Spirit Sleuths - by Gail Jarrow (Hardcover)

About the Book

"After millions of people died during World War I and from the 1918 influenza pandemic, the popularity of spiritualism soared. Desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, the bereaved fell prey to extortion by fraudulent mediums and fortune-tellers. But magician Harry Houdini wasn't fooled. He recognized the scammers' methods as no more than conjurer tricks. Angered by the way people were exploited, Houdini set out to expose the ghost hoaxes. In his stage show, he revealed the fraudsters' techniques, and he used a team of undercover investigators to collect proof of sâeance deceptions. His head secret agent was a young New York private detective and disguise expert, Rose Mackenberg-a woman who continued her ghost-busting career for decades, long after Houdini's death in 1926"--

Book Synopsis

A School Library Journal Best Book, Best Nonfiction Middle to High School 2024
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2024
2025 Texas Topaz List
CCBC Choices 2025
2025 Capitol Choices

The latest from acclaimed author Gail Jarrow reveals how magicians--including Harry Houdini and his team of investigators--exposed fake mediums who exploited the vulnerable and gullible in the early twentieth century.

★ Shelf Awareness, starred review
★ School Library Journal, starred review

After millions of people died during World War I and from the 1918 influenza pandemic, the popularity of Spiritualism soared. Desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, the bereaved fell prey to extortion by fraudulent mediums and fortune-tellers.

But magician Harry Houdini wasn't fooled. He recognized the scammers' methods as no more than conjurer's tricks. Angered by the way people were exploited, Houdini set out to expose the ghost hoaxes. In his stage show, he revealed the fraudsters' techniques, and he used a team of undercover investigators to collect proof of séance deceptions. His head secret agent was a young New York private detective and disguise expert, Rose Mackenberg--a woman who continued her ghost-busting career for decades, long after Houdini's death in 1926.

Ideal for young readers and adults who are drawn to the worlds of psychics and magicians, this riveting book uncovers a little-known chapter in American history and details the ways people were (and still are) deceived by mediums and fortune-tellers.

Review Quotes

A School Library Journal Best Book, Best Nonfiction Middle to High School 2024
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books 2024
2025 Texas Topaz List
CCBC Choices 2025
2025 Capitol Choices

★ "Sibert Honor winner Gail Jarrow (Spooked!; The Poison Eaters) turns her astute attention to the phenomenon of spiritualism and the investigators who worked to disprove the con. Jarrow's remarkable ability to transform meticulous research into a gripping narrative once again results in a nonfiction work that will transfix readers of all ages...Jarrow continues to work magic in Spirit Sleuths, making certain that young readers can find history accessible, exciting, and surprising." --Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ "A natural and riveting follow-up to Jarrow's Spooked and The Amazing Harry Kellar, her previous books about debunking hoaxes and the supernatural. In concise, approachable chapters, the author details the origins of Spiritualism, its popularity and most well-known practitioners, and the sleuths who dedicated their lives to disproving the methods and beliefs that made it popular...The book's emphasis on how these mediums and psychics used smoke and mirrors to swindle people serves as an excellent tool to teach young ­readers about the dangers of misinformation. The spacious white pages and photo-filled design add to the work's readability...The 25 pages of back matter are a librarian's dream and include an author's note, timeline, glossary, index, source notes, further ­reading, and more. The indomitable Jarrow crafts another enthralling ­narrative of nonfiction that will mesmerize curious readers and serve as an exemplar for educators and ­researchers." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Jarrow's remarkable ability to transform meticulous research into a gripping narrative once again results in a nonfiction work that will transfix readers of all ages...Jarrow includes detailed insets throughout the book that explain how mediums performed their trickery and how the investigators uncovered the secrets. The book also includes reproductions of news headlines, photographs, and other ephemera from the corresponding time periods. For those craving more, extensive resources appear in the book's back matter. Jarrow continues to work magic in Spirit Sleuths, making certain that young readers can find history accessible, exciting, and surprising." --Shelf Awareness

"During the height of spiritualism from the 1840s to the 1920s, many so-called mediums fooled their audiences with illusions disproven by some of themost talented stage magicians, including Harry Houdini. But Jarrow's exploration of what was proven to be fake is also conscious of the true hold spiritualism had on people who believed inthe great beyond, cementing the movement as a fascinating moment in cultural history, especially in the U.S. In this title, the wheels of Spiritualism are shown being sped by crowds and slowed by individuals, making for a page-turner of a spooky history book." --Booklist

"In this thoroughly researched study, [Jarrow] singles out two investigators in particular for their persistence: Harry Houdini, who made exposures of séance fakery a regular part of his stage act, and his protégé Rose Mackenberg, a tough-minded private detective and master of disguise who worked with victims and law enforcement to shut down spirit scams for decades after Houdini's premature death...she [offers] insights into the clever techniques used by both hoaxers and hoax-busters, as well as a timely case study on the persistence of irrational belief in the face of logic and overwhelming negative evidence...Penetrating and provocative." --Kirkus Reviews

"A mesmerizing read that not only details the rise of spiritualism, and the role Houdini played in debunking it, but implores readers to rely on critical thinking skills to evade deception." --Publishers Weekly

"The subject matter is rife with drama and intrigue...Photographs, newspaper articles, and advertisements, however, effectively set the historical stage while also conveying the spiritualists' theatrics....The explanations of and secrets behind some of the more common deceptions might have readers trying their own hand at acts of illusions." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This intriguing deep dive into an underexplored period of history shows readers how obvious lies can cement into passionately held beliefs that can stand up to scrutiny if the believer is sufficiently motivated." -The Horn Book

About the Author

Gail Jarrow is the author of nonfiction books and novels for readers ages 8-18. Her nonfiction books have earned the Sibert Honor, the Orbis Pictus Honor, the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, YALSA Finalist, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, Outstanding Science Trade Book, a NSTA Best STEM book, the Jefferson Cup Award, the Eureka! Gold Award, as well as Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, and School Library Journal Best Books and VOYA Honor Book distinctions.