Danger in the Dark: A Houdini & Nate Mystery (Houdini and Nate Mysteries)

By Tom Lalicki

Book Overview

Harry Houdini - the world's greatest escape artist - is in need of a new hat. That is what brings him to Bennett & Son, Gentlemen's Hatters of Fifth Avenue, where young Nathaniel G. Makeworthy Fuller is working for the summer. A surprising friendship develops between the world-famous daredevil and the boy clerk, and it comes in the nick of time. A suspicious stranger has recently wheedled his way into the confidences of Nate's wealthy great-aunt, with whom the boy and his widowed mother live. Now their house is filled with spooky late-night gatherings, the purpose of which is kept secret from Nate. Houdini is just the man to tackle this tangled mystery - and help Nate and his family escape the grasp of an interloper more cunning and dangerous than Nate could have imagined. A truly captivating historical adventure, "Danger in the Dark" launches the Houdini & Nate Mystery series with fast-paced plotting and a colorful blend of fact and fiction. "Danger in the Dark" is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374316805
• ISBN13: 9780374316808
• Release Date: October 2006
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 186 Pages
• Weight: 0.68 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Great fun!

Nate Fuller's very wealthy and opinionated Aunt Alice is under the spell of a charlatan who claims to be in contact with her deceased husband. Luckily, during Nate's summer job at a gentleman's haberdashery he meets the great Houdini, who in real life--and in this exciting story--is an expert in debunking fraudulent spiritualists. Underlying the action is a fascinating picture of life in New York City circa 1912 and much real detail about Houdini. Twelve-year-old Nate's growth throughout the book, from an overly protected and inexperienced youth to a courageous detective is thoroughly satisfying. The excellent characterizations, building tension, and exciting climax make this a memorable read and leaves you wanting Houdini and Nate to have another adventure soon.

Super, fast-paced, and great stuff about Houdini

Houdini comes across as a fascinating mentor as he helps Nate save his great-aunt from a spiritualist schemer. I was totally drawn in by the scenes showing how the seances were conducted, and enjoyed the up-close view of Houdini performing on the vaudeville stage. The suspense builds throughout this fast-paced mystery. Nate is a kid who grows increasingly confident and daring as the danger increases and it's thrilling to see how he takes on his adversary in the final harrowing confrontation. It was interesting--but not surprising--to learn that Lalicki is something of a Houdini expert; this never bogs down the story but contributes to a well-rounded characterization and a believable connection with young Nate.