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Epigram Books Fiction Prize 2016 Longlist

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The first book in an exciting new YA mystery trilogy about a teenage savant on the trail of her family's killer, from the multi-talented Ning Cai, international magic celebrity and author.

When parkour champion Maxine Schooling wakes from a three-year coma, she has no memory of how her parents and little brother were killed the night she was attacked. Using her new-found photographic memory, she covertly helps her hacker BFF with the police investigation of a savage serial killer on the loose. In her race to track down the Singapore Spectre, Max finds herself embroiled in a conspiracy involving stage illusions, a secret exposé, and a controversial megachurch headed by a powerful man.
“Ning Cai is a wonder.”
—Neil Gaiman, internationally celebrated author of The Sandman and The Ocean at the End of the Lane

“A fast-paced YA thriller, packed with mystery, magic and a touch of romance.”
—Lang Leav, bestselling author of Sad Girls and Sea of Strangers

“Ning Cai conjures a potent blend of heart and humour alongside danger and darkness.”
—Gwenda Bond, author of the Lois Lane and Cirque American series

“Good mystery stories and magic tricks both rely on deft hands, artful distraction, charming onstage characters, and a flashy finish that leaves you wondering how the author pulled it all off—and Ning Cai puts on a great show!”
—E.C. Myers, award-winning author of Fair Coin and The Silence of Six
Ning Cai is the author of the Singapore Literature Prize-shortlisted memoir Who is Magic Babe Ning? She is also the co-author of three additional books: a travel account (Adventures of 2 Girls, with Pamela Ho), a middle-grade novel (Magicienne, with Don Bosco), and a creativity self-help guide (Game of Thoughts, with John Teo).

For over a decade, she was known as “Magic Babe” Ning, a multi-award-winning stage illusionist and escape artist known as “the sexiest woman in magic”. Lauded for her death-defying acts and record-setting feats, Ning performed for Middle Eastern royalty and showcased her brand of deadly sexy magic to an international audience on stage and on TV. After a brief period of retirement, she returned in 2017 as the mentalist Ning: Mind Magic Mistress.

Besides being engaged as magic consultant for various projects, she has starred in popular Mediacorp TV shows such as Meat and Greed 2 (Channel 5),《吃饱没？3》(Eat Already? 3) (Channel 8), Love in a Time of Change (Channel NewsAsia) & Record Breakers (Okto). A TEDx speaker and committee member of SCWO’s Women’s Register, Ning is also the creative director of Mighty Magic Lab, a kids edutainment company which focuses on empowering children with creativity and confidence through magic. You can find her on Instagram at @ning.thing.

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Misdirection (Book One of The Savant Trilogy)