Crossfire is a fast, clean, and stunning new book test, in which you read the thoughts of between 4 and 8 spectators (no process, no writing and no fishing!) This not only features some incredibly clean mind-reading, but also features a surprise twist kicker ending!

“As a book test-aholic from way back, this is by far my absolute favorite, and the only one in my show! Bravo! If this had come out 20 years ago, it would have saved me a ton of money!” – Lon Cerel

"WOW - Chris has knocked this book test out of the park!!! "
- Paul Romhany, Vanish Magazine

"If I was going to limit myself to a single gimmicked book, this would be it!"
- Fred Rosenbaum, Linking Ring Magazine

“This is an excellent effect! Crossfire gives you a great surprise reveal at the end, making it different from any other book test. So many ideas come to mind for how we can use it!”
- Jeff Evason (The Evasons)

"Book Tests are coming at us fast and furious these days, but the ones that try to take things to a new level are rare. Chris Philpott’s new “Crossfire Book Test” does just that, and I think it is a winner. The gimmicked book supplied here is much, much better than average. In performance, the kicker really plays."
- John Lovick, Genii Magazine

"Correctly presented, a very strong effect, as close to real mind reading as you might get, technically easy and with a strong and surprising final climax." -Stuart Bowie, MagicSeen Magazine

Crossfire: A Book Test with a Twist!

The performer shows a copy of one of the most magical books ever written: Peter Pan. Every page appears different (they are), and ungimmicked (they are not). The performer riffles through the book – a spectator calls stop, the performer stops exactly on that page and has the spectator remember a word (no peeks).

Then, in a manner similar to the multiple card selection (one of the greatest effects in magic), between 3 and 7 more people also call stop as you riffle and they think of a word!

Without asking a single question, the performer quickly rattles off several details about the word: “I’m getting nothing. Maybe that’s the point. I’m sensing an absence, something missing. Something….” He stops and writes a word on a white board or pad. He asks the spectator to name her word: “Lacking”. The performer shows his board: he has written “Lacking”.

But as he moves on, he faces some difficulties: some people are resistant to mind reading. Half the words are nailed quickly and precisely, but with the others, the performer can’t seem to name the precise word though he always gets close (like saying “Leg” instead of “Limb”, “Wood” instead of “Cork”, “Space” instead of “Area” and “Ankle” instead of “Knee”).

In the end, he’s only got half the words right. Disappointed in himself, he looks at his white board and realizes something: “In the field of magic we call mentalism, we can read minds, predict the future and sometimes we tap into patterns even we don’t understand. This seems to be one of those cases.”

He turns the board toward the audience to show the four words he has mind-read flawlessly:

Then he reveals a deeper pattern at work, revealing the other four thought-of words: Limb, Area, Cork and Knee:

And accepts his applause.

***

While the book is small enough to fit in your back pocket, the effect is big enough to wow a large theater!

The copy of Peter Pan appears identical to the one used in The Tossed Out Book Test ("Frankly, if this had been mine, I would not have sold it, but kept it for myself." - Richard Osterlind), so the two effects can be used together.

“This is the type of routine lay audiences love! Crossfire is mind reading with an incredible kicker that your audience won’t see coming -- but will never forget.” - Craig Karges

“When I saw Chris perform this at the Magic Castle, I told him to keep this for himself. It’s literally a standing-ovation-causing show closer! If you are a serious student of Mentalism, Crossfire is a must have. Get it!” - David Blatter

"I love the ‘hidden’ revelations that are out there and the audience doesn’t see it until you show them. Crossfire is a great book test for workers. Looks like I am going to put this book test into my act." - Lior Manor

"Chris Philpott's Crossfire Book Test is a thing of beauty! Using a very classic idea (but one not produced before in this way), you are able to read the minds of 4 to 8 spectators as cleanly and directly as possible. Actually, you can just do it with one or two if you like. There is no way you can fail to stun your audience with Crossfire if you pay attention to the fully explained instructions that Chris has painstakingly laid out. Here is a totally professional piece of equipment that, if you are a serious mentalist, you cannot afford to be without."
- Richard Osterlind

“This could be a closer. If you’re a stage performer, you know the value of five minutes; that’s gold dust for me. I love kicker finishes that work. You want those moments of ‘Oh what a shame, he didn’t quite get it.’ And then at the end that relief of you actually getting it right is really powerful. A real joy, this. A real joy watching the video that came with it as well.” - Steve Faulkner, Real Magic Review

"Chris has created something that will stun and delight an audience and, like all good movies, there's a moment of seeming failure before the heroic triumph. I can't wait to put this in my show. This is epic mentalism!" - Bruce Gold

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Crossfire Plus: Book Test, plus an "ungimmicked" book to switch out for examination. $120. Free shipping in the U.S.

Crossfire Pro: Book Test, plus "ungimmicked book" and 2 additional gimmicked books for a total of four books. $239. Free Shipping in the U.S.

Crossfire Pro International: Book Test, plus "ungimmicked book" and 2 additional gimmicked books for a total of four books. $239. Add $25 shipping outside the U.S.