Mister Magic
A Novel
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3.6 • 7 Ratings
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- $13.99
Publisher Description
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Who is Mister Magic? Former child stars reunite to uncover the tragedy that ended their show—and discover the secret of its enigmatic host—in this “skin-crawling story of pop culture fandom and ‘90s nostalgia” (Melissa Albert, author of The Hazel Woods) from the author of Hide.
“[A] propulsive, exciting, often genuinely scary, endlessly compelling mystery.”—Terry Miles, author of Rabbits
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: PopSugar, Polygon, Chicago Public Library, CrimeReads
Thirty years after a tragic accident shut down production of the classic children’s program Mister Magic, the five surviving cast members have done their best to move on. But just as generations of cultishly devoted fans still cling to the lessons they learned from the show, the cast, known as the Circle of Friends, have spent their lives searching for the happiness they felt while they were on it. The friendship. The feeling of belonging. And the protection of Mister Magic.
But with no surviving video of the show, no evidence of who directed or produced it, and no records of who—or what—the beloved host actually was, memories are all the former Circle of Friends has.
Then a twist of fate brings the castmates back together at the remote desert filming compound that feels like it’s been waiting for them all this time. Even though they haven’t seen each other for years, they understand one another better than anyone has since.
After all, they’re the only ones who hold the secret of that circle, the mystery of the magic man in his infinitely black cape, and, maybe, the answers to what really happened on that deadly last day. But as the Circle of Friends reclaim parts of their past, they begin to wonder: Are they here by choice, or have they been lured into a trap?
Because magic never forgets the taste of your friendship. . . .
APPLE BOOKS REVIEW
A reunion of child stars takes an unnerving turn in this chilling supernatural thriller. Mister Magic was a well-loved children’s show before a tragic accident ended its run 30 years ago. Now the remaining cast members have been called to a mysterious house in the desert to share their memories for a documentary. But the event becomes ominous as we learn that there are no videos, no tapes, and no crew members that survived the show—and the cast’s memories are spotty about who the enigmatic host actually was. We were drawn into the layers of secrets that author Kiersten White reveals as the Circle of Friends (as the cast members were known) relive their experiences and renew old friendships and rivalries and we piece together the real reason Mister Magic existed—and why a shadowy cabal wants to revive it. Fans of online-horror phenomena like “Candle Cove” will adore this trip into magic and conspiracy.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Grappling with religious trauma and childhood abuse, this suspenseful tale from White (Hide) calls to mind old-school internet creepypastas. Val leads a quiet life on a ranch with her ailing father. She has no contact with the outside world or memory of her childhood. After her father dies, strange men approach her claiming that, as kids, they were all costars on cult-classic children's show Mister Magic. Now a podcaster wants to interview them about the show, which ended after a mysterious tragedy, and all the previous cast members are invited. Even as Val slowly comes to terms with the strangeness of her lost childhood, her unexplained memory loss, the secrets kept by her possibly untrustworthy costars, and the marvels made by the theoretically CGI star of the show, Mister Magic himself, all hint at some greater, possibly supernatural conspiracy. Transcripts from fan forums interspersed throughout only enhance the ambiguity surrounding what exactly ended the show—and whether the show ever existed. These questions keep the pages flying on the way to a climax that satisfies even while not delivering typical horror action and gore. Both eerie and surprisingly heartwarming, White's examination of the perils of nostalgia is sure to win fans.
Customer Reviews
Decent
The concept is better than the execution, but it’s an excellent concept.