Mister Magic by Kiersten White

Mister Magic

by Kiersten White

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 dark supernatural thriller from the No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of Hide.

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 have.

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 somehow 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. . .




Kiersten White is a NYT bestselling author as of August 2022.

Reviewed by Quirky Cat on

5 of 5 stars

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Book Summary:

For as long as she can remember, Val has lived on a horse ranch, where she and her father have lived quietly. Granted, saying "for as long as she can remember" doesn't mean much, not when she lost most of her childhood memories.

As it turns out, once upon a time, Val was connected to a famous children's TV show, Mister Magic. She left right around it shut down. Or did it shut down right around the time she left? Regardless, this revelation will throw Val into a world of danger.

My Review:

Oh wow. Guys, if you loved the movie Death to Smoochie as much as I did, you've got to read Mister Magic! Seriously, it has that movie's corruption vibes combined with IT's paranormal horror. In other words, it's freaking fantastic.

Right away, you can get the sense that something's wrong. Val's story rings slightly off, like something is missing (hint: it's her memories! And more). As we dig deeper into her past, it becomes apparent that there is a lot of wrongness about Mister Magic and the Circle of Friends.

What I loved about this story is how spooky and layered it is. This book could have easily been about the corruption of children's television networks. Or it could have been a paranormal horror. But nope, it's both and so much more.

I finished Mister Magic a little over a week ago, and I'm still processing everything that happened – especially that ending! It's perfect, yet terrifying, all in one. Part of me almost wishes there would be a sequel, even while feeling like this was the perfect ending.

Highlights:
Death to Smoochie meets IT
Mystery/thriller with paranormal elements
Children's television gone wrong
Horror Novel

Trigger Warnings:
Missing/Dead Children
Lost Memories
Controlling/Racist/Homophobic behaviors

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