Illusionist

When an illusionist joins the Pines & Quill writing retreat, one of the owners vanishes without a trace in the middle of everyone, but the surrounding would-be witnesses don’t see or hear a thing. That’s when crime boss Georgio Gambino makes a checkmate move against his nemesis, Sean McPherson. He forces a writer in residence to kill another writer and frame McPherson. In a video call, Gambino warns the writer, “If you don’t follow orders, your daughter will die.” Then, he pans the camera to prove access to her college dorm room. 

McPherson discovers that Carmine Fiore, Gambino’s second in command, covets his boss role and is staging a coup. As Gambino’s soldiers traffic drugs, weapons, and humans, Fiore plants incriminating evidence against the notorious Sureños gang. Can McPherson leverage that knowledge for a temporary truce and the gang’s help?

The writers in residence—a former NASCAR driver, a professional triathlete, an architect turned house flipper, and a world-renowned magician who may not be who she appears to be—band together with McPherson to create the illusion of a lifetime.

Author: Laurie Buchanan

Publication Date: April 15, 2025

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“Get ready to stay up late because you won’t want to put it down.”

ANN GARVIN, USA Today best-selling author

“Atmospheric and delicious, Buchanan treats her readers’ senses while taking them on a roller-coaster of emotion.”

MICHELLE COX, author of the Henrietta and Inspector Howard series

“Buchanan builds the tension until you’re almost afraid to turn the next page.”

JEFF NANIA, author of the John Cabrelli Northern Lakes Mysteries

“Buchanan’s trademark style is to lure you in with cozy descriptions of food, décor, and setting, then slam you onto the edge of your seat with terrifying skill, as her bad guy holds reign over your emotions. In other words, this author has a mind of steel and a heart of velvet.”

SARALYN RICHARD, author of the Detective Parrott mystery series

“Meticulously plotted, beautifully written, and explosive—Buchanan’s new Sean McPherson novel barrels along like a freight train and delivers from beginning to end.”

JEFFREY L. DIAMOND, author of the Ethan Benson thrillers

“Buchanan is back at it with a book that’s impossible to put down. Such a great series. She knocks it out of the park each time. If you’re looking for something well-written with mystery and suspense, look no further. A great read.”

PATRICIA LEAVY, author of Hollyland and The Location Shoot

“You won’t want to miss this one. Hearts are wrenched. Bullets fly. Blood flows. You’ll have a lump in your throat from the first page to the last.”

SHERRILL JOSEPH, author of The Botanic Hill Detectives Mysteries

About the Author

Laurie Buchanan writes the critically acclaimed Sean McPherson novels—pulse-pounding crime thrillers with heart-stopping twists that plunge readers into the depths of malice, the unwavering quest for justice, and high-stakes consequences. A cross between Dr. Dolittle, Nanny McPhee, and a type-A Buddhist, Buchanan is an active listener, observer of details, payer of attention, reader and writer of books, kindness enthusiast, and red licorice aficionado. Laurie’s goal is simple: to leave you wanting more. Her books have won multiple awards, including the Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Gold Winner, the International Book Award Gold Winner, the national Indie Excellence Awards Winner, the Crime Fiction/Suspense Eric hoffer Awards Finalist, the PenCraft Award for Literary Excellence, and CIBA Clue Book Awards Finalist. Laurie and her husband enjoy long walks, camping, and photography—because sometimes the best word choice is a picture—in the breathtaking Pacific Northwest.

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