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Lord Freddie · Elite Member Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 2663

The Effect
101 Clever Card Tricks by Cara Frost-Sharratt

"Astound your family and friends with amazing card magic miracles for all ages!
Clever tricks, including sleights of hand and 'mind reading' stunts, are all clearly illustrated and easy to follow.

A must-have book for any budding magician."

Cost
£5.99 (I got mine in Waterstones)

Difficulty
(1=easy to do, 2=No sleights, but not so easy, 3=Some sleights used,
4=Advanced sleights used, 5=Suitable for experienced magicians only)

Varies, there some easy self-workers and some involving sleights, but nothing too difficult. False shuffles, palming, double-lifts. If you are at least half way through 'Royal Road' you'll have no trouble.

Review
I was suprised at the cheapness of this book which was tucked away under the games and hobbies section and on browsing it seemed to have quite a varied array of card tricks and good diagrams.
One trick which I have always enjoyed doing (as a psychic style presentation) is in here called "Pick of the Bunch". It's one of those simple ones you can do impromtu which always amazes lay people - and this book is full of tricks like that.
The level of difficulty is graded and it varies from the amazingly easy to the slightly more complex, so there is something in here for beginners and more experienced card magicians alike.
There's even a section for card tricks using props including a simple but effective trick using a wallet. 173 pages, 101 tricks, for £5.99.
As with all books like this, not everything will suit you but there are some nice effects in here, some using a prepared deck, some using sleights and some self-workers which should have a few effects for everyone.
Joyfully, it doesn't focus on gimmicks and gaffs, so a fair few of the effects here can be performed with a borrowed deck.
For the price, it's well worth it, even if only ten of them suit you.

Overall
8/10

Mandrake · . Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Posts: 19000 Location: UK (62:AH)

Further proof, if it were ever needed, that magic doesn't have to be expensive - cheers Very Happy

!

Lord Freddie · Elite Member Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 2663

It's certainyl worth a read for the price, some nice tricks in there and pretty well illustrated. I was quite suprised to find this in a high street shop.
I've not checked but it's possible that Amazon may sell it even cheaper.