The Boys of Sabbath Street

When Artemus Ackerman, retired magician and mayor of Calendar, hears about the first fire on Sabbath Street, he sends his publicist, Maggie Wakeling, to the fire department to find out what caused it. He has his heart set on turning the shabbily elegant Baldwin Theater into a museum of magic, but the theater is located on Sabbath Street, and after a second and then a third fire, Sabbath Street suddenly seems to be burning down. Artemus orders Maggie to follow the trail of char. First to Fire Marshal George Copeland; then to The Boys of Sabbath Street, who had so valiantly saved occupants from two fires; and ultimately, to the shocking revelation of what caused of all three fires. Intermixed with fascinating details about fire investigation are a little love, a little idiosyncrasy, a town full of endearing characters, and a lot of magic.

When Artemus Ackerman, retired magician and mayor of Calendar, hears about the first fire on Sabbath Street, he sends his publicist, Maggie Wakeling, to the fire department to find out what caused it. Artemus, who still performs conjuring tricks for his constituents, has his heart set on turning the shabbily elegant Baldwin Theater into a museum of magic. All he has to do is convince wealthy widow Claudette Goodwin to donate the Baldwin to his beloved town. But the theater is located on Sabbath Street, where that first disastrous fire had occurred. Then there is a second fire on Sabbath Street. And a third. Certain that Claudette will never invest money in such an incendiary location, Artemus orders Maggie to follow the trail of char. First to Fire Marshal George Copeland. Then to The Boys of Sabbath Street, who had so valiantly saved occupants from two fires. And finally to…? Add to the mix Mayor Ackerman’s romantic attraction to the Claudette Goodwin, Maggie’s determination not to be attracted to Fire Marshal Copeland, and the idiosyncratic residents of Calendar. The result is a happy romp through the world of fire investigation and an introduction to people you will wish lived across the street, instead of only in the pages of this enchanting book.

Shelly Reuben’s first novel, Julian Solo, was nominated by the Mystery Writers of America for an Edgar Award, and by the Libertarian Futurist Society for a Prometheus Award. Her crime novel, Origin & Cause, was nominated for a Falcon Award by the Maltese Falcon Society of Japan. And her fable, The Man With The Glass Heart, was a Freedom Book Club selection. The ideas for many of her books come from the cases she investigates as a licensed private detective and certified fire investigator. She also writes two newspaper columns and regularly contributes short stories to The Forensic Examiner. She lives in New York City.