The Houdini Specter: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Harry Houdini Mysteries) [Mass Market Paperback]

Daniel Stashower (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 30, 2001 | Series: Harry Houdini Mysteries

In 1898, the Great Houdini has the opportunity to make a name for himself - by exposing the tricks of the medium Lucius Craig. Though he can easily recreate Craig's ghostly trickery, Harry can't explain how the medium manages to conjure up a spirit while tied to the chair by Houdini himself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Daniel Stashower is an award-winning mystery novelist and a recipient of the Raymond Chandler Fulbright Fellowship in Detective and Crime Fiction Writing.He is also the author of Teller of Tales, a new biography of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.He lives in Bethesda, Maryland.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Avon (October 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380800586
• ISBN-13: 978-0380800582
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,805,478 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great read!, December 5, 2001

By 

Brad Wareham (Libertyville, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Houdini Specter: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Harry Houdini Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read all the books in Stashower's Houdini series, and this is the best!

The Houdini character is well-defined -- a showman and egotist, but lovable -- as he tries to play Sherlock Holmes, but inevitably finds himself lacking. Only his persistence and belief in himself pulls himself through. His brother also manages to keep things on track, chronicling the events, much as Watson did for Holmes.

The action is fast paced, the characters rich in detail. Thoroughly enjoyable.

The mystery is intriguing and the final revelation is doubly amazing when it is revealed that 19th century technology was advanced enough to actually make the solution plausible (I won't spoil the ending).

Get this book! You won't be disappointed!

4.0 out of 5 stars Summon This Specter!, November 25, 2003

By 

ED Detetcheverrie "Q" (East Coast, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Houdini Specter: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Harry Houdini Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

As a newcomer to Mr. Stashower's series, I must say I found myself suitably delighted to have discovered such likeable characters in a well-researched setting, solving mysteries with humor, logic, and showmanship. The feel is just right and the skepticism high for a fraudulent medium who seems to be horning his way into a recent widow's heart and fortune. When one of the guests of a seance finds himself crossing over inexplicably, it takes the irrepressable Harry Houdini, his brother Dash, and agreeable wife Bess to determine what's real and what's illusion in this quick-paced good time of a tale! I greatly anticipate reading the other stories in this series and hope the author has more mysteries up his sleeves for Harry & his brother to stumble into. The Houdini Specter--how very delectable!

4.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as his other "Houdini Mysteries", January 4, 2002

By 

John Cox (Studio City, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Houdini Specter: A Harry Houdini Mystery (Harry Houdini Mysteries) (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm a big fan of Daniel Stashower's "Harry Houdini Mysteries", but I have to confess that I enjoyed his previous book, THE FLOATING LADY MURDER, more than this latest entry. Oh there's still some good stuff here, and I do think this book would greatly appeal to fans of Sherlock Holmes (as Houdini seems more Holmesain in this adventure than ever). But here's hoping that Stashower returns Harry to the unique and colorful world of turn-of-the-century showbiz in the next adventure, and leaves the drawing room murders to Holmes.