Death from a Top Hat. The Great Merlini Mysteries. Illustrated, livre ebook

Death from a Top Hat by Clayton Rawson is a brilliant classic of Golden Age detective fiction and the first novel in The Great Merlini Mysteries series, introducing one of crime literature’s most original sleuths—a professional magician turned investigator.
When two men connected with the world of stage magic and the occult are found murdered under seemingly impossible circumstances, the police face a baffling puzzle. The crimes occur in locked rooms, surrounded by strange symbols and theatrical clues that suggest supernatural forces at work. With suspects drawn from a circle of illusionists, mediums, and performers—people skilled in deception and misdirection—nothing can be trusted, and every explanation seems more mysterious than the last.
Enter The Great Merlini: retired stage magician, owner of a magic shop, and master of trickery. Where others see miracles or dark magic, Merlini sees method, mechanics, and human cunning. Using his expert knowledge of illusions, sleight of hand, and stagecraft, he peels back the layers of deception to reveal how the “impossible” crimes were committed.
Combining clever fair-play clues, sharp humor, and the fascinating backstage world of professional magic, Rawson crafts an intricate locked-room mystery that challenges readers to match wits with the detective. Ingenious, atmospheric, and highly entertaining, Death from a Top Hat remains one of the finest examples of the impossible-crime genre and a standout debut for the unforgettable Great Merlini.