Spirit Sleuths
How Magicians and Detectives Exposed the Ghost Hoaxes
Published on 10. September 2024
Book
Hardback
176 pages
978-1-6626-8023-6 (ISBN)
Description
A School Library Journal Best Book
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2024
2025 Texas Topaz List
CCBC Choices 2025
2025 Capitol Choices
The latest from acclaimed author Gail Jarrow reveals how magicians—including Harry Houdini and his team of investigators—exposed fake mediums who exploited the vulnerable and gullible in the early twentieth century.
★ Shelf Awareness, starred review
★ School Library Journal, starred review
After millions of people died during World War I and from the 1918 influenza pandemic, the popularity of Spiritualism soared. Desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, the bereaved fell prey to extortion by fraudulent mediums and fortune-tellers.
But magician Harry Houdini wasn't fooled. He recognized the scammers' methods as no more than conjurer's tricks. Angered by the way people were exploited, Houdini set out to expose the ghost hoaxes. In his stage show, he revealed the fraudsters’ techniques, and he used a team of undercover investigators to collect proof of séance deceptions. His head secret agent was a young New York private detective and disguise expert, Rose Mackenberg—a woman who continued her ghost-busting career for decades, long after Houdini's death in 1926.
Ideal for young readers and adults who are drawn to the worlds of psychics and magicians, this riveting book uncovers a little-known chapter in American history and details the ways people were (and still are) deceived by mediums and fortune-tellers.
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2024
2025 Texas Topaz List
CCBC Choices 2025
2025 Capitol Choices
The latest from acclaimed author Gail Jarrow reveals how magicians—including Harry Houdini and his team of investigators—exposed fake mediums who exploited the vulnerable and gullible in the early twentieth century.
★ Shelf Awareness, starred review
★ School Library Journal, starred review
After millions of people died during World War I and from the 1918 influenza pandemic, the popularity of Spiritualism soared. Desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, the bereaved fell prey to extortion by fraudulent mediums and fortune-tellers.
But magician Harry Houdini wasn't fooled. He recognized the scammers' methods as no more than conjurer's tricks. Angered by the way people were exploited, Houdini set out to expose the ghost hoaxes. In his stage show, he revealed the fraudsters’ techniques, and he used a team of undercover investigators to collect proof of séance deceptions. His head secret agent was a young New York private detective and disguise expert, Rose Mackenberg—a woman who continued her ghost-busting career for decades, long after Houdini's death in 1926.
Ideal for young readers and adults who are drawn to the worlds of psychics and magicians, this riveting book uncovers a little-known chapter in American history and details the ways people were (and still are) deceived by mediums and fortune-tellers.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
Young adult
US School Grade: From Fifth Grade to Twelfth Grade, Interest Age: From 10 to 17 years
Product notice
sewn/stitched
Cloth over boards
Dimensions
Height: 257 mm
Width: 206 mm
Thickness: 18 mm
Weight
885 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-6626-8023-6 (9781662680236)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
E-Book
09/2024
Calkins Creek
€14.49
Available for download
Person
Gail Jarrow