A middle grade historical murder mystery from a Newbery Medalist, “readers will be glued to this suspenseful, headlong caper from first page to last” (Kirkus Reviews).

A plot to overthrow King Claudio is brewing in the Kingdom of Pergamontio. Scholarly Mangus the magician—along with his street-smart and faithful new servant boy, Fabrizio—have been marked as easy scapegoats for the traitor lurking within the king’s court. Together, these two unlikely partners must gather clues to solve the mystery and prove their innocence before the stroke of midnight . . . or face death!

Intricate plotting, surprise twists, and lively prose make for another suspenseful page-turner that stands alone or sets the stage for Avi’s–bestselling sequel, Midnight Magic.

“The suspense simmer[s] right through to the end.” —Booklist