The magician s lie, by greer macallister is my latest read, and i loved it. Nancy simpsonbrice, book vault the magicians lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative, and above all magical. The magicians lie by greer macallister published by sourcebooks landmark on january th 2015 genres. The magician s lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense. This is an independent addition to the magicians lie, meant to enhance your experience of the original book. Will a magician ever reveal her secrets even when her lifes at stake. The magicians lie book club guide ideas a note to the book club leader. About the book water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. Annie philbrick, bank square books, mystic ct like her heroine the amazing arden, greer macallister has created a blend of magic that is sure to delight her audience.
Chapter 1 takes place in waterloo, iowa, on july 23 1905 at six o clock in the evening. In the magicians lie, ardens story is a pleasure to read, especially because the reader, just like virgil holt in the story, is caught up in wondering how much she. At the pinnacle of her career, an early 20thcentury magician known as. Did you find one storyline more intriguing than the other. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to. The magicians lie tells the story of arden the amazing, a professional magician performing around the united states in the early twentieth century and one night in a town called janesville, iowa, when arden is interrogated by a police officer called virgil holt who believes she is guilty of. Would you consider the audio edition of the magicians lie to be better than the print version.
Because the weather outside is frightful, and an engrossing, fastpaced novel is so delightful. The magicians lie by greer macallister book of the month. Janesville, iowa, police officer virgil holt worries that an injury could mean the end of his law enforcement career, but a stroke of luck offers hope. By turning a spotlight on travelling magicians at the turn of the twentieth century america, and then by making the central protagonist a young woman, the magicians lie by greer macallister has crafted a unique story. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an alltooreal murder.
The magician s lie was a thrilling book about a female illusionist, who is well known for her trick of sawing a man in half. Praise for the magicians lie will surely capture the imagination of all readers waiting impatiently for the next water for elephants. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. Greer macallister a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murderand she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. Allison pataki, new york times bestselling author of the traitors wife greer macallisters novel will surely capture the imagination of all readers. And as ada, aka arden, talks deep into the early morning hours, the reader cant help but wonder if the magician is telling the truth or if its all a fantastically woven lie.
This month im pleased to welcome you to the discussion for the magicians lie by greer macallister. I enjoyed the questioning and trying to get into a world of magic was no easy feat. I need to thank my bitter skepticism for leading me to this fabulous historical fictionmysteryromance. The book starts with one of ardens most amazing illusions followed by a murder, and from that moment on, the reader is mesmerized by the amazing ardens magical tale. Greer macallisters atmospheric novel tells the story of this fictional magician, whose talents make her one of the worlds most famous female. The magicians lie is a rich tale of heartstopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. Listen to magicians lie audiobook by greer macallister. The magicians lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense. Welcome to the belated october event of the peanut blossom book club for recovering readers.
The novel the magicians lie by greer macallister tells the story of a female illusionist who falls under suspicion for murder when her husband. The magicians lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding. The magicians story is one of heartbreak and the unexpected and when curtain fell, i had my mouth open and shock etched on my face. One night in waterloo, iowa, the amazing arden, one of the first american female illusionists, mesmerizes her audience with the classic saw. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the magician s lie. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. The magic lie is a cbc television anthology from 1977 to 1979. Just read through our handy packet and discover delicious recipes, tasty cocktails, and fun magicianthemed crafts and activities. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her. The magicians lie a usa today bestseller a wellpaced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel.
When ardens husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later. The action of the magicians lie alternates between a single night in 1905, with arden imprisoned by officer holt, and the story of her life that arden is telling him, which ranges over a number of years. Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. Suspense, magic, romance, mystery and memorable characters are just a few of the elements found in greer macallisters masterful debut novel the magicians lie. Greer macallister the amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. Alternating between the long, cold night in 1905 when the two face off in a smalltown jail and ardens complex personal history, this is a book in which storylines twist, spiral and come together again in an ending as explosive as a poof of smoke from your chimney. The magician s lie tells the story of arden the amazing, a professional magician performing around the united states in the early twentieth century and one night in a town called janesville, iowa, when arden is interrogated by a police officer called virgil holt who believes she is guilty of. Raised in the midwest, greer macallister is a novelist, poet, short story writer, and playwright who earned her mfa in creative writing from american university. The magicians lie is the story of the amazing arden, caught and interrogated by a young policeman on. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in. At the pinnacle of her career, an early 20thcentury magician known as the. Bring the magicians lie to life for your book club. Fantasy, fiction, historical, magical realism pages.
Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. The magician s lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding tale. If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder and she has only one night to convince a smalltown policeman of her innocence. This study guide consists of approximately 46 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the magicians lie. Magicians lie by tradeillusion, fantasy, carefully drawn scenarios with precisely chosen wordsso ill admit. The amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day, renowned for her notorious trick of sawing a man in half on stage. In the magicians lie, greer macallister has created a rich tapestry of mystery, magic, and lost love.
Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the magicians lie. The magicians lie, by greer macallister the magicians lie, by greer macallister. I originally ran into this strange, twisted little book with its crimson cover stained by the innocence of a hidden dove and was transfixed by book of the month club guest judge whoopi goldbergs remark on the book. If you have not yet bought the original copy, make sure to purchase it before buying this unofficial summary from abookaday. Erika robuck, author of call me zelda and fallen beauty the magician s lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative and above all magical. This quote from jane austens sanditon is rightly placed on the opening page of greer macallisters excellent novel of. Holt meanwhile was an interesting character whose story weaved into that of the magicians. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt watching. I was first drawn to this book because it was pitched as a cross between water for elephants, which i really enjoyed, and the night circus, one of my absolute favorite books. A female illusionist is questioned about a murder in macallisters debut, set at the turn of the 20th century.
With each twist and turn, i found myself more drawn into the world of the amazing arden. Greer macallister handles the reader with the command and brilliance of a world class ringmaster. One night, with policeman virgil holt in the audience, she swaps her saw for a fire ax. By the end, the reader is left wondering what is real and what is illusion. But, as readers know, outlandish is a magicians goto tactic. I was enthralled by ardens life, rising as a lovable innocent young girl endowed with artistic gift and her relentless determination to be in the ranks of famous magicians at the turn of the century.
Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in which the countrys most notorious female illusionist stands accused of her husbands murder. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt. This wellpaced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel from macallister, a poet and short story writer, chronicles the career of americas. January, 2015 set in the early 20th century, poet greer macallisters haunting first novel is a compelling mystery. The amazing arden is the most notorious female illusionist of her day, renowned for sawing a man in half. The magician s lie is a rich tale of heartstopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. The magicians lie greer macallister brazos bookstore. For a book with an illusionist at its heart and lie in the title, adas.
Erika robuck, author of call me zelda and fallen beauty the magicians lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative and above all magical. I really only picked up this book to see how redundant the title was. The amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day. The magicians lie was a thrilling book about a female illusionist, who is well known for her trick of sawing a man in half. Whatever you believe at the end, the journey will have been well worth it, for the magicians lie is high entertainment. The magicians lie audiobook greer macallister audible. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The magicians lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding tale. The magicians lie greer macallister, 2015 sourcebooks 320 pp. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.
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