A book about HOUDINI and his last handcuffs receives good reviews

“A fascinating novel with a masterful blend of history, science, magic, philosophy and cryptography.” —Grady Harp, Top 100 Amazon, Hall of Fame Reviewer

Los Angeles, California-After a series of book awards and being nominated as a finalist in The International Book Awards Cheryl & Charlie Young are also pleased with a number of good reviews in the Historical Fiction 2024 category for Houdini’s last handcuffs. The International Book Awards The winner of this year’s competition joins a distinguished group of previous winners including Pope Francis, Amy Tan, Anne Lamott, George Sanders, Julie Andrews, Clive Barker, Vanessa Williams, Shark Tank’s Daymon John, Brad Thor, Kitty Kelley and many others. For an extended list, visit the winners page: http://internationalbookawards.com/awardlaureates.html

Here are some of the latest reviews:

Houdini’s last handcuffs is a fun and creative adventure that follows a group of children who are tasked by the magician Houdini to protect his diary. Authors Charles and Cheryl Young use their own childhood as inspiration for the main characters in this book. Coming from a family with a strong interest in magicians and their talents, the authors’ passion for the subject is evident throughout the story.

As we delve into the plot, we learn that Houdini has come to life and the kids must now find his diary to complete his resurrection. What follows is a truly fascinating adventure: the real magic is hidden behind ciphers, formulas, and science. In addition to the fictional story, this book is packed with facts about the real Houdini and his history. Starting with his death in Detroit, MI, we are taken backwards through his life. This perspective is unique: starting with the end. I appreciate how the real Houdini is woven into the main plot of the book. The authors’ real lives combined with the creative storyline make for a unique read and I highly recommend this book to fans of Houdini, historical fiction, and fantasy!

—Review of “Flying Books”

Whether you are interested in magic or life itself, Houdini’s last handcuffs is one of the best books of the year. Masterfully written by siblings Charles and Cheryl Young, this fast-paced and always surprising novel is a work of historical fiction, part mystery, part fantasy, and mixed with a healthy dose of memoir. In short, it’s a passionate treatise on the ultimate conflict between good and evil. It’s also a love letter to the science of magic and the magic of science. And it’s a tribute to the great escape artist himself, Harry Houdini. Above all, it’s a thrilling and gripping tall tale that contains more truth than you can imagine.

Most people can probably tell you who Harry Houdini was if you ask them. People in Detroit might even be able to tell you that Houdini died in their city at Grace Hospital. This book sheds light on many of the facts and is a great introduction to Houdini and his incredible entourage, followers and fans.

This particular novel is set in the 1950s, long after Houdini’s death in 1926. Every year on Halloween, a group of people gathered in New York to hold a séance and try to make contact with Harry Houdini. This novel is loosely based on those meetings, particularly one in 1958, and focuses on three children, two of whom bear a striking resemblance to the authors, whose memories and insights form the heart of this novel.

Like many novels about heroic deeds, the story involves a journey, an arch-enemy (the evil one, Lucifer), and an epic battle that is either won or lost. The “final handcuffs” refer to a prop of Houdini’s that, when opened, allows the three children involved in this mission to enter a portal through which Houdini appears. Fearful that one of his notebooks will fall into the wrong hands, the great escape artist recruits the three young protagonists to defeat the evildoers.

The authors’ style is both pleasant and precise, and their familiarity with Houdini, magic and metaphysics combines to create a gripping drama that will keep you hooked until the end.

This is a literary low blow. It’s the great Houdini book the world has been waiting for. A perfect escape. Houdini lives! Highly recommended.

—John J. Kelly, Detroit Free Press

In Houdini’s last handcuffsAuthors Charlie and Cheryl Young create a gripping story that seamlessly blends historical fiction with fantasy elements, set against the backdrop of 1950s Manhattan. This fascinating tale follows three young friends who, on the 30th anniversary of Houdini’s death, stumble upon a mystical Ouija board given to them by the mysterious writer Walter Gibson. Little do they know that their innocent curiosity will catapult them into a world of wonder and adventure.

While the adults attend a séance to reach Houdini at his former residence, the children inadvertently make contact with the legendary magician through an unexpected source: a pair of handcuffs from their father’s magic collection. Houdini, desperately needing their help, entrusts them with a hidden notebook containing valuable scientific formulas coveted by both benevolent and malevolent secret circles. However, the notebook is locked behind Houdini’s cryptic code, setting off a thrilling chase full of mystery, mysticism and danger.

What sets Houdini’s last handcuffs What sets this book apart is its ability to transport readers into a world where magic and science blend seamlessly. The authors masterfully weave elements of mystery and adventure, keeping readers on the edge of their seats at every turn. From the bustling streets of Manhattan to the hidden depths of Houdini’s mysteries, the narrative unfolds with a sense of urgency and suspense that keeps readers eager to turn the pages.

Additionally, the characters in Houdini’s Last Handcuffs are richly detailed and highly identifiable, making it easy for readers to emotionally engage with their journey. As the young protagonists navigate a labyrinth of clues and obstacles, they not only discover the true extent of Houdini’s legacy, but also learn valuable lessons about friendship, courage, and the power of faith.

—Reviews by Pratibha Malav

From the book description, I knew it was a fictionalized version of a story about legendary magician/illusionist Harry Houdini, but I was impressed by how the author’s real life, his real family, and the famous people he knew in the late 1950s provide such a great backdrop for the story. The three main characters, on average 10 years old, interact with social figures such as Orson Welles, Artie Shaw, Eleanor Roosevelt, Eartha Kitt, and many others, and they do so in the affluent Manhattan neighborhoods on and around Riverside Drive in New York City.

Charley and Cheryl Young use their parents’ keen interest in magic and hidden knowledge, as well as their father’s close relationship with Houdini, whose untimely death on Halloween forms the central plot, to spin a magical detective story. Real-life author Walter Gibson, who created the famous character “The Shadow,” and his wife are also key players. The central setting of the story is the storytellers’ home; an 11-room apartment on the eighth floor of the famous Glen Cairn apartment building – a “haunted house on the Hudson River” that has been described as “a universe unto itself, or at least a gateway into other worlds of learning and mystery.”

Within the ongoing mystery, Houdini’s return is at play to settle unfinished business, which in turn brings into play players in the inner and outer circles of knowledge and power. But enough of that, because Houdin’s Last Handcuffs is unpredictable, entertaining, gripping and worth a watch.

I constantly pulled up photos of the various locations visited, real places, and traced the route these unlikely heroes took through the streets of New York City to complete tasks required to unlock secrets from Houdini’s long-lost book. You will also learn about “the application of human understanding of the fundamental nature and power of the natural world around us, as well as how to control these great forces.”

—Michael B. Butler, author of ‘Without redemption.’

Watch the book trailer at https://bit.ly/Houdinis_Last_Handcuffs_Trailer

Houdini’s last handcuffswho recently Literary Titan Gold Award for the best historical novel and previously the FIREBIRD Book Awards in the Fantasy category, is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Vine Leaves Press. Coming in March 2024. ISBN: 978-3-98832-051-3 www.HoudinisLastHandcuffs.com Listen to an interview with the authors on the Dr. Pat Show: https://bit.ly/Dr_Pat_Show

About Charlie Young: Charlie trained as a physician and completed his medical training at New York University, the Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland and Louisiana State University. He is a writer, artist and vice president of music publishers Denton and Haskins and Life Music. He has previously published poetry, Chuck’s Wagon of VersesAnd Houdini’s last handcuffs is his first foray into the world of historical fiction writing. You can find out more about his side hustles and life’s work on his website: musicmagicandmore.com.

About Cheryl Young: Cheryl Young Deknatel is in the financial industry, where she has worked for over 40 years in both Europe and the United States. She has previously worked at leading Wall Street firms and European banking institutions and is currently a financial advisor. Houdini’s last handcuffswhich she co-wrote with her brother is her first novel and they are currently working on a sequel. She and her brother also own one of the oldest turn-of-the-century music publishing companies in the United States, Denton and Haskins. For more information about her activities, visit her website: musicmagicandmore.com.

Media contact: For a review copy of Houdini’s last handcuffs or to schedule an interview with Charlie and Cheryl Young, contact Scott Lorenz of Westwind Book Marketing at [email protected] or by phone at 248-705-2214.