are all the rage across the world.
Source: ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
✨ If you're searching for a historical fiction book that blends stage magic, unforgettable characters, and a richly immersive setting, Hocus Pocus is pure literary magic.
From India to London and finally to the frozen streets of Boston during the infamous Year Without a Summer, I was captivated by Samuel Thomas's journey. He's determined to make a name for himself as a magician, but his pursuit of fame comes with sacrifices that become more complicated the further he climbs. Watching him navigate a world fascinated by his talent while simultaneously othering him made for a compelling and emotionally layered reading experience.
One of my favorite aspects of this immersive historical fiction novel was how vividly Brinda Charry recreated the early 1800s. The historical details never felt overwhelming; they enriched every page, from the bustling museum exhibitions to the cultural tensions simmering beneath Boston society. The atmosphere was beautifully crafted, making me feel as though I was walking beside Samuel through foggy streets and candlelit performance halls.
I also appreciated the evolving relationship between Samuel and Nathaniel. Their dynamic is filled with admiration, ambition, dependence, and obsession, raising fascinating questions about power, art, and the cost of chasing recognition. Rather than offering easy answers, this literary historical fiction novel invites readers to reflect on who gets to control a story and what someone is willing to sacrifice in pursuit of their dreams.
If you love historical fiction books, books about magicians, literary fiction, historical novels set in the 1800s, or character-driven stories that explore ambition, identity, and belonging, Hocus Pocus deserves a place on your TBR. It's a beautifully written novel that lingers long after the final page and is perfect for readers who enjoy immersive historical settings with thought-provoking themes.
🪄 Thank you to Scribner Books and Brinda Charry for sharing Hocus Pocus with me!
From India to London and finally to the frozen streets of Boston during the infamous Year Without a Summer, I was captivated by Samuel Thomas's journey. He's determined to make a name for himself as a magician, but his pursuit of fame comes with sacrifices that become more complicated the further he climbs. Watching him navigate a world fascinated by his talent while simultaneously othering him made for a compelling and emotionally layered reading experience.
One of my favorite aspects of this immersive historical fiction novel was how vividly Brinda Charry recreated the early 1800s. The historical details never felt overwhelming; they enriched every page, from the bustling museum exhibitions to the cultural tensions simmering beneath Boston society. The atmosphere was beautifully crafted, making me feel as though I was walking beside Samuel through foggy streets and candlelit performance halls.
I also appreciated the evolving relationship between Samuel and Nathaniel. Their dynamic is filled with admiration, ambition, dependence, and obsession, raising fascinating questions about power, art, and the cost of chasing recognition. Rather than offering easy answers, this literary historical fiction novel invites readers to reflect on who gets to control a story and what someone is willing to sacrifice in pursuit of their dreams.
If you love historical fiction books, books about magicians, literary fiction, historical novels set in the 1800s, or character-driven stories that explore ambition, identity, and belonging, Hocus Pocus deserves a place on your TBR. It's a beautifully written novel that lingers long after the final page and is perfect for readers who enjoy immersive historical settings with thought-provoking themes.
🪄 Thank you to Scribner Books and Brinda Charry for sharing Hocus Pocus with me!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A DELIGHTFUL historical fiction that mixes magic with the Era of Good Feelings. Brilliantly developed characters which puts you in the heart of Boston in 1816 (“The Year Without a Summer”). If you love magic this novel should be high on your list of reads this Fall. An immersive experience.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A ambitious young man of unknown birth whose adopted uncle taught him Indian stage magic flees England for the United States to seek fame.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Nice book
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews