The Illusionists

May 19, 2014
Set in Victorian England, Thomas’s sprawling follow-up to The Kashmir Shawl combines several elements: a story of a theater company, a thriller, and, most successfully, a portrait of a woman trying to create an equal partnership with a man. Eliza Dunlop is working as an artists’ model when her suitor, Jasper, takes her to the Palmyra Theater, where she meets Devil Wix and the dwarf Carlo Boldoni who are working as illusionists. Wix is ambitious: he wants to own the theater and devises a plan that requires Carlo, Jasper, Eliza, and automaton-maker Heinrich Bayer to work together to swindle the crooked theater owner Jacko Grady. As the theater progresses, the partnership frays; a nearby murder, a kidnapping, and a ghost from Wix’s past add elements of horror and suspense. The heart of the book is Eliza’s long, slow attempt to not only marry Devil but to live in parity with him. Since she has no models for the relationship she wants, Thomas shows Eliza working to invent a new kind of life; a creation as novel for her time as the mechanical illusions at the Palmyra.

June 1, 2014
Illusionists in Victorian England take center stage in Thomas' latest romance (Constance, 2013, etc.).Devil Wix is more ambitious than his fellow entertainers and wants to do more than eke out a hand-to-mouth existence. The captivating showman dreams of managing his own theatrical company and is willing to go to almost any lengths to achieve his goal. Following a chance encounter, Devil teams up with resourceful dwarf Carlo Bonomi, and the act thrives when the partners present a gory illusion each evening at the run-down Palmyra Theater in London's East End. Soon, the pair ally themselves with Heinrich, a strange Swiss inventor obsessed with automata; Jasper, a wax sculptor and childhood friend who's privy to Devil's darkest memory; and art student/life model Eliza, an aspiring actress whose kindness and steely determination bind the diverse and often contentious group together. Eliza falls in love with Devil, much to Jasper's disappointment, but Devil's not used to dealing with a woman who demands respect. Outwitting his opponent in a card game, Devil gains ownership of the Palmyra and directs his efforts toward making the venue the foremost entertainment hub in the East End. As he discovers the formidable costs of refurbishing the theater and attracting a fickle public, Devil borrows money for renovations and publicity, auditions new acts to keep the show fresh and pays scant attention to the dangerous mental state of one member of the troupe. Thomas enthusiastically explores a unique subject and skillfully creates the sights, atmosphere and sensations of British theater during this era; but with each melodramatic event, the plot becomes wispier and wispier until it finally vanishes into thin air. Predictably, relationships, attitudes and the courses of lives change before the story takes one final gasp, but by then, even die-hard fans may find themselves struggling to get through the drawn-out tale.An excellent premise, but the story lacks magic.

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June 1, 2014

Artist's model Eliza Dunlop knows she was meant for something extraordinary, and a chance encounter with a pair of illusionists, the memorably named Devil Wix and his talented partner Carlo Bonomi, quickly draws her into the exciting world of Victorian theater. Courted by a variety of ardent suitors, Eliza finds herself increasingly intrigued by the charismatic Devil and discovers that stage life may be more exciting and dangerous than she ever imagined. VERDICT Thomas (The Kashmir Shawl) does her best with the romantic story, creating a brooding hero and plucky heroine who historical romance fans should enjoy cheering for. The rest of the plot unfortunately feels underdeveloped in comparison, and the novel could have ended much sooner than it does. Thomas's vivid characters and lively pace combined with well-chosen details of theatrical life at the close of the 19th century, however, make this a generally enjoyable lighter read for historical fiction fans with an interest in the late Victorian era or in the lives of "show folk."--Mara Bandy, Champaign P.L., IL

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