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The Secret of Magic
- Author
- Deborah Johnson
- Narrator
- Bahni Turpin
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 4 August 2026
- Run Time
- 14 hours 15 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
What to expect
In 1946, a young female attorney from New York City attempts the impossible: obtaining justice for a Black man in the Deep South.
At the NAACP offices in New York City, Regina Robichard opens a letter for her employer and mentor, Thurgood Marshall, surprised to discover it is from M. P. Calhoun, one of the most reclusive authors in the country. Calhoun has requested that the NAACP investigate the murder of a young Black man, Joe Howard Wilson.
As a child, Regina was captivated by Calhoun’s The Secret of Magic, a novel in which white and Black children played together in a magical forest. The book was a sensation—featured on the cover of Time magazine—and banned more than any other novel in the South. And then the author disappeared.
As a stand-in for Marshall, Robichard travels to Revere, Mississippi, to find out the truth behind the murder of Wilson, who was among scores of Black men returning from the war. But as she navigates the muddy waters of racism, relationships, and her own tragic past, she discovers that nothing in the South is as it seems.
The Secret of Magic brilliantly explores the power of stories—and those who dare to tell them. Shortlisted for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, this beautiful novel brings history to light with unforgettable resonance.
Critics Review
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“The secret (and magic) in The Secret of Magic is in Deborah Johnson’s powerful writing, creating character and story that will linger long after the reading.”
Terry Kay, bestselling author of To Dance with the White Dog and The Book of Marie
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“I found this story about race, the South, our country—part history, part mystery—never disappointing. Like the South she tragically portrays, The Secret of Magic is a layered tale of the best and worst of our history, beautifully wrought by a master storyteller.”
Robert Hicks, New York Times bestselling author of The Widow of the South and A Separate Country
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“A passionate, nuanced drama about Southern race relations…Provocative.”
Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
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“Johnson offers a completely engaging Southern Gothic with unforgettable characters.”
Booklist
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“Johnson’s spirited sophomore novel…explores racial boundaries in 1940s Mississippi through the eyes of Regina Robichard, a young Black lawyer from Harlem sent to investigate the murder in Thurgood Marshall’s stead…A spirited portrayal of the postwar South.”
Publishers Weekly
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Details
- Author
- Deborah Johnson
- Narrator
- Bahni Turpin
- Duration
- 14 hours 15 minutes
- Release Date
- 4 August 2026
- ISBN
- 9798228649347
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Fiction: general and literary, Fiction: general and literary, Fiction: general and literary, Narrative theme: Sense of place
Synopsis
In 1946, a young female attorney from New York City attempts the impossible: obtaining justice for a Black man in the Deep South.At the NAACP offices in New York City, Regina Robichard opens a letter for her employer and mentor, Thurgood Marshall, surprised to discover it is from M. P. Calhoun, one of the most reclusive authors in the country. Calhoun has requested that the NAACP investigate the murder of a young Black man, Joe Howard Wilson.As a child, Regina was captivated by Calhoun’s The Secret of Magic, a novel in which white and Black children played together in a magical forest. The book was a sensation—featured on the cover of Time magazine—and banned more than any other novel in the South. And then the author disappeared.As a stand-in for Marshall, Robichard travels to Revere, Mississippi, to find out the truth behind the murder of Wilson, who was among scores of Black men returning from the war. But as she navigates the muddy waters of racism, relationships, and her own tragic past, she discovers that nothing in the South is as it seems.The Secret of Magic brilliantly explores the power of stories—and those who dare to tell them. Shortlisted for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, this beautiful novel brings history to light with unforgettable resonance.
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