Syd Moore, The Grand Illusion

Syd Moore is back with a thrilling opener to a new historical fiction series set in WW2. The Grand Illusion is inspired by an event alleged to have taken place in the New Forest in the summer of 1940 – a spectacular magical ritual – “The Cone of Power” – that would be witnessed by German agents in the area and reported back to the Führer. Its goal: to avert invasion on British shores.

Thursday 20 June, 7.30pm

Venue: South Woodham Ferrers Library, Trinity Square, South Woodham Ferrers, Chelmsford, CM3 5JU
Tickets: £8 / £7 concessions (Students, Under 27s and Unwaged)
Box Office: essexbookfestival.org.uk or Mercury Theatre 01206 573948

Syd Moore will be in conversation with author, freelance writer and radio and podcast producer Christine Penhall.

The Grand Illusion by Syd Moore

Published 18 April 2024 (Magpie, an imprint of Oneworld)

Order a copy of The Grand Illusion at bookshop.org

Syd Moore is back with a thrilling new series set in WW2.

JUNE 1940. As Hitler prepares to invade Britain, a secret office hidden away in Whitehall is catapulted into a frenzy of activity and expansion. Aware of the Nazis’ obsession with the occult, the British Secret Service sets out to exploit this potential weakness in the enemy’s high command.

Twenty-two-year-old Daphne Devine is performing on the London stage as assistant to magician Jonty Trevelyan, aka ‘The Grand Mystique’, when the secret service calls.

Daphne and Jonty find themselves far from the glitz and glamour of the theatre, deep inside the lower levels of Wormwood Scrubs prison. Here they join secret ranks of astrologers, illusionists and other theatre performers co-opted to the war effort.

Soon Daphne realizes she must risk everything if there is any chance of saving her country…

In the opener to a new historical fiction series Syd Moore brings her unique perspective to a different period – the Second World War. The Grand Illusion is inspired by an event alleged to have taken place in the New Forest in the summer of 1940 – a spectacular magical ritual – “The Cone of Power” – that would be witnessed by German agents in the area and reported back to the Führer. Its goal: to avert invasion on British shores.

About the Author

Syd Moore is currently Essex Libraries’ first Author in Residence. Twice shortlisted for a CWA Dagger, she is best known for her Essex Witch Museum Mysteries, a series that explores the witch trials in Essex between 1560 to 1680. The series was shortlisted for the Good Reader Holmes and Watson Award in 2018 and 2019. Syd founded the Essex Girls’ Liberation Front and successfully got the term ‘Essex Girl’ removed from the Oxford dictionary in 2020. Her debut screenplay, Witch West will go into production in 2024. She lives in Essex.

@SydMoore1

Photo of Syd Moore © J Moore Photos

This event will be hosted by Christine Penhall.

Christine is an author, freelance writer and radio and podcast producer and writes contemporary romance novels. She has written for local newspapers & magazines. She has produced radio documentaries for BBC Essex. She has on air radio experience and now has her own occasional podcast – Talking to My Friends About Books – in which she talks to her friends about books…

Find out more at chrispenhall.co.uk.