At the age of fifteen, shattered by the sudden death of his girlfriend Grace, Charles Bentchley flees his Connecticut home and finds refuge with the Magnificent Rudy, a magician who for the next seven years teaches Charles his tricks--and his tricks of the trade. Eventually Charles returns home to confront his loss of Grace and his brother's role in it. In his pursuit of revenge Charles must come to grips not only with his brother's betrayal, but with his own mistakes and guilt. Through imagination and magic he finds his way beyond loss and anger toward new love and redemption. In this lucid, concise, and beautiful penetration of character, D. K. Smith has written a synthesis of narrative and idea that never ceases to be a superior entertainment as well.