Jim Naremore
Set against a backdrop of magic tricks, ghost stories and attempts to communicate with the spirit world, The Arts of Legerdemain as Taught by Ghosts tells the story of Steve Kozwa, a former stage magician, recently released from prison, whose dead-end job leaves him clinging to the hope he can scrape together enough money claim a fresh start with his sister in New Zealand. But a poster advertising a magic show featuring his ex-lover, Fox Fellows, forces Steve to wrestle with conflicting emotions from his past as he tries to gain ground on the future, signing on to an obsessive hunt to communicate with the spirit world. Just as he resolves the crux of his problem, an unforeseen catastrophe wipes everything away, leaving Steve facing a dangerous and desperate set of choices.
​
Winner, 2017 Independent Publisher's Book Awards Bronze Medal for "Best First Novel"
Shortlist finalist for the 2018 Lascaux Fiction Award
From the San Francisco Book Review Five-Star review
​
The Arts of Legerdemain as Taught by Ghosts is an incredibly well-polished character study of the ghosts that haunt us. Be it a former lover, the loss of a loved one, or an uncertain future, each of the characters in the story grapple with an invisible presence that threatens to uproot their lives. Unfortunately, each will give in and let the ghosts loose.
What each does to recapture or release the ghosts is where the story shines. The main character Steve returns past love Fox, the bakery owner succumbs to grief, the bakery owner’s daughter chooses her future over her family, and Fox throws everything she can into becoming famous. All of the character arcs are well-written and fascinating to follow. The story is a simple one but spirals outward beautifully as various characters cope with the vagaries of life.
Haunting, witty, romantic, magical. The Arts of Legerdemain as Taught by Ghosts presents a heart-wrenching magic show with flawed people staggering under the weight of all life can throw at them.
Reviewed By: John Murray