“A master storyteller weaves a tale of love, pain, and sleight of hand…The plotting is clever and the details are touching…[A] richly enjoyable novel.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Description
Caught in a Three Strikes law that sends him to prison for life, Nate Larson negotiates with prosecutors for an early release in exchange for testifying against his brother in an upcoming trial. As part of the deal, he demands custody of his fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Grace, who’s survived a string of disastrous foster homes.
Nate studied close-up magic during his time in prison. He’s good, and despite her wariness Grace joins him for a touring magic show of New England. Nate’s actual plan: to spend a few pleasant months with his granddaughter then run alone to Canada in hopes of undermining the case against his brother, who’s been falsely accused of trafficking. Pressure comes from that direction, too, from the actual traffickers who have hijacked the family’s legitimate, though secretive, connections to Eastern Europe and the Ukrainian village of Kortelisy.
Facing certain violence unless he runs, distraught at the prospect of wounding Grace unless he stays, Nate must thread a dangerous needle. And Grace, learning to perform some magic herself, must grow up in a hurry if she’s to save the only person she has ever trusted.
Praise
“A master storyteller weaves a tale of love, pain, and sleight of hand…The plotting is clever and the details are touching…[A] richly enjoyable novel.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"[A] quirkily endearing gem of a crime novel…Distinctive characters, a tightly woven plot, and polished prose make this a winner.” Publishers Weekly
“A tender tale of loyalty, gratitude, and the healing power of magical wonder; Rosen’s gifted storytelling will appeal to readers beyond genre boundaries.” Booklist
“Narrators Erin Spencer and Richard Ferrone alternate the narration of this heartfelt thriller. Spencer voices Grace, a 14-year-old victim of the foster care system, and Ferrone portrays Nate, her grandfather…Spencer does a convincing job of expressing Grace’s anger and confusion as she comes of age, while Ferrone’s gruff, masculine tone provides the ideal counterbalance. Smartly written, this audiobook manages to take a stand on human trafficking and three-strikes laws while giving lessons in magic and Ukrainian history.” AudioFile
Details
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Release Day | Nov 29, 2018 |
| Release Date | November 30, 2018 |
| Release Date Machine | 1543536000 |
| Imprint | Blackstone Publishing |
| Provider | Blackstone Publishing |
| Categories | Mystery, Thriller & Suspense, Thriller & Suspense, Suspense, Fiction - All, Fiction - Adult |
Author Bio
Leonard Rosen is the author of the highly acclaimed literary thriller All Cry Chaos, which won the 2012 Macavity Award for Best First Novel and ForeWord’s Editor’s Choice Prize in 2011. It was also a finalist for an Edgar Award, Chautauqua Prize, and Anthony Award. Rosen has written bestselling textbooks on writing, taught writing at Harvard and at Bentley University, and contributed radio commentaries to WBUR, Boston’s NPR news station. He lives in Brookline, Massachusetts.
Narrator Bio
Richard Ferrone recorded over 150 audiobooks including thrillers, romances, science fiction, and inspirational novels. He won the prestigious Audie Award and was a finalist for four Audie Awards, including for Best Solo Male Narrator. He was named an AudioFile "Voice of the Last Century" and a "Rising and Shining Star." He earned many AudioFile Earphones Awards, including being named the 2011 Best Voice in Mystery and Suspense as well as the 2009 Best Voice in Science Fiction and Fantasy. A science fiction fan, he narrated Kim Stanley Robinson’s Mars trilogy. He also narrated works by James Patterson, Walter Mosley, John Sandford, Eric Van Lustbader, and Stuart Woods.
Erin Spencer is an Audie Award nominated narrator. She has numerous films, TV shows, and voice work to her credit, including appearances on True Detective, 9-1-1, Rizzoli & Isles, and Code Black. Besides reading, she loves dining out, hip-hop dance classes, and DIY projects.
Overview
Caught in a Three Strikes law that sends him to prison for life, Nate Larson negotiates with prosecutors for an early release in exchange for testifying against his brother in an upcoming trial. As part of the deal, he demands custody of his fourteen-year-old granddaughter, Grace, who’s survived a string of disastrous foster homes.
Nate studied close-up magic during his time in prison. He’s good, and despite her wariness Grace joins him for a touring magic show of New England. Nate’s actual plan: to spend a few pleasant months with his granddaughter then run alone to Canada in hopes of undermining the case against his brother, who’s been falsely accused of trafficking. Pressure comes from that direction, too, from the actual traffickers who have hijacked the family’s legitimate, though secretive, connections to Eastern Europe and the Ukrainian village of Kortelisy.
Facing certain violence unless he runs, distraught at the prospect of wounding Grace unless he stays, Nate must thread a dangerous needle. And Grace, learning to perform some magic herself, must grow up in a hurry if she’s to save the only person she has ever trusted.
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