The Witch of Lime Street: Seance, Seduction, and Houdini in the Spirit World

In this excellent first book, screenwriter and astrologer Jaher traces the rise of Spiritualism, a movement focused on communication with the dead, and its confrontation with the skeptical, scientific minds of the 1920s. Coming on the heels of the Spanish influenza epidemic and the slaughter of World War I, Spiritualism captivated people in Europe and the United States as séances and mediums fulfilled the wishes of those desiring one last chance to feel the presence of their dearly departed. The most famous of these mediums was a Boston socialite known as Margery. Supported by none other than Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, as well as a host of cognoscenti, Margery entered a contest to win a substantial cash prize for being the first declared by the investigative committee as authentically communicating with the dead. She convinced four of the five judges, with the sole holdout magician and skeptic Harry Houdini. It is the cat-and-mouse game between Houdini and Margery that will keep readers turning pages. Jaher's narrative gifts keep the story moving while imbuing a real sense of the personality and humanity of the protagonists.