"Young magician Harry Houdini is still struggling to make a name for himself in turn-of-the century New York. He sees an opportunity for glory in exposing the tricks of the medium Lucius Craig-- if only he can work out how the charlatan managed to conjure a "spirit" while tied to a chair by Houdini himself, or how the apparition was able to stab a fellow guest to death and then disappear!"--P. [4] of cover.