"Johnson details exciting anecdotes of scams, hoaxes, and instances of conjuring . . . His stories unfold like magic." --David Blaine, Entertainment Weekly

In the 1920s, during an era when Americans were crazy for magic, Dai Vernon earned a reputation as a genius of the magical arts. When hard times descended after the crash of '29, the lights of New York faded, audiences dwindled, and Vernon headed west. Little did he realize that his life was about to change.

In Wichita, Kansas, while swapping secrets with a Mexican gambler, Vernon was told a story he didn't...