Eli Marks Mystery

Psychics are being murdered and magician Eli Marks is the top suspect. His greatest trick? Not becoming the next victim. ★★★★★"The Ambitious Card is intelligently written and ... entirely engrossing." – Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine The life of a magician isn't all kiddie shows and card tricks. Sometimes it's murder. Psychics are being murdered and Eli can't escape suspicion. Then things get really complicated when romance blooms with a beautiful psychic. Eli discovers she's the next target for murder and he's scheduled to die with her. Now Eli must use every trick he knows to reveal the true killer … before they become the next victims. Grab your copy and get started on this fantastic and funny series right now!★★★★★ "This is a hugely entertaining crime novel, packed full of comedy….Warm, funny and well-plotted–a book to brighten any grey day. Do read it!" -FictionFan's Book Reviews "The Ambitious Card is a must read!" -Books and Looks "Before I had even finished the first chapter I had fallen in love with Eli. He is intelligent, sensitive, witty and, suddenly, the main suspect in a series of murders…well written, fast paced and exciting." -The Frugal Mennonite "The deftly-plotted mystery is enriched by Eli's relationships with his ex-wife, her new husband, his old-school stage magician Uncle Harry, and an interesting collection of people and places in and around St. Paul…This stylish novel is filled with interesting details, snappy dialogue, and appealing characters." -More Than a Review "This story is very well written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery!" -A Simple Taste for Reading "I had a great time reading The Ambitious Card. I don't read many series, but I'm definitely willing to go on another adventure with Eli." -The Writerly Reader "Well, Dear Reader, would I recommend The Ambitious Card? Would I read another Eli Marks mystery? Yes, I would do both." -Charlie Britten, Write On ★★★★★ Books in the Eli Marks Mystery Series:THE AMBITIOUS CARD (#1)THE BULLET CATCH (#2)THE MISER'S DREAM (#3)THE LINKING RINGS (#4)THE FLOATING LIGHT BULB (#5)THE ZOMBIE BALL (#6)THE MAGIC SQUARE (#7)THE INVISIBLE ASSISTANT (Short Story)THE LAST CUSTOMER (Short Story)

WONDERFULLY ENGAGING, DELIGHTFULLY TRICKY… "This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle." – John Lehman, Rosebud Book Reviews Newly-single magician Eli Marks reluctantly attends his high school reunion against his better judgment, only to become entangled in two deadly encounters with his former classmates. The first is the fatal mugging of an old crush's husband, followed by the suspicious deaths of the victim's business associates. At the same time, Eli also comes to the aid of a classmate-turned-movie-star who fears that attempting The Bullet Catch in an upcoming movie may be his last performance. As the bodies begin to pile up, Eli comes to the realization that juggling these murderous situations -- while saving his own neck -- may be the greatest trick he's ever performed. Praise for THE BULLET CATCH: "The Bullet Catch is a wonderfully engaging, delightfully tricky bit of mystery. Fans of magic will delight in John Gaspard's artful use of the world of magicians, onstage and offstage. It's a great story and great fun!" – Jim Steinmeyer, Author of Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear "Gaspard's latest Eli Marks mystery, The Bullet Catch, has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likeable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure." – Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series and Co-Writer of My Favorite Year "The Bullet Catch is a real winner of magical proportions. Filled with snappy, delightful dialogue and plenty of sleight-of-hand humor, Gaspard's latest mystery in the Eli Marks series does not disappoint. Head to the bookstore and get yourself a copy now!" – Jessie Chandler, Author of the Award-Winning Shay O'Hanlon Series "The author does a fantastic job juggling the separate plots and keeping readers' minds thoroughly engaged…The relationships between Eli and his remarried ex are interesting, to say the least, and the pure entertainment of the industry will leave all readers hoping that there will be a 'number three' very soon." – Suspense Magazine "The Bullet Catch has a quick pace and dialogue that engages the reader from the first page…Gaspard has written a great character into an original storyline…I will definitely be seeing/reading more of Eli as Gaspard expands this promising mystery series." – Examiner.com "Readers, get ready for your mind to expand as Eli Marks returns and uses his powers of prestidigitation, intuition and deduction to solve another mystery. If David Copperfield and Sherlock Holmes had a child, it would be Eli Marks." – Scott Wells, The Magic Word Podcast Books in the Eli Marks Mystery Series:THE AMBITIOUS CARD (#1)THE BULLET CATCH (#2)THE MISER'S DREAM (#3)THE LINKING RINGS (#4)THE FLOATING LIGHT BULB (#5)THE ZOMBIE BALL (#6)THE MAGIC SQUARE (#7)

A locked room. A dead body. A murderous trick, worthy of a magician. How can Eli prove he didn't do it?

There's no question it was murder. But who killed whom?What begins as a typical corporate event for magician Eli Marks turns into a twisted mystery when he is called to the site of a recent murder/suicide.Confronted by the details of the grisly crime scene, Eli must sort through the post-mortem clues - and the bickering of the officials as well as a poorly-timed allergy attack - to determine just who murdered whom.* * *PRAISE FOR THE ELI MARKS MYSTERY SERIES"You will just LOVE these books."– VANISH Magazine"This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle."– John Lehman, Rosebud Book Reviews"It's full of magic, mystery, danger and misdirection, as a good magic trick should be. I love this cozy mystery series, a thoroughly delightful read."– Sweet Mystery Books"Before I had even finished the first chapter I had fallen in love with Eli. He is intelligent, sensitive, witty and, suddenly, the main suspect in a series of murders…well written, fast-paced and exciting."– The Frugal Mennonite"This story is very well written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery!"– A Simple Taste for Reading"Gaspard's latest Eli Marks mystery has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure."– Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series and Co-Writer of My Favorite Year"Readers, get ready for your mind to expand as Eli Marks returns and uses his powers of prestidigitation, intuition and deduction to solve another mystery. If David Copperfield and Sherlock Holmes had a child, it would be Eli Marks."– Scott Wells, The Magic Word Podcast"An intriguing cross between noir and cozy, with fascinating details about magic tricks and plenty of quirky characters. An easy, enjoyable read for mystery buffs seeking a bit of an escape from the usual crime fiction fare."– Library Journal"A finely-tuned, diabolical, sneaky, smart, stylish mix of magic and mayhem that plunges our hero Eli through a tangled web of danger and deceit that'll keep you guessing."– Steve Spill, Magician and Author of I Lie For Money"This book reminded me of the Nick and Nora Charles adventures-slightly noir and slightly zany. An enjoyable read."– Victoria Kemp, Librarian at Flower Mound Public Library"Hands-down the funniest thing I have read in a long time, expertly paced and hilariously detailed."– Seattle Book Mama"I loved this book. From beginning to end I was hooked. The story is fantastic and the cast leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series."– Bookshelves John is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as three other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists."He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond.In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films.Those books ("Fast, Cheap and Under Control" and "Fast, Cheap and Written That Way") are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats.John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

Did Uncle Harry just murder a fellow magician? On stage, in front of a full audience?It's up to Eli to prove that, in the world of magic, you can't always believe your eyes! "You will just LOVE these books." -VANISH Magazine ★★★★★ Eli's trip to London with his uncle Harry quickly turns homicidal when the older magician finds himself accused of murder. It's clear someone is knocking off Harry's elderly peers in bizarrely effective ways. But who? The odd gets odder when the prime suspect appears to be a bitter performer with a grudge...who committed suicide over thirty years before. GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

A magician disappears in the middle of his act.Was it magic? Or murder?"If David Copperfield and Sherlock Holmes had a child, it would be Eli Marks."-The Magic Word Podcast ★★★★★When a magician is murdered in the midst of his act at the Mall of America, Eli Marks is asked to step in and take over the daily shows-while working hard to not be the next victim in a series of bizarre homicides! Praise for Eli Marks Mystery Series:"You will just LOVE these books."-VANISH Magazine"This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle."-Rosebud Book Reviews"It's full of magic, mystery, danger and misdirection, as a good magic trick should be. I love this cozy mystery series, a thoroughly delightful read."-Sweet Mystery Books"Before I had even finished the first chapter I had fallen in love with Eli. He is intelligent, sensitive, witty and, suddenly, the main suspect in a series of murders…well written, fast-paced and exciting."-The Frugal Mennonite"This story is very well written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery!"-A Simple Taste for Reading"Hands-down the funniest thing I have read in a long time, expertly paced and hilariously detailed."-Seattle Book Mama

Meet Eli Marks: Full-time magician, part-time crime-solver. His greatest trick? Not becoming the next victim. Eli's asked to perform his magic act at a swanky charity gala, The Zombie Ball– a former zombie pub crawl which has grown into an annual high-class social event. What begins as a typical stage show for Eli turns deadly when two of the evening's sponsors are found murdered under truly unusual circumstances. Compounding this drama is the presence of Eli's ex-wife and her new husband, Homicide Detective Fred Hutton. Under pressure to solve the crime before all the guests depart, Eli and his detective nemesis go head-to-head to uncover the bizarre clues that will unravel this macabre mystery. This book is the perfect way to get into the Eli Marks series -- grab it today! ★★★★★ Praise for the Eli Marks Mystery Series "I loved this book. From beginning to end I was hooked. The story is fantastic and the cast leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series." – Bookschellves "This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle." – Rosebud Book Reviews "Has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likeable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure." – Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series "The author does a fantastic job juggling the separate plots and keeping readers' minds thoroughly engaged…and the pure entertainment of the industry will leave all readers hoping that there will be a 'number three' very soon." – Suspense Magazine "The Ambitious Card is intelligently written and...entirely engrossing." – Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

A Puzzling Clue to an Unconventional Murder… "You will just LOVE these books!" VANISH Magazine ★★★★★ When an old family friend is arrested for murder at a magic convention, Uncle Harry urges Eli to step in and solve the bizarre homicide. Eli's attempt to sort through all the suspects is stymied after a second murder and then a third murder attempt–or was it merely an accident? Is someone trying to knock off the top mentalists in the country? And if they are, why do the clues keep pointing to Eli's friend? As the body count rises, Eli must race against the clock to trap this clever killer before becoming the final victim. Grab this fun and funny mystery today! ★★★★★ Praise for the Eli Marks Mystery Series "I loved this book. From beginning to end I was hooked. The story is fantastic and the cast leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series." – Bookschellves "This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle." – Rosebud Book Reviews "Has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likeable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure." – Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series "The author does a fantastic job juggling the separate plots and keeping readers' minds thoroughly engaged…and the pure entertainment of the industry will leave all readers hoping that there will be a 'number three' very soon." – Suspense Magazine "The Ambitious Card is intelligently written and...entirely engrossing." – Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

More Twisty, Tricky Tales and Mysteries to enjoy with Eli MarksIt's just one thing after another for magician Eli Marks: The bizarre death of a barista. Performing close-up magic at a funeral. A homicidal husband looking for ideas. An unexpected customer encounter. An impossible stabbing during a show. A Halloween murder. A life-changing magic lesson. A mystifying murder/suicide. A puzzling jewel heist and an even odder painting theft. And more!A dozen new Eli Marks short stories (ten never-before published). Which means you now have a dozen more reasons to spend some quality time with Eli Marks.Grab your copy and jump into Eli Marks' world today!★★★★★Readers and critics LOVE the Eli Marks Mystery Series."It's full of magic, mystery, danger and misdirection, as a good magic trick should be. I love this cozy mystery series, a thoroughly delightful read."-Sweet Mystery Books"An intriguing cross between noir and cozy, with fascinating details about magic tricks and plenty of quirky characters. An easy, enjoyable read for mystery buffs seeking a bit of an escape from the usual crime fiction fare."-Library Journal"Before I had even finished the first chapter I had fallen in love with Eli. He is intelligent, sensitive, witty and, suddenly, the main suspect in a series of murders…well written, fast paced and exciting."-The Frugal Mennonite"The deftly-plotted mystery is enriched by Eli's relationships with his ex-wife, her new husband, his old-school stage magician Uncle Harry, and an interesting collection of people and places in and around St. Paul…This stylish novel is filled with interesting details, snappy dialogue, and appealing characters."-More Than a Review"This story is very well written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery!" -A Simple Taste for Reading★★★★★Books in the Eli Marks Mystery Series:THE AMBITIOUS CARD (#1)THE BULLET CATCH (#2)THE MISER'S DREAM (#3)THE LINKING RINGS (#4)THE FLOATING LIGHT BULB (#5)THE ZOMBIE BALL (#6)THE MAGIC SQUARE (#7)THE SELF-WORKING TRICK (#8)

Two Eli Marks Short Mysteries in One Bundle!"You will just LOVE these books." – VANISH Magazine★★★★★The Invisible AssistantThere's no question it was murder. But who killed whom?What begins as a typical corporate event for magician Eli Marks turns into a twisted mystery when he is called to the site of a recent murder/suicide.Confronted by the details of the grisly crime scene, Eli must sort through the post-mortem clues - and the bickering of the officials as well as a poorly-timed allergy attack - to determine just who murdered whom.★★★★★The Last CustomerThe request was a first for Eli Marks: "Can you help me make my tuba disappear?"Magician (and magic shop owner) Eli Marks is confronted with this odd demand just before he is about to close up shop for the day.Over the next few tense minutes, he finds a solution to that question which also, fortunately, puts him the positive side of what turns out to be a life-or-death situation.★★★★★PRAISE FOR THE ELI MARKS MYSTERY SERIES"This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle." – John Lehman, Rosebud Book Reviews"It's full of magic, mystery, danger and misdirection, as a good magic trick should be. I love this cozy mystery series, a thoroughly delightful read." – Sweet Mystery Books"Before I had even finished the first chapter I had fallen in love with Eli. He is intelligent, sensitive, witty and, suddenly, the main suspect in a series of murders…well written, fast-paced and exciting." – The Frugal Mennonite"This story is very well written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery!" – A Simple Taste for Reading"Gaspard's latest Eli Marks mystery has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure." – Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series and Co-Writer of My Favorite Year"Readers, get ready for your mind to expand as Eli Marks returns and uses his powers of prestidigitation, intuition and deduction to solve another mystery. If David Copperfield and Sherlock Holmes had a child, it would be Eli Marks." – Scott Wells, The Magic Word Podcast John is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as three other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists."He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond.In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films.Those books ("Fast, Cheap and Under Control" and "Fast, Cheap and Written That Way") are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats.John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.

The request was a first for Eli Marks: "Can you help me make my tuba disappear?"Magician (and magic shop owner) Eli Marks is confronted with this odd demand just before he is about to close up shop for the day.Over the next few tense minutes, he finds a solution to that question which also, fortunately, puts him the positive side of what turns out to be a life-or-death situation.★★★★★Praise for the Eli Marks Mystery Series"An intriguing cross between noir and cozy, with fascinating details about magic tricks and plenty of quirky characters. An easy, enjoyable read for mystery buffs seeking a bit of an escape from the usual crime fiction fare." – Library Journal"A finely-tuned, diabolical, sneaky, smart, stylish mix of magic and mayhem that plunges our hero Eli through a tangled web of danger and deceit that'll keep you guessing." – Steve Spill, Magician and Author of I Lie For Money"With twists and turns, flurries of romance, and a cast of characters that seem to be the unholy spawn of The Maltese Falcon and The Third Man, The Miser's Dream keeps the pages turning and the reader delighted from start to finish." – Jeffrey Hatcher, Screenwriter, Mr. Holmes"I loved this book. From beginning to end I was hooked. The story is fantastic and the cast leaves you wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series." – Bookschellves"This is an instant classic, in a league with Raymond Chandler, Dashiell Hammett and Arthur Conan Doyle." – Rosebud Book Reviews"Has as many tricks up its sleeve as its likeable magician-hero. As the body count rises, so does the reading pleasure." – Dennis Palumbo, Author of the Daniel Rinaldi Mystery Series"A wonderfully engaging, delightfully tricky bit of mystery. Fans of magic will delight in John Gaspard's artful use of the world of magicians, onstage and offstage. It's a great story and great fun!" – Jim Steinmeyer, Author of Hiding the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear"A real winner of magical proportions. Filled with snappy, delightful dialogue and plenty of sleight-of-hand humor, Gaspard's latest mystery in the Eli Marks series does not disappoint." – Jessie Chandler, Author of the Shay O'Hanlon Series"The author does a fantastic job juggling the separate plots and keeping readers' minds thoroughly engaged…and the pure entertainment of the industry will leave all readers hoping that there will be a 'number three' very soon." – Suspense Magazine"The Ambitious Card is intelligently written and...entirely engrossing." – Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine"The deftly-plotted mystery is enriched by Eli's relationships with his ex-wife, her new husband, his old-school stage magician Uncle Harry, and an interesting collection of people and places in and around St. Paul…This stylish novel is filled with interesting details, snappy dialogue, and appealing characters." – More Than a Review"This story is very well-written and fun to read. I would definitely read another Eli Marks Mystery." – A Simple Taste for Reading John is author of the Eli Marks mystery series as well as three other stand-alone novels, "The Greyhound of the Baskervilles," The Sword & Mr. Stone" and "The Ripperologists."He also writes the Como Lake Players mystery series, under the pen name Bobbie Raymond.In real life, John's not a magician, but he has directed six low-budget features that cost very little and made even less - that's no small trick. He's also written multiple books on the subject of low-budget filmmaking. Ironically, they've made more than the films.Those books ("Fast, Cheap and Under Control" and "Fast, Cheap and Written That Way") are available in eBook, Paperback and audiobook formats.John lives in Minnesota and shares his home with his lovely wife, several dogs, a few cats and a handful of pet allergies.