Houdini presentations at The 2026 Yankee Gathering

Halloween may be behind us, but the centenary year is not over, and Houdini will be making his next appearance at The 2026 Yankee Gathering in Nashua, New Hampshire. The convention runs November 5-7 and will include three important Houdini presentations as part of a packed program of events.

First up, on Friday, November 6, during the 1 PM session, our great friend and magic collector extraordinaire, Ken Trombly, will present a talk on "Houdini in Boston." Boston loved Houdini and Houdini loved Boston, so he spent a lot of time in the city and had many adventures. Ken knows his stuff, and this should be a fantastic talk.

Ken's talk will be followed by a reading of excerpts from The Other Side, a new play about Houdini and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. I don't know much about this play. This could be its first public reading, so that's pretty exciting.

During the evening session on Friday, Tom Ewing will be giving a very special talk about the new book Houdini Revealed: His Life And The Way The World Was: 1874-1905. This manuscript, written by the late William Rauscher in the 1990s, is being published by Tom and David Haversat's 1878 Press. I believe Tom will have copies for sale at the convention.

While not Houdini-related, it's worth mentioning that the great William Kalush will be giving a talk on Saturday about "Rare Conjuring Books." Nashua is now home to Bill's magnificent Conjuring Arts Research Center.

You can view the full schedule of events on the official NEMCA website. 

UPDATE: Ken Trombly tells us: "For those who do not have time to attend the entire weekend of activities, there will be day passes available. This will include not only admission to lectures, but also access to the exhibition room as well as the always popular dealer's room, where the magic collectibles on sale (apparatus, books, posters, ephemera etc) WILL include some original vintage Houdini material."

Related:

• NEMCA announces 2026 Gathering in Nashua
• Exploring Houdini's Boston
• October surprise

HANDCUFF KING Premium Edition details

Today, I'm excited to share the first image and details about the PREMIUM EDITION of Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900–1909.

The Premium Edition will be the regular hardcover housed in a bonded leather slipcase with gold foil stamping on each side and spine. As you can see above, it's a beauty. But it gets better. The books will be signed and numbered on an exclusive presentation page by me and DAVID COPPERFIELD.

David and his International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts played a significant role in the creation of The Ultimate Houdini Chronology (as you will read in his foreword), so having his signature is a perfect way to make the Premium Edition premium.

The Premium Edition will be limited to 250 copies and will ship inside a custom mailing carton. The stock will be split between Mike Caveney's Magic Words and my own store, Wild About Harry Press. I will be making 100 copies available for preorder starting November 16. (Members of my Patreon can preorder starting November 14.)

Unlike the Escaping Obscurity Collector's Edition, which sold out in 48 hours, I'm confident that everyone who wants a Premium Edition will get one, as long as you don't wait too long. There will be a limit of two books per customer during the first month of release, at least on my site.

Product pages showing details and prices for both the Regular Hardcover and Premium Edition are live at Wild About Harry Press. Have a look, and feel free to sign up to be notified when preorders begin. I can't wait to get this book into your hands!

Related:

• TODAY, HOUDNI LIVES!
• Wild About Harry PRESS is open for business
• ANNOUNCEMENT: I'M DONE WITH HOUDINI!

TODAY, HOUDINI LIVES!

Today marks the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death on Halloween 1926. Understandably, this has been a year filled with talk and remembrances of his tragic and untimely death at 1:26 PM at Grace Hospital in Detroit. Will Houdini return to any of the many seances planned for this day? Maybe. I will be waiting for him at his own house, and I will certainly let you know if he shows up.

But when midnight strikes and we all turn out the lights and say "Goodnight Harry," I'm looking forward to beginning the next 100 years talking about his LIFE.

Let me kick that off by officially revealing the cover of my new book, Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909, the first in a series of volumes that will chronicle Houdini's amazing life like never before. This cover art is by the talented illustrator and designer Elijah Henry, and I think it looks sensational. The photograph comes from David Copperfield's International Museum and Library of the Conjuring Arts.

Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909 will be available for preorder on November 16. I figured this was the perfect day to open preorders because it was on November 16, 1975, that I first saw the movie Houdini (1953), and it was on November 16, 2025, that I announced the book and The Ultimate Houdini Chronology series.

Listings for the Regular Hardcover and Premium Edition are live at my store, Wild About Harry Press. There you can sign up to be notified when preorders begin. If all goes to plan, the first books should start shipping in late December.

I can't wait to get this into your hands and begin the next 100 years. Because if today teaches us anything, it's that Houdini will never die!

Remembering the LIFE of

HARRY HOUDINI

The Handcuff King

on this

100th ANNIVERSARY

Eric Colleary talks Houdini's Library, Oct 28

Our good friend Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, will discuss his new book, Houdini's Library, during a FREE online presentation at Untapped Cities this Wednesday, October 28, at 6 PM ET. Click the image below for details and to register.

For my money, Houdini's Library is THE must-buy Houdini book in a year filled with great Houdini books. It's meticulously researched, expertly written, and beautifully designed. It's also a serious work that truly provides new insight into Houdini. It's certainly the book Houdini would be most pleased with, as his collections meant so much to him. And the number of unseen images is breathtaking.

You can pre-order Houdini's Library on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. The HRC exhibition, Houdini's Library, is on show now through January 24, 2027.

Thanks to Leo Hevia for the alert.

Related:

• Houdini's Library hits #1 on Amazon
• Experience "Houdini's Library" starting this weekend
• Eric Colleary on The Magic Detective Podcast

Three more 2026 Houdini book releases

If it's a Thursday, it must be time for another Houdini book release. Or maybe three! To say this has been a big year for Houdini books is an understatement. I'm keeping a complete list HERE, but I'm also trying to highlight each new release as it appears. Here are three new ones.

First up is Houdini Unlocked: The Master Magician as Marketing King by Brian J. Robb, released today in the UK. (The U.S. release will be in July of next year.) Below are the details.

Houdini was quick to grasp the concept of ‘entertainer as brand’, where fame was an aim in itself. When others stole his act, he published a book of his ‘handcuff secrets’ and quickly moved on to more extravagant escapes. He arranged many escapes with local merchants in the towns he visited on tour, in early mass tie-in marketing, and set up challenges with newspapers. 

This new study, timed for the centenary of his death, explores his unique life and position as both escapologist and marketing extraordinaire.

Purchase Houdini Unlocked: The Master Magician as Marketing King at Amazon.co.uk or pre-order at Amazon.com.

Next, our good friend Dean Carnegie, The Magic Detective, has just released The Houdini Coloring Book: 100th Centennial 1926-2026.

One hundred years after Harry Houdini made his final exit on Halloween 1926, the world's most famous escape artist still holds us spellbound. 

This centennial coloring book brings Houdini's legend back to life in 24 detailed coloring pages: The King of Cards, Metamorphosis, The Handcuff King, daring jail breaks and bridge jumps, the Milk Can and the Double Fold Death Defying Mystery, his historic flight in Australia, The Water Torture Cell, the Overboard Packing Case, the Straitjacket Escape, The Vanishing Elephant, his silent film thrillers, and his crusade against fake spirit mediums. 

Each of the 18 history plates is paired with a short note from magician and Houdini historian Dean Carnegie, creator of The Magic Detective.

Purchase The Houdini Coloring Book: 100th Centennial 1926-2026 on Amazon.

Finally, we have Trudy Monti's latest, Houdini & Me 2026 Chronicles, an expansion of her January release, Houdini & Me 2026.

Step into the captivating world of Harry Houdini, one of history’s most iconic figures, through the insightful pages of the Houdini & Me 2026 Chronicles. The Houdini & Me 2026 journal captures the daily events of Houdini’s extraordinary life in concise entries that hint at the richness of the stories behind them. 

In the companion to the journal, Houdini & Me 2026 Chronicles, with over 400 articles chronicling his incredible journey - from The Brothers Houdini to the dazzling solo acts of his later years - readers can witness the evolution of Houdini’s breathtaking performances, including the Metamorphosis, the Milk Can Escape, and the daring Chinese Water Torture Cell. 

Beyond the stage, delve into the personal choices that shaped his incredible legacy: a new name, an adjusted birthdate, and a reimagined birthplace. Each day offers a rare glimpse into the mind of a master magician, inviting you to truly know the man behind the myth.

Purchase  Houdini & Me 2026 Chronicles at Amazon.

Feast now! Because if my own book lands in December as anticipated, I don't know of any new releases for 2027.

Related:

• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf 📚
• Houdini’s Coloring Book
• Quotable Houdini

'Houdini and the Promise of Youth' by Jef Stevens

Here's another 2026 non-fiction release that took me by surprise: Houdini and the Promise of Youth: Monkey Glands, an Aging Body, and an Unanswered Question by Jef Stevens. Below is the cover and description.

Harry Houdini could escape almost anything. Could he escape growing old?

In the 1920s, doctors offered an extraordinary promise: renewed youth through animal-gland transplantation. Monkey glands in Europe. Goat glands in Kansas. For a performer whose livelihood depended on his body, the prospect of restored vigor had an obvious attraction.

Houdini watched operations, corresponded about their results, and knew a surgeon conducting transplantation research. But how far did his interest go?

In Houdini and the Promise of Youth, Jef Stevens follows this little-known trail through a world where medical ambition, show business and the search for another chance collided. Along the way emerges a complicated Houdini: devoted to his mother, fiercely protective of his reputation, relentless in his promotion, and determined to expose fraudulent mediums—even when it cost him his friendship with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

The investigation ends in Montreal and Detroit, with the celebrated punches, a final performance given while seriously ill, and the hospital struggle that became part of his legend.

Drawing on correspondence, contemporary reporting and medical history, this illustrated book explores Houdini’s fascination with rejuvenation, the possibility of a private operation, and the unanswered questions surrounding his death.

For magicians, magic historians, and anyone who enjoys the stranger corners of vintage history—a famous life viewed through an unexpectedly intimate mystery.

I just received my copy, and while it'll be some time before I can read it, I'm happy to see that it includes a full set of Chapter Notes and photo credits.

You can purchase Houdini and the Promise of Youth now at Amazon.com.

By the way, my 2026 Centerary Bookshelf post is worth revisiting, as the number of new releases has grown to 20. And I don't think we're done yet! Click below to go.

Related:

• Houdini, Tarzan, and the Perfect Man
• Was Houdini considering a monkey gland transplant operation?
• Monkey glands revisited (The Houdini File)

The Magical Manacles by Aldo de Pape

This new 2026 release slipped past me because it didn't have Houdini in the title, but it didn't slip past the mighty Arthur Moses! Behold The Magical Manacles by Aldo de Pape with illustrations by Bianca Tulea.

What a beautiful day it is! Our silvery hearts are very happy you noticed us. People call us manacles. We were used in the olden days to make sure naughty thieves could not escape when they were caught by the police. We are made to be strong, indestructible, and designed never to be taken apart.

For centuries, we tied people's hands together.

That is, until we belonged to a bright star like yourself, called Erik Weisz. We would love to tell you more about Erik and how he became the greatest magician who ever lived.

I received my book yesterday, and it's beautifully done. I'm a sucker for illustrated Houdini books like this. Happy to add it to the shelf.

Purchase The Magical Manacles from  Amazon or The Bright Star Bazaar.

Thank you, Arthur.

Related:

• Illustrated gems
• Harry (and Banjoe!) on the Highwire
• Guest Blog: The Magic of Houdini's Library

Two new works of Houdini fiction

The centenary books keep coming! Here are two new independently published works for fans of Houdini fiction. 

First up is Hunting Houdini's Ghost by Janson Davies, about a Houdini séance gone wrong. Let's be careful out there!

Harry Houdini escaped every prison built to hold him. Death was supposed to be the exception.

One hundred years after his final performance, fraudulent medium Cassie Sparkowski attempts a livestreamed séance—and accidentally brings Houdini back. But he is not alone. Behind him waits an endless darkness filled with the restless dead…and something far worse. As Houdini unlocks door after door between worlds, ghosts begin returning to the people and places they left behind. Some come home in love. Some come hunting for vengeance. All of them carry a piece of the darkness with them.

Now Cassie and FBI agent Bradford Carter must stop the greatest escape artist who ever lived before he completes his final act: opening the door that can never be closed.

You can purchase Hunting Houdini's Ghost at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

The next is I Am Houdini by Michal Sher'ril Knox. This one runs 77 pages. Description below.

I Am Houdini brings that man to life once more, just in time for the 100th anniversary of his death on Halloween 2026. I Am Houdini is a fictionalized historical drama inspired by the life, words, relationships, performances, investigations, and final years of Harry Houdini. Historical material and Houdini's own words are woven together with imagined conversations and scenes to tell the story not simply of the Great Houdini, but of Erich Weiss—the man behind the legend.

This isn't just the story of Houdini's escapes.

It's the story of Harry, a man whose dramatic flair for life, determination, and relentless curiosity may inspire you to find your own way through life's impossible challenges and say:

“I Am Houdini.”

You can purchase I Am Houdini in hardcover or paperback at Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk.

Related:

• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf
• A taste of Houdini horror from Italy
• Houdini the blood sucker

Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice - The Murder Box Edition

I predicted that Dr. Larrian Gillespie's Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice would be "the spiciest Houdini book of the year," and that has certainly proven to be the case! But for those who like it hot, Larrian is serving up a new dish: The Murder Box Edition.

I will let you discover for yourself what this special edition contains. Just click the image below to begin the investigation.

Related:

• Houdini: The Man Who (allegedly) Died Twice
• Dr. Larrian Gillespie absolves J. Gordon Whitehead
• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf

Harry Houdini in Hull by Roger K. Noble

Here's a surprise entrant into the 2026 Houdini book sweepstakes. The Houdini Research Files and other magical anecdotes: The definitive story of Harry Houdini in Hull, 1903 - 1920, by Roger K. Noble, has just been published by the Carnegie Heritage Center. I love specialized works like this.

The book is listed on Amazon.co.uk with an April 2027 release date. But the Carnegie Heritage Center website has the book in stock now! That's where I just bought it, and it has already shipped. Below are details.

A beautifully designed and elegant large hardback book covering the period in Hull between 1903 and 1920 when Harry Houdini came to Hull six times appearing at local Music Halls and doing various publicity stunts around the city. This was a time of music hall, vaudeville, science and entertainment and this book describes his performances and the stars he appeared with. The book covers some myths about the world famous star and includes never been seen before images and discloses press reports and interviews with the man himself. With this year 2026 marking 100 years since his death, this book is a must have.

Purchase The Houdini Research Files and other magical anecdotes: The definitive story of Harry Houdini in Hull, 1903 - 1920 from Carnegie Heritage Center or, if you don't mind waiting until April, from Amazon.co.uk.

Thanks to John Hinson for the alert.

Which 2026 books have you bought so far? I have a poll running on my Patreon. Which book is in the lead? Click below and find out.

Related:

• Finding Houdini in Hull
• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf
• Derek Tait's new book is a Houdini ESSENTIAL

Houdini's Library hits #1 on Amazon

Here's the kind of news we love to see. Over the weekend, our friend Eric Colleary's new book, Houdini's Library, ranked as Amazon's #1 new release in Performing Arts History & Criticism. It's also currently the #1 New Release in Magic & Illusion.

This is well deserved. As many of you are discovering, Houdini's Library is a meticulously researched, extremely well-written book that takes a fresh approach to Houdini. I've learned a lot from this book! Oh, and it's also filled with fantastic photos from the holdings of the Harry Ransom Center and other collections. It's a must-buy 2026 book!

Houdini's Library is available on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk (UK release date November 18). Eric's acclaimed exhibition, Houdini's Library, is on show now at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin through January 24, 2027. You can also buy signed copies of the book there.

Congratulations Eric and the HRC!

Related:

• Eric Colleary on The Magic Detective Podcast
• Experience "Houdini's Library" starting this weekend
• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf 

Eric Colleary on The Magic Detective Podcast

This is a must-listen interview with Dr. Eric Colleary on Dean Carnegie's The Magic Detective Podcast, talking about his new book, Houdini's Library, which is released TODAY. If you've ever wondered how Houdini's collection was dispersed after his death, Eric lays it all out here, and it's fascinating.

You can buy Houdini's Library on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk, where the book is currently the #1 New Release in Magic & Illusion. Eric's acclaimed exhibition, Houdini's Library, is on show now at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin through January 24, 2027.

Related:

• Reading and discussion of 'Houdini's Library' Sep 17
• Experience "Houdini's Library" starting this weekend
• Eric Colleary brings 'Houdini's Library' to Boston

Reading and discussion of 'Houdini's Library' Sep 17

Our good friend Dr. Eric Colleary will have a reading and discussion of his new book, Houdini's Library, at the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas in Austin, next Thursday, Sept 17 at 6 PM. Below are details.

Join Dr. Eric Colleary, the Harry Ransom Center’s Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts, for a special reading and discussion of his book Houdini's Library (2026) on Thursday, September 17 at 6 p.m. A landmark volume in the history of magic, this is the first book on Houdini’s legendary personal collection, published on the centennial of his death. This program is held in conjunction with the Ransom Center's newest exhibition, Houdini’s Library, on view through January 24, 2027. 

Admission is free with an RSVP.

Dr. Eric Colleary, the Harry Ransom Center’s Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts, is a historian, and writer who has spent more than two decades bringing the stories of theatre, performance, and popular culture to life. As Curator of Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin, he has organized award-winning exhibitions that uncover how performance shapes and is shaped by history, and his work has been featured in major national outlets.

You can pre-order Houdini's Library on Amazon.com and Amazon.co.uk. The acclaimed HRC exhibition, Houdini's Library, is on show now through January 24, 2027.

Related:

• Experience "Houdini's Library" starting this weekend
• Houdini’s Library will also be a book!
• Eric Colleary brings 'Houdini's Library' to Boston

Experience "Houdini's Library" starting this weekend

Okay, this is a big one. Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts at the Harry Ransom Center, has been working tirelessly on an exhibit and book devoted to Houdini and his collections. Tomorrow, "Houdini's Library" opens to the public. The exhibit is a major contribution to Houdini's legacy, featuring a jaw-dropping amount of previously unexplored Houdini material. Below are details.

Houdini’s Library

August 29, 2026 – January 24, 2027 

Discover the hidden treasures of Houdini’s Library, an exhibition that delves into the life and extraordinary collection of Harry Houdini, one of history’s most famous illusionists. On stage, Houdini crafted his performances with a deep sense of history and the magicians who came before him. Off stage, he spent years building a collection of books, manuscripts, and ephemera documenting the long global history of magic and theatre. From a first edition of Reginald Scot’s 1584 classic The Discoverie of Witchcraft to the handwritten travel diary of legendary actor David Garrick, delve into how Houdini’s collection reflected his quest to preserve history—a tradition continued by the Ransom Center since it acquired his collection in 1958. Commemorating the centenary of Houdini’s death in 1926, Houdini’s Library invites visitors to explore the intersections of magic, history, and collecting.

This exhibition is organized by Dr. Eric Colleary, Cline Curator of Theatre and Performing Arts.

A large, beautifully illustrated coffee-table book, researched and written by Eric, will be released on September 15. I received an early copy, and it's a stunner! You can pre-order it on Amazon. Signed copies are also available at the exhibition. Eric will also be giving a talk at the exhibition on September 17 (click for details).

Houdini was enormously proud of his collections, and I've no doubt this exhibition would have given him more happiness and pride than anything that has appeared in the last 100 years. It is also FREE. So get on over to the Harry Ranson Center and experience Houdini's Library.

Want more? Eric, a fellow patron, has shared a dozen behind-the-scenes images of the exhibit installation. Click below to get an early look at the treasures inside.

Related:

• Houdini’s Library coming to the HRC in Fall 2026
• Cover art for 'Houdini's Library' by Eric Colleary
• Treasures of the Harry Ransom Center

Get the written works of Houdini at The Magician's Bookstore

To mark Houdini's centenary, Todd Karr at The Magician's Bookstore is offering a remarkable collection of Houdini's books, pamphlets, and (just in!) the full run of Houdini's Conjurers' Monthly Magazine in two volumes. A printed volume of Conjurers' was last released in a limited edition in 1991, and those are now rare and collectible. So this is great! Details below:

Just in time for Houdini's centennial on Halloween, you can now enjoy some of those scarce Houdini books you've always wanted to read, or acquire a snazzy matched complete set of hardbound editions of Houdini's works. Check out our new Houdini Department at The Magician's Bookstore.

We've reprinted just about everything Houdini wrote: over 20 vintage books, booklets, pitch books, and other rarities. We even reproduced his Congressional testimony and his brother Hardeen's souvenir book. The prices are as affordable as we could manage. We've also discounted some in bundles so you can save. Most of the books were newly scanned from my original first editions, and all the pages have been meticulously cleaned of dust specks and printed on high-quality satin-finish paper for the best reading experience.

We've done our best to make them look good, and we hope you enjoy them. They're pretty fascinating and are some of the core research materials of our art.

Thank you, Todd.

Related:

• Houdini the writer
• Revisit Houdini's Conjurers Monthly Magazine No. 1
• The Houdini Centennial Collection at The Miracle Factory

PATREON: Book update and Thor's arm

Every day brings Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900–1909 closer to being in your hands. I wrote a new introduction this weekend, and David Copperfield sent me a fantastic photo for his Foreword that I've never seen before. Maybe the first time published? I'm now in the final stages of production and still on track for a late 2026 release. I've shared the latest update on my Patreon below.

If you're new to my Patreon, you can read all my book updates below, including the reports from my trip to "the mountaintop" last year. It's been fun to share this journey with my patrons, whose support is helping make it happen!

You can get details on Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900–1909 at Wild About Harry PRESS.

Related:

• Handcuff King signed promotional cards
• Wild About Harry PRESS is open for business
• ANNOUNCEMENT: I'M DONE WITH HOUDINI!

Handcuff King signed promotional cards

My new book, Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909, will soon go to the printer, and by the end of the year you should have it in hand. I'm very proud of it and very excited to share. I set out to make the Houdini book of my dreams, and it feels like I did. But you'll be the ultimate judge.

In the meantime, I am offering two promotional cards at my online store, Wild About Harry PRESS. I handed out Style A in Appleton and have just received Style B. Both cards feature unique original Houdini advertising on one side and a promo for the book and my signature on the other.

The cards are $5 each with FREE shipping in the U.S. International shipping is a flat rate. Only the cards I'm offering here are signed. Supplies are limited.

Handcuff King Signed Promo Card Style A

Handcuff King Signed Promo Card Style B

You'll also get both cards FREE with the purchase of Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899 while supplies last.

Thank you for your patronage and patience!

Related:

• Wild About Harry PRESS is open for business
• Signed copies of Escaping Obscurity back in stock
• ANNOUNCEMENT: I'M DONE WITH HOUDINI!

Houdini: The Man Who (allegedly) Died Twice

I've just finished Dr. Larrian Gillespie's Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice, the new book that promises to reveal the truth of Houdini's death with sensational new revelations. The book is a Kirkus Indie Award finalist and has received positive reviews from Genii and others. It's a book that has already provoked a lot of discussion. So what did I think?

Well... I liked it. I especially like the hard-boiled detective tone and how Larrian steps us through her investigative process. I normally don't care for this kind of first-person approach in non-fiction, but it's so well written that it hooked me. Maybe it helped that I know all the players. (Full disclosure: I'm one of the "Watsons" in the book. But hopefully David Burke and not Nigel Bruce.)

There is definitely some new information here, and some known information that is nicely placed in context for the first time. I was most taken with the smaller discoveries. Houdini may have had color-changing eyes. Houdini wore a truss to support what he believed was an injured kidney, but may have been a herniated disc. And I have a new appreciation of Houdini's infected butt boil. Yes, no detail about Houdini is too small...or gross.

It's also nice to have all the various affidavits regarding his final days and the dressing room punch collected in one place. These are fascinating to read. The author has also uncovered fresh information about J. Gordon Whitehead, who comes off as the only blameless person in the book!

Ultimately, this is a well-told detective story with a lot of intriguing conjecture. But in the end, the mystery remains. No smoking gun emerges in the final chapter to prove any one of the many theories put forward. So for me, it didn't land a knockout punch (pun intended). As for the most provocative claim, that Houdini died on October 30th and not the 31st (hence the "died twice" title), I have long believed there could be something to this. But I'm somehow now less convinced of this than I was going in. Maybe it was just one cover-up too many.

There is a lot here to absorb, and I will definitely revisit this book when it comes time for me to tackle Houdini's death in my own books. Thankfully, that is still years away. Maybe by then a smoking gun will have emerged, or we will realize this was all smoke and mirrors.

But I encourage you to get the book and make up your own mind. You can buy Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice at Houdini True Crime. International buyers should use Cipher House Books.

Related:

• The truth drops TODAY
• LINK: Interview with Larrian Gillespie at Crime Fiction Lover
• The 2026 Houdini Centennial Bookshelf

Signed copies of Escaping Obscurity back in stock

I have replenished my stock of Escaping Obscurity: The Travel Diary of Harry Houdini, 1897-1899. Once again, I have SIGNED copies available in my online store, Wild About Harry PRESS. I will also throw in a signed promotional postcard.

Read how Houdini escaped his obscurity before the next chapter arrives later this year.

The story will continue in Handcuff King: The Conquests of Harry Houdini, 1900-1909. You can get a taste of what this new book will contain by clicking the image below.

Related:

• Wild About Harry PRESS is open for business
• YOU CAN NOW OWN HOUDINI'S FIRST DIARY
• ESCAPING OBSCURITY: Reviews & Reactions

The Original Houdini Scrapbook turns 50

I'm having fun remembering my Houdini awakening 50 years ago. I've already talked about seeing Houdini (1953), the first Doug Henning special, and the U.S. debut of The Truth About Houdini. The next hit came on July 20, 1976. My stepbrother and I were wandering Hollywood Blvd––because that was a perfectly acceptable thing to let an 11-year-old do back then––and on a table of new releases inside one of the many bookstores that once lined the street, my eyes fell on this...

As it turns out, The Original Houdini Scrapbook by Walter Gibson had just come out on July 10. It was the first of four coffee-table-sized, picture-heavy Houdini books released within a year. A book like this was a dream come true, and I came home with a copy under my arm. I still have that copy, and I still love this book 50 years later.

By the way, Hollywood Boulevard was once a haven for bookstores. Below is a map from the May 9, 1976, Los Angeles Times. Today, only Larry Edmunds remains.

Do you remember when you first got The Original Houdini Scrapbook? Share your memories in the comments below.

Want more? You can read an original review of the book on my Patreon.

Related:

• The Fantastic Four
• The World of Magic aired 50 years ago tonight
• The Truth About Houdini on its 5oth