enjoyable, though my guess would be that it managed to alienate fans of each man
( )

This read like a dual biography with considerable detail about the lives and wives of Houdini and Conan Doyle. Their "friendship" seemed to be little more than the result of individual pride in knowing another famous person. And their individual arrogance lead them to some very harsh and public debates on Spiritualism. ( )

Like so many biographical works, it dwindles away as the subjects get less interesting -- and don't we all? ( )

A meticulous study of the relationship between master illusionist Harry Houdini and the remarkable Arthur Conan Doyle, best known as the creator of Sherlock Holmes. Both men shared a tremendous interest in Spiritualism, spending many years and much of their fortunes on trying to contact those who had passed on to the next world. However, as time passed, their paths turned sharply in different directions, with Houdini bent on debunking fake spiritualists and Conan Doyle determined to support and spread the word of these same people.

I found it fascinating and a little sad that Conan Doyle, a doctor, prolific writer and obviously brilliant man seemed so sold on Spiritualism and its practioners, even when faced with evidence of fraud. Conan Doyle suffered several family losses during World War I, including his son and his brother. It would be interesting to read more about the relationship between World War I and all of the families it tore apart and the rise of the Spiritualism movement.

The author presents many examples of false spiritualists, ranging from the comic to the truly sordid. This also piqued my interest in reading more about the Spiritualism phenomenom. A worthwhile read for anyone with an interest in Houdini, Conan Doyle, and/or the Spiritualism movement of the early twentieth century. ( )