What do you think?
Rate this book
Houdini
Evangeline has been recruited into the Celestial Hierarchy’s version of the CIA, and she’s ready to take on her first official assignment. She and her old flame, Christian, are asked to help fourteen-year-old Gabriella find her father—an inventor who disappeared in 1925 while demonstrating a new illusion for the famous magician, Harry Houdini. The task sounds simple enough but there’s a problem. The trio of ghosts need to make contact with Houdini who is on a public Halloween tour to debunk psychics, clairvoyants, and charlatans. As far as he’s concerned, ghosts do not exist. If Evangeline can’t get through to Houdini, she will have failed her first mission, and Gabriella’s heart will break; but if she bends to rules to reach him, she risks losing the privilege to avenge her own murder.
204 pages, ebook
Published October 17, 2017
About the author
C.A. Pack
16 books27 followersC. A. Pack is the author of the episodic YA fantasy seres, The Library of Illumination and can usually be found wandering around inside her imagination looking for fun things to write about. Some people may think that's a stupid place to hang out, but for her it's really quite pleasant.
She is currently at work on her seventh adventure in the episodic Library of Illumination series and on her fourth novel featuring Evangeline. She's an award-winning journalist, and former anchor/assignment manager at LI News Tonight in New York. She thinks fiction is a lot more fun.
A current member of International ThrillerWriters, and Sisters in Crime, C.A. is also a former president of the Press Club of Long Island. She lives in Westbury, NY, with her husband, a couple of picky parrots, and dozens of imaginary characters who are constantly demanding page space.
She is currently at work on her seventh adventure in the episodic Library of Illumination series and on her fourth novel featuring Evangeline. She's an award-winning journalist, and former anchor/assignment manager at LI News Tonight in New York. She thinks fiction is a lot more fun.
A current member of International ThrillerWriters, and Sisters in Crime, C.A. is also a former president of the Press Club of Long Island. She lives in Westbury, NY, with her husband, a couple of picky parrots, and dozens of imaginary characters who are constantly demanding page space.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 17, 2017
My rating 3.7
The Book of Houdini (Evangeline's Ghost # 2) by C.A. Pack is a nice book about the ghost. Evangeline has been recruited into the Celestial Hierarchy. The book is well written, but at moments everything is happening too simply, I honestly think the writer could create a bit more tension. Honestly, the bad guys in this book are the worst part for me; I think the Celestial Hierarchy in which Evangeline has been received must have a stronger competition except for ordinary people. The book missing for the dark side and I think the writer will have to work on it in the following books because I think the idea of the book is great, it just needs to be expanded. The story for itself is solid: Evangeline gets the first assignment to help Gabriella new spirits. Gabriel's father is in danger and she needs Evangeline's help to find out what happened to her father. Gabriel's father disappeared after demonstrating a new illusion for the famous magician Harry Houdini. Evangeline with his friend Christian under the watchful eye of Saint Peter they moving on their first assignment. If you want a relaxed ghost book then this is a book for you, simply hang around in your armchair, stretch your legs, and while drinking tea or coffee, you are reading this book. I would recommend the book to lovers of a story about ghosts.
The Book of Houdini (Evangeline's Ghost # 2) by C.A. Pack is a nice book about the ghost. Evangeline has been recruited into the Celestial Hierarchy. The book is well written, but at moments everything is happening too simply, I honestly think the writer could create a bit more tension. Honestly, the bad guys in this book are the worst part for me; I think the Celestial Hierarchy in which Evangeline has been received must have a stronger competition except for ordinary people. The book missing for the dark side and I think the writer will have to work on it in the following books because I think the idea of the book is great, it just needs to be expanded. The story for itself is solid: Evangeline gets the first assignment to help Gabriella new spirits. Gabriel's father is in danger and she needs Evangeline's help to find out what happened to her father. Gabriel's father disappeared after demonstrating a new illusion for the famous magician Harry Houdini. Evangeline with his friend Christian under the watchful eye of Saint Peter they moving on their first assignment. If you want a relaxed ghost book then this is a book for you, simply hang around in your armchair, stretch your legs, and while drinking tea or coffee, you are reading this book. I would recommend the book to lovers of a story about ghosts.
November 9, 2017
I did like this story. I am not quite sure why or where or how or anything else that relates to a real person comes into play in a fictional story, yet regardless, it is a good story. The writing is strong, there are many twists and turns as the story progresses and they all seem to come to an amicable end-in the end. So again I am left questioning, why Houdini? What is the connection? There really isn't one and I guess for anyone that knows anything about the man, he was a little mysterious in his own life, but still...why?
I wonder if maybe I were to read the first book it would enlighten me, yet I doubt it. Maybe I missed something ...I just don't know. Perhaps the name has been used simply to draw in the reader, that is the first reason I looked at the book after all is said and done. Whom doesn't want to read about Houdini?
Maybe it's just me...
Kinda doubt that though...
Whatever the reason it is an engaging read I would recommend.
I wonder if maybe I were to read the first book it would enlighten me, yet I doubt it. Maybe I missed something ...I just don't know. Perhaps the name has been used simply to draw in the reader, that is the first reason I looked at the book after all is said and done. Whom doesn't want to read about Houdini?
Maybe it's just me...
Kinda doubt that though...
Whatever the reason it is an engaging read I would recommend.
November 25, 2017
Evangeline's Ghost: Houdini is a fun, fast read. I'm a sucker for time period pieces and this book does not disappoint. The descriptions of the scenery were great and it really transported me into the story. I love the fact that the trio of ghosts were following a well-known man in history, which made the story even more exciting and made me want to brush up on who Houdini really was. The characters were well rounded and I liked Evangeline's spunky and quirky personality. The fact that this story was from a ghost's perspective that was figuring out a mystery, not trying to be scary or spooky also caught my attention, I liked that.
I although I enjoyed this story I felt like it was a little too much talking and not enough action. I wanted to be shown what was happening instead of being in a sports huddle were everyone was talking about what would happen next. That being said the plot was good.
I also had a few problems when there were rules clearly drawn that Evangeline and Gabriella had no problems breaking, over and over again. Once they did break those rules it seemed that "The powers above" just kind of gave a slap on the wrist and that was it and sometimes they just simply looked the other way. Maybe I'm a stickler for following the rules or maybe I simply wanted them to come up with more clever ways to get around the rules? Either way, it kind of bothered me.
Over all a good read.
I although I enjoyed this story I felt like it was a little too much talking and not enough action. I wanted to be shown what was happening instead of being in a sports huddle were everyone was talking about what would happen next. That being said the plot was good.
I also had a few problems when there were rules clearly drawn that Evangeline and Gabriella had no problems breaking, over and over again. Once they did break those rules it seemed that "The powers above" just kind of gave a slap on the wrist and that was it and sometimes they just simply looked the other way. Maybe I'm a stickler for following the rules or maybe I simply wanted them to come up with more clever ways to get around the rules? Either way, it kind of bothered me.
Over all a good read.
November 12, 2017
Evangeline’s Ghost: Houdini was a unique reading experience. Firmly grounded in Christian theology, it nonetheless takes these elements and uses them in a fun way. St. Peter might be serious, but in this book he’s not solemn, and neither is he a plaster saint. There are many lighthearted interactions, but the characters underlying purpose is one of gravity. And setting the story in the Roaring Twenties, with women wanting to vote, Prohibition, flappers, and of course, Harry Houdini—it’s hard to go wrong with that era. It makes such a rich setting for any tale.
What this book reminded me of most is the stories my family would sometimes tell each other about angels. We didn’t focus on the big theological moments; it was more about the times when guardian angels go “off-duty,” and their people are finally in bed for the night. We had snowboarder angels who were given space and respect, motocross angels who had drinks bought for them on a regular basis—that kind of thing. And it was that sort of lightheartedness that I remember best from this read.
Overall, a good read for someone looking for a quirky tale that keeps to a more traditional underlying cosmology.
What this book reminded me of most is the stories my family would sometimes tell each other about angels. We didn’t focus on the big theological moments; it was more about the times when guardian angels go “off-duty,” and their people are finally in bed for the night. We had snowboarder angels who were given space and respect, motocross angels who had drinks bought for them on a regular basis—that kind of thing. And it was that sort of lightheartedness that I remember best from this read.
Overall, a good read for someone looking for a quirky tale that keeps to a more traditional underlying cosmology.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews