Illusionist's Apprentice

By: Kristy Cambron

Narrated by: Amy Rubinate

Set during one of the richest, most vibrant eras in American history, this Jazz Age novel of illusion, suspense, and forgotten pasts is perfect for fans of The Magician’s Lie.

Wren Lockhart, apprentice to master illusionist Harry Houdini, uses life on a vaudeville stage to escape the pain of her past. She continues her career of illusion after her mentor’s death, intent on burying her true identity.

But when a rival performer’s act goes tragically wrong, the newly formed FBI calls on Wren to speak the truth—and reveal her real name to the world. She transfers her skills for misdirection from the stage to the back halls of vaudeville, as she finds herself the unlikely partner in the FBI’s investigation. All the while Houdini’s words echo in her mind: Whatever occurs, the crowd must believe it’s what you meant to happen. She knows that if anyone digs too deep, secrets long kept hidden may find their way to the surface—and shatter her carefully controlled world.

“Prepare to be amazed by The Illusionist's Apprentice. Wren Lockhart, the talented magician at the heart of Kristy Cambron’s spellbinding tale of Jazz Age Boston, is the fierce, brilliant, guarded headliner you’ve been waiting for. This novel will have your pulse pounding and your mind racing to keep up with reversals, betrayals, and surprises from the first page to the last. Like her characters, Cambron works magic so compelling and persuasive, she deserves a standing ovation.”—Greer Macallister, USA TODAY bestselling author

• Historical fiction with a dash of suspense
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: 99,000 words
• Also by author: The Paris Dressmaker, The Ringmaster’s Wife, The Painted Castle, and The Butterfly and the Violin

©2017 Kristy Cambron (P)2017 Thomas Nelson

Best book I've read this year!

Amazing story!! I chose this book because I've always been fascinated by Houdini & thought a book about his apprentice would be interesting. This book went way above my expectations. I loved Wren! She was such a strong & mysterious character. If you are looking for a rich historical novel, this is it! I look forward to more of this author's books!

Pleasant surprise

This book was not what I was expecting. It’s so good! It wasn’t all about the famous illusionist but it was a story woven around his life and his death. I learned that later in his career Houdini struggled with spiritualism and his believes. I cannot claim to know a lot about the man but this I definitely did not know. Great narration.

Disappointing

I was so intrigued by the blurb describing the book, that I didn’t bother listening to the sample…big mistake! A short way into it, I found my nerves jangled by the the narrator’s extremely nasal voice and inability to give life to the characters. Nonetheless, I plowed on, because I had spent a credit on it and it was serviceable enough to listen to while commuting on BART and I stubbornly felt like I wanted to know how it would end, trite as that ending might be, so I listened to bitter end.

Not one of my favorites…

For reasons I can’t quite put my finger on, I was disappointed with this book. Not sure if it was the narration - unclear accents,
or the story- choppy narrative,
or what… it was just kind of flat…

overwritten, over read, underwhelming

this book is both written and read like a romance novel. the story is unimaginative and some aspects of the story are so forced that it makes one wince.