The warlock effect

Dyson, Jeremy

£20.00

Pouring their joint obsessions with comedy, magic and horror into this novel, authors Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman take the reader into a realm of secrets and betrayal. ‘The Warlock Effect’ is set in 1950s Soho, where top illusionist Louis Warlock and his secret posse of eccentric assistants create extraordinary and baffling magic. His phenomenal expertise is noticed by the British Secret Service, which needs his lateral thinking and conjuring skills to defeat a deadly plot against the government. A peek behind the curtain of a lost world, this novel resonates with contemporary fears about identity and the malignant manipulation of our minds.

Available on backorder

Publish Date: 13/04/2023

Description

*THE SUNDAY TIMES THRILLER OF THE MONTH*
*A THE TIMES BEST THRILLER FOR APRIL*
*OPTIONED FOR TELEVISION IN A SEVEN-WAY AUCTION*

‘Delightful’ THE TIMES
‘Enthralling’ THE SUNDAY TIMES
‘A serpentine thriller’ SPECTATOR
‘A pure delight’ NEIL GAIMAN
‘All the hallmarks of a modern classic’ ADAM KAY
‘Two great masters join forces to explosive effect’ RICHARD OSMAN
‘Huge fun – gripping and very clever. I didn’t want it to end’ PETER JAMES
‘A beautiful magic trick in itself – wonderful’ DERREN BROWN
I absolutely loved every twist, every turn, every blockbusting cliffhanger’ STEVEN MOFFAT

Meet Louis Warlock.

Man about town, denizen of Soho’s nightclubs and cabaret bars – and the most skilled magician of his time . . .

As a boy, Ludvik Weinschenk fled Nazi Germany to England with a pack of playing cards and three tricks to his name. Twelve years later, in 1950s London, having risen through the ranks of concert parties, night clubs and variety theatres, Ludvik – or Louis Warlock as he is now known – is the most famous magician in Britain.

But after his talent for deception attracts the attention of the British secret service, Louis is thrown into the perilous world of espionage and finds himself sent across Europe with a dangerous mission to fulfil. When he comes face to face with a nemesis whose cunning rivals his own, Louis will need to use every trick in the book – or risk the most terrible consequences, both for the country and for himself.

A highly entertaining, fiendishly clever thriller, The Warlock Effect offers a twist-filled, rollicking adventure – and a glimpse into the phenomenal mind of an extraordinary magician.

MORE PRAISE FOR THE WARLOCK EFFECT:

‘A delicious confection from a pair of devilishly clever minds’ STEVE PEMBERTON
A superb story of espionage and human endurance which casts its own vivid spell. In the stage magician Louis Warlock, Nyman and Dyson have created one of fiction’s most complex and beguiling heroes’ JAY RAYNER
‘Intriguing and completely original, this Cold War spy novel is just what every bookshelf needs’ W.C. RYAN
‘The period atmosphere and the Cold War detail feel like a Le Carré but it’s the characters you really care about. Exactly like some of the magic it describes, the odd sleight of hand or false deception wrapped around a terrific mystery.’ IAN MOORE
‘Edge-of-your-seat stuff . . . Heartbreaking and uplifting in equal measure, The Warlock Effect is a fiendish mix of history, humour and horror’ SJ BENNETT
‘A thrilling and ingenious work of wonder. Twisting, evocative and hugely entertaining, The Warlock Effect delivers on every level’ CHRIS WHITAKER
‘Spellbinding. Jeremy Dyson and Andy Nyman skillfully depict a shadowy world of magic and espionage in this gripping tale that is entertaining, heartfelt and as twisty as any artful stage magician’s signature trick.’ ADAM HAMDY
An adventure told with skill and wit and quite a lot up its sleeve. Sharp and scary and full of twists and turns.’ DAVID QUANTICK

Additional information

Weight 460 g
Dimensions 220 × 146 × 36 mm
Author

Publisher

Imprint

Cover

Hardback

Pages

368

Language

English

Edition

Hardback original

Dewey

823.92 (edition:23)

Readership

General – Trade / Code: K