Nevermore

Nevermore opens with a double homicide in New York in 1923. This is followed by several more odd murders which seem to be based on the stories of Edgar Allen Poe.

This book has a great cast of real characters including Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Harry Houdini, and Damon Runyan whose use of period slang is hilarious. Edgar Allen Poe also appears although it is never clear whether he is a ghost, a bend in time, or perhaps one of Houdini's illusions.

There is a lot going on in this story: a little of the supernatural, a little romance, a bit of history. But, at heart, this is an historical mystery and it is here where I had my greatest difficulty with the book. Since there were very few fictional characters, it was pretty clear pretty quick who show more dunnit.

Still, despite this, I really enjoyed Nevermore. It was a fun trek through New York at the dawn of the Jazz Age and this alone would make it worth the read. show less

The ghost of Edgar Allen Poe, Harry Houdini and Arthur Conan Doyle all take center stage in this murder mystery. Enjoyed the main plot, not so much the subplots as at times they were just to outlandish. Reading about prohibition era 1920's as well as the rampant belief in spiritualism was an added bonus. All in all an entertaining mystery but think it could have been better with just a little less.

When you have Houdini, Edgar Allen Poe and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle you are sure to get an awesome storyline and I was not disappointed. Sir Arthur and Houdini investigate the "Poe Murders". Both men think they will be victims so they join forces and the storyline follows them during their separate tour schedules. There are many tales along the way that are interwoven so well they all come together at the end. This is a well written and well thought out story with the characters completely believable. We have mystery, magic,murder,romance and a little of the paranormal all rolled into one to make an awesome and fast paced mystery read. I would recommend this book to all mystery and magic lovers.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Open show more Road for allowing me to read this book. show less

Set in the Jazz Age and featuring Harry Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle as protagonists, Hjortsberg's gothic mystery centers around spiritualism and a murderer who is modeling his crimes after those in the stories of Edgar Allan Poe.

The author takes real facts of Houdini and Doyle's relationship and fashions a mystery around them. This book was extemely slow moving - especially in the beginning for me. The glimpses into the spiritual world of the Era was interesting though.

This is one strange mystery by the author of the book upon which the film Angelheart is based. I really liked it, but i admit the epilogue puzzled me. Still a good read.

mystery, superstition, magic, crime, suspense, Houdini, Conan Doyle