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A review by thestarman
The Houdini Girl by Martyn Bedford
4.0
In 3 words: Lust, Lies, Illusions
Is the greatest hoax of all that we can ever really know another person? Is love an illusion, a mere magic trick? [no, that's not from the back cover. i made it up, but i think it sums up the book's theme well]
The age 25 to 30-ish characters in THE HOUDINI GIRL don't seem to have much on their minds besides sex, smoking, and different degrees of deceit. But perhaps -- just maybe -- they have their reasons. And then *WHAM* someone goes missing, and the plot takes a turn or two (but never a jagged twist, in my opinion).
It jumped a small shark when the sometimes-TSTL narrator decided to, but I was involved enough to want to see how it all turned out. I did like the final scene, even though things don't get entirely wrapped up.
Was there more to the disapperance than met the eye? Is there ever a good reason to deceive those you love (or lust after)? Is the magician-narrator reliable, or does he have a trick up his sleeve?
If such questions intrigue you, give this book a shot. I think you'll be 3+ stars happy with it.
VERDICT: 3.67, rounded to 4 because: magic, Irish cursing. Not half as twisty as I had hoped, but Rosa was a great character. Recommended if you like strange girlfriends, magic, mysteries, or moderate thrillers.
Also consider:
[b:Illusion|12408735|Illusion|Frank E. Peretti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331936724s/12408735.jpg|17377431], by Frank E. Peretti
[b:Club Deception|30141250|Club Deception|Sarah Skilton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476159251s/30141250.jpg|50575213] by Sarah Skilton
[b:The Kind Worth Killing|21936809|The Kind Worth Killing|Peter Swanson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1417981750s/21936809.jpg|41240456], by Peter Swanson
[b:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566s/2429135.jpg|1708725], by Steig Larson
Is the greatest hoax of all that we can ever really know another person? Is love an illusion, a mere magic trick? [no, that's not from the back cover. i made it up, but i think it sums up the book's theme well]
The age 25 to 30-ish characters in THE HOUDINI GIRL don't seem to have much on their minds besides sex, smoking, and different degrees of deceit. But perhaps -- just maybe -- they have their reasons. And then *WHAM* someone goes missing, and the plot takes a turn or two (but never a jagged twist, in my opinion).
It jumped a small shark when the sometimes-TSTL narrator decided to
Spoiler
play amateur detectiveWas there more to the disapperance than met the eye? Is there ever a good reason to deceive those you love (or lust after)? Is the magician-narrator reliable, or does he have a trick up his sleeve?
If such questions intrigue you, give this book a shot. I think you'll be 3+ stars happy with it.
VERDICT: 3.67, rounded to 4 because: magic, Irish cursing. Not half as twisty as I had hoped, but Rosa was a great character. Recommended if you like strange girlfriends, magic, mysteries, or moderate thrillers.
Also consider:
[b:Illusion|12408735|Illusion|Frank E. Peretti|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1331936724s/12408735.jpg|17377431], by Frank E. Peretti
[b:Club Deception|30141250|Club Deception|Sarah Skilton|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1476159251s/30141250.jpg|50575213] by Sarah Skilton
[b:The Kind Worth Killing|21936809|The Kind Worth Killing|Peter Swanson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1417981750s/21936809.jpg|41240456], by Peter Swanson
[b:The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo|2429135|The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Millennium, #1)|Stieg Larsson|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1327868566s/2429135.jpg|1708725], by Steig Larson