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ZigZag Girl

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To catch a killer who knows her secrets, magician Lucy Moon must perform the most dangerous trick of her life—discovering who she really is.

ZIGZAG GIRL is a noir-tinged feminist thriller where The Prestige meets Knives Out in Atlantic City's haunted magic underworld. When magician Lucy Moon finds her best friend murdered inside the infamous sawing box that killed a performer decades ago—a black rose in her mouth, the same signature from Lucy's buried past—she's thrust into a deadly game of deception. To unmask a killer who knows her secrets, Lucy must navigate shadowy criminal networks, confront an unsolved 1940s murder, and perform the most dangerous trick of her life: discovering who she really is.

379 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 26, 2026

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About the author

Ruth Knafo Setton

9 books94 followers
I was born in Morocco and raised on tales of wonder. My novel, ZIGZAG GIRL, is a finalist for the International Thriller Writers Award for Standalone Book of 2026. It's about magic, murder, and mystery in Atlantic City. In the words of the great Allison Gaylin: "Packed with suspense, romance, a wonderful cast of characters and deep, dark family secrets, ZIGZAG GIRL is a truly magical read. I couldn't put it down!"

Check it out:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...

You can learn more about Zigzag Girl, my writing, and me on my website: https://ruthsetton.com/

I write a monthly newsletter, "Tips, Tricks & Tea with Ruth." Here's the latest installment:

https://ruthsetton.substack.com/p/zig...


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5 stars
35 (53%)
4 stars
22 (33%)
3 stars
8 (12%)
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1 (1%)
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0 (0%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
Profile Image for ♡Heather✩Brown♡.
1,174 reviews83 followers
March 22, 2026
Guyyyyyyys! You have to read this book! Seriously! I’ve been thinking about this book ever since I finished reading it.

This was such a fun and unique read. It’s hard to find many thrillers these days that are truly unique - but I’ve found one. Not on my own of course, but good enough. I’m so happy this book found me. And now you need to find it too.

I loved the magic world setting - with a murder-mystery and feminist vibes this book had me hooked from the start. Setton’s writing feels like a breath of fresh air and I can see why this book has won awards.

Visceral, raw, and a bit unhinged, this is def one of my top reads of 2026. It has all the markers of what us readers love most: short chapters, a cast of incredible characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing.

It’s one of those books that’s a trip to read. What’s true and what’s not? You’ll have to read to find out.
Profile Image for Joan.
4,487 reviews131 followers
March 13, 2026
This may be the most unusual yet entertaining murder mystery I have ever read. Magic, ghosts, thin places, superstitions, magical realism, scary legends, people who are not who we think. Readers zig zag through the scenes, real or not. I am not sure I understood all of the plot movement but the suspense near the end may well be the most intense I've read.

The first half of the book is from Lucy's perspective. Then begins comments from the elusive murderer. There are many suspects for this villain as many people are not who they present themselves to be, including Lucy herself. Like Lucy, I suspected many but had no idea of the murderer's identity until near the end.

Setton's writing style here sets the atmosphere for this mysterious and magical mystery. While I was unsure of what was actually happening at times, I found the end result entertaining. This is a good mystery for readers who like one very different from what is usually written. I liked it.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.
570 reviews34 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
February 9, 2026
Blog Tour Review

The writing was engaging with lots of different elements to it. There was a lot to keep up with, but it all sorted itself out by the end.

The book was split into 4 named parts, each part containing lots of short chapters. Each chapter had a date for a title so that we knew when we were reading. That grounded the story well.

There was a good pace to the book, created by the short chapters. There was a lot of information that was presented to the reader so the short chapters delivered what was needed and we were able to move forward well. It kept my attention from the beginning right through to the end.

There was an interesting flow to the book as we went back to the past a few times and parts of the story were from another character's point of view. It was an interesting technique that worked well.

The characters were excellent. They were all suspicious with interesting life paths that had led them up to this point. We were kept guessing as to who the murderer was right until the end.

Overall there were quite a lot of different characters to keep up with, but once you got your head around them all, together they made for an interesting read. I would quite happily read more about any of the characters!

Lastly the settings. Whilst it was a character focused story, there were some nice descriptions throughout, especially when we went back to the past. It was a very atmospheric read in places.

Overall a wonderful story, full of atmosphere and secrets that were waiting to be brought out into the open. A 5 star read!
Profile Image for Becky Wallace.
135 reviews5 followers
February 3, 2026
ZIG ZAG GIRL - REVIEW
By: Ruth Knafo Setton
Ad|Pr|Gifted

Thank you to @blackspringpressgroup for sending me this book and to Anne @randomthingstours for having me on the tour.

A blend of thriller and mystery, a generous pinch of magic, a touch of the mystical, and just enough romance to keep the sparks flying. This story had a little bit of everything.
 
This was a unique read for me. Lots of different elements all woven in to one story. I did find there was a lot of characters and components to keep track of but by the end of the story all clicked together perfectly for a strong ending.
 
When Lucy finds the body of her best friend in the sawing box, she is determined to find out what happened. Her sleuthing takes her on a roller coaster journey of dead ends and questionable characters, Including the mysterious and handsome Elvis, and Gus, the shifty lighting director. The whole time Lucy is trying to piece everything together she finds herself having to confront her own history and how everything could be linked, which gave the story an interesting spin.
 
I love stories where a long-ago crime resurfaces and has repercussions in the present and as the story unfolds we gradually see how everything is connected.  
 
A story of illusion, smoke and mirrors, unreliable characters and lingering ghosts. At the heart a crime from decades earlier.
 
I found this an enjoyable read with unique threads.
Profile Image for Donna Galanti.
Author 15 books668 followers
May 28, 2026
Calling all magic and mystery lovers! ZIGZAG GIRL is a mesmerizing noir-tinged thriller that blends the suspense of The Prestige with the mystery of Knives Out in Atlantic City’s shadowy magic underworld. With vivid, cinematic writing and atmospheric tension, we get a twist-filled story of murder, deception, buried secrets, and identity. Lucy Moon is a compelling heroine to root for whose search for the truth becomes as dangerous as the illusions she performs. Smart, haunting, and impossible to put down, ZIGZAG GIRL is a dazzling thriller that keeps readers guessing until the very end.
Profile Image for Melanie Ollila.
390 reviews8 followers
March 16, 2026
This was an interesting book. I honestly don’t know quite how to start my review.

It took a bit for me to get traction into the story, to figure out all the players and pieces at the start. There was the great hook, a magic trick with a found dead body. And I liked Lucy Moon as a character right away; the writing style leaned a bit towards a stream on consciousness for me so it took me a minute to sync up with the story.

But after about a third in, I was all in; and couldn’t put it down! The world of magic was intriguing, the setting of Atlantic City was interesting, the puzzle of how it all would come together was the draw for me. The author was good with the decoys, you definitely zig zag back and forth on who you think could be the culprit. The slight supernatural vibes tickle your senses!

I think my favorite scene is the magic act by Elvis Jones, it would be something to see live in person!

I want to go to a magic show in Atlantic City now, and walk the boardwalk. You know a book is good if it makes you want to visit there!
Profile Image for The Page Ladies Book Club.
2,268 reviews131 followers
March 29, 2026
If The Prestige and Knives Out had a dark, gritty baby in Atlantic City, this would be it! 🎩✨

I read ZigZag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton, and my head is still spinning from the illusions. I’m a total sucker for a haunted magic underworld vibe, and this noir-tinged thriller absolutely delivered.

We follow Lucy Moon, a magician who finds her best friend murdered inside a sawing box the same way a performer died decades ago. With a black rose as a calling card and ties to an unsolved 1940s murder, Lucy has to navigate some seriously shady criminal networks to find the killer.

It’s feminist, fast-paced, and honestly? A little bit spooky. The way the author weaves the secrets of magic into a deadly game of deception kept me guessing until the final act. If you like your mysteries with a side of stage makeup and high stakes, put this on your TBR immediately!

✨️Thank you, Partners in Crime Tours and Ruth Knafo Setton, for sharing ZigZag Girl with me!
Profile Image for Karen Siddall.
Author 1 book130 followers
March 13, 2026
Atmospheric noir crime fiction with paranormal elements.

The Zigzag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton is a wonderfully moody and atmospheric crime novel with unique paranormal elements, and the engaging young narrator, Lucy Moon, drew me in and under the book’s spell from the start. When the third member of their magic act, Vanessa Kim, fails to show up for a performance, Lucy Moon and Stormy Weather are worried that the mysterious new man in Van’s life is responsible, but despite their unease, the show must go on. However, when her naked body is revealed inside the prop saw box during the highlight of the show, Lucy recognizes a clue the killer left behind as one meant solely for her.

Lucy is a unique and engaging heroine, and I was invested in her story from the beginning. She’s smart but vulnerable with a past shrouded in secrets and mystery. While her public announcement that she is going to track down her friend’s murderer was an impetuous, emotional outcry, it was the truth, and she never wavered from her mission, even as the stakes got higher and more deadly.

The author weaves a compelling tale in the eerily moody, atmospheric setting of the Atlantic City Boardwalk and the dark, mysterious Midnight Hotel, and brings in a variety of suspicious characters to keep things interesting and muddy the waters. The storytelling was vivid, placing me in the scene alongside the narrators as if I were experiencing the action firsthand. This is a gripping modern rendition of noir crime fiction with unusual and unique magic and paranormal elements: a true page-turner!

I recommend THE ZIGZAG GIRL to readers of mysteries and thrillers who enjoy elements of magic and the paranormal in their tales.

I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving an Advance Review Copy from the author through Partners in Crime Virtual Book Tours.

1 review
March 24, 2026
Pick a book, any book and it will always be Zig Zag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton. 

This book set in Atlantic City in the denizens of the world of magic and murder is a must read for any fan of magic, murder and mayhem.

The book is a magic show, in which, misdirection is at almost every turn in which our attention is drawn to family secrets, as if we are watching cards appear and disappear right in front of our eyes. The dead show up in the infamous boxes in which women are sawed into parts and then reassembled.

This book takes on a dreamlike journey into the surreal trancelike underbelly of Atlantic City. As you read, pay close attention to Lucy Moon and her compadres as they uncover the black arts and secrets of the otherworldly Atlantic City nether world.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Kari.
4,063 reviews101 followers
March 22, 2026
3.5 stars rounded up ZigZag Girl is a mystery with a some paranormal elements. It involves Lucy, a magician, whose friend and fellow magician is murdered. She is determined to find out who killed Van. I thought this was a pretty enjoyable mystery. There were some twists that I liked. I also liked the eccentric cast of characters who are among the entertainers at Midnight. They added a lot of color to the story. My only issue with the book was that it felt a little meandering and unfocused at times and that slowed it down a little for me. It is a unique story and one I would recommend giving a shot.
1 review
May 3, 2026
Masterful blend of magic, mystery, and... murder

It's 2:30am and I just finished this delicious novel... My goodness, what a ride. Edge-of-your-seat intensity, richly fleshed out with characters that both terrified and melted my heart. Humor and horror were elegantly juxtaposed, with clever wordplay and phrasing that had me guessing the mysteries at every turn. I honestly could not put it down. A devilishly-fast read, loaded with history of both magical performance and the state of New Jersey. The characters could easily have longer lives if Setton writes a sequel. Regardless, you can bet I'll be reading whatever she writes next. Brilliant work.
4 reviews
April 29, 2026
Zigzag Girl is one hell of a whodunnit that’s takes you deep into the world of professional magicians and magic itself. It’s a world I love. From gritty Atlantic City to Jersey’s Pine Barrens the atmosphere is pure noir at its finest. The people we meet are the types of friends you wish you had even knowing they are bound to get you in trouble, or worse. The book is damn sexy too, a really fun read, highly recommended!
Profile Image for Sarah W.
1,076 reviews32 followers
March 22, 2026
I really enjoyed the role magic played in the mystery. It made it harder to guess the twists and who to trust but was still easy to follow. Lucy used her magic and illusions to try and figure out what happened to her friend and I liked how they were explained. The eerie mysterious vibe was there the entire time making for an atmospheric read. I liked how the past events were woven in and the small romantic element. This is my first by the author but I liked the writing style and how Lucy’s character developed along the way.

Thank you @partnersincrimevbt for the gifted copy.
2 reviews
March 14, 2026
I love a good murder mystery - and this is no exception. Zig Zag Girl has one of the most intriguing and loaded settings I’ve come across: the mystical world of magic, against the backdrop of Atlantic City’s glitzy sleaze, both past and present, a shimmering of romance, and overshadowing it all, the chilling backdrop of New Jersey’s Pine Barrens, where the story begins…

The author clearly knows every aspect her world inside out: everything feels natural, as if seeing it through main character Lucy Moon’s eyes. Lucy herself is the perfect flawed heroin: admirably spunky, but with blind spots which, like any of us, make her prone to making bad choices. The book’s colorful characters are all engaging: from Lucy’s wonderful Da and Auntie Maze to the most evil, they are by turn charming, alarming…and each imbued by their author with such understanding and sympathy that I found myself rooting even for the worst of them.

Characters are what always draw me in; but without a good plot they’re meaningless - and this page-turner is skillfully plotted with seamless stakes and motivations. Ms Setton brilliantly weaves the mystery of Lucy’s own beginnings along various dark pathways in pursuit of a killer, and each of her suspects (and the reader’s) is so credible that I defy anyone to guess who the real villain is.

Will there be another Lucy Moon mystery? I hope so!
Profile Image for Country Mama.
1,671 reviews79 followers
March 20, 2026
Zig Zag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton is about Lucy Moon who is a magician who finds her best friend murdered inside a saw in half box trick, with a black rose in her mouth. This same thing happened to someone else in 1940 and Lucy is desperate to find out what happened to her friend and also to the previous victim of this killer. This book contains mystery, magic, and thriller all at once and is broken into a few different parts as we read through. Lucy is a well written and relatable character as if someone close to me had died I would want to learn about why also. I also enjoyed how the story went in different directions and left you guessing until the end on who the killer actually was. I also grew up in New Jersey as a young person and personally have been many times to Atlantic City, where this story takes place. I enjoyed the research that the author has put into the zig-zag box trick also, there is a lot to understand how magicians do their tricks and still keep their assistants alive in small places and such. That was an very interesting addition to the story. I think all fans of mysteries and thrillers will really enjoy this one and those who have an interest in magic as well!
1 review
Read
February 8, 2026
Having admired Ms. Knafo Setton’s work over many years I was expecting to enjoy Zigzag Girl. I hadn’t anticipated how enthralled I’d be by this exciting new novel. From the beginning and up to its utterly unpredictable conclusion the skillful writing carries you deeply into its world of mystery, magic and romance. You come out convinced that magic is so much more than conjuring tricks and sleight of hand . It’s a triumph! Looking forward to a sequel.
Profile Image for BooksCoffee.
1,109 reviews
June 18, 2026
A young magician's search for answers draws her into Atlantic City's haunted past in Setton's deeply atmospheric mystery. When magician Lucy Moon discovers her best friend murdered inside a notorious sawing box on opening night, she is plunged into a mystery that stretches from Atlantic City's haunted theaters to its darkest secrets. As the crime becomes entangled with an unsolved wartime murder, buried family secrets, and a world built on illusion, Lucy must uncover the truth before a killer makes her the next victim.

What follows is both a murder mystery and a portrait of a city built on illusion. Setton's Atlantic City is far removed from tourist brochures. Boardwalk bars, historic theatres, casino back corridors, forgotten neighborhoods, and local legends combine to create a setting that feels alive, eccentric, and deeply haunted by its own history. Like the magicians who populate the novel, the city thrives on spectacle while concealing darker truths beneath the surface.

Lucy is an engaging guide through this world. Funny, vulnerable, and stubbornly determined, she carries the emotional weight of the story without ever becoming overwhelmed by it. Her friendships, particularly with the irrepressible Stormie and the absent-but-ever-present Van, give the novel a warmth that offsets its darker elements. The depiction of female friendship is one of the book's greatest strengths, grounding the mystery in genuine affection and loss rather than treating murder as a mere puzzle.

Setton also makes excellent use of the culture of stage magic. Tricks, misdirection, hidden compartments, and carefully crafted personas become more than colorful background details; they shape the novel's central concerns about memory, identity, and the stories people tell about themselves. The mystery itself unfolds with satisfying complexity, while touches of gothic atmosphere and the possibility of the supernatural add an extra layer of intrigue.

Throughout, the novel explores how women shape their own stories in a world that often seeks to define them. Themes of friendship, resilience, and self-determination emerge naturally through the narrative, giving the story emotional depth alongside its suspense. A richly atmospheric thriller that combines noir, ghost story, and murder mystery into a distinctive tale of friendship, deception, and self-discovery. Perfect for readers of Megan Abbott, Tana French, and fans of mysteries where the setting is as captivating as the crime.
Profile Image for Bella.
461 reviews58 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
March 1, 2026
Set amid the neon glamour of Atlantic City, ZigZag Girl opens on what should be a pivotal performance for magician Lucy Moon. But as showtime approaches, her co-performer and closest friend, Vanessa Kim, still hasn’t arrived. Vanessa would never miss a performance, and as minutes tick by, Lucy’s concern hardens into dread.

That dread becomes horror when the evening’s signature illusion, a historic sawing box tied to a decades-old murder, is finally revealed. Lucy discovers Vanessa dead inside the box, naked, and staged to be found at the precise moment all eyes are watching. In a single devastating instant, a night meant for triumph becomes a crime scene, and Lucy is thrust into a mystery where illusion itself is weaponized.

Author Ruth Knafo Setton has created a compelling guide through this story in Lucy, who narrates much of the novel in the first person. Raised among magicians, Lucy understands misdirection, how easily attention can be steered and how much can be hidden in plain sight. To Lucy, magic is more than a profession. It becomes a lens for examining power, control, and who gets to shape a story.

Lucy’s inner thoughts draw the reader deep into the mechanics of illusion and the psychology behind it. One of the novel’s most evocative images is the Zigzag Girl illusion itself, a vertical sawing box that allows the assistant to stand, breathe, and control the apparatus from within. By contrasting this design with the traditional box, Setton subtly reframes illusion as a question of authorship and power, not just technique.

As the investigation unfolds, Lucy begins to suspect that whoever staged the crime understands illusion as intimately as she does. She navigates a tightly controlled world of performers, casino power players, journalists, and law enforcement. Atlantic City itself becomes a character, haunted, decaying, and fueled by spectacle. As Lucy digs deeper, she senses that the murder may be connected not only to the present cast of suspects, but to older stories and buried histories that refuse to stay buried. Without ever being heavy-handed, the novel invites readers to look past the whodunnit and question how easily violence can be framed and consumed without analysis. The result is a propulsive, psychologically rich murdery mystery that pairs a striking premise with a heroine whose insight and vulnerability shape every turn of the investigation. Don’t miss it.
Profile Image for T.G. Wolff.
Author 20 books194 followers
March 15, 2026
Zigzag Girl is mystery suspense.

It’s opening night for Magician Lucy Moon and her partners Van and Stormie, who are as close as sisters. Amid the bright lights and sparkle of illusion, murder lurks. Performing the sawing a woman illusion, Lucy lifts the lid to enter, when she finds the space is already taken. Her best friend, a black rose, a prop that has killed before—no, Lucy is not going to leave this one to the cops.

Bottom line: Zigzag Girl is for you if you like your illusions, suspense, mystery twisted together with a sprinkling of Irish magic.

The strength of Zigzag Girl is the storytelling. From the first pages, Lucy Moon captures us with the depth of her personality, skills, and charm. She leads us through the active investigation into the death of her best friend and fellow magician and through a 1940s cold case that was closed with the wrong man being blamed. The interwoven elements of illusion, Irish magic, mystery, and suspense make this genre crosser nearly impossible to put down.

Usually, I would give more of a synopsis here, but back-of-the-book summary is intentionally scant. I see why. This is a book best experienced for yourself.

Zigzag girl will most appeal to readers who enjoy crossing genres. It is not pure mystery although there are mystery elements. It is not pure suspense, although it is suspenseful. It is not pure thriller, although the set up is thrilling.

My only criticism is a reflection on me as a reader. The story does go back and forth in time, which always is challenging for me to put events in order they happened. There were parts where I had to put my faith in Setton that the characters and actions were knitted together.

Zigzag Girl was highly entertaining and the pages flew by.
Profile Image for Jacob Collins.
998 reviews169 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
February 12, 2026
Zig Zag Girl by Ruth Knafo Setton is one of the most unique crime novels I have read recently. We meet magician Lucy Moon, who, within the opening pages of the novel, is devastated to discover her friend has been murdered. Lucy is determined to find out who killed her best friend, and she doesn’t shy away from putting herself in danger, despite being warned not to investigate by the police. But the closer she gets to the truth, the more she begins to realise how this could be connected to her own past, which is shrouded in mystery.

One of the most intriguing aspects of this book is that it is set within the world of magic, a topic I have always found fascinating. This is what makes this novel stand out for me, and it made the characters so much more intriguing, particularly Elvis and Gus. I could feel the tension increasing as Lucy fought to get answers, and I could always sense that she was being watched. There are many surprising discoveries along the way for Lucy as she continues with her mission to bring the person who killed her friend to justice. These discoveries rock her to her core.

I really loved how loyal Lucy was to her friend who had died. I could really see how much she meant to Lucy and just how devastated Lucy was by her loss. What I also liked was how Ruth brought the setting of Atlantic City to life as Lucy searched for answers, particularly as Lucy attends different magic shows. It felt like I was sitting there in the audience watching the performance on stage, and I could feel the tense atmosphere as I waited to see if the trick would work.

Zig Zag Girl is a real page turner, and I am definitely excited to see what Ruth Knafo Setton writes next.
Profile Image for Angel **Book Junkie** .
2,122 reviews13 followers
March 17, 2026
Thank you to Ruth Knafo Setton, ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op | Black Spring Crime, and NetGalley for a copy of ZigZag Girl in exchange for an honest review.

Okay, ZigZag Girl…you had me intrigued, confused, hooked, and then slightly exhausted—all at the same time.

Let’s start with the good: the premise is strong and definitely gives off that “something is not right here” energy from the jump. There are moments where the tension builds nicely and you feel like you’re about to uncover something BIG. And when the story leans into its darker elements? That’s where it shines.

But whew…this book really lives up to its name because the plot? It zigzags. A lot.

At times I felt like I was chasing the story instead of being pulled into it. Just when I’d get comfortable and think I had a grip on what was happening—bam—we’re off in another direction. Some twists hit, others had me side-eyeing like “wait…how did we get here?”

And the pacing? Uneven. There were stretches where things slowed down just enough for my attention to wander, followed by bursts of chaos that tried to pull me back in.

Characters-wise, I wanted a little more depth. I didn’t fully connect the way I needed to, which made some of the emotional moments feel a bit distant instead of impactful.

Final Verdict:
A twisty, intriguing thriller with a strong premise, but the uneven pacing and zigzagging plot keep it from fully sticking the landing. Enter if you’re in the mood for a ride—just don’t expect it to go in a straight line.
Profile Image for Leanne.
1,352 reviews104 followers
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
February 24, 2026
Zigzag Girl is a stylish, noir‑soaked thriller that pulls you straight into the shadows of Atlantic City’s magic underworld. It has that irresistible blend of glamour and grit—sleight‑of‑hand illusions, old theatre dust, and secrets that refuse to stay buried. From the moment Lucy Moon discovers her best friend murdered inside the infamous sawing box, the story tightens like a trap, every chapter revealing another hidden compartment.

Lucy is a wonderfully compelling lead: sharp, wounded, and determined, navigating a world where every smile hides a trick and every ally might be part of the act. The feminist edge of the narrative feels natural and powerful, especially as Lucy is forced to confront the ghosts of a 1940s murder and the darker corners of her own past. The atmosphere is rich with noir tension, but the pacing stays brisk, full of twists that land with the satisfaction of a well‑executed reveal.

What I loved most is how the book balances its theatrical flair with genuine emotional depth. The magic isn’t just spectacle—it’s history, trauma, identity, and survival. And as Lucy edges closer to the truth, the story becomes as much about reclaiming herself as unmasking a killer.

Clever, moody, and wonderfully immersive, Zigzag Girl feels like stepping backstage into a world where every illusion has a cost—and every truth is a risk worth taking.

With thanks to Ruth Knafo Setton, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC.
Profile Image for Lynsey.
798 reviews37 followers
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
February 10, 2026

‘Zigzag Girl’ is a fabulous read full of smoke and mirrors, magic, and is engaging right from the start to the end. This is the first book I have read by the author, but I will definitely keep my eye out for future releases.

When Lucy, a magician from Atlantic City, finds the body of her best friend in the sawing box, she is determined to find the killer. There are lots of different elements woven throughout the narrative— the mystery aspect, but also the mystical and magical, and a wee touch of romance. As Lucy investigates, it becomes apparent that she might need to face her own past and demons to solve her friend’s murder.

Lucy was a likeable protagonist, and I was rooting for her right off the bat. This was a character-based story, and the cast of rogues and magicians kept the reader guessing up to the end. This was a story where nothing was to be taken as seen; unreliable narrators and misdirects a plenty! The writing and setting harks back to the noir masters of old, like Chandler and Hammett, and this works brilliantly with the setting and narrative. Despite being sick, I read this over a couple of sittings and would happily read more about the lives of any of the characters!

Let me know if you pick this one up!

Profile Image for Brian Stabler.
216 reviews17 followers
April 11, 2026
Ruth Knafo Setton's ZigZag Girl promises a blend of The Prestige and Knives Out, mixing magic, murder, and deception, but ultimately falls short of that ambition. When magician Lucy Moon discovers her best friend’s body inside a famous sawing box, she’s drawn into a world of dark secrets and lies. The gritty Atlantic City magic scene creates a strong atmosphere, yet uneven pacing and a lack of sustained tension keep the story from fully engaging as a thriller.

Unlike The Prestige, which weaves rivalries and intricate twists into a tightly structured puzzle, ZigZag Girl never achieves that layered sense of deception. Its supernatural mystery holds potential, but the plot lacks the intellectual depth and high-stakes intrigue of both The Prestige and Knives Out. Predictable twists and an absence of obsessive rivalries or family drama make the suspense less compelling, and while Lucy’s personal journey is engaging, it doesn’t elevate the story to the level of its cinematic inspirations.

Ultimately, ZigZag Girl is an atmospheric, character-driven supernatural mystery, but it doesn’t capture the complexity, tension, or clever plotting that fans of The Prestige or Knives Out might expect.

Thanks to NetGalley, Black Spring Crime and the author for an advance copy.
Profile Image for Zeeva Bukai .
11 reviews3 followers
November 30, 2025
Ruth Knafo Setton’s novel, Zig Zag Girl is a gorgeously written magical rollercoaster ride through the heart of Atlantic City. When magician, Lucy Moon discovers the body of her best friend in a sawing box on stage during a performance, she is determined to find and expose the killer. What follows is a suspenseful mystery full of heart stopping action, a literary, sexy whodunit, with magic at its core. Setton creates a cast of characters you can’t help falling in love with, from the beautiful and spunky, Lucy Moon to the mysterious, Elvis Jones. Told in the best noir style worthy of Dashiell Hammett’s, Sam Spade, Setton brings to life the world of magic and the dedicated magicians who perform on the stages of Atlantic City. Setton’s sleight-of-hand seamlessly takes us from the boardwalk’s gritty present to the traumatic war years. Haunted by memory and the ghosts of her own past, Lucy Moon must navigate these realms to discover the truth about herself and her friend’s killer. Early in the novel, Lucy explains, “Magic is the stories we tell.” To the very end, Setton keeps us guessing and gives us the best magic of all, a story that reveals the life altering power of love and friendship.
Author 2 books
December 10, 2025
Zig Zag Girl took me on a vivid journey to Atlantic City. The Boardwalk came alive through rich, atmospheric descriptions, and I found myself fascinated by its history and ever-changing moods.
The main character, Lucy Moon - a magician from a family steeped in magic - is so passionate about her craft, her friends, and her family that I was constantly wondering what her next move would be and eagerly turning the pages to find out.
I loved stepping into the world of magic and shows in Atlantic City, both in the present and the past. The intrigue and mystique of this world are beautifully captured by the author, clearly reflecting her deep knowledge of it.
This is a true whodunit, packed with all the right ingredients: suspense, mystery, touches of horror, and a sizzling romance that kept me hooked throughout. The pacing is excellent, the characters are compelling, and the twists kept me guessing right up until the final reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and look forward to the author’s next.
Profile Image for Connie Hill.
1,933 reviews49 followers
March 4, 2026
My Thoughts


Zig-Zag girl is written by Ruth Knafo Setton. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author. It won’t be my last. I was drawn into the story right as I started reading. The book is divided into 4 parts, with each chapter being a short easy to read.

This is set in Atlantic City. Magician Lucy Moon is getting ready to open a show, but her assistant and friend Vanessa Kim has not arrived. Lucy knows her friend wouldn’t miss such an important event. However then she’s found dead in a historic sawing box.

Lucy was raised in the middle of a life that most wouldn’t understand. She comes from a family of magicians. However, now she suspects everyone. Whoever is responsible for this murder seems to understand the illusion of magic. The deeper that Lucy digs the more it looks like this is connected to another death that happened.


Thank you to the author, publisher and Partners in Crime Book tours for allowing me to read a copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.
Profile Image for Ashley Kanazawich .
178 reviews7 followers
March 8, 2026
A mystery built around illusion, misdirection, and hidden identities.

The novel explores the world of magicians and performers, and the reading experience itself reflects that theme. The narrative often feels elusive, filled with moments where it becomes difficult to determine what is real and what might be something else entirely.

The story begins primarily from Lucy’s perspective before later introducing another mysterious narrative voice. This shift adds an additional layer of intrigue and keeps the reader questioning what they think they know.

Lucy is a compelling character, even as hints emerge that she may be hiding secrets of her own. The rest of the cast maintains a level of ambiguity that keeps the tension alive throughout the story.

The overall tone of the book is mysterious, foggy, and suspenseful, creating an atmosphere that mirrors the theme of illusion.

While the story can occasionally feel confusing, that sense of uncertainty also becomes part of the experience.
Profile Image for BiblioSizzle.
221 reviews57 followers
March 25, 2026
🪄🪄🪄🪄🎩🎩🎩
ZIGZAG GIRL by Ruth Knafo Setton is a wild ride that you can’t put down! It has magic, intrigue, mystery, suspense, and dark atmospheric vibes. If you’re looking for a thriller that will keep you up late reading on the edge of your seat to figure out - this is the one!

//BLURB//
To catch a killer who knows her secrets, magician Lucy Moon must perform the most dangerous trick of her life — discovering who she really is. Zigzag Girl is a noir-tinged feminist thriller where The Prestige meets Knives Out in Atlantic City’s haunted magic underworld.

💌💌💌💌
Thank you to @partnersincrimevbt @rksetton and @blackspringpressgroup for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
💌💌💌💌

But wait there’s more! You could win a $25 Amazon gift card to celebrate the release of ZigZag girl with Partners in Crime Book Tours here:
https://pictbooks.tours/VPXfpdlX

#ZigzagGirl #RuthKnafoSetton #PartnersInCrimeTours #mysterybook
1 review
April 14, 2026
I bought Zigzag Girl in London when it first became available. I was glad to have the book for the long plane ride back to the U.S. Reading the story kept me so thoroughly engaged that the trip home felt like minutes instead of hours. I was caught up in the murders and mysteries, the world of magic, and the relationships, especially the friendships among the women. The “thin place . . .where borders between worlds are porous” is an intriguing device that provides the reader with crucial information from the past. By the end of the book, the mysteries and secrets of current and previous generations fit together like a puzzle.
The publisher did a superb job on the physical book. The cover is beautiful, the font is clear and very readable, and the paper is good quality. I usually read e-books but it was a delight to hold this book in my hands.
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