Magic City: A Novel

Written by James W. Hall

Narrated by Richard Allen

A simple black-and-white photograph taken during the 1964 Cassius Clay–Sonny Liston fight on Miami Beach may hold the key to a horrific, politically motivated crime forty-two years earlier. After it mysteriously reappears, the photo is burned in an act of arson that sets off a modern-day killing spree reaching from the quiet neighborhoods of Miami to the back corridors of the White House.

What the killer did not know is that a copy of the photograph still remains. When it falls into Thorn's hands, he and everyone close to him-including his beloved Alexandra-become the targets of madmen and trained hitmen, each of whom has a powerful motive to see the photograph destroyed...and each of whom will go to murderous lengths to make it disappear forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Mar 20, 2007
• ISBN: 9781400174065

James W. Hall

A winner of the Edgar and Shamus awards, James W. Hall is the author of twenty novels, including The Big Finish, the latest in the Thorn Mysteries, as well as four books of poetry, two short story collections, and two works of nonfiction. Born in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Hall holds a BA from Florida Presbyterian College, an MA from Johns Hopkins, and a PhD in literature from the University of Utah. He divides his time between North Carolina and Florida.

Reviews for Magic City

[hagelstein_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

In this thriller Hall weaves some Miami history, both real and imagined, into a present day crime and murder spree that entangles his recurring character, Thorn. Intricately plotted and featuring another unique murder weapon, some of the scenes involving secondary characters are the most compelling. The writing in the passages with Thorn and Alexandra doesn't glisten as it does in the rest of the book, as if the relationship is, or should be, approaching its end.

[jastbrown · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Nothing too heavy.. but fine, well constructed, escapist literature. Ninth in the Thorn, P.I. series.

[whitewavedarling · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is one of those books about Thorn that you can't put down. Hall made me nostalgia for Miami and the Keys, as he has in the best earlier books around this character, and I likely would have read the book in one sitting if given the opportunity. If you like mysteries, south Florida, or suspense, I can't recommend these books enough, and this is right up at the top of the heap.