Illusionist - (A Sean McPherson Novel) by Laurie Buchanan (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

WHEN AN ILLUSIONIST joins the Pines & Quill writing retreat, one of the owners vanishes without a trace in the middle of everyone-but the surrounding would-be witnesses don't see or hear a thing. That's when crime boss Georgio Gambino makes a checkmate move against his nemesis, Sean McPherson-he attempts to blackmail a writer in residence into killing another writer and framing McPherson. In a video call, Gambino warns the writer, "If you don't follow orders, your daughter will die." Then he pans the camera to prove his access to her college dorm room.

Review Quotes

"Buchanan skillfully crafted a plot with lots of twists and her usual interesting subplots. If you're a fan, this book won't disappoint."--Chris Norbury, author of the Matt Lanier Mystery-Thriller Series

"As in her previous books, Buchanan's skill with language is again notable in Illusionist. Author Toni Morrison was speaking of Buchanan's artistry when she comments, 'You rely on a sentence to do more than the denotation and connotation; you revel in the smoke that the words send up.' You'll find lots of smoke and mirrors in Buchanan's Book Five of the Sean McPherson series, Illusionist."--Marian Beaman, author of My Checkered Life

"I thoroughly enjoyed book five of the Sean McPherson novels. Opening the book was like being reunited with friends: Niall and Libby, Mick and Emma, and the whole gang of writers. The mix of homey domesticity at the writer's retreat, Pines & Quill, softens the gruesome matters of the plot: murder, organized crime, and suspense, but somehow, it all works so well together. I can't wait for book six!"--Marianne C. Bohr, author of Gap Year Girl and The Twenty

"Sean McPherson, an ex-cop turned PI, must find the serial murderer who is out to get him and his family and destroy Pines & Quill. The action is non-stop. The reader roots for Mick and his family and for Pines & Quill while brought into the sordid world of trafficking and cartels and those who will kill for profit. Another wonderful book in Buchanan's Sean McPherson series."--Pamela Wright, author of The Right Wrong Man

"If you're a fan of the Sean McPherson novels, you already know and love the characters along with 'Pines and Quill, ' the Pacific Northwest retreat for writers. In Illusionist, author Buchanan gives readers another gripping drama. Get ready, because in book five, the stakes are higher than before with a new baby on the way and the fate of 'Pines and Quill' in the hands of a mastermind villain. Buchanan proves once again she's a magician with words, bending them to her narrative will and creating another stunning performance."-- Joy Ribar, author of The Medusa Murders: A Bay Browning Mystery

"Propulsive and spine-tingling, Illusionist is Buchanan's best book so far in the Sean McPherson series. Brilliantly plotted, this whiplash of a thriller has so many electrifying twists and turns that I couldn't put it down. The characters at Pines & Quill Writers' Retreat have long since become my friends, and I'm rooting for them every step of the way."--Jeannee Sacken, author of The Annie Hawkins Green Series

"Atmospheric and delicious, Buchanan treats her readers' senses while taking them on a roller-coaster of emotion."--Michelle Cox, author of multi award-winning the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

"Buchanan builds the tension until you're almost afraid to turn the next page."--Jeff Nania, author of the John Cabrelli Northern Lakes Mysteries

"Buchanan is back at it with a book that's impossible to put down. Such a great series. She knocks it out of the park each time. If you're looking for something well-written with mystery and suspense, look no further. A great read."--Patricia Leavy, author of Hollyland and The Location Shoot

"Buchanan's trademark style is to lure you in with cozy descriptions of food, décor, and setting, then slam you onto the edge of your seat with terrifying skill, as her bad guy holds reign over your emotions. In other words, this author has a mind of steel and a heart of velvet."--Saralyn Richard, author of the Detective Parrott mystery series

"Get ready to stay up late because you won't want to put it down." --Ann Garvin, USA Today best-selling author

"Meticulously plotted, beautifully written, and explosive--Buchanan's new Sean McPherson novel barrels along like a freight train and delivers from beginning to end."--Jeffrey L. Diamond, author of the Ethan Benson thrillers

"You won't want to miss this one. Hearts are wrenched. Bullets fly. Blood flows. You'll have a lump in your throat from the first page to the last."--Sherrill Joseph, author of The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries

About the Author

Laurie Buchanan writes the critically acclaimed Sean McPherson novels--pulse-pounding crime thrillers with heart-stopping twists that plunge readers into the depths of malice, the unwavering quest for justice, and high-stakes consequences.

A cross between Dr. Dolittle, Nanny McPhee, and a type-A Buddhist, Buchanan is an active listener, observer of details, payer of attention, reader and writer of books, kindness enthusiast, and red licorice aficionado.

Her books have won multiple awards, including Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner, International Book Award Gold Winner, National Indie Excellence Awards Winner, Crime Fiction/Suspense Eric Hoffer Awards Finalist, PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence, and CLUE Book Awards finalist Suspense/Thriller Mysteries.

Laurie's writing studio is in the hayloft of a historic carriage house in the Pacific Northwest. Her husband, Len, a private pilot, and Henry, their not-so-standard Standard Poodle, join her on daily walks. She always carries a camera because sometimes the best word choice is a picture.