Mrs. Houdini: A Novel (Thorndike Basic)

About this book

A captivating debut novel meticulously researched and beautifully imagined about the passionate marriage of Harry and Bess Houdini--a love story that defied death itself. Before escape artist Harry Houdini died he vowed he would find a way to speak to his beloved wife Bess from beyond the grave using a coded message known only to the two of them. When a widowed Bess begins seeing this code in seemingly impossible places it becomes clear that Harry has an urgent message to convey. Unlocking the puzzle will set Bess on a course back through the pairs extraordinary romance which swept the illusionist and his bride from the beaches of Coney Island to the palaces of Budapest to the back lots of Hollywood. When the mystery finally leads Bess to the doorstep of a mysterious young photographer she realizes that her husbands magic may have been more than just illusion. In surprising turns that weave through the uncertain days of the dawn of the twentieth century and continue into the dazzling 1920s Mrs. Houdini is a thrilling tale that will take you deep into the heart of one of historys greatest love stories--asking what drives people to believe in something bigger than themselves--even as it reveals the famous magicians most remarkable feat of all.