The Footprints on the Ceiling. The Great Merlini Mysteries. Illustrated, livre ebook

The Footprints on the Ceiling by Clayton Rawson is the second novel in The Great Merlini Mysteries series, delivering another ingenious blend of stage magic, locked-room puzzles, and classic Golden Age detection. Clever, fast-paced, and filled with impossible situations, it confirms Rawson’s reputation as a master of the “impossible crime.”
When a group of guests gathers in a remote mountain lodge, what begins as a winter holiday soon turns into a nightmare. Strange events disturb the house: objects vanish, doors lock themselves, and mysterious footprints appear in places no one could possibly reach—including, astonishingly, across the ceiling. Then a murder occurs under circumstances that seem to defy both gravity and reason. With snow cutting off escape and suspicion falling on everyone present, fear and superstition quickly take hold.
Called in to untangle the mystery, The Great Merlini brings his unique expertise as a professional magician. Where others see ghosts or the supernatural, Merlini recognizes tricks of perspective, sleight of hand, and carefully staged illusions. Patiently assembling the clues, he exposes the rational explanation behind the seemingly impossible phenomena.
Rich in atmosphere and playful misdirection, The Footprints on the Ceiling combines humor, theatrical flair, and a tightly constructed puzzle. It is a delightful and imaginative mystery that showcases Rawson’s inventive storytelling and makes another memorable adventure for the incomparable magician-detective, The Great Merlini.