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An Eli Marks Mystery #3
The Miser's Dream
A casual glance out his apartment window turns Magician Eli Marks’ life upside down. After spotting a dead body in the projection booth of the movie theater next door, Eli is pulled into the hunt for the killer. As he attempts to puzzle out a solution to this classic locked room mystery, he must deal with a crisis of a more personal nature: the appearance of a rival magician who threatens not only Eli’s faith in himself as a performer, but his relationship with his girlfriend.
But the killer won’t wait and starts taking homicidal steps to bring Eli’s investigation to a quick and decisive end. Things get even worse when his magician rival offers his own plausible solution to the mystery. With all the oddball suspects gathered together, Eli must unveil the secrets to this movie-geek whodunit or find himself at the wrong end of the trick.
But the killer won’t wait and starts taking homicidal steps to bring Eli’s investigation to a quick and decisive end. Things get even worse when his magician rival offers his own plausible solution to the mystery. With all the oddball suspects gathered together, Eli must unveil the secrets to this movie-geek whodunit or find himself at the wrong end of the trick.
252 pages, Paperback
First published October 27, 2015
62 people are currently reading
792 people want to read
About the author
John Gaspard
102 books143 followersJohn is author of the Eli Marks mystery series and the Como Lake Players mystery series. He also has four other stand-alone novels: “The Greyhound of the Baskervilles,” “A Christmas Carl,” “The Sword & Mr. Stone” and “The Ripperologists.”
He hosts two podcasts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast," and "The Occasional Film Podcast."
In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films.
John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.
He hosts two podcasts: "Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast," and "The Occasional Film Podcast."
In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, those books made more than the films.
John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several greyhounds, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
October 5, 2015
Enjoyable mystery about a stage magician who helps the local police solve the murder of a local projectionist who's also dealing rare objects under the table. The pop culture elements and magic trick info was a fun element in this book, but I wish Eli's voice was more distinctive.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 3.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
March 8, 2018
The Miser’s Dream gets 4.5/5 stars.
I listened to the Audiobook version of this novel.
Narration: The narration was well-done for this audiobook. The character distinction was quite clear. There was a lot of distinction between the various male voices making it very easy to follow. The female voices were not as distinct but were still satisfactory and not confusing. Tonal range was good and there was good spacing. (4.5/5)
Production: Sound quality was good. The audio was clear and sound levels were consistent. I did not pick up on any blips or drops in the audio. (5/5)
Overall Experience: Overall this story translated to audio quite well. I enjoyed listening. The narration of the magic tricks was clear and added to the story. (5/5)
The Story
I chose this story knowing that it was the third book in a series. I was a little concerned that I might feel a bit lost as so much about the characters would have been built up before. I need not have worried. The story definitely works as a standalone. References are made to previous happenings but not excessively so and the reader/ listener does not require that previous knowledge.
Eli is a magician and magic-shopkeeper. His character is wonderfully and believably flawed but incredibly likeable. His insecurities are highlighted with the introduction of rival magician Quinton Moon. How Eli works through this situation is quite humourous and shows character growth.
The secondary characters of Uncle Harry, Eli’s girlfriend Megan, his ex-wife Deidre and her new husband Detective Hutton all combine for a fun sleuthing adventure. These characters are described in enough detail and carry just enough of their own action to make them valuable players in moving the story forward.
The mystery is well-plotted. The mysterious Mr. Lime provides the line-up of suspects and sends Eli out to ‘help’ the police with their investigation. Eli’s interviews with each suspect reveal interesting clues and possible motives. The author craftily uses misdirection to hide the identity of the culprit for quite some time.
The side story between Quinton Moon and Eli provides the reader with a good look at Eli’s characterization and the challenges he faces on a personal level. That part of the story is also very well-written and plotted.
I really enjoyed this book and I’ve already bought the first book in this series to catch up.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
I listened to the Audiobook version of this novel.
Narration: The narration was well-done for this audiobook. The character distinction was quite clear. There was a lot of distinction between the various male voices making it very easy to follow. The female voices were not as distinct but were still satisfactory and not confusing. Tonal range was good and there was good spacing. (4.5/5)
Production: Sound quality was good. The audio was clear and sound levels were consistent. I did not pick up on any blips or drops in the audio. (5/5)
Overall Experience: Overall this story translated to audio quite well. I enjoyed listening. The narration of the magic tricks was clear and added to the story. (5/5)
The Story
I chose this story knowing that it was the third book in a series. I was a little concerned that I might feel a bit lost as so much about the characters would have been built up before. I need not have worried. The story definitely works as a standalone. References are made to previous happenings but not excessively so and the reader/ listener does not require that previous knowledge.
Eli is a magician and magic-shopkeeper. His character is wonderfully and believably flawed but incredibly likeable. His insecurities are highlighted with the introduction of rival magician Quinton Moon. How Eli works through this situation is quite humourous and shows character growth.
The secondary characters of Uncle Harry, Eli’s girlfriend Megan, his ex-wife Deidre and her new husband Detective Hutton all combine for a fun sleuthing adventure. These characters are described in enough detail and carry just enough of their own action to make them valuable players in moving the story forward.
The mystery is well-plotted. The mysterious Mr. Lime provides the line-up of suspects and sends Eli out to ‘help’ the police with their investigation. Eli’s interviews with each suspect reveal interesting clues and possible motives. The author craftily uses misdirection to hide the identity of the culprit for quite some time.
The side story between Quinton Moon and Eli provides the reader with a good look at Eli’s characterization and the challenges he faces on a personal level. That part of the story is also very well-written and plotted.
I really enjoyed this book and I’ve already bought the first book in this series to catch up.
I received this audiobook at no-cost from Audiobookworm Promotions. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.
April 23, 2019
Another good effort by John Gaspard. This is the first book where Eli Marks is not directly involved in the actual murder, instead he saw a dead body, reported it to the police and then is part of the investigation. We have a lot of fun things going on here in terms of magic, magic history, a master magician who came to St. Paul and dazzled everyone, as well as a jealous Eli when he thinks his girlfriend Megan is falling for the other magician. As in all of these books there are a lot of magic tricks discussed, as a lot of the famous magicians that are mentioned are also available for viewing on YouTube: guys like Dai Vernon and The Great Tomsoni. Fast-paced as always, with very plausible plots and here we have a locked room mystery that puzzles everyone. Eli is also directed to give the names of 4 possible suspects to the police and then be allowed to interview them after the police have finished their initial interview - this is given to Eli by a fun character we only know as Mr. Lime. He is in every book and we are not sure exactly who he is or what he does, but nonetheless he is a fascinating character who pops in and out of all the books. If you have not read any of this series it certainly is one that I can recommend!
July 17, 2021
When Eli Marks looks into the projection booth of the theater next door late one night, the last thing he expects to see if the projectionist dead on the floor of the locked booth. Against his will, he finds himself involved in the case and interviewing the eccentric suspects. But which of them is a killer? And how did they pull off the crime?
This is a wonderful mystery with the added locked room element. I had no clue where the book was going, but I couldn’t believe I didn’t figure it out when the clues and killer were presented at the end. The eccentric cast of suspects are fun, and the series regulars are great as always. Eli’s job as a magician is a great hook that makes this series stand out from the others.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
This is a wonderful mystery with the added locked room element. I had no clue where the book was going, but I couldn’t believe I didn’t figure it out when the clues and killer were presented at the end. The eccentric cast of suspects are fun, and the series regulars are great as always. Eli’s job as a magician is a great hook that makes this series stand out from the others.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
April 17, 2019
This was the third book in the Eli Marks series, but I had no problems following the story. There was enough back story given that this book can be read easily as a standalone. Eli is a magician and co-owns a magic store with his Uncle Harry. He lives above the shop and often looks out his window into the projection booth of the theatre next door. When he sees a dead body in the booth, he calls the police. It seems to be a locked door mystery that Eli gets involved in. There is a bit of a difficult relationship with Detective Hutton, as he is now married to Eli's ex-wife Deidre who is also the D.A. and welcomes Eli's help in the case. With a mysterious magician, Mr. Lime, giving some information, Eli's girlfriend Megan working with a rival magician, Quinton Moon, and Harry's uncle acting a bit secretly, Eli has his hands full.
The mystery is well-plotted with Eli’s interviews revealing interesting clues and possible motives. I had no clue where the book was going, but I couldn’t believe I didn’t figure it out when the clues and killer were presented at the end. The author uses misdirection to hide the identity of the culprit until the end. I enjoyed the characters and their convoluted relationships which added some humour to the story. The secondary characters are described in enough detail and carry just enough of their own action to make them valuable players in moving the story forward. They also gave us some insight into Eli as a character, revealing his doubts and insecurities. Overall, this was a fun and interesting cozy mystery. The hook of Eli being a magician adds a totally different feel to this story. I will have to seek out others in this series.
I listened to this book, read by Jim Cunningham. The narration was well-done with good character distinction. I was able to follow the different voices as there was good range and characterization. Overall this story translated to audio nicely and I enjoyed listening to it.
The mystery is well-plotted with Eli’s interviews revealing interesting clues and possible motives. I had no clue where the book was going, but I couldn’t believe I didn’t figure it out when the clues and killer were presented at the end. The author uses misdirection to hide the identity of the culprit until the end. I enjoyed the characters and their convoluted relationships which added some humour to the story. The secondary characters are described in enough detail and carry just enough of their own action to make them valuable players in moving the story forward. They also gave us some insight into Eli as a character, revealing his doubts and insecurities. Overall, this was a fun and interesting cozy mystery. The hook of Eli being a magician adds a totally different feel to this story. I will have to seek out others in this series.
I listened to this book, read by Jim Cunningham. The narration was well-done with good character distinction. I was able to follow the different voices as there was good range and characterization. Overall this story translated to audio nicely and I enjoyed listening to it.
August 3, 2015
This was a great read, it was just like a magician trick, one minute your though you were onto it , next you were off onto another trail. There was a lot going on in this book but not in a way that overwhelmed the story. To quote from the book, something like this "magic is like a swan, graceful on the top and with lots going on underneath." That what this book was like - a locked room mystery with a simple ending when you know how. Really enjoyed it.
October 26, 2015
As if by magic...
From the window of his bedroom, Eli can see into the projectionist's booth of the nearby movie theatre, and often watches the flickering lights to see if he can work out what movie is showing. But one evening what he sees is a body lying motionless on the floor. When the police arrive, they find all the elements of a classic 'locked room' mystery. The projectionist lies dead with the murder weapon nearby, but the door is locked on the inside, the window is tiny and barred, and the gaps through which the films are projected are too small for anyone to get through. They also find an empty film can...
I love this series. Eli is a great character – a stage magician with a fun sense of humour, who's always getting mixed up in murders either through his job or because of his connection to his ex-wife, the delightfully named Assistant District Attorney Deirdre Sutton-Hutton and her new husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton. Eli's back together with his girlfriend Megan, the psychic, in this one, although he's suffering from wild jealousy because she's become friendly with another visiting magician, Quinton Moon. Not only is Quinton charming and good-looking, he's also a much better magician than Eli, so it's hardly surprising Eli's teeth grind every time his name is mentioned.
Eli is still living with his elderly uncle, above the magic shop which they jointly run. The regulars are all back and, as always, add a good deal of fun to the story. But, for all the warmth and humour in these books, I wouldn't quite class them as cosies. The plots are always strong and though there is the ongoing romance between Eli and Megan this never takes over from the crime and investigation element. Eli's connection to the police gets over the awkwardness of the amateur detective element, and this book sees the reappearance of the shady and scary underworld figure, known only as 'Harry Lime', who débuted in the last book, The Bullet Catch.
It's 'Harry Lime' who puts Eli onto the probable motive for the crime – he is convinced that the film can had contained a (real) lost masterpiece London After Midnight. And he's also able to provide a list of the people most likely to be keen to acquire such a prize. It's now up to Eli and the police to investigate them and to solve the mystery of how the murderer managed to carry out the crime. As always, Gaspard comes up with some quirky suspects and characters to supplement the regulars.
Gaspard is not a magician but writes as knowledgeably as if he were, and the magic always plays a part in the plot. He follows the magician's code of never revealing how the tricks are done, and describes them so well it's almost like watching a great magician at work. The book titles are the names of magic tricks. In real life, he's been involved in film-making as both writer and director and, since the introduction of 'Harry Lime', this has become a strong strand in the plots too, with lots of references to and jokes about classic movies.
The plotting and investigation elements of the book are very much like the traditional Golden Age mysteries – a crime, a collection of suspects, clues, red herrings etc. But the writing and characterisation bring them bang up to date so that they never read like pastiches. A truly welcome break from the modern diet of bleakness and misery, these are proper mysteries – not one of which I've been able to solve before Eli! And I hope to get the opportunity to fail to solve many more in the future. Highly recommended – this could easily be read as a standalone, but I'd recommend reading in order, starting with The Ambitious Card, to get the full benefit of the regular characters.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Henery Press.
From the window of his bedroom, Eli can see into the projectionist's booth of the nearby movie theatre, and often watches the flickering lights to see if he can work out what movie is showing. But one evening what he sees is a body lying motionless on the floor. When the police arrive, they find all the elements of a classic 'locked room' mystery. The projectionist lies dead with the murder weapon nearby, but the door is locked on the inside, the window is tiny and barred, and the gaps through which the films are projected are too small for anyone to get through. They also find an empty film can...
I love this series. Eli is a great character – a stage magician with a fun sense of humour, who's always getting mixed up in murders either through his job or because of his connection to his ex-wife, the delightfully named Assistant District Attorney Deirdre Sutton-Hutton and her new husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton. Eli's back together with his girlfriend Megan, the psychic, in this one, although he's suffering from wild jealousy because she's become friendly with another visiting magician, Quinton Moon. Not only is Quinton charming and good-looking, he's also a much better magician than Eli, so it's hardly surprising Eli's teeth grind every time his name is mentioned.
Eli is still living with his elderly uncle, above the magic shop which they jointly run. The regulars are all back and, as always, add a good deal of fun to the story. But, for all the warmth and humour in these books, I wouldn't quite class them as cosies. The plots are always strong and though there is the ongoing romance between Eli and Megan this never takes over from the crime and investigation element. Eli's connection to the police gets over the awkwardness of the amateur detective element, and this book sees the reappearance of the shady and scary underworld figure, known only as 'Harry Lime', who débuted in the last book, The Bullet Catch.
It's 'Harry Lime' who puts Eli onto the probable motive for the crime – he is convinced that the film can had contained a (real) lost masterpiece London After Midnight. And he's also able to provide a list of the people most likely to be keen to acquire such a prize. It's now up to Eli and the police to investigate them and to solve the mystery of how the murderer managed to carry out the crime. As always, Gaspard comes up with some quirky suspects and characters to supplement the regulars.
Gaspard is not a magician but writes as knowledgeably as if he were, and the magic always plays a part in the plot. He follows the magician's code of never revealing how the tricks are done, and describes them so well it's almost like watching a great magician at work. The book titles are the names of magic tricks. In real life, he's been involved in film-making as both writer and director and, since the introduction of 'Harry Lime', this has become a strong strand in the plots too, with lots of references to and jokes about classic movies.
The plotting and investigation elements of the book are very much like the traditional Golden Age mysteries – a crime, a collection of suspects, clues, red herrings etc. But the writing and characterisation bring them bang up to date so that they never read like pastiches. A truly welcome break from the modern diet of bleakness and misery, these are proper mysteries – not one of which I've been able to solve before Eli! And I hope to get the opportunity to fail to solve many more in the future. Highly recommended – this could easily be read as a standalone, but I'd recommend reading in order, starting with The Ambitious Card, to get the full benefit of the regular characters.
NB This book was provided for review by the publisher, Henery Press.
October 26, 2015
One night Eli Marks looks out his apartment window into the projection booth of the movie theatre net door. He sees the projections (Tyler) laying dead in a pool of blood. Eli calls the police. It's murder and the list of suspects begins to unfold.
Eli is a magician and while it's been a while since he spruced up his act he is still a pretty magician. The thing is a magician at the top of his profession comes to town. What is worse than his rival is the fact that Megan Eli's girlfriend is smitten by the other magician's act and well he is a dapper fellow.
Uncle Harry is even enthralled with Quinton Moon the best magician ever. Eli helps his Uncle Harry out in the magic shop and lives on the third floor in an apartment. Uncle Harry's apartment is on the second floor.
Everything starts to unravel at once for Eli as Megan is asked to participate in an act with Quinton Moon, something she had refused to do with Eli and then there is Tracy the new manager of the movie theatre. S
Someone tries to run down Eli and then Tracy is found at the foot of the ladder and it doesn't look like an accident. She is taken to the hospital then Uncle Harry and Eli are hit by ice and snow from the roof and Homicide Detective Fred Hutton thinks that is no accident.
Mr. Lime a man that has his own agenda and someone that would frighten anyone tries to draw Eli into his agenda and he doesn't like the word no.
Then there are the people who would do anything to own rare movie posters such as LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT, with this movie poster comes three people who want the poster very badly. One is a famous mystery author Clifford Thomas, this man has a house to die for complete with hidden rooms.
Then there is Sherry Lisbon, a woman as cold as Alaska and Eli thinks she could be twice as deadly if someone were to stand in the way of what she wanted and she might even want Eli which is a problem because Eli wants nothing more than to stay away from this woman.
September 4, 2015
I totally enjoyed this Twin Cities mystery, the third in the Eli Marks series. Eli, a magician, has some competition on the professional front. Quinton Moon is a magician with the ability to both charm and fascinate audiences and Eli's girlfriend is not an exception. Before his jealousy can cause Eli to say or do something he'll regret he becomes involved with another murder case. The projectionist from the movie theater next door is found murdered, locked in his projection booth with the gun that killed him and $75,000 in cash. Rumor has it that the projectionist was a middle man for parties interested in buying or selling vintage movie memorabilia and empty film canisters also found in the booth make it seem likely that a copy of the lost silent film London After Midnight has surfaced. Eli is manipulated, by the fabulously creepy Mr. Harry Lime, into interviewing four rich and maybe not entirely ethical collectors. Eli Marks has convinced me that magic and mystery are a perfect combination. Author John Gaspard uses quirky characters, magic tricks, plenty of action and witty dialogue to move us through his intricate mysteries. The Miser's Dream is a great reading choice, but if you haven't read all the books, do yourself a favor and start with #1, The Ambitious Card.
August 10, 2017
My original The Miser's Dream audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer.
What could be more mysterious and riveting than a magic trick? Only a locked room with a murder victim! Magician and amateur sleuth, Eli Marks is embroiled in a murder that has lots of suspects and more dead bodies. Not only does he have a murder mystery to solve but he also discovers a jealous streak that wreaks havoc on his career and love life. Hopefully, Marks can solve the murder before anyone else dies.
John Gaspard creates a classic mystery in which the solution is unique and exciting. Like magic, this story has an illusion that is masterfully crafted and executed.
A fun listen that keeps the audience guessing until the end. Great characters and plot that keep the audience engaged and on the edge of their chair. A unique combination of vintage detective mystery and cozy mystery. A delightful tale that keeps the audience engaged and riveted. Characters, as well as the plot, were well developed.
The narrator, Jim Cunningham, is excellent! His voice matches Eli Marks character perfectly with the correct amount of emotion and wonderment and mystery. He owns the book through his talent.
I highly recommend this book if you have a fondness for mystery, vintage movies, and magic. Part of a series, this book can be read as a stand alone too. Gaspar does a great job of capturing his audience with a unique character and mystery!
There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
What could be more mysterious and riveting than a magic trick? Only a locked room with a murder victim! Magician and amateur sleuth, Eli Marks is embroiled in a murder that has lots of suspects and more dead bodies. Not only does he have a murder mystery to solve but he also discovers a jealous streak that wreaks havoc on his career and love life. Hopefully, Marks can solve the murder before anyone else dies.
John Gaspard creates a classic mystery in which the solution is unique and exciting. Like magic, this story has an illusion that is masterfully crafted and executed.
A fun listen that keeps the audience guessing until the end. Great characters and plot that keep the audience engaged and on the edge of their chair. A unique combination of vintage detective mystery and cozy mystery. A delightful tale that keeps the audience engaged and riveted. Characters, as well as the plot, were well developed.
The narrator, Jim Cunningham, is excellent! His voice matches Eli Marks character perfectly with the correct amount of emotion and wonderment and mystery. He owns the book through his talent.
I highly recommend this book if you have a fondness for mystery, vintage movies, and magic. Part of a series, this book can be read as a stand alone too. Gaspar does a great job of capturing his audience with a unique character and mystery!
There were no issues with the quality or production of this audiobook.
Audiobook was provided for review by the author.
June 20, 2023
Magician Eli Marks's next mystery begins when he looks out of his apartment window into the projection booth of the theater next door and sees the body of the projectionist Tyler James lying on the floor. After calling the police and finding a way into the theater, they are surprised to discover that James had been shot in the back twice and the gun was still inside the locked projection booth - locked from the inside.
Eli is encouraged to look into the crime by the mysterious and sinister Mr. Lime. Eli soon learns that James had a sideline selling movie memorabilia and might have had the only remaining print of an early Lon Chaney film on offer. The film was missing when they broke into the room but an envelope with $75 thousand in cash was found.
Mr. Lime gives Eli four names of eccentric Twin Cities millionaires who might have had an interest in and the money to buy the film. One of them is a famous mystery author, one the scion of a famous Twin Cities banking family, and the other two made their fortunes as internet entrepreneurs. But none of them stand out above any of the others as the potential murderer.
Meanwhile while working on this mystery, Eli is also suffering from jealousy because a new magician has come to town who is everything Eli wishes he was. The new guy also seems to be moving in on Eli's girlfriend.
This was an entertaining mystery with engaging characters and a wonderful, wintry Twin Cities setting.
Eli is encouraged to look into the crime by the mysterious and sinister Mr. Lime. Eli soon learns that James had a sideline selling movie memorabilia and might have had the only remaining print of an early Lon Chaney film on offer. The film was missing when they broke into the room but an envelope with $75 thousand in cash was found.
Mr. Lime gives Eli four names of eccentric Twin Cities millionaires who might have had an interest in and the money to buy the film. One of them is a famous mystery author, one the scion of a famous Twin Cities banking family, and the other two made their fortunes as internet entrepreneurs. But none of them stand out above any of the others as the potential murderer.
Meanwhile while working on this mystery, Eli is also suffering from jealousy because a new magician has come to town who is everything Eli wishes he was. The new guy also seems to be moving in on Eli's girlfriend.
This was an entertaining mystery with engaging characters and a wonderful, wintry Twin Cities setting.
May 17, 2023
I enjoyed this book. This entertainer (because this is surely what this author is) continues to delight and surprise his audience. This is the third book in the Eli Marks series and once again I was surprised by who the killer turned out to be, which is unusual because I have at least guessed who the killer was if not got the reason why but not in this case. A real magic trick. I am loving all the magic tricks woven into the stories which makes it very entertaining, especially as they enhance the mystery. The locked room scenario is always intriguing but with the magic tricks and possible solutions it was next level listening. I really like the characters and am off to hopefully be amazed with the next book.
Eli is a magician and is use to seeing strange things but a quick look out of his bedroom window has him on the phone reporting a dead body. The cinema is locked up tight but that somehow doesn't stop a killer from killing the projectionis and stealing a very rare film. The mysterious Mr Lime is back and offers up four names of possible buyers of the film. Can Eli work out how the murder was committed and which suspect is the killer? All before he becomes the next victim because somebody doesn't want the magician to reveal his secrets.
I like the narrator. He is entertaining and works his own magic on the listener keeping them hooked until the very end
Eli is a magician and is use to seeing strange things but a quick look out of his bedroom window has him on the phone reporting a dead body. The cinema is locked up tight but that somehow doesn't stop a killer from killing the projectionis and stealing a very rare film. The mysterious Mr Lime is back and offers up four names of possible buyers of the film. Can Eli work out how the murder was committed and which suspect is the killer? All before he becomes the next victim because somebody doesn't want the magician to reveal his secrets.
I like the narrator. He is entertaining and works his own magic on the listener keeping them hooked until the very end
December 17, 2018
I liked it, I guess, but not nearly as much as I liked the first two. Perhaps a little miffed because I spent twice as much for this book as the others, and more than I've paid for just about any Kindle book I've ever bought, and it was a fairly short book, and not that great. If it had been three or four bucks, like the others, ok. But there's no depth here. Megan and Eli are dating - why? I got no sense of Megan's character at all, other than that she fawns on Eli all the time. And Eli was kind of a jerk the whole book. So why is she with him? Other than proximity, I guess. I get no sense of them doing anything other than walking through a relationship as each others' love interest. Even Harry's character wasn't as well done this time. Hoping the next one is better, but unless you're determine to read the whole series, don't bother to buy this one if it's still twice as costly as the others, you'll be disappointed.
April 11, 2024
I'm not sure why, but I really like this series. Maybe it's the peek into the life of a magician, even though we don't really learn how they do any of the major tricks. Eli ,the MC, uses his skills as a magician to get him out of trouble on more than one occasion, and his work provides connections that also come in handy.
The murder occurred quite early in the book, so there was a lot of time to try to work out whodunit. Since so much time was spent figuring out how the murder actually happened, that's a good thing. There weren't a lot of suspects to think about at first, but as the investigation progressed and more was learned about the victim, that list grew longer. I couldn't decide who the killer was until Eli started to put the pieces together. Even then, the motive was surprising, but it made sense.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series, perhaps later this year.
The murder occurred quite early in the book, so there was a lot of time to try to work out whodunit. Since so much time was spent figuring out how the murder actually happened, that's a good thing. There weren't a lot of suspects to think about at first, but as the investigation progressed and more was learned about the victim, that list grew longer. I couldn't decide who the killer was until Eli started to put the pieces together. Even then, the motive was surprising, but it made sense.
I look forward to reading the next book in the series, perhaps later this year.
January 17, 2022
4.7 for this one! It was great to see more emotion being pulled out of the characters, even if it was jealousy. Eli and Megan’s relationship is progressing nicely only to hit a couple of human speedbumbs 🤭🤭 namely a fellow magician that Eli is unreasonable jealous of and Tracy, the manager of the theater across the way, that Megan is subtly jealous of, but tries hard not to show it. In the meantime, why is Uncle Harry so tired and cryptic all the time? How did that body lock itself in the projection room? Why must Eli always be the one to find the bodies? Exactly how old is Mr. Lime and is is skin really rice paper translucent thin?? Eli, Eli, you didn’t have Megan as #1 on your speed dial??? Are the homicide deceives starting to like Eli? ( that’s a no)
For more answer’s read the book!! On to book 4.
For more answer’s read the book!! On to book 4.
August 31, 2023
2.5 stars and round up.
Eli meets the a Gary Stu version of himself and is mad with jealousy. As is the case with this kind of thing everyone just heaps praise on the Stu and the whole world centers around him. Magicians that are skeptic by nature, that look down at the younger generation as know it alls, they all flock towards the Stu with open admiration.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggghtttt...
That takes up the majority of the plot and is frankly really boring.
B plot is the actual murder. You have the murder victim and a cast of suspect that each gets barely a few pages. Almost like they don't really matter as plot A is what the author wants to focus on.
This one is weak tea, very weak. And because the side cast barely got any screentime it was confusing to figure out who's who in the finale for the big reveal. Over all not really bad though, just meh.
Eli meets the a Gary Stu version of himself and is mad with jealousy. As is the case with this kind of thing everyone just heaps praise on the Stu and the whole world centers around him. Magicians that are skeptic by nature, that look down at the younger generation as know it alls, they all flock towards the Stu with open admiration.
Riiiiiiiiiiiiiigggggggggghtttt...
That takes up the majority of the plot and is frankly really boring.
B plot is the actual murder. You have the murder victim and a cast of suspect that each gets barely a few pages. Almost like they don't really matter as plot A is what the author wants to focus on.
This one is weak tea, very weak. And because the side cast barely got any screentime it was confusing to figure out who's who in the finale for the big reveal. Over all not really bad though, just meh.
January 11, 2019
magic and mystery in the twin cities
Eli Marks is caught up in another murder case, but not as a suspect. His ex and her husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton, have actually asked him for help. All the usual suspects are here, and all of them are rich and quirky. Dealing with the case, Megan, his unc!e Harry and a visiting magician of some renown has him as busy as can be. Add the fact that the dangerous Mr. Lime has taken an interest in his inquiries, and his life just got a little more intriguing. Bundle up with this book by John Gaspard. After all, it's winter in Minneapolis.
Eli Marks is caught up in another murder case, but not as a suspect. His ex and her husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton, have actually asked him for help. All the usual suspects are here, and all of them are rich and quirky. Dealing with the case, Megan, his unc!e Harry and a visiting magician of some renown has him as busy as can be. Add the fact that the dangerous Mr. Lime has taken an interest in his inquiries, and his life just got a little more intriguing. Bundle up with this book by John Gaspard. After all, it's winter in Minneapolis.
September 27, 2020
Is there a new magician in town? Eli and Meghan are given tickets to a very intimate performance, courtesy of his uncle. They had a lovely dinner and now on with the show. Eli was so impressed with every trick that was performed, so impressed that he felt that he was just a hack. Meghan was so very impressed that Eli felt worse. Well on thing leads to another and no adventure with Eli would be complete without a murder or 2 or more. He becomes involved in a 'classic locked room' murder and for once the police don't think he did it. So where does the Miser's Dream come in you ask- well just remember your can't have your cake and eat it too. Thanks for the freebie, I read and reviewed it.
January 4, 2021
Cute mystery book. I found this in the free section on Audible. I needed something light and short, with dream in the title for Buzz read-a-thon. I also wanted a cozy mystery and this is what came up in the search I listened in one sitting and enjoyed it. The mystery was easy to follow and it didn't seem like there was a cheat (in the end things were laid out so that I could think back and go oh yes these clue were there). The characters were enjoyable-- there were cute little side romances that didn't take up very much space at all in the story but fleshed things out nicely. Coming in at the third book did not take away from the enjoyment at all.
November 22, 2022
I'm happy to report I'm enchanted by John Gaspard's Eli Marks series. Not only are they classic locked room-type mysteries but the characters are smile-inducing and the situations vivid. What I find interesting is the parallels between successfully creating illusions (magic if you will) and staging a murder mystery. Misdirection, playing on people's expectations, weaving a believable scenario. All a part of both art forms. Gaspard's books are fun, fast reads. Just the thing to wedge in between working your way through the master list of the world's great literature.
October 19, 2019
Third one in the series, as I read them in order. These are fun, light weight mysteries enhanced by their magic and film plots. The author is a filmmaker, and though he claims not to be a magician, he includes plenty of general and some very specific inside magic bits to tickle the magicians in his reading audience. Less so for the film fans, but still plenty of fun stuff. I will go on and read the entire series.
September 8, 2017
Eli Marks is a magician and feels threatened when a master magician comes to town. Looking out his window one night he spots a dead body in the theater across the street. The mysterious Mr. Lime asks him to investigate the locked room mystery and provides four suspects one of whom is soon murdered. This was an engrossing read of a free review copy obtained through Goodreads.com.
January 21, 2018
Great book
I have to admit that about half way through I was beginning to think that the series was slipping. But the second half and the ending are so good that I realized the author is a master of misdirection. Things did not go where I thought they were headed. It was much better.
I have to admit that about half way through I was beginning to think that the series was slipping. But the second half and the ending are so good that I realized the author is a master of misdirection. Things did not go where I thought they were headed. It was much better.
August 10, 2021
Eli Marks is a better magician than he gives himself credit for. Despite his skill at sleight of hand, he has an unfortunate tendency to stumble--both in his personal life, and OVER dead bodies. First in a clever and engaging series that I enjoyed as audio books, the puzzles are fun, the characters are well drawn, and the writing is crisp.
August 27, 2021
Well written and well plotted mystery. Eli is a wonderful protagonist, who is well intentioned but not always self aware. The fact that he and his uncle are stage magicians adds an interesting element to the plot. And Jim Cunningham’s narration of this audiobook brings out the distinct personalities of Eli’s circle of friends. This is my favorite audiobook of the series thus far.
November 17, 2017
Audible:I enjoyed this book.It was fun and full of twists and turns.I'm not a fan of 'magic' so that was the only draw back.Jim Cunningham was an excelent narrator.“I was voluntarily provided this free review copy audiobook by the author, narrator, or publisher.”
September 15, 2020
Wish I was interested in magic when I was young
Mr. Lime again starts the chills in this great locked room mystery. I find the explanation of the psychology of magicians fascinating.
Mr. Lime again starts the chills in this great locked room mystery. I find the explanation of the psychology of magicians fascinating.
May 7, 2023
Best in series so far, but still ok at best. Annoying verbal ticks still present. Would also benefit from a female character who wasn't very beautiful.
On audible, get an accent and pronunciation coach or a new narrator.
On audible, get an accent and pronunciation coach or a new narrator.
June 12, 2023
I was glad to see Eli and Megan back together for this one. I was afraid it was going to be one of those book series where he has a different girl in every book. This one was my favorite. I did not expect the ending! Humorous, and one of the best cozy mystery series I've read.
April 3, 2025
I really enjoy the Eli Marks mysteries, and THE MISER’S DREAM does not disappoint! Eli encounters the mysterious Mr. Lime again which leads to his being deeply enmeshed in a murder. Great characters and a wonderful plot!
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