Deborah Johnson's THE SECRET OF MAGIC

by Deborah Johnson  
 4 STARS   THE SECRET OF MAGIC

INTRO (from NOR)

In a novel that ?brings authentic history to light,”* a young female attorney from New York City attempts the impossible in 1946: attaining justice for a black man in the Deep South. Regina Robichard works for Thurgood Marshall, who receives an unusual letter asking the NAACP to investigate the murder of a returning black war hero. It is signed by M. P. Calhoun, the most reclusive author in the country. As a child, Regina was captivated by Calhoun’s The Secret of Magic, a novel in which white and black children played together in a magical forest. The book was a sensation, featured on the cover of Time magazine, and banned more than any other book in the South. And then M.P. Calhoun disappeared. With Thurgood’s permission, Regina heads down to Mississippi to find Calhoun and investigate the case. But as she navigates the muddy waters of racism, relationships, and her own tragic past, she finds that nothing in the South is as it seems. READERS GUIDE INCLUDED *Augusta Trobaugh

REVIEW

The author wrote a book that brings history in the open.   Regina Robichard works for Thurgood Marshall.  She is an attorney from NYC in 1946.   She defends a black man in the deep south hoping to find justice. A letter arrives asking the NAACP to take in to consideration the investigation of a black war hero who has returned and is accused of murder.     The Secret of Magic which is a novel in which black and white children played in a magical forest.  Regina, as a child was captivated with the book.  At that time, the book went out to the public in full force.  It was on the cover of Time magazine.  It was banned in the deep south more than any other book.   And then, of all things, Mr. Calhoun was nowhere to be found.  Regina heads to Mississippi to find Calhoun and find out some things about the case. Of course she had Thurgood's OK to do this.   As she travels through the muddy waters of her own past, relationships and racism, she find that the south is as it seems.  The South.  The author wrote a wonderful book about  finding truth for a war hero and investigating the disappearance of Mr. Calhoun.  Ms. Johnson keeps the reader captivated as she journeys into the deep South in hopes of setting free the black war hero and finding out what happened to Mr. Calhoun.  Good mystery for a slow afternoon.  Reader's Guide included.

• Number: 9780425272787
• Release: January 6, 2015
• Author: Deborah Johnson
• Availability: Print-Book
• Genre: Suspense
• Tags: + Multicultural / IR, * HIST: Historical Fiction, * SUSP: Thriller
• Publisher: Berkley

I received a complimentary copy of THE SECRET OF MAGIC  from the author, Deborah Johnson  and Night Owl Reviews (Copyright NOR) for my view of the book.

I would give this book 4 STARS.

LINKS

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