Why read Death and the Conjuror?

Book cover of Death and the Conjuror

Book description

A Publishers Weekly Top 10 Best Mysteries of 2022 Selection

In this "sharply-drawn period piece" (New York Times), a magician-turned-sleuth in pre-war London solves three impossible crimes

In 1930s London, celebrity psychiatrist Anselm Rees is discovered dead in his locked study, and there seems to be no way that a…

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Why read it?

3 authors picked Death and the Conjuror as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

James Withey

Author

A great reimagining of the golden age of crime. Clever, great characters and well written.

From James' 3 favorite reads in 2025.

Jinny Alexander

Author

I love London. I love old mysteries. I love the Art Deco era. I love magic. As a child, my dad was part of the Magic Circle, and my brother and I learned some of the tricks–and when I say ‘my brother and I learned tricks,’ I mean I twirled endless chiffon scarfs from thin air and tried not to get cut in half, and he tried to cut me in half.

Tom Mead’s tale of conjuring, stage trickery, and locked room mystery somehow transports me back to my childhood, even though his 1930s setting is far further back than…

From Jinny's list on an unusual take on traditional cozy mystery.

Tim Major

Author

Golden Age detective mysteries are my comfort reads, and locked-room mysteries even more so. Tom Mead’s revival of the classic form is note-perfect, but it’s more than a mere pastiche. Stage-magician-turned-detective Joseph Spector is a terrific addition to the ranks of inspired detectives.

I raced through this novel in a couple of sittings, followed by the sequel – and I’m assured there are more Spector mysteries to come.

From Tim's 3 favorite reads in 2023.