This is a thoroughly researched and wonderfully imagined story, a match-up between two of history's most fascinating and mysterious men. The author makes skillful use of the known historical details of Houdini's time in Russia and the rise of Rasputin to weave a plausible tale of a clash between the two larger-than-life figures—a clever book and a great read! ( )

Who would have thought that I am now a historical fan? Well at least when it comes to SOME novels! I loved how Houdini pulled the wool over so many phonies and I loved how he escaped time after time! The novel is over 500 pages, but it is SO GOOD that I hated to read THE END! Houdini was in Russia to perform his escape of their INESCAPABLE CELL and I marveled at the shocked faces of their police and how he took down so many, but I worried that he, his wife, and his assistant would NEVER GET out of Russia. What an AWESOME NOVEL! ( )