The Warlock Effect: A highly entertaining, twisty adventure filled with magic, illusions and Cold War espionage

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Same for the historical detail, theory of magic, and the depiction of the magician's mindset (including the incredible amount of behind the scenes work, obsessive planning, and mental control). Was there going to be a reason for all the chapters coming at us from different narrators, time zones and approaches – from someone recollecting these events, and flashing back to childhood days alike? A young German Jew fleeing the Nazis, Ludvik plays card tricks to lure English boys away from tormenting him.

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THE SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH**A THE TIMES BEST THRILLER FOR APRIL**OPTIONED FOR TELEVISION IN A SEVEN-WAY AUCTION*'Delightful' THE TIMES'Enthralling' THE SUNDAY TIMES'A serpentine thriller' SPECTATOR'A pure delight' NEIL GAIMAN'All the hallmarks of a modern classic' ADAM KAY'Two great masters join forces to explosive effect' RICHARD OSMAN'Huge fun - gripping and very clever. The lines between fact and fiction blur even further with documented cases of the real-life intelligence services trying to tap into the paranormal, most famously recounted in Jon Ronson’s book (and then film) The Men Who Stare at Goats, an investigation into how American military tried to tap into and weaponise psychic abilities. Cold War espionage was a nebulous and opaque affair, but in this book, it was so unclear, that I never understood the extent of any spy machinations nor how Louis fit into everything. But then Louis agrees to spy for the British government (it's the height of the Cold War), and things grow far darker and messier. His assistant (and fiancée) Dinah is hidden within a three-mile radius, and Louis must find her within three hours, blindfolded, only using his ‘psychic’ mental connection to her.

Both Nyman and Dyson manage to bring the attributes that made them famous to the table, making for a book that blends history, comedy and suspense to exceptionally good effect. The debut novel, about a magician who flees Nazi Germany and is lured into espionage, was written by Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman, creators of the Ghost Stories theatre production. Twisting, evocative and hugely entertaining, The Warlock Effect delivers on every level' CHRIS WHITAKER'Spellbinding. But after his talent for deception attracts the attention of the British secret service, Louis is thrown into the perilous world of espionage and finds himself sent across Europe with a dangerous mission to fulfil. Coupled with the events of the novel, it ends up being quite harrowing and traumatic for the protagonist and the reader.I didn't see nearly the same delightful, magical reveal as I was keen for – and which many of the high-brow puff quotes from celebs adorning this edition imply happens. Cue the first third, an enjoyable British vintage take on "Now You See Me", as the whole machinations of getting the trick completed are revealed, in something like real time now and again. When he comes face to face with a nemesis whose cunning rivals his own, Louis will need to use every trick in the book - or risk the most terrible consequences, both for the country and for himself.