The amazing arden is the most notorious female illusionist of her day, renowned for sawing a man in half. 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. 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. 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. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. For a book with an illusionist at its heart and lie in the title, adas. Water for elephants meets the night circus in the magicians lie, a debut novel in. The magicians lie book club guide ideas a note to the book club leader. The amazing arden is the most famous female illusionist of her day. One night, with policeman virgil holt in the audience, she swaps her saw for a fire ax.
If you are the publisher or author of this book and feel that. Listen to magicians lie audiobook by greer macallister. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the magician s lie. 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. A female illusionist is questioned about a murder in macallisters debut, set at the turn of the 20th century. Magicians lie by tradeillusion, fantasy, carefully drawn scenarios with precisely chosen wordsso ill admit. This is an independent addition to the magicians lie, meant to enhance your experience of the original book. With each twist and turn, i found myself more drawn into the world of the amazing arden.
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. 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. Greer macallister handles the reader with the command and brilliance of a world class ringmaster. 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.
The magicians lie is a rich tale of heartstopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. 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. 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. The magicians lie greer macallister, 2015 sourcebooks 320 pp. The magician s lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding tale. This quote from jane austens sanditon is rightly placed on the opening page of greer macallisters excellent novel of. 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. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices. The magicians lie by greer macallister is a spellbinding tale. This wellpaced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel from macallister, a poet and short story writer, chronicles the career of americas. In the magicians lie, greer macallister has created a rich tapestry of mystery, magic, and lost love. The novel the magicians lie by greer macallister tells the story of a female illusionist who falls under suspicion for murder when her husband.
But, as readers know, outlandish is a magicians goto tactic. 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. Greer macallisters atmospheric novel tells the story of this fictional magician, whose talents make her one of the worlds most famous female. One night in waterloo, iowa, the amazing arden, one of the first american female illusionists, mesmerizes her audience with the classic saw. 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. The magicians lie was a thrilling book about a female illusionist, who is well known for her trick of sawing a man in half. The magicians lie a usa today bestseller a wellpaced, evocative, and adventurous historical novel.
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. 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. The magicians lie is the story of the amazing arden, caught and interrogated by a young policeman on. I enjoyed the questioning and trying to get into a world of magic was no easy feat. The magicians lie audiobook greer macallister audible. Allison pataki, new york times bestselling author of the traitors wife greer macallisters novel will surely capture the imagination of all readers. When ardens husband is found lifeless beneath the stage later. I really only picked up this book to see how redundant the title was. The magician s lie is a rich tale of heartstopping plot turns, glittering prose, and a cast of complex, compelling characters. I need to thank my bitter skepticism for leading me to this fabulous historical fictionmysteryromance.
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. Would you consider the audio edition of the magicians lie to be better than the print version. 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. 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. 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. Erika robuck, author of call me zelda and fallen beauty the magicians lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative and above all magical.
Stream and download audiobooks to your computer, tablet or mobile phone. This month im pleased to welcome you to the discussion for the magicians lie by greer macallister. Erika robuck, author of call me zelda and fallen beauty the magician s lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative and above all magical. Did you find one storyline more intriguing than the other.
One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt watching. Welcome to the belated october event of the peanut blossom book club for recovering readers. The magicians lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense. Suspense, magic, romance, mystery and memorable characters are just a few of the elements found in greer macallisters masterful debut novel the magicians lie. Nancy simpsonbrice, book vault the magicians lie is riveting, compelling, beautiful, frightening, evocative, and above all magical. Whatever you believe at the end, the journey will have been well worth it, for the magicians lie is high entertainment. Is it a new version of the illusion, or an alltooreal murder. Chapter 1 takes place in waterloo, iowa, on july 23 1905 at six o clock in the evening. January, 2015 set in the early 20th century, poet greer macallisters haunting first novel is a compelling mystery. 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. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt watching from the audience, she swaps her trademark saw for a fire ax. The magician s lie, by greer macallister is my latest read, and i loved it.
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. Holt meanwhile was an interesting character whose story weaved into that of the magicians. 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. 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. The magicians lie by greer macallister book of the month. At the pinnacle of her career, an early 20thcentury magician known as the. The magicians lie, by greer macallister the magicians lie, by greer macallister. Because the weather outside is frightful, and an engrossing, fastpaced novel is so delightful. By the end, the reader is left wondering what is real and what is illusion. 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. One night in waterloo, iowa, with young policeman virgil holt. 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.
Bring the magicians lie to life for your book club. 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 by greer macallister published by sourcebooks landmark on january th 2015 genres. If you have not yet bought the original copy, make sure to purchase it before buying this unofficial summary from abookaday. Praise for the magicians lie will surely capture the imagination of all readers waiting impatiently for the next water for elephants. Mitchell gave a strange introduction promoting automatic writing the stories anthologized included the infinite worlds of maybe by lester del rey, a horse for running buffalo, adapted by frank adamson from a story by madeline freeman. At the pinnacle of her career, an early 20thcentury magician known as. The magician s lie is a mesmerizing novel of illusion, secrets, and suspense. Fantasy, fiction, historical, magical realism pages. Will a magician ever reveal her secrets even when her lifes at stake. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the magicians lie. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures.