The Boyd Mystery is a true crime story that keeps your audience on the edge of their seats and concludes with a NEW unbelievable finish!

"This effect is absolutely incredible."
- Richard Sanders

"Over the past two decades I've been performing the Boyd Mystery for audiences all over the world. It has evolved over the years. From a very simple effect, into a NEW show-stopping moment in all of my shows!"
- Bill Abbott

https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=69735

An incredible crime story with a fantastic magic effect! The beautiful, handmade props have been designed to fit in a hip-style wallet or a pocket making it easy and convenient to carry with you anywhere. There are NO angle problems and it resets instantly for repeat performances.

You display a photo slowly on both sides and could even hand it out for examination. You wrap the photo back inside the folder and slide it back into the envelope. You place it in the center of the table. Or lay it on the base of the an inverted wine glass in full view.

You remove a match from a vintage matchbox, light it and balance it in the center of the matchbox. Then carefully lay it on top of the envelope while you continue the story. You slowly open the envelope, unwrap the black cover and now the photo has been permanently altered! The figure of Eddie Boyd is missing - it's been torn from the center of the photograph!

All that was left was a broken piece of a hacksaw lying in the middle of the jail cell...Under the photo is an actual broken hacksaw blade that has suddenly appeared out of nowhere!

The spectator stands and discovers that he is now SITTING on the torn out image of Eddie Boyd!

https://www.murphysmagic.com/Product.aspx?id=69735

I really like Bill and have almost all of the stuff he’s released. I got bored and ordered this a few months ago. The positives are that this is definitely something “different” you can add to your show to mix things up. The story is interesting and engaging. The props are well made. The teaching is very clear. All traits of pretty much all of Bill’s releases. The negative I have is that for the price, it would have been nice if more pictures were included, especially the one people sit on which will ultimately get beat up.

The biggest consideration is the price. I fully believe in paying a premium for the idea and that the cost of the actual props should not determine the overall price, but $75 for this confuses me. The method is very simple and there is nothing really new by way of methodology. The props are nice but simple. Probably $5 tops. So the ultimate question is whether the idea is worth the extra $70 to you. Again, I know that there is R&D and prototyping involved and that can and should very fairly impact the price, but the overall value is something each person will have to evaluate individually. For me, it seems the sweet spot for this would have been around $40, but as a working pro, not that big of a consideration. Probably steep for a hobbyist. At one point Bill shows a hollowed out book about the criminal in question. It was given to him as a gift and perfectly held the props as well as fit perfectly with the premise of the story. I really wish that could have been mass produced and included. That would have made this a perfect kit and well worth the $75 IMO.

As for performance conditions, this is best suited for close-up or small parlor shows. You could play it on stage with a camera but it’s an intimate piece that probably deserves a more intimate environment to get the full effect. As for skill level, it’s dead easy and dare I say almost self-working. Bill gives you several options for where to produce the final reveal. If you like the premise and will use it enough to justify the cost, you won’t be disappointed.

Eric, thanks, you verbalized in detail.what I was thinking. Honestly, it should have been around $40. But it's the typical Bill Abbot effect with the accompanying Bill Abbot price.

I agree that Bill’s releases are a bit pricey, but you’re usually guaranteed an excellent routine when buying one of his tricks. In my opinion, if you add this routine to your act it is well worth the price.

A version of this was on his dvd set. Looks like he has improved it.

Thanks for the detailed review, Eric. Very helpful. Muchos appreciatos.

I think I paid $20 for the first version about 7-8 years ago, maybe longer. It used the old paper Budda fold method and didn't come with the balancing matches on matchbox or the blade. Definitely a cool routine.

I think if you're the sort of magician that wants to buy a trick with a script already written for you, so you don't have to think in any way at all, this is great. The price is reasonable for the lazy and uncreative.

Or just buy the buddha papers mystery for $5

The effect is weak, why would the prisoner escape only to be found underneath where someone is sitting? seems a cheap gag

Just wondering if you watched the demo saw the reactions of the people?

Would you pay 75$ for it?

Probably not because the original version I have plays strong as well. IMO, the added nuances with a blade and the match definitely will enhance the routine but not so much so for another $75!

I like it but at that price no way for me.

Is it just me or I feel like the video is missing a lot of things in the performance hence making it look like we are paying big bucks to have a card under someone’s butt.

At 1:29 during the camera performance, some people could argue that this is a little misleading because of the way a certain prop works, something was done during the cut for what is in the envelope to now appear how it is. I’m just worried that people who do not know what has gone on, if expecting the effect to look as it does on that camera performance will be disappointed to find a certain action is needed and missed out. It’s not a big action needed and you have plenty of time to do it and it will look innocent, only saying as a concern if people are expecting it to perform and work exactly as they see in that performance?

Here is a review of boyd mystery by Bill Abbot from Mark Traversoni and I have to agree with Mark regarding the over price and value for money https://www.saturnmagic.co.uk/

Yes agree and Marks comments are fair in all fairness.

Thanks for the heads up, Roberto.

U have to load the final reveal under someone obviously but the only other thing that is cut is the most basic of moves. I wouldn’t really even call it a move.

1OO percent every word Mark on this one, I know times are hard for us all at the moment and we gotta make a living but everything has gone crazy price hike in everything, my work even struggling now with getting material's to carry on work,very slow getting my Gigs back as well, just seems so darn expensive and I have certainly kept away from somethings I like ,but feel way over priced.