Death and the Conjuror

By: Tom Mead

Narrated by: Jake Ruddle

A magician-turned-sleuth in pre-war London solves three impossible crimes

In 1930s London, celebrity psychiatrist Anselm Rees is discovered dead in his locked study, and there seems to be no way that a killer could have escaped unseen. There are no clues, no witnesses, and no evidence of the murder weapon. Stumped by the confounding scene, the Scotland Yard detective on the case calls on retired stage magician-turned-part-time sleuth Joseph Spector. For who better to make sense of the impossible than one who traffics in illusions?

Spector has a knack for explaining the inexplicable, but even he finds that there is more to this mystery than meets the eye. As he and the Inspector interview the colorful cast of suspects among the psychiatrist's patients and household, they uncover no shortage of dark secrets—or motives for murder. When the investigation dovetails into that of an apparently—impossible theft, the detectives consider the possibility that the two transgressions are related. And when a second murder occurs, this time in an impenetrable elevator, they realize that the crime wave will become even more deadly unless they can catch the culprit soon.

©2022 Tom Mead (P)2022 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Loved the story and the narrator!

Very enjoyable locked room mystery. The characters were eclectic with depth. Loved the voice of the narrator. It was absolutely marvellous!

Fun, but not terrific

The author tries to be oh-so-clever, but it is overdone, and towards the end he tells the reader (or listener) that all the information is there to be able to solve this crime. But, in fact, there are details mentioned in the solution that the reader was never made aware of. I won’t elaborate, because I don’t want to write any spoilers. Other than the fact that the reader is missing some details, way too many details in the solution fit together too nicely. So many things could have not worked out for the murderer that I came away feeling it is very contrived. Sure, it’s fun, and I was kept engaged, but Joseph Spector is no Sherlock Holmes, and Tom Mead does not measure up to the likes of Agatha Christie. There is something to compare to Sherlock Holmes, because just like Scotland Yard turns to Sherlock for help, so does Scotland Yard turn to Spector for help. The narration was good as far as the different characters and voices, but he tended to drop his voice at the end of sentences (or even chapter titles) and I frequently had to back up 30 seconds to listen carefully again to hear the words that he spoke too low. I don’t think this book is worth a credit, but if it is on sale, as in a 2-for-1, sure, have some fun with it.

slow and boring,

slow and boring. struggled to finish. no interest in any of the characters . not worth my time

Contrived and ponderous

Reader is not very good and the story is preposterous and relies on the locked room way too much.