Mr. Wizard: Funny, Vivid Fast-Paced Novel Now Available

Genetic Treasure Hunt and Plot Twists Make This Debut Story a Must-Read

(New York, NY) — Mr. Wizard, the debut novel by Jeff Wallach (Open Books), follows Phillip and Spencer Elliot, two brothers who learn via DNA testing that their supposed father is not who they thought. The brothers pursue a genetic treasure hunt by following clues that may or may not have been left by their wild mother, Jenny—herself a master of misdirection. While searching to learn more about their identities the brothers consider who they are and what that means: are they pure products of genetics; formed more completely by upbringing and social interactions; victims of randomness; or some combination of these factors?

The action takes place in 1970s Long Island, and current-day Manhattan and Ireland. The book features plenty of scenes at golf courses and clubs in both New York and Ireland; movie and musical references; a women’s golf champion who also plays drums in a band called Gorsey Park; and the world’s driest Alzheimer’s joke.

“My experiences researching stories for golf and travel magazine for the past 35 years have made a strong impact on my fiction” explains Wallach of his initial work in this genre. “Mr. Wizard will be most interesting to folks who grew up in the 1970s; people who love to travel; golfers; those interested in ancestry; and readers who like a good mystery with a surprise ending.”

Wallach is the award-winning author of four non-fiction books as well as nearly 1,000 articles, essays, reviews, and columns in The New York Times, The Oregonian, Sports Illustrated, Men’s Journal, GOLF Magazine, Men’s Health, Health, Money Magazine, and many other national publications.

“Jeff Wallach is a prodigiously gifted writer—insightful, funny, and always surprising. Mr. Wizard twists and turns like a double helix,” says Terri Cheney, New York Times bestselling author. “When you finish, you’ll want to go back to the very first page and experience it all over again, just to see how Wallach pulled it off.”

Wallach holds a Masters degree in Fiction Writing from Brown University and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from Vassar College. He lives, writes, hikes, and plays soccer and golf in Portland, Oregon, and around the world.

Mr. Wizard is available from Open Books this month and at Amazon.  

Click HERE to read an interview with the author, Jeff Wallach.

Watch the official book trailer on YouTube.