By Larrian Gillespie, MD Before Harry Houdini became a name that could fill a theater, he and Bess faced the challenge of keeping their act—and themselves—afloat. According to cemetery conservator and researcher Greg Duhamel, an important chapter of that struggle unfolded in Woonsocket, Rhode Island. I spoke with Greg about his forthcoming book, the local…
There is a kind of poetry to this, though I admit I would have preferred less poetry and more functioning catalog software. As release week approached for Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice, the Kindle edition remained visible on Amazon. The paperback existed behind the curtain: active, listed, prepared for launch. But on the public…
Charles Greene and the Houdini Treasure Hiding in Plain Sight Every collector dreams of the moment when a cardboard box becomes a time machine. For magician, historian, and collector Charles Greene, that moment came in an Ohio auction house, under ordinary fluorescent light, with two lots of glass plate negatives connected to Harry Houdini. The…
Very honored to have Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice chosen as one of the best Indie Books for 2026 in today’s Kirkus Magazine publication. Looking forward to meeting Houdini fans at the Appleton SAM convention where you can find me in the Dealer’s Room, with a little magic up my sleeve. Hardback first editions…
Harry Houdini death theories usually begin with the same familiar legend: the punch, the appendix, and the Halloween ending. Houdini: The Man Who Died Twice reopens that story as a forensic Houdini investigation, following the medical evidence, timelines, death certificates, and paper trail left behind after his final days. Written by physician and forensic investigator…
Kirkus Star Houdini books made publishing history in 2026 when two new titles about Harry Houdini received the coveted Kirkus Star, and both were written by women. One book explores how reading helped shape the world’s greatest magician. The other reopens the forensic questions surrounding Harry Houdini’s death. Together, Houdini’s Library by Barb Rosenstock and…
Houdini The Man Who Died Twice is a cold case-style book about Harry Houdini’s death, built from medical evidence, timelines, death certificates, and the paper trail left behind after his final days. A cold case investigation into Houdini’s death The Truth Drops July 1. Pre-order Now! Pre-orders accepted at HoudiniColdCase Check out HoudiniTrueCrime.com and read…
Did Houdini’s own stubbornness—and a feud between doctors—cost him his life after a misdiagnosed ruptured appendix sent him spiraling into a fatal medical disaster? In medicine we have a saying that goes ” any elevator operator would tell you” when something is so obvious and undeniable that someone with no medical education could make the…
Houdini memento mori image looks at a Houdini-related memento mori image through the lens of death culture, artifact interpretation, and the memory of the magician’s final chapter. What a Houdini memento mori image reveals Shocking details from Houdini’s “last photo” reveal secrets of 1920s embalming, mysterious reflections, and the truth behind his final journey—was this…
Houdini dope dealer letter examines the unusual Houdini letter and its language in historical context, looking at artifact meaning, collecting value, and period terminology. What the Houdini dope dealer letter reveals A cryptic 1925 Houdini letter hints that his greatest secret wasn’t drugs, but a mysterious “dope” that sealed his magic escapes. I think country…
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