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The Floating Lady Murder
When the beautiful young assistant of a world-famous magician is murdered on stage during a performance, a young Harry Houdini joins forces with his wife, Bess, and brother, Dash, to unravel the crime. By the author of The Dime Museum Murders. Original.
256 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
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About the author
Daniel Stashower
42 books223 followersDaniel Stashower is the author of The Boy Genius and The Mogul as well as the Edgar Award-winning Teller of Tales: The Life of Arthur Conan Doyle. He is also the author of five mystery novels, the most recent of which is The Houdini Specter. Stashower is a recipient of The Raymond Chandler Fulbright Fellowship in Detective and Crime Fiction Writing, and spent a year as a Visiting Fellow at Wadham College, Oxford. A freelance journalist since 1986, Stashower's articles have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Smithsonian Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and Connoisseur. He lives with his wife and two sons in Washington, D.C.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 29, 2023
It's turn-of-the-century New York and Harry Houdini is not yet "The Great Houdini" (though he insists otherwise) and his agent (and brother) Dash is trying to secure employment to keep the firm afloat. When the renowned magician Kellar advertises that positions are available with his show, Dash thinks it's the perfect opportunity, but he and Harry's wife Bess have a difficult time convincing him. They manage to spin things so Houdini thinks the opportunity is better than it is and off they go for an audition.
Harry is in the middle of his "Substitution Trunk Mystery" when a lion (which is part of Kellar's act" suddenly gets loose from his cage. While everyone else is panicked, Houdini is cool as cucumber and orchestrates a fantastic capture. Needless to say, he, Dash, and Bess are hired on the spot. They are invited to meet with Kellar himself who reveals that the lion's escape was no accident. Someone filed down the bolts holding the latch. And, in fact, this is not the first "accident" to plague the company. Kellar wants Houdini and company to not only join the company but to investigate these accidents--find out who is behind them and why.
Kellar is trying to perfect a floating lady trick--something that he and his rival Servais Le Roy have been trying to achieve for some time. Kellar is very close to success and he wonders if Le Roy has spies in his camp who are trying to sabotage his efforts. When the trick is perfected and performed for the first time, it goes fatally wrong; Kellar's levitating assistant plunges over seventy feet to her death. Except...she doesn't die from the fall. Somehow, she was drowned in mid-air before tumbling from the ceiling of the theater. Some start whispering that the trick is cursed, after all the wife of Kellar's mentor fell to her death in a proto-type of the floating lady trick twenty-five years ago. It's up to Harry and Dash to prove that a very human agent is behind the latest death.
This is my second historical mystery with a magician in a row. I have to say that I like Tom Mead's Joseph Spector better than Harry Houdini. Harry is very full of himself...with very little cause so far in his career. He may wind up being one of the greatest escape artists of all time and, yes, I'd think that kind of act would take a great deal of self-confidence but that doesn't make him any less insufferable. The mystery itself is decent, though it becomes obvious very soon what must have happened for the woman to have been drowned in mid-flight (as it were). Stashower does a very good job of hiding the culprit, though, in part, that's because we don't know the motive. And there aren't any clues (that I recognized, even in retrospect) that point towards the motive.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
Harry is in the middle of his "Substitution Trunk Mystery" when a lion (which is part of Kellar's act" suddenly gets loose from his cage. While everyone else is panicked, Houdini is cool as cucumber and orchestrates a fantastic capture. Needless to say, he, Dash, and Bess are hired on the spot. They are invited to meet with Kellar himself who reveals that the lion's escape was no accident. Someone filed down the bolts holding the latch. And, in fact, this is not the first "accident" to plague the company. Kellar wants Houdini and company to not only join the company but to investigate these accidents--find out who is behind them and why.
Kellar is trying to perfect a floating lady trick--something that he and his rival Servais Le Roy have been trying to achieve for some time. Kellar is very close to success and he wonders if Le Roy has spies in his camp who are trying to sabotage his efforts. When the trick is perfected and performed for the first time, it goes fatally wrong; Kellar's levitating assistant plunges over seventy feet to her death. Except...she doesn't die from the fall. Somehow, she was drowned in mid-air before tumbling from the ceiling of the theater. Some start whispering that the trick is cursed, after all the wife of Kellar's mentor fell to her death in a proto-type of the floating lady trick twenty-five years ago. It's up to Harry and Dash to prove that a very human agent is behind the latest death.
This is my second historical mystery with a magician in a row. I have to say that I like Tom Mead's Joseph Spector better than Harry Houdini. Harry is very full of himself...with very little cause so far in his career. He may wind up being one of the greatest escape artists of all time and, yes, I'd think that kind of act would take a great deal of self-confidence but that doesn't make him any less insufferable. The mystery itself is decent, though it becomes obvious very soon what must have happened for the woman to have been drowned in mid-flight (as it were). Stashower does a very good job of hiding the culprit, though, in part, that's because we don't know the motive. And there aren't any clues (that I recognized, even in retrospect) that point towards the motive.
First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.
January 6, 2017
Better than the first one. The story was more interesting and I enjoyed all the details of the magic routines and attempts to figure out different ways to perform the Floating Lady illusion. Houdini is still an arrogant, self-centered jerk, but you come to like him more as the series goes on. Dash is the real draw to the series.
May 22, 2012
The Floating Lady Murder is the second book in the Harry Houdini Mysteries and events in this book take place not too long after those in “The Dime Museum Murders”.
Although Harry Houdini enjoyed a short period of notoriety after his adventures in that earlier story, his fame didn’t last and he is back to struggling to make a living, never mind his name as an escapologist. Although it isn’t quite the break-through he’s hoping for, an opportunity for steady and interesting work for Houdini, his wife and his brother appears when Harry Kellar, a world-famous magician, is looking for people to work on his show.
Kellar is working on a new illusion in which he wishes to make a lady float in the air high into the dome of the theatre, and it is thanks to a clever plan by Houdini that a way of achieving this seemingly impossible feat is discovered.
On the first night the act is performed things go horribly wrong though and the beautiful young woman floating more than 70 feet up in the air plummets down to the floor and her death.
What at first appears to be a horrible accident is soon revealed to be a case of murder when it is discovered that the floating lady had water in her lungs; it appears that she managed to drown during her decent.
When one of Kellar’s assistants is arrested on suspicion of murdering the woman, Houdini and his brother Dash are convinced that he is innocent and decide, once again, to investigate the case themselves.
The unveiling of the solution to the mystery takes place during a dramatic performance which puts both Houdini and his wife Bess in grave danger.
The story in this book, like its prequel, is narrated by Houdini’s brother Dash years after the 1898 setting of the book. And, again like it was in The Dime Museum Murders, this provides the reader with a wonderful point of view. The brothers are very close yet very different. Harry is still very full of himself and convinced that he is on the verge of breaking into fame and fortune while Dash is far more modest, reluctant to throw himself into dangerous pursuits but always close at hand to keep an eye on his two year older yet in many ways more innocent and impulsive, brother. The differences between the two brothers and the ways in which they interact with each other make them believable and fun characters to read about, while Houdini’s fascination with Sherlock Holmes provides a more than a few smiles.
The story is filled with fascinating insights into the world of magicians and theatre during the 1890’s and it was very interesting to read about the creation of magical tricks we now take for granted.
The theatrical and magical world in which the stories are set also enhances the sense of mystery in the books in this series. Not only are we dealing with murder, we are dealing with seemingly impossible crimes that turn out to have credible yet anything but obvious solutions.
It is clear that the author of these books is himself a magician. He shares enough details and knowledge with the reader to make the setting, the crimes as well as the solutions plausible.
This is also a well written and easy to read book with characters that are interesting and very likeable.
In short, the Harry Houdini Mysteries are wonderful books to spend a relaxing Sunday with.
Although Harry Houdini enjoyed a short period of notoriety after his adventures in that earlier story, his fame didn’t last and he is back to struggling to make a living, never mind his name as an escapologist. Although it isn’t quite the break-through he’s hoping for, an opportunity for steady and interesting work for Houdini, his wife and his brother appears when Harry Kellar, a world-famous magician, is looking for people to work on his show.
Kellar is working on a new illusion in which he wishes to make a lady float in the air high into the dome of the theatre, and it is thanks to a clever plan by Houdini that a way of achieving this seemingly impossible feat is discovered.
On the first night the act is performed things go horribly wrong though and the beautiful young woman floating more than 70 feet up in the air plummets down to the floor and her death.
What at first appears to be a horrible accident is soon revealed to be a case of murder when it is discovered that the floating lady had water in her lungs; it appears that she managed to drown during her decent.
When one of Kellar’s assistants is arrested on suspicion of murdering the woman, Houdini and his brother Dash are convinced that he is innocent and decide, once again, to investigate the case themselves.
The unveiling of the solution to the mystery takes place during a dramatic performance which puts both Houdini and his wife Bess in grave danger.
The story in this book, like its prequel, is narrated by Houdini’s brother Dash years after the 1898 setting of the book. And, again like it was in The Dime Museum Murders, this provides the reader with a wonderful point of view. The brothers are very close yet very different. Harry is still very full of himself and convinced that he is on the verge of breaking into fame and fortune while Dash is far more modest, reluctant to throw himself into dangerous pursuits but always close at hand to keep an eye on his two year older yet in many ways more innocent and impulsive, brother. The differences between the two brothers and the ways in which they interact with each other make them believable and fun characters to read about, while Houdini’s fascination with Sherlock Holmes provides a more than a few smiles.
The story is filled with fascinating insights into the world of magicians and theatre during the 1890’s and it was very interesting to read about the creation of magical tricks we now take for granted.
The theatrical and magical world in which the stories are set also enhances the sense of mystery in the books in this series. Not only are we dealing with murder, we are dealing with seemingly impossible crimes that turn out to have credible yet anything but obvious solutions.
It is clear that the author of these books is himself a magician. He shares enough details and knowledge with the reader to make the setting, the crimes as well as the solutions plausible.
This is also a well written and easy to read book with characters that are interesting and very likeable.
In short, the Harry Houdini Mysteries are wonderful books to spend a relaxing Sunday with.
August 27, 2012
Although Daniel Stashower has titled this series as "Harry Houdini Mysteries", I am finding it increasingly unfair, since that totally neglects the fact that Houdini's brother Hardeen had played a very important (as a matter of fact, HE is the detective, while Houdini is the more famous performer who gathers the fame or notoreity) role in solving these mysteries. Yes, he is the narrator, but to think he was only working as Watson is to be grossly unjust towards him. Anyway, this 2nd novel in the series follows the events of the 1st one, but deals with totally different kind of events. The elements of mystery & danger are different in nature, impact as well as in their solution. It was a highly satisfying read, and I am eagerly looking forward towards the opportunity to read the next book in the series. Recommended.
June 14, 2012
Great characters and a good mystery - all very well-written and witty.
September 25, 2024
The second in a 3-part series. Entertaining. Houdini and his brother Dash solve murders in a unique way. Their relationship saved by Dash’s common sense. Houdini a real “character “.
January 20, 2017
I wasn’t impressed with Book 1 in The Harry Houdini Mysteries, but this one is much, much better. The Floating Lady is a magic trick that is at the heart of this wonderful novel.
Again, the story is narrated by Harry’s younger brother, Dash, and is set a few years around the turn-of-the-century New York City. The book starts out in the same manner as Book 1: Harry has been dead for many years and Dash is an old man. On the anniversary of Harry’s death, reporters show up at his door, wanting to glean insight into the infamous magician. Dash vacillates between each story to tell, which will garner the biggest story, and which is the freshest. He decides on the Floating Lady murder. He’s never talked about it before and as all the players, except himself, are dead, Dash feels he can finally tell the story.
Harry hasn’t quite made a name for himself---yet. He and his wife, Bess, are struggling financially and live with his mother on East 69th Street. Dash is somewhat better economically, but barely.
A world re-known magician, Harry Kellar (not a fictional person), is hiring for his show. He’s working on a new illusion in which a woman floats through the air, high into the dome of Belasco Theater. It is to be the highlight of his career, as this illusion has never been successfully performed.
Kellar is worried about spies from other magic shows and hires the brothers as they would be able to spot a would-be theft more than someone who does not know the art of illusion. Lots of intrigue follows, most notably the escape of Boris the Lion.
The illusion really goes by two names in the novel, The Levitation of Princess Karnac or the Floating Lady. That doesn’t cause any confusion. On opening night, before a packed house, high-wire artist Francesca Moore falls seventy feet from the top of the dome. Seemingly a tragic accident, the coroner soon discovers that Miss Moore did not die on impact. In fact she had water in her lungs and had drowned.
Harry and Dash take it upon themselves to find the real killer. The two have several adventures that make for a great read. Stashower makes one faux pas that jumped off the page at me. On Page 10, he mentions magic performed on television shows. Even if Dash’s narration is near the end of his life in 1945, magic on television would be commonplace.
The Floating Lady Murder is much better than Book One, The Dime Museum Murders. It’s more of a page-turner than its predecessor. I give Book Two 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
Again, the story is narrated by Harry’s younger brother, Dash, and is set a few years around the turn-of-the-century New York City. The book starts out in the same manner as Book 1: Harry has been dead for many years and Dash is an old man. On the anniversary of Harry’s death, reporters show up at his door, wanting to glean insight into the infamous magician. Dash vacillates between each story to tell, which will garner the biggest story, and which is the freshest. He decides on the Floating Lady murder. He’s never talked about it before and as all the players, except himself, are dead, Dash feels he can finally tell the story.
Harry hasn’t quite made a name for himself---yet. He and his wife, Bess, are struggling financially and live with his mother on East 69th Street. Dash is somewhat better economically, but barely.
A world re-known magician, Harry Kellar (not a fictional person), is hiring for his show. He’s working on a new illusion in which a woman floats through the air, high into the dome of Belasco Theater. It is to be the highlight of his career, as this illusion has never been successfully performed.
Kellar is worried about spies from other magic shows and hires the brothers as they would be able to spot a would-be theft more than someone who does not know the art of illusion. Lots of intrigue follows, most notably the escape of Boris the Lion.
The illusion really goes by two names in the novel, The Levitation of Princess Karnac or the Floating Lady. That doesn’t cause any confusion. On opening night, before a packed house, high-wire artist Francesca Moore falls seventy feet from the top of the dome. Seemingly a tragic accident, the coroner soon discovers that Miss Moore did not die on impact. In fact she had water in her lungs and had drowned.
Harry and Dash take it upon themselves to find the real killer. The two have several adventures that make for a great read. Stashower makes one faux pas that jumped off the page at me. On Page 10, he mentions magic performed on television shows. Even if Dash’s narration is near the end of his life in 1945, magic on television would be commonplace.
The Floating Lady Murder is much better than Book One, The Dime Museum Murders. It’s more of a page-turner than its predecessor. I give Book Two 5 out of 5 stars in Julie’s world.
February 6, 2020
"The floating lady murder" della serie "Harry Houdini mysteries" è una gran bella sorpresa tra le mie letture di autori fino ad ora sconosciuti. Si tratta di un giallo che mescola la storia del più famoso escapologo della storia, Harry Houdini (qui ancora agli albori della sua carriera), un delitto impossibile e la magia. Essendo appassionato di tutti questi elementi, il melange non poteva che attirarmi. Ed è stata una lettura piacevolissima.
La storia inizia con i due fratelli Harry e Dash che, in cerca di un'occupazione stabile nel mondo illusionistico, s'imbattono in un trafiletto sul giornale nel quale si cercano persone qualificate per la nuova tournée illusionistica del grande mago Kellar. Dopo l'iniziale riluttanza di Houdini, dettata esclusivamente dal suo ego sconfinato, i due decidono di accettare, insieme con la giovane moglie di Harry, Bess. Ma qui succedono strani incidenti, tra cui un leone che fugge da una gabbia precedentemente sabotata. Scongiurato questo primo pericolo, Harry non riuscirà ad impedire però l'omicidio di Francesca Moore durante l'esibizione del trucco della donna che levita. Dopo indagini, trucchi varie, schermaglie tra prestigiatori e indagini buffe, Dash riuscirà a scoprire il colpevole in un finale movimentato.
La soluzione non giunge del tutto inaspettata: il "chi" è intuibile, mentre il "come", sebbene carino, non è individuabile dagli elementi messi a disposizione ed è abbastanza canonico. Tale soluzione infatti era stata scartata precedentemente per la sicurezza di un testimone che era sicuro di un dato fatto, ma alla fine si sbagliava.
Insomma un libro che si lascia leggere meravigliosamente, con grande inventiva e con una stupenda descrizione del periodo storico in cui viveva il grande escapologo.
Sicuramente leggerò gli altri due della stessa serie.
La storia inizia con i due fratelli Harry e Dash che, in cerca di un'occupazione stabile nel mondo illusionistico, s'imbattono in un trafiletto sul giornale nel quale si cercano persone qualificate per la nuova tournée illusionistica del grande mago Kellar. Dopo l'iniziale riluttanza di Houdini, dettata esclusivamente dal suo ego sconfinato, i due decidono di accettare, insieme con la giovane moglie di Harry, Bess. Ma qui succedono strani incidenti, tra cui un leone che fugge da una gabbia precedentemente sabotata. Scongiurato questo primo pericolo, Harry non riuscirà ad impedire però l'omicidio di Francesca Moore durante l'esibizione del trucco della donna che levita. Dopo indagini, trucchi varie, schermaglie tra prestigiatori e indagini buffe, Dash riuscirà a scoprire il colpevole in un finale movimentato.
La soluzione non giunge del tutto inaspettata: il "chi" è intuibile, mentre il "come", sebbene carino, non è individuabile dagli elementi messi a disposizione ed è abbastanza canonico. Tale soluzione infatti era stata scartata precedentemente per la sicurezza di un testimone che era sicuro di un dato fatto, ma alla fine si sbagliava.
Insomma un libro che si lascia leggere meravigliosamente, con grande inventiva e con una stupenda descrizione del periodo storico in cui viveva il grande escapologo.
Sicuramente leggerò gli altri due della stessa serie.
April 16, 2015
I picked this up for under a fiver at The Works. I enjoy historical novels, especially the era that this is set in. My knowledge of Harry Houdini is limited, all I know is that he an iconic magician. It doesn't matter if you know anything at all about Houdini, this book is perfectly enjoyable all on it's own.
The narrator is Dash, Houdini's brother and manager. The story begins with him as an old man but soon transports us back to 19th century America.
It's clear that Houdini is eccentric and without his brother and wife he would end up getting himself into a lot of trouble. Telling the story from the secondary character reminded me a little of Sherlock Holmes and Houdini is certainly as odd as Conan Doyle's infamous character.
The other characters certainly balance out Houdini although be prepared there is a lot of them! Generally it is easy to keep track of who is who, but there are some difficulties.
The murder mystery centres around a trick called The Floating Lady. This insight into magic has always been something of interest for me having watched Jonathan Creek for years. I was intrigued as to how the trick worked and found the backstage descriptions particularly fascinating.
I must admit, I had no idea who the murderer was and really enjoyed the ride to discovering the culprit. I found myself smiling and laughing at the characters and what they said. I can envisage this as a great BBC1 period drama and look forward to reading more novels bu Daniel Stashower.
The narrator is Dash, Houdini's brother and manager. The story begins with him as an old man but soon transports us back to 19th century America.
It's clear that Houdini is eccentric and without his brother and wife he would end up getting himself into a lot of trouble. Telling the story from the secondary character reminded me a little of Sherlock Holmes and Houdini is certainly as odd as Conan Doyle's infamous character.
The other characters certainly balance out Houdini although be prepared there is a lot of them! Generally it is easy to keep track of who is who, but there are some difficulties.
The murder mystery centres around a trick called The Floating Lady. This insight into magic has always been something of interest for me having watched Jonathan Creek for years. I was intrigued as to how the trick worked and found the backstage descriptions particularly fascinating.
I must admit, I had no idea who the murderer was and really enjoyed the ride to discovering the culprit. I found myself smiling and laughing at the characters and what they said. I can envisage this as a great BBC1 period drama and look forward to reading more novels bu Daniel Stashower.
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March 10, 2012Daniel Stashower’s Harry Houdini Mysteries are delightful cozies for readers who enjoy quiet but fast-paced mystery, delectable period detail, and excellent prose from an author who is deeply versed in the historical period he chooses. Mr. Stashower sets actual historic individuals into a setting of his own invention, rendering the locale, events, and persons as realistically as if they themselves stepped forward off the pages of history just to entertain contemporary readers.
In this “episode,” Harry Houdini, far fro the famous (or infamous) stage magician and escape artist he will eventually be, is working for a then-famous magician known as Kellar. Accompanied by wife Bess and younger brother Dash, Harry finds himself the sleuth in a case of unexpected, and unexplained death: Kellar’s noted “Floating Lady” trick goes awry, and the levitated assistant is killed-but by drowning, not by falling from a height!
These Mysteries are presented as recollections of Dash Houdini-now in his eighties-who recounts them, rather like a stage raconteur, for newspaper reporters who wish to fill up a column block on the anniversary of Harry Houdini’s unexpected and sad demise during a stage act. By doing so, Author Stashower brings to these tales a sense of immediacy not always found in historical suspense, and creates a delightful setting for the reader to indulge in excitement, wonder, and mystery.
In this “episode,” Harry Houdini, far fro the famous (or infamous) stage magician and escape artist he will eventually be, is working for a then-famous magician known as Kellar. Accompanied by wife Bess and younger brother Dash, Harry finds himself the sleuth in a case of unexpected, and unexplained death: Kellar’s noted “Floating Lady” trick goes awry, and the levitated assistant is killed-but by drowning, not by falling from a height!
These Mysteries are presented as recollections of Dash Houdini-now in his eighties-who recounts them, rather like a stage raconteur, for newspaper reporters who wish to fill up a column block on the anniversary of Harry Houdini’s unexpected and sad demise during a stage act. By doing so, Author Stashower brings to these tales a sense of immediacy not always found in historical suspense, and creates a delightful setting for the reader to indulge in excitement, wonder, and mystery.
July 6, 2024
Before I start, YES, I am a Sherlock Holmes enthusiast.
No, Harry Houdini isn't comparable to Sherlock Holmes. Not even close. Ehrich Weiss was known for two key skillsets and neither involved crime fighting. To say seance debunking was sleuthing is a stretch, along with breaking and entering...um, I mean escapism.
Bluntly, his brother Theodore, aka Dash, aka the narrator, does most of the heavy lifting in this one. Along with apologizing for his brother most of the time (which was a major detractor for me). Much like the Big Bang Theory and its characters, a small amount of Sheldon carries the show and humor, too much and the channel gets changed. Don't even mention Young Sheldon, which completely exacerbated the point. Alas, Dash is a solid narrator for this series.
The mystery was well constructed, albeit brief. The time period could have done with a bit more details and characterization, but the late 1800's were bleak, so there is that.
Mildly engaging tale worth the small amount of time to read.
Thanks for reading.
No, Harry Houdini isn't comparable to Sherlock Holmes. Not even close. Ehrich Weiss was known for two key skillsets and neither involved crime fighting. To say seance debunking was sleuthing is a stretch, along with breaking and entering...um, I mean escapism.
Bluntly, his brother Theodore, aka Dash, aka the narrator, does most of the heavy lifting in this one. Along with apologizing for his brother most of the time (which was a major detractor for me). Much like the Big Bang Theory and its characters, a small amount of Sheldon carries the show and humor, too much and the channel gets changed. Don't even mention Young Sheldon, which completely exacerbated the point. Alas, Dash is a solid narrator for this series.
The mystery was well constructed, albeit brief. The time period could have done with a bit more details and characterization, but the late 1800's were bleak, so there is that.
Mildly engaging tale worth the small amount of time to read.
Thanks for reading.
June 17, 2014
Purchased from the works in a 'I need something to read while waiting for the bus' moment and included in a 3 for £5 offer I was not expecting much.
How wrong was I? This is a well written book which takes the times and plays them out. There is a murder and it needs to be solved but why is Harry Houdini involved? The murder happens during an illusion and only Harry and his brother/agent understand the business enough to be able to solve it.
The main character is Harry's brother Dash Hardeen who is telling the story to a journalist on the anniversary of Harry's death. Harry is very self absorbed, as you would expect, and doesn't really help except he convinces Dash the man arrested can't be the killer.
Fast paced and well written, I will be looking out for more in this series and by this author.
How wrong was I? This is a well written book which takes the times and plays them out. There is a murder and it needs to be solved but why is Harry Houdini involved? The murder happens during an illusion and only Harry and his brother/agent understand the business enough to be able to solve it.
The main character is Harry's brother Dash Hardeen who is telling the story to a journalist on the anniversary of Harry's death. Harry is very self absorbed, as you would expect, and doesn't really help except he convinces Dash the man arrested can't be the killer.
Fast paced and well written, I will be looking out for more in this series and by this author.
July 12, 2017
The Floating Lady Murder is the second book in the Harry Houdini Mysteries.
Struggling to pay the bills Dash and his eccentric brother Harry answer an advertisement for work from the newspaper for a magician. Not just any magician though the famous Kellar magician who has apparently perfected the floating lady trick. With a bit of help from a hungry lion Dash and Harry are quickly hired by Mr. Kellar and they learn that the trick needs a bit more work. After some kinks are taken care of the trick is ready to perform only it goes horribly wrong when the young lady falls to her death or so it would seem.
It took a long time for the murder to actually happen and I kept waiting for but I did like The Floating Lady Murder far more then The Dime Street Murder. I will get around to reading the next book in the series eventually.
Struggling to pay the bills Dash and his eccentric brother Harry answer an advertisement for work from the newspaper for a magician. Not just any magician though the famous Kellar magician who has apparently perfected the floating lady trick. With a bit of help from a hungry lion Dash and Harry are quickly hired by Mr. Kellar and they learn that the trick needs a bit more work. After some kinks are taken care of the trick is ready to perform only it goes horribly wrong when the young lady falls to her death or so it would seem.
It took a long time for the murder to actually happen and I kept waiting for but I did like The Floating Lady Murder far more then The Dime Street Murder. I will get around to reading the next book in the series eventually.
August 19, 2015
Another (second) adventure of Harry Houdini and his brother, Dash Hardeen. Again Dash is the real sleuth. This one involves noted magician Harry Keller, a real magician, who preceded Houdini as the major magician of the era. It even gets L. Frank Baum in as Keller's biographer (Baum would go on to author "The Wizard of Oz and model his wizard after Keller). The story is well-written; the plot is not too complex but interesting, and the ending is satisfactory. I am going to next read the final book in the trilogy.
September 7, 2021
History meets mystery
Such a fun book .I enjoyed learning more about Houdini past and the truth behind some of his escapes. The Mystery itself is one I tried to figure out along with the brothers. Houdini's failures leading to success were a lesson in themselves. Can't wait for more adventures.
Such a fun book .I enjoyed learning more about Houdini past and the truth behind some of his escapes. The Mystery itself is one I tried to figure out along with the brothers. Houdini's failures leading to success were a lesson in themselves. Can't wait for more adventures.
October 28, 2021
Interesting read
Harry Houdini and his brother Dash are drawing to a mysterious murder of a wealthy businessman in his home with all exits locked from the inside.
We follow t he brothers as the meet interesting suspects integer quest to solve this murder and subsequent murders that hamper their efforts.
Harry Houdini and his brother Dash are drawing to a mysterious murder of a wealthy businessman in his home with all exits locked from the inside.
We follow t he brothers as the meet interesting suspects integer quest to solve this murder and subsequent murders that hamper their efforts.
April 5, 2012
I think the best part of this book is the portrayal of the relationship between the two brothers. The mystery, with the additional layer of magic, is intriguing and it's fun to read about the illusions from the professional point-of-view.
September 15, 2014
The Houdini books are good. This one focuses on magic a bit more than the other two. Harry thinks he is Sherlock Holmes, but Dash is the real detective. Harry's wife Bess, Biggs and Lieutenant Murry are great supporting characters. I hope there are more smart mysteries to come from Mr. Stashower.
February 27, 2017
Can't get enough Houdini Mysteries
Wonderfully entertaining just like Houdini! A genuine time travel with The Houdini's. Courage, bravado, chivalrous, inventive, mysterious, it is all good fun.
Wonderfully entertaining just like Houdini! A genuine time travel with The Houdini's. Courage, bravado, chivalrous, inventive, mysterious, it is all good fun.
October 10, 2018
Interesting -- Houdini's brother Dash seems to solve the murder faster than Houdini does. This is a small book and it took a hundred pages before the murder was finally committed. Interesting background on how tricks and stunts are developed.
November 29, 2022
More like 3.5,
A much better book than the first one. At least the title is not misleading, and more magic tricks stuff or entertainment magic in general. Houdini is becoming more as comedic relief, which is both bad and good thing. Also the motive and conclusion is not that satisfying for me.
A much better book than the first one. At least the title is not misleading, and more magic tricks stuff or entertainment magic in general. Houdini is becoming more as comedic relief, which is both bad and good thing. Also the motive and conclusion is not that satisfying for me.
December 6, 2022
Very Good; Continuing characters: Harry Houdini and Dash Hardeen; the brothers take jobs with a famous magician's touring company and help perfect a new illusion, but when a performer dies they call upon their skills at solving mysteries
September 4, 2008
I only recently discovered Daniel Stashower, and am looking forward to reading more.
December 30, 2012
Very entertaining!
December 19, 2012
Received this unsolicited - it was fine but not great. A quick read.
July 16, 2015
This book puts me in mind of a Sherlock Holmes mystery. Whilst it was enjoyable it's not something I would seek out to read again.
February 13, 2016
Fantastic! Think I enjoyed this more than the first one
March 9, 2016
This one got off to a slow start, then began to gain in momentum. It was a fairly quick read, mostly toward the end of the book. I rate this one 4 stars.
September 25, 2021
Another enjoyable read. I dropped a star on the first book of the series for its preposterous finale. This one ended better, so five stars,
July 18, 2019
Same good quality as the first one in the series
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