The Amazing Harvey (35 page)

Overeaters Anonymous is a real organization, and you can find information about it on the Internet. It consists of people who, without profit motive (it charges no dues or fees), help each other with food issues, whether the issue is overeating, anorexia, or bulimia. I'm thankful for the help of several OA members who, according to the traditions of the program, must remain anonymous. Their stories are truly inspiring, including that of a woman who lost over two hundred and fifty pounds and kept it off for more than thirty years.

By the way, the answer to the caterpillar problem
here
is, in fact, an average speed of four and a half. Assume the caterpillar goes nine inches in each direction. It takes one hour to get there but three hours to get back (it can only go three inches per hour on the return trip). So it traveled eighteen inches in four hours. Eighteen divided by four equals four and a half.

I first want to thank Barry Krost and Steve Troha for believing in Harvey, and Brendan Deneen for his incredible support and vision. I'm also grateful to the following folk who generously shared their expertise: Captain Ray Peavey (retired) of the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department for his help with homicide-investigation procedures; Blair Berk and Richard Hirsch for their help with criminal law issues; Dean Gialamas, Director, Orange County Sheriff, Coroner Forensic Services, and Bruce Houlihan, for their help with DNA tests and practices; Dr. Ed Ritvo for his help with autism and life in general; Dr. Eva Pressler for her help with pediatric medical issues; Dr. Steve Forman, Jill Kendall (no relation to Harvey), Sharon White, and Britta Buccholz of the City of Hope for their help with the bone-marrow-transplant program; Jack Palladino for his private detecting skills; and Brad Meltzer for his advice and support.

I especially want to thank Sol Stein, my writing coach and friend.

And most of all thanks to my wife Shana, my love and my soul mate, and our growing family: Danny, David, Rona, Josh, Lindsey, Jordan, Benjamin, Talia, Ollie, Tobey & Tina.

 

ALSO BY DON PASSMAN

All You Need to Know About the Music Business

The Visionary

Mirage

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With a lifelong interest in magic, DON PASSMAN is listed as one of the top attorneys in the country. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and practices with the Los Angeles firm of Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown, specializing in the music business. A serial obsessive, he has counted as his hobbies not only magic, but also guitar, five-string banjo, poker, chess, backgammon, dog training, and real-estate investment. Don is the author of the nonfiction bestseller
All You Need to Know About the Music Business
and two novels,
The Visionary
and
Mirage.

 

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously.

 

A THOMAS DUNNE BOOK FOR MINOTAUR BOOKS.

An imprint of St. Martin's Publishing Group.

 

THE AMAZING HARVEY.
Copyright © 2014 by Don Passman. All rights reserved. For information, address Picador, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

 

www.thomasdunnebooks.com

www.minotaurbooks.com

 

Cover design by Lisa Pompillo

 

Cover illustration: Michael Koelsh, magician © Buyenlarge/Superstock; Sequined lapel © Sootra/
Shutterstock.com

 

The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows:

 

Passman, Donald S.

    The amazing Harvey: a mystery / Don Passman.—First Edition.

            p.  cm.

    “A Thomas Dunne Book.”

    ISBN 978-1-250-04187-6 (hardcover)

    ISBN 978-1-4668-3914-4 (e-book)

  1.  Magicians—Fiction.   2.  Murder—Investigation—Fiction.   I.  Title.

    PS3566.A774A83 2014

    813'.54—dc23

2013033838

 

e-ISBN 9781466839144

 

Minotaur books may be purchased for educational, business, or promotional use. For information on bulk purchases, please contact Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or write [email protected].

 

First Edition: February 2014