This book combined 2 of my favourite genres, historical fiction and murder mystery. I loved the old school feel of this murder mystery!

The plot was very well paced and I did not predict the murderer until it was revealed at the very end, then everything seemed to fall into place.

If I could change one thing about this narrative, I would have liked to hear more of Flint and Spector. I found it unclear how they met and their prior relationship. I found myself wondering why a stage magician would be helping on a police investigation (how did that partnership first begin)?

But overall, this was a very good read. I lost myself in the mystery and forgot I was reading at times which is definitely a sign of a good story!

I would like to thank Netgalley and W. W. Norton and Company for an advance copy of Death and the Conjuror, the first novel to feature Detective Inspector Flint and conjuror Joseph Spector, set in London in 1936.

Famous psychiatrist Dr Anselm Rees is found murdered in his locked study. With no murder weapon in evidence, no obvious means of escape for the murderer and no physical clues Inspector Flint enlists the help of Joseph Spector, whose familiarity with illusions gives him an insight into this kind of crime.

I thoroughly enjoyed Death and the Conjuror, which is a homage to the Golden Age locked room genre. The idea is that the reader is presented with all the clues to be able to work out the solution ahead of the denouement. Of course, it’s not that straightforward as it involves a degree of lateral thinking and an understanding of convolution. It was too much like hard work for me so I was just along for the ride, enjoying the puzzles but not putting much thought into their solution.

The author provides some serious mysteries with two inexplicable murders and an art theft nobody saw. Despite all the smoke and mirrors the motives are extremely simple and universal, but the execution (pardon the pun) is extremely convoluted. Overly so, some may say, but I found it entertaining and it certainly gave me something to think about.

In a sense this is a psychological thriller because the main suspects are the doctor’s three clients and his relatives. There are excerpts from his notes on them and their neuroses get a good airing, contribute to their persons of interest status and play a part in resolving some of the mysteries. This kind of psychology appeals to me much more than the usual bent out of shape, revenge type perpetrators that are so common nowadays. I think it helps that psychiatry was in its infancy at the time of the novel, so the author can get away with generalities rather than any meaningful deep dive into the psyche.

Death and the Conjuror is not a long novel so its strength lies in wasted verbiage and a compact plot where everything has a point. This appeals to me and I have no hesitation in recommending it as a good read.

I really enjoyed Death and the Conjuror!

It felt like going back in time and reading a classic whodunnit mystery novel and it was so entertaining. I loved the whole atmosphere and vibe of it. I don't know how to explain it but the writing was just so aesthetic. And the book was the perfect length to tell the story and not drag on too long as some mysteries tend to.

The only reason I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 is because I wish that the answer to the mystery was a little less complicated. But maybe that's just me?

It would be awesome if this story turned into a series because I'd really enjoy reading about Spector (or maybe another magician) helping to solve more crimes! :D

This was a very interesting book, and I really enjoyed it. The story felt like a throwback to the good old detective stories of the 1930s and 1940s, with its locked-room murders and cast of fascinating suspects, plus our Scotland Yard detective and the eccentric yet highly perceptive retired magician who helps him solve the case.
One dark, rainy evening in the fall of 1936, an internationally renowned psychiatrist is found murdered in his locked study. No one can figure out how the murderer got in, much less the murder took place, or who could have been responsible. Inspector Flint of Scotland Yard calls on his old friend Joseph Spector, an enigmatic character and "professional trickster," who may be able to give some insight into the crime. The two men have a varied and intriguing array of suspects and persons of interest to look into, including the doctor's patients, his striking and intelligent daughter who is a doctor in her own right, her ne'er-do-well fiance, and mysterious dark-clothed figures who go skulking about in the gloom. The reader is challenged to solve the mystery along with Flint and Spector, and it is a challenge gladly accepted!
The characters in this book are well-done--just enough about them is revealed to make them fully-dimensional and interesting, but not so much detail to bog the story down. The plot is well-crafted and is a quick, easy read. The mystery is tantalizing and the reader knows if he or she just thinks about it hard enough, the answer will materialize right in front of them.
The book was not perfect. There were a few instances in which I wondered, "why are they waiting so long to to ask ... about ... ?" or "why has no one thought about ... ?" and I got just a bit frustrated. But those few things did not mar my enjoyment of the book at all.
If you enjoy Agatha Christie novels, the old Sherlock Holmes movies with Basil Rathbone, or if you liked The Seven and a Half Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle, I would absolutely recommend this book. I hope that in the future we get to see Flint and Spector investigate more unsolvable crimes!

Initially attracted to this book by its striking cover, I was further encouraged by its description. I am a fan of early twentieth century murder mysteries and of locked room mysteries. I took this book away with me on holiday and it proved to be the perfect holiday read. The cast of characters was not hugely lengthy and the premise of the mystery explained clearly but in a way that made me want to keep reading to find out who the murderer was. I have to admit that I didn't guess how/by whom the murder was committed, but I thought the explanation of how the crime was committed made perfect sense. The only thing that I didn't really like about the book were the chapter titles - written as if the book was a theatre performance - I found that they distracted me from just getting on with the story rather than adding to the book (but that is probably just me being keen to get to the answer!) I'd recommend to others who like books by authors such as John Carter Dickson, Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh.

Death and the Conjuror is a homage to the great locked room mysteries of the Golden Age and a clever and entertaining novel in its own right. I’m hoping it’s the first in a series as I would love to see more books like this from Tom Mead.

The novel is set in London in the 1930s where the renowned psychiatrist Anselm Rees has been found dead in his study. The door is locked, there’s no sign of a murder weapon and there’s no way for the killer to have escaped without being seen. Inspector Flint of Scotland Yard is baffled by this seemingly impossible murder and calls on retired magician Joseph Spector in the hope that he can use his knowledge of illusions and deceptions to help solve the mystery.

As the detective and the magician begin their investigations, they uncover another intriguing crime – an equally impossible theft – which seems to have links to Dr Rees’ death. Could one of the psychiatrist’s patients be responsible for one or both of these crimes? And can Flint and Spector catch the culprit before another murder takes place?

As with any good mystery novel, there are plenty of suspects, an assortment of clues and lots of red herrings! Suspicion falls not only on the doctor’s own household – including his daughter and her fiancé – but also on three of his patients, celebrities who are referred to as Patients A, B and C, to protect their identities. Each patient has been seeing Dr Rees for help with a specific problem, which we learn more about as the story unfolds. The psychiatric element of the plot is fascinating and reminded me very much of Helen McCloy’s Dr Basil Willing mysteries. It came as no surprise to me, then, to learn that McCloy is one of many classic crime novelists Tom Mead has named as an influence on his writing – along with John Dickson Carr, Ellery Queen, Nicholas Blake and others.

I loved the idea of a magician working alongside the police; Spector has lots of specialist knowledge when it comes to the sort of tricks a murderer or a thief might use to create confusion and cover their tracks. As a locked room mystery it was very satisfying and although I didn’t manage to solve it myself, I enjoyed following the progress of the investigations and was happy for Spector to explain it all for me at the end. As a tribute to the Golden Age mystery I thought it was equally successful. I could almost have believed I really was reading a book from the 1930s, as the author seemed to have made an effort to avoid inappropriately modern language and modern sensibilities. The characters in the book even discuss and reference some of the detective novels of the time, but in such a way that the plots of those books aren’t spoiled for those of us who haven’t read them yet.

This was a great read and I will be hoping for another mystery for Joseph Spector to solve soon.

I enjoyed this clever mystery. I found the scenario of a psychiatrist being murdered, possibly by one of his patients, interesting and unique. As with many locked room mysteries, I was unable to solve it, but I enjoyed the twists and turns. If this is to become a series, I would like to learn more about the detectives to become more invested in them. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy the genre.

Tom Mead’s Death and the Conjuror is a Golden Age tribute and a locked-room mystery that becomes burdensomely complicated.
As someone who loves Golden Age mysteries in general and locked-room mysteries in particular, I should have been the perfect audience for this. From the beginning, though, I knew there were problems. The point of view shifts and slides all through the first chapter, and it doesn’t get better from there.
The mysteries themselves were interesting, and the solutions were satisfying, but the ‘detective reveals whodunit’ part went on and on—it was exhausting.
Also, it’s absolutely baffling to me that, in a world where anyone can learn how to format an ebook in a matter of minutes, publishers send out review copies that are so badly formatted that they’re practically illegible (as this one is).
Recommended for the truly devoted to the Golden Age mystery.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Penzler Publishers/Mysterious Press, in return for an honest review. Renowned psychologist, Dr. Anselm Rees, visits the theatre with his daughter, Dr. Lidia Rees, and her insipid fiancée, Marcus. Moving to 1930s London from the Continent, Dr. A. Rees has been very careful with his patient selection and is currently only seeing three patients, A, B, and C. When Dr. A. Rees is found murdered in his study, there is a locked door and a locked window so how was the murder accomplished? Scotland Yard is baffled enough to call upon a magician who met Dr. Rees at the theater to help solve the crime. Joseph Spector is used to legerdemain, but this is a whole different level. What about the stolen painting from Mr. Benjamin Teasel’s house? Was this done by one of the three patients or had Dr. Rees’ daughter grown tired of her father and wanted a permanent change?
This is a strong homage to the Golden Age of classic English mysteries and the duo of Spector and Inspector Flint set the stage for many future adventures.

An enjoyable locked room mystery, with a great cast of characters, both those trying to solve the mystery, and those that could be suspected.
Short and sweet and just good fun trying to puzzle it all out.

“There are too many threads. I can’t tie it all together.” - page 214. This book was such a fun mystery. “Who did it?” was my question after every chapter! The writing reminded me of Sherlock Holmes and the movie Knives Out. I liked reading the real time events followed by the story untwisting what I missed aka solving the mystery. I understand the need for the magic/magician but I think it could have been just as good without it. Thanks for the advance read, NetGalley!

Reminiscent of Sherlock Holmes, with so many twists and turns! Some words I had to look up but a great story that’ll keep you guessing. Highly recommend. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

An excellent homage to impossible murders and locked room mystery, a gripping and well written story that kept me turning pages and trying to solve the puzzle at the center of the story.
I loved Spector and Flint, they're a perfect detecting couple. The suspects are a fascinating group of people who's hiding secrets and could be the culprit.
It's a page turner I couldn't put down and loved.
I hope to read other stories featuring Spector and Flint.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Dr. Anselm Rees is found murdered in his study There was only one door and one window, and they are both locked from the inside. Not only did he seem like a nice man, but he hasn't been living in London for long. What could he have possibly done that would lead to his murder? Scotland Yard Detective George Flint enlists the assistance of a magician, Joseph Spector to solve this puzzling crime.

Was it the psychiatrist’s daughter Lidia or her fiancé Marcus? Or maybe one of his patients, Della an actress, Floyd a musician, or Claude a writer. Or was it related to a stolen painting from Benjamin Teasel’s house? Or perhaps one of his old patients known as the Snakeman. There were plenty of red herrings to consider, and in hindsight, it is easy to see how I went down the wrong trail. Also, I think my little grey cells got too caught up in how it was done, and I didn't spend enough time thinking about the who. Hercule Poirot would not have been amused at my lack of focus.
I did however fail to solve this intriguing case, so kudos to the author. I would love to see Joseph Spector in another book as his background was just so interesting. A well-written locked-room mystery that I enjoyed. 4.5 stars.

This book will have you scratching your head trying to piece together the mystery throughout the entire book. Perfect whodunit with great twists and turns! The first book for me to read by this author but not my last! Highly recommend!

This book captivated me from the very beginning! It was so well written, I loved the characters and the atmosphere. I love mysteries and this one did not disappoint. I can't wait to read more from this author!

“Death and the Conjuror” is an immensely enjoyable, atmospheric and immersive murder-mystery in traditional 1930s style.
Authentic details drop from the sparkling prose, and each of the vividly real characters wouldn’t be out of place in an Agatha Christie novel. There is also a welcome sprinkling of influences from William Hope Hodgson’s “Carnacki” stories.
As with all the best “locked-room” mysteries, Tom Mead’s puzzler remains a head-scratcher until the breathtaking denouement.
“Death and the Conjuror” is a delicious cocktail of crime and cleverness, and I absolutely loved it.

Oh my gosh I couldnt put this book down, it sounded so intrigying by the blurb and I wasnt disappointed. It was gripping and completely engaging right from the start.
It was well written with well developed and likeable characters that i am still thinking about now and a great storyline, that was intriguing and as someone who loves an escape room I found this so enjoyable.
Magic, magicians, murder and locked rooms what more could someone need, I was completely captivated.