Overview

Illusions abound. Connie's illusion is a better life with someone else. Hinkley's illusion is a return to earlier times. Sossek's illusion is money without work. And Giuseppe Zangara's illusion is to ""fix the world"" by killing FDR. Illusions of Magic is the story of a victim of vaudeville's demise and the Great Depression. Magician Nick Zetner embarks on a risky quest to regain his life. Along the way, a love he thought he'd forever lost is rekindled. Is this a promise of magic, or is it another illusion? The question plays during nineteen days of political upheaval, the last nineteen days of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak's life. Mayor Cermak was wounded by a bullet intended for Franklin D. Roosevelt during the little-known, but true-life assassination attempt on the president-elect, Feb. 15, 1933. In modern style, this novel ranges through historic Chicago, its comedy and magic, exposing the intrigues and foibles of the City's famous and infamous, while the engrossing tale of Nick Zetner's dreams, adversity and insight unfolds. The novel's characters and situations spring to life in the volume's marvelous pen-and-ink illustrations drawn by the author, a well-known and award-winning artist.

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9780996836302

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Reviews

.. .deftly weaves themes of romantic love, easy murder, and the power of jazz...a vivid portrait of life in Chicago in 1933...rich with...dangerous criminals, forever friends, and genuine romance. --Marssie Mencotti in Windy City Reviews .. .keeps the plot clicking...capturing old-time Chicagoan accents, particularly those from the Czech community...new takes on the old city I have yet to encounter anywhere else... --Dan Kelly in Third Coast Review .. .a story about second chances and near-misses, where sometimes the best way to change your stars is to believe in the impossible--because sometimes someone is going to surprise you and help you start a new chapter of your life... --Jorie in Jorie Loves a Story .. .does a masterful job of telling the highly entertaining story between an out-of-work magician and his old flame...creates a historically accurate background for his cast of fascinating characters, creating a moving novel... --Dr. Willard Oliver, Professor at Sam Houston State, co-author of Killing the President .. .a great feel for the time period from jazz clubs, to bank robberies and strange guys in back offices cooking the books... --Mishker in BookDigits .. .The style is 1930's gangster movie...glimpses into how politics and crime worked...you'll even imagine yourself seeing images flash across a movie screen in black and white as you read... --Ronovan Hester in Lit World Interviews .. .The setting of political turmoil in 1933 Chicago is a fascinating feature...never lets up as the plot takes twists and turns I never expected...it certainly exceeded my expectations... --Susan Kennedy in ReviewThisReviews .. .richly authentic atmosphere...a quick and very enjoyable read that smoothly intermingles Nick's love life with a challenging case he takes on...a breath of fresh air... --Joanna Urquhart in Historical Novel Society

.. .deftly weaves themes of romantic love, easy murder, and the power of jazz...a vivid portrait of life in Chicago in 1933...rich with...dangerous criminals, forever friends, and genuine romance. --Marssie Mencotti in Windy City Reviews .. .keeps the plot clicking...capturing old-time Chicagoan accents, particularly those from the Czech community...new takes on the old city I have yet to encounter anywhere else... --Dan Kelly in Third Coast Review.. .a story about second chances and near-misses, where sometimes the best way to change your stars is to believe in the impossible--because sometimes someone is going to surprise you and help you start a new chapter of your life... --Jorie in Jorie Loves a Story.. .does a masterful job of telling the highly entertaining story between an out-of-work magician and his old flame...creates a historically accurate background for his cast of fascinating characters, creating a moving novel... --Dr. Willard Oliver, Professor at Sam Houston State, co-author of Killing the President.. .a great feel for the time period from jazz clubs, to bank robberies and strange guys in back offices cooking the books... --Mishker in BookDigits.. .The style is 1930's gangster movie...glimpses into how politics and crime worked...you'll even imagine yourself seeing images flash across a movie screen in black and white as you read... --Ronovan Hester in Lit World Interviews.. .The setting of political turmoil in 1933 Chicago is a fascinating feature...never lets up as the plot takes twists and turns I never expected...it certainly exceeded my expectations... --Susan Kennedy in ReviewThisReviews.. .richly authentic atmosphere...a quick and very enjoyable read that smoothly intermingles Nick's love life with a challenging case he takes on...a breath of fresh air... --Joanna Urquhart in Historical Novel Society

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