The Invisible Assistant: An Eli Marks Short Mystery

By John Gaspard

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: John Gaspard
• Release date: Jan 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005102128

John Gaspard

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.

Book preview

The Invisible Assistant

BOOKS BY JOHN GASPARD

The Como Lake Players Mysteries

ACTING CAN BE MURDER

DYING TO AUDITION

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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)

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Stand-Alone Novels

THE SWORD & MR. STONE

A CHRISTMAS CARL

THE GREYHOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES

THE RIPPEROLOGISTS

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Filmmaking Books

FAST, CHEAP AND UNDER CONTROL

FAST, CHEAP AND WRITTEN THAT WAY

TELL THEM IT’S A DREAM SEQUENCE

WOMEN MAKE MOVIES

THE INVISIBLE ASSISTANT

AN ELI MARKS SHORT MYSTERY

JOHN GASPARD

Albert’s Bridge Books

THE INVISIBLE ASSISTANT

An Eli Marks Mystery Short Story

First Edition | September 2016

www.elimarksmysteries.com

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Copyright © 2016 by John Gaspard

This is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real locales are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

THE INVISIBLE ASSISTANT

Now for my next effect, I’m going to need another volunteer.

I timed this statement to land just as the applause from the last trick was starting to wane. I had completed a well-received Ambitious Card routine with the blonde volunteer to my left (What was her name again? Jan? Jane? Joan?) and now I needed another willing soul to join the two of us onstage.

You know, just to ensure I haven’t prearranged any of this, let’s make the selection of the next volunteer more, I don’t know…random, I said casually, as if I didn’t say that same phrase in that exact same way in every show. "We’ll let chance decide who will join…the two of us here onstage," I continued, neatly sidestepping the need to remember the blonde’s name.

I’m going to toss this into the crowd, I said, picking up the bowling ball that I had made magically