MAGIC, MYSTERY, AND ILLUSION: HOUDINI'S BATTLE WITH SPIRITUALISTSIn Lisa Mannetti's wonderfully disturbing novella, THE BOX JUMPER, we meet Leona Derwatt, Houdini's assistant on and off stage, and one of his mistresses. Houdini not only takes her into his confidence, teaching her the intricacies of his magic, but teams with her as they confront and expose fraudulent psychics and mediums of their day. The tension in the story (based on Mannetti's thorough research) involves Houdini's conflicts with fake mediums (who may have been complicit in his death) and Leona's continued run-ins with the same phony psychics later in her life.
REVIEWS OF THE BOX JUMPER'Magic' is the operative word for this moody novella. The magic of Harry Houdini serves as an overriding backdrop here, but another kind of magic permeates these pages-the magic of fine writing. Don't expect the usual linear plot, because there is no direct narrative. Vivid dreams, surreal images, and hypnotic memories all serve to flesh out an unsettling tale that sweeps us into a new fictional dimension. Read
The Box Jumper and share the magic." - William F. Nolan, author of
Logan's Run and screenwriter of
Burnt Offerings "A haunting tale of madness and mystery. Mannetti leads the reader through a thrilling maze of illusion and scandal surrounding world-famous magician and psychic debunker, Harry Houdini. As elusive as a magic trick, the story unfolds through the dubious memories of one of his former assistants who suffers from various illnesses throughout the story. Mannetti's words entice the reader to explore a lewd world of liars and lust. As the layers of intrigue unfold, the reader is compelled to keep reading and isn't disappointed." - S phera Gir n, author of Flesh Failure and Captured Souls
"In Lisa Mannetti's magical The Box Jumper, readers are treated to intriguing premises and finely wrought characterizations rooted in the hazy past of a bygone America. As usual, Mannetti's driving narrative propels this fascinating portrait of illusionist Harry Houdini and the strange goings-on in and around-even beyond-his world. Highly recommended to all who love a great story, excellent writing, and memorable characters with a haunting literary flair." - Jason V. Brock, author of Milton's Children and Disorders of Magnitude
"Lisa Mannetti's The Box Jumper is a passionately told story of love, memory, and how we can be possessed by both. Mannetti is, simply put, a master of dark historical fantasy, and in The Box Jumper, she has all her talents on full display. The only really frustrating thing about her stories is how she manages to make perfection look so easy." - Joe McKinney, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Dog Days and Plague of the Undead
"Lisa Mannetti has given us a look into the life of a fascinating historical character and cultural icon. Her novella brims over with dark suspense and a brilliant re-creation of a New York long gone. As always, she writes with passion and originality. A great story." - Tom Monteleone, Bram Stoker and Locus Award-winning author of Night of Broken Souls and Eyes of the Virgin
