The Improvisers - (A Murder & Magic Novel) by Nicole Glover (Paperback)

About the Book

"Velma Frye is many things. A pilot, a former bootlegger, a well-seasoned traveler, a jazz pianist...and a wielder of celestial magic. She's also a member of the mystical Rhodes family as well as an investigator for arcane oddities for a magic rights organization, dealing with both simple and complicated cases. And when a pocket watch instigates a magical brawl after one of her flight shows, things become very complicated. In 1930s America, enchanted items are highly valuable, especially in the waning days of the magical Prohibition. As Velma digs deeper, she discovers the watch is part of a collection of dangerous artifacts manipulating people across the country--and in some cases, leading to their deaths. Something about all this is tickling Velma's memories, and the more she discovers, the more these seemingly isolated incidents feel as if they're building to something apocalyptic. Connecting the dots isn't easy, though, and further complicating her work is journalist Dillon Harris. He hounds her steps, and while not actively sabotaging her investigation, he also clearly knows more than he lets on. Whether it's his presence that she finds so vexing or his easygoing charm, that's a mystery she isn't interested in solving. Because someone is out there seeding cursed objects with the intent on wreaking havoc, and Velma will have to use every trick in her tool kit, including some well-placed magical improvisation, to win the day. Focusing on a new generation of the Rhodes family, The Improvisers brims with charming magic, intriguing mystery, and high-flying adventure seeking new heights."-- Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

For fans of Nghi Vo, P. Djèlí Clark, and Alix E. Harrow: a new stand-alone historical fantasy set in the world of the critically acclaimed Murder and Magic series during Prohibition. The Improvisers is the tale of Velma, a barnstorming pilot and former magic bootlegger, who pursues dangerous enchanted items and a mystery that crosses the US and cuts through time--right to the heart of her family's past and present.

Velma Frye is many things. A pilot, a former bootlegger, a well-seasoned traveler, a jazz pianist...and a wielder of celestial magic. She's also a member of the mystical Rhodes family as well as an investigator for arcane oddities for a magic rights organization, dealing with both simple and complicated cases. And when a pocket watch instigates a magical brawl after one of her flight shows, things become very complicated.

In 1930s America, enchanted items are highly valuable, especially in the waning days of the magical Prohibition. As Velma digs deeper, she discovers the watch is part of a collection of dangerous enchanted artifacts manipulating people across the country--and in some cases, leading to their deaths. Something about all this is tickling Velma's memories, and the more she discovers, the more these seemingly isolated incidents feel as if they're building to something apocalyptic.

Connecting the dots isn't easy, though, and the slow-burn tension with journalist Dillon Harris further complicates her work. He hounds her steps, and while not actively sabotaging her investigation, he also clearly knows more than he lets on. Whether it's his presence that she finds so vexing or his easygoing charm, that's a mystery she isn't interested in solving. Because someone is out there seeding cursed objects with the intent on wreaking havoc, and Velma will have to use every trick in her tool kit, including some well-placed magical improvisation, to win the day.

Focusing on a new generation of the Rhodes family, The Improvisers brims with charming magic, deep family secrets, intriguing mystery, and high-flying adventure seeking new heights.

Review Quotes

"Glover's charming sequel to The Conductors digs deeper into the captivating Black society of a post-Civil War Philadelphia that's infused with celestial magic...Layers on intrigue and tension build into a gripping whodunit...The easy momentum will keep both new and returning readers racing along to the end. It's fun, twisty and richly detailed." - Publishers Weekly on The Undertakers

"The Undertakers...covers multiple interconnected mysteries with humor and warmth...Hetty and Benjy's camaraderie is the real star of the show, no matter how many spells they fire off at assailants. The Undertakers' historical fantasy vibe will appeal to fans of Alyssa Cole's Loyal League series and Maurice Broaddus's Buffalo Soldier." - Booklist

"An Underground Railroad--but with magic. With compelling characters and wondrous worldbuilding, Glover weaves a tangled mystery of murder, spellwork, and freedom amid the remnants of slavery's lingering memories." - P. Djèlí Clark, Nebula Award-winning author of Ring Shout, on The Conductors

"The Conductors is a seamless blending of magic, mystery, and history, creating power and wonder with its rarefied glimpse of Black life in the late 1800s. The Vigilance Society and the magic-wielding couple at the core of this story are a welcome addition to the growing chorus of voices in Black speculative fiction. Glover's worldbuilding, characters, and attention to historical detail create a delightfully genre-bending debut!" - Tananarive Due, American Book Award winner, author of Ghost Summer: Stories

"A history buff's dream fantasy novel. It is also a fantasy geek's dream history novel." - NPR on The Conductors

"A rich, fantastical rendering that will leave readers clamoring for more." - Justina Ireland, New York Times bestselling author of Dread Nation

"A spritely page-turner with depth and vision. Velma Frye is a talented, powerful hero in a cracking great mystery adventure, but it's the world--and Velma's place within it--that really grabbed my heart." - Nebula Award-winning author C.L. Polk