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

Book Synopsis

Indiana Jones meets Hidden Figures in this brand-new stand-alone historical fantasy set in the world of The Conductors, in which the space race of the mid-20^th century will be determined by magic...if not murder.

In the 1960s, the world was caught up in reaching beyond our planet and into the cosmos. It felt impossible--but there was nothing science, math...and magic couldn't make possible. The race to space was on, and the Moon was what everyone had their eyes on.

Including Cynthia Rhodes, a brilliant arcane engineer at NASA's Ainsworth Research Labs. Talented in math and magic, she hosts a magical educational show... a job she took mostly for a chance to regularly see the dashing Theodore Danner, a professor of arcane archeology.

She is also an amateur sleuth--something that has run in her family for generations.

When a cursed museum curator nearly interrupts a broadcast of their show, Cynthia finds an eager sleuthing partner in Theo. Pairing up, they begin investigating the strange behavior of the curator and a mysterious theft at the arcane history museum--until one of Cynthia's own coworkers perishes right in front of her in a major lab accident that endangers Ainsworth's role in the space race.

Certain it was murder instead of an accident, Cynthia sees this as a separate case at first. However the more she and Theo investigate, Cynthia uncovers a surprising link between the two incidents. The museum theft and murder are part of a larger equation--one that includes deadly enchantments, rumored pirate treasure, a peculiar plant, and a dire threat to the space program as well as everything she holds dear.

The Starseekers is another rip-roaring adventure for the Rhodes family, who have been using magic to aid their community and solve mysteries since before the Civil War. The times may have changed, but a Rhodes once again finds themselves thrust into a world of murders, theft, sabotage, and curses, and this time the stakes extend to the stars themselves.

Review Quotes

"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

"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

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

"Inventively mixing mystery, magic, and alternate history, Glover's nail-biting debut takes readers to Reconstruction era Philadelphia . . . Glover is a writer to watch." -- Publishers Weekly (starred review) on The Conductors

"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

"Nicole Glover blends historical detail and magical elements into an unforgettable debut. The Conductors is a wholly original and thoroughly riveting story. This is no doubt the first of many brilliant books to come." -- Deanna Raybourn, New York Times best-selling author of A Murderous Relation

"Community dynamics mixed with a magical alternate Reconstruction-era mystery. The Conductors has all the elements I was looking for in a good story." -- Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo Award-winning author of The Calculating Stars

"With The Conductors, Nicole Glover creates a fascinating world where even magic is segregated. She effortlessly weaves both the constellation-based magical system and the real life struggles of being Black in post-Civil War America. The characters, led by former Underground Railroad conductors Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, are as intriguing as the mystery. It's hard to believe this is Glover's first book. I found it as enchanting as one of Hetty's spells." -- Kellye Garrett, winner of the Anthony, Agatha, and Lefty awards and author of Hollywood Homicide and Hollywood Ending

"The Conductors is a conjured novel. Reimagining a past that helps us navigate our present, it weaves a rich tapestry of history and magic to create a story of resilience and resistance through the power of Black girl magic. It's the perfect book for our times." -- Maurice Broaddus, author of Pimp My Airship

"The Conductors is a wildly inventive alternate history that combines compelling characters, a propulsive plot, and lots of intrigue. It is also radical as hell. Thought-provoking and powerful, Glover's novel is a must-read." -- Cadwell Turnbull, author of The Lesson

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

"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

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