The Improvisers

Murder and Magic #3

by Nicole Glover

For fans of Nghi Vo, P. Djèlí Clark, and Alix E. Harrow: a new stand-alone 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 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.

Genres: Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Mystery, Historical, Historical Fantasy, Fiction, Adult

442 pages, Paperback

First published November 5, 2024

Reviews

[Melany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the magical, spell binding aspect of this book. It's also set in the 1930s, so it gives you a bit of historical fiction vibes as well. The FMC was truly my favorite character. She dug deep, was fierce, and was determined. She pushed boundaries, she didn't give up, and she was amazing at what she did. While I found some parts of this really dragged on, hence removing a star from rating, overall, this was a good read. It's a slow start, but once you push to the last half, it's a truly worthy read. Magically wonderful!

I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book.

[Linda Galella · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy for review purposes; all opinions are honest and mine alone.


THE IMPROVISERS, by Nicole Glover, is a genre busting story the tests boundaries and leans heavily on magic; the too heavily, IMO. Glover uses magic excessively. At times, I wasn’t sure if the characters were participating or planning, especially during the early stages.

Because the story incorporates significant historical events, (black female aviators, prohibition, racism), I was expecting good world building. Unfortunately, this element suffered because of the extensive use of magic. There is quite a large cast of characters that are hard to keep track of. For the same reason as above, development suffers and we don’t get to know them very well.

For the majority of the story, I was waiting to be drawn in and care about what was happening. What happened was another spell or twist to an already completely gnarled storyline📚

Read & Reviewed from a NetGalley eARC, with thanks

[KMart Vet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a jazz era-infused historical fiction world set against a magical Prohibition-era backdrop that’s so incredibly unique. I already loved Glover's first two books, so getting to dive back into the lives of the Rhodes family, this time through the eyes of Velma, felt like coming home. I love Glover's writing and settings. Velma is unforgettable. She's sharp, witty, and relentless.

Velma's complex relationship with Dillon adds just the right tension, with their banter providing a sense of fun amidst the conspiracies. Their dynamic keeps the plot exciting and you can’t help but get invested in every exchange between them.

Glover is brilliant at bringing history and magical elements together, making this feel alive, magical, and historical all at once. The mystery itself is so well-woven and I loved the magical elements. The book is both fast-paced and richly detailed. Following the Rhodes family through different generations is an exciting direction, and Glover’s focus on diverse, courageous characters feels especially relevant and uplifting in today’s political climate.

Highly recommended for those seeking a story with depth and a heroine worth rooting for. This book reminds us of the power of our history and the strength of community.

Thank you to Harper Voyager, Storygram Tours, and the author for the complimentary copy and the opportunity to read and review! This review is voluntary and all opinions are my own.

[Kaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun and engaging historical fantasy murder mystery. Although there are a couple of previous books about Velma's grandparents, this book stands well on its own - and in fact, I'm looking forward to reading the previous books even more now. I really enjoyed the way the author incorporated magic into the historical setting, and Velma is a very charismatic protagonist. I'd love to read more of her adventures, before or after this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC.

[Ms. Woc Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velma is a pilot and an investigator for the Magnolia Muses. She must team up with Dillion Harris, a journalist to prevent him from ruining her investigation as she tries to track down magical artifacts that have been causing unexplained violent incidents across the country.

This is a historical fantasy written in a urban fantasy style. Though still in the Murder & Magic series this one works as a standalone following the granddaughter Velma, a pilot. It was slow to develop at first and didn't really start clicking with me until around the 40% mark. As the mystery started to come together the book started holding my attention more. Velma and Dillion work well as a duo with an easy banter together.

Readers who enjoyed The Conductors will like the cameo from Benjy and Hetty as well as the appearance of their children and some of their grandchildren.


3.5

[Michael Hays · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won a physical, uncorrected proof of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. So I want to start out by thanking Goodreads and everybody else involved in the giveaway. I like mysteries and I’m no stranger to the fantasy realm so I was very glad to win my copy of The Improvisers by Nicole Glover.

Unfortunately, I have some mixed feelings about this book. I really like the historical aspect of it being set in 1930’s and all of the real history that was mixed in throughout the story as it went on. I also feel like Nicole Glover did a good job of developing her characters and their relationships. I quickly grew fond of the FMC Velma, and the MMC Dillon especially, but I also liked the rest of Velma’s family and friends as well.

However, I have to say that for me this novel read much like a young adult story somewhere between Harry Potter and Nancy Drew. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved both of those series when I was younger and I am certainly not above reading more of them today if I found some new additions to the series. I just felt like in spite of the fact that it was over 400 pages. This was a very light read that did not have a lot of depth to it. To start with I felt like the story was very slow to develop and took a very long time to get me hooked. I felt like some of the contributing factors were the jumping back-and-forth of the places as well as the timeline of the story in the overdependence on magic. I realize this is a magical universe, but it was used to the extent that I felt like it became an easy out for Velma and it hindered the development of the actual story.

My only other complaint is that this was supposed to be a standalone story in the Murder and Magic world, and there was so much emphasis put on Velma’s grandparents and all of their abilities and how amazing they were (more so than anyone else in the story) that it was clear that there was more to their story. It made me feel like I really should’ve read Nicole’s other books in this world first. I do admit that this is something that may not bother the average reader, but it was a feeling that I couldn’t shake as I read The Improvisers.

Aside from these things, I did eventually get drawn into the story, and I was definitely pulling for Velma, Dillon their families and friends to triumph over the evil that they had encountered. When I finally finished the book and put it aside I was left with a feeling of satisfaction in the outcome of the story and an overall feeling of being glad that I had read it.

[Anne (eggcatsreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and entertaining installment in the Murder and Magic series, this book can be enjoyed both as a standalone, as well as for anyone hoping for more of this world. While I’ll admit to being a bit disappointed that this book doesn’t focus on Hetty and Benjy like the earlier books in this series, Velma quickly grabbed my attention and I was soon on board with how her adventures would stack up instead. I also loved being able to see some of the characters we had known and loved in the other two books, as well as seeing how the family had grown since we had last been in this world.

While I kind of thought this book had a slower start, once the story kicked off I was invested until the last page. Once Velma and Dillon began their investigation together - snarking at each other the entire time - I was having a blast. The investigation is in-depth and intricate, and up until the pieces started to come together I had no idea how everything would fit. The worldbuilding in these books is also fascinating, as this book expands upon how the 1920-1930s looks with the magical alternate universe - but in a very grounded way to where everything feels realistic and possible.

One thing I always really appreciate with Nicole Glover’s writing is how well the romances are done in her books. I will admit, I was a bit hesitant once I learned that this would be a more of an enemies-to-lovers type of deal, since I find the trope tedious if poorly done. However, I was pleasantly surprised to love every bit of conversation as well as the entire dynamic between Velma and Dillon, and that they felt natural and real as they slowly became closer. While different from how Hetty and Benjy slowly realized they simply just “fit” together, a lot of how naturally the two fit together was the same. I realize some others might prefer heart-pounding and “love at first sight” or much more dramatic romances, but that’s never been something I’ve been able to relate to and I much prefer the natural progression done within these novels.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think it could easily be enjoyed by anyone just getting into the world created by Nicole Glover. If you haven’t read The Conductors I highly recommend it, and if you’ve read her previous duology I highly recommend getting back into that world with The Improvisers. Full of magic, twists, betrayals, murder and just a dash of romance - this book is a great escape into the magical historical fiction fantasy world of Nicole Glover.

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing this e-ARC.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

The intermingling of magic and technology is really cool and slightly terrifying. As far as the mystery plot goes I was confused for the first half of the book which meant that sometimes I was a little bit bored because I did not understand what was going on. In previous editions the 'interludes' were in a different style of font and I wish they had done that here because sometimes I started an 'interlude' without realizing it, which added to the confusion until I figured out what I had missed. The romance plotline on the other hand was very well developed. Dillon may be the best character in the book.

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited for a new Nicole Glover—while also bummed we had to leave Hetty and Benjy behind. Here I got the delightful surprise of not only Hetty and Benjy appearances but more characters to fall in love with. This expands the world of the Conductors/the Undertakers in exciting ways and it’s fun to see how magic and the magical politics of this world fold in to the existing history. I loved the dynamic between Velma and Dillon, as well as this new cast of characters and I hope we get more.

More thoughts on YouTube:
https://youtu.be/ahA0daleEj4

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging tale set in an alternative mid-twentieth century where magic is as much used as other technology. Vera Frye is an aeroplane pilot and magic user who attempts to investigate several mysterious deaths in her family which appear to have been caused by magical enchantments.

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books are so great. History, magic, great writing... I somehow missed the second book in the series but I intend to make amends as soon as possible.

[Chris · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received this uncorrected proof in a Goodreads Giveaway. I like mysteries, and I like when a standard genre has a twist in the world. In this case, that’s magic. I just couldn’t connect to almost any of these characters. If I’m supposed to have read something with any of these characters prior to reading this, then it’s possible I could see myself liking this more.

The mystery and discovery felt a little too easy and too sprawling for my taste. A lot of side characters to keep track of, with only a couple of them standing out, and a lot of unimportant plot threads to go with it.

I wish I liked this more. Since it’s not the final version, take this review with a grain of salt. And for the publishers and marketers: tell me which books I need to visit before coming to this one. Having that history with other loosely connected stories (as I understand this is technically a standalone), characters, and the magic is going to make a big difference with some reader’s relationship to this book.

[Shawn Lapetino · Rating 1 out of 5]

A whodunit set in a magical world of the 1930’s and within the African-American community. I really wanted to like this book, but there were sooooooo many characters. Even with a family tree provided at the beginning on the book, I could NOT keep track of who everyone one was, and the events in the story just didn’t come together in a way that made sense to me.

[Julie Locascio · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful idea for a story! Not wonderfully executed. Using an alternative magic-infused history to allude to racial injustices of the early 20th century was brilliant--Jim Crow, inability of {Bessie Coleman} to learn piloting until she went to France, massive destruction of Black enterprises and even entire Black towns. Loved the concept of oppression of Black people's magical abilities. That said, it remained befuddling as to how people with so much magical ability WERE GETTING oppressed. I found myself confused about whether White people had magic ability at all, or only Black people (no other races were really featured.) Were White people using magic to oppress Black people? Or only using laws? The author rarely described people physically--some were clearly described as Black, while most were not described at all or barely described, so I basically inferred everybody was Black because the author gave no reason to think anybody was White. The bigger problems with the novel were mentioned by others, the biggest being excessive use of magical acts--as in about ten magical spells or actions PER MINUTE during key scenes, which might also last for several minutes and feel like you had just read through a hundred magical acts in three pages. It really stops feeling MAGICAL when people are just twisting little baubles and unleashing magic over and over and over again the way the rest of us muggles might fling around paper clips. It grew exhausting to keep reading that. The author strove to make each magical act (the improvisation!) a unique fusion of the character's ability and creativity in a particular moment of time, but this would have been more effective if it happened rarely--not a thousand times. I actually gave up reading the magical parts as they just sucked all my energy. The other big problem was way, way, way too many characters. And since we thought most of them were throw-away characters whom Velma was only encountering briefly, it was beyond baffling to have all their names come together later in a massive Agatha Christie style whodunnit. The characters simply did not have enough page time to remember them! If the author had transferred 75% of the magical act page time to character exposition, the whodunnit would have been a lot more fun and the rarer magical acts would also have been a lot more fun. It is a shame that her editor did not see this issue. They did put a family tree at the beginning for Velma's relatives, but that was actually not needed because the stuff dealing with her relatives was much pithier. (And they should have done a smaller family tree.) If you want to read this book, I would encourage you to linger carefully over characters, re-read those passages, and skip over some of the endless magic, to get a much more balanced novel. But kudos for originality, definitely!

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the America of 1930s, Ms. Glover mixes racism with a unique form of magic to underpin this story of mysterious murders and a machine with the potential to destroy towns.

Velma Frye, known by a variety of names, is a daredevil pilot whose stunts are a brilliant cover for her more important work as an investigator, crime solver and wielder of magic. As when helping any people nearly crushed by the legal system, Velma is not above breaking the law every now and again. She tries her best to aid other black people and through her efforts we see the racism that still had America in a tight stranglehold. While the book doesn’t show on-page clashes between whites and blacks, we get reports time and again about how black people must struggle to hold on to the little they have. Any sign of success among them and angry, sullen white mobs are quick to take up the torches and advance on their African-American neighbors.

The mystery takes Velma and her wonderful monoplane, Fowl Weather, all over America with a nosy, exasperating reporter Dillon Harris in tow. Dillon at first is one of those perk, annoying rogues given to winking and infuriating smiles and popping up places where Velma happens to be. You can understand her irritation with him, especially since he started off his acquaintance with a newspaper feud that disparaged and belittled the then-new science of airplane flying. What’s wrong with broomsticks? he wonders. What can planes do that’s any better?

Their enemies-to-lovers romance is believable because they share their unique talents in solving the mystery, aiding one another and complementing each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Dillon learns to appreciated Velma’s flying skills, her airplane and her determination to use both to help others. Velma respects Dillon’s integrity in his capacity as a reporter as he has a tendency to dig for the truth and print scathing exposés that give him his fair share of enemies.

This is a terrific mystery, too, with shades of Agatha Christie when suspects are locked in a house and bodies start turning up. The action is briskly written, especially when Velma takes to the skies; you almost can feel the airplane vibrating under your seat. The characters are edgy, potent and complicated. Even the supposed criminals garner your sympathy.

This is a standalone novel but it takes place as part of the Murder and Magic series. You don’t need to read those to understand and appreciate this novel. But this novel may make you hungry to learn more.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC from the publisher and am voluntarily posting a review. All opinions are my own.
I had previously really enjoyed Nicole Glover’s Murder and Magic duology, so I was excited to hear that she was expanding the story with a standalone set in the same world. The Improvisers is perhaps even better than those prior books, capturing all the magic of those works with a little something more.
The story is now set in the Prohibition era (mostly 1931, but there are also flashbacks to earlier in the 1920s), and I love how Glover has expanded her historical fantasy world, and how it would all develop throughout time, particularly highlighting the evolution in racial tensions between Black and white people. And showing the impact of Prohibition in particular on magical items is a nice touch.
I didn’t know prior how exactly this story would tie back to the previous two, but I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that this followed Hetty and Benjy’s granddaughter (one of several, in fact). While the characters, especially Benjy, were one of the weaker points for me in prior books, especially the first, they grew on me by the second, and I am glad to see how the family has grown in the years between the end of the last book.
And Velma is much more of a dynamic character than her grandparents, that’s for sure. She’s immediately compelling, given her multitude of vocations, from pilot to investigator, and puts her neck on the line for the sake of fighting for racial justice.
I also really liked the prominently featured enemies-to-lovers romance with fellow journalist Dillon Harris. Their conflict is apparent from the first pages, with excerpts from their respective news articles expressing their contrasting opinions on planes and magic. Through working together, their bond grows, and they come to find out they each complement the other perfectly.
As with prior books, there’s also a mystery, and this provides a lot of intrigue and twists and turns throughout the book. With the book being rather long, and taking place in many locations with them traveling, I did find the pacing a little uneven, but the story was overall mostly satisfying and came together in a satisfying way.
While this is billed as a standalone companion novel., I hope this isn’t the last we’ll see of the characters, especially as there’s a large extended family tree. I’d recommend this to readers interested in a historical fantasy highlighting Black history, and featuring romance and mystery elements.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Features:

- Set in an alternate 1930s America at the end of a magic Prohibition
- An ambitious and capable female main character who is not afraid to chart her own course
- A blend of mystery, magic, and adventure that focuses on the themes of acceptance and embracing progress
- A well executed enemies to lovers sub-plot

Summary:

As America finally starts moving past a magical Prohibition and embracing the future, something is stirring under the surface. Mysterious enchanted items have begun appearing, leaving violence and death in their wake. Talented pilot and arcane specialist Velma Frye is called to unravel this case before things get too out of hand. However, as Velma digs deeper into the mysterious symbols she discovers at each scene, it soon becomes clear that she is dealing with something much bigger than just a few malevolent enchanted items. To make matters worse, she is constantly being tailed by investigative reporter Dillon Harris who seems to know more than he is willing to share.

Thoughts:

This book was a delightful surprise and I am really glad I picked it up! It is set in the same universe as the “Murder and Magic” series but focuses on a different generation of characters. I have not read any of the previous books and was perfectly fine jumping in with this one. However, this book throws a lot at you at the very beginning and I do wonder if I would have been able to settle in faster had I been more familiar with the world previously. Velma is an intriguing and relentlessly ambitious character that captivated me from the start and kept me invested as the rest of the pieces fell into place. We get a little background of the tension between Velma and Dillon from the start and this is definitely one of the most natural enemies to lovers arcs I have read in a while.

Even though this book sticks pretty closely to the 1930s America setting, it is still an alternate universe where various types of magic exist and has been allowed to have an impact on how society has developed. Where I love this type of social experimentation, those looking for a strictly accurate recreation of the 1930s and/or magical realism will likely be a bit disappointed. There are also a lot of characters and moving parts in this story that are introduced quickly and can feel overwhelming for some readers.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Harper Voyager for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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[Abigail Pankau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Velma Frye is a pilot and an investigator for the Magnolia Muses, a magic rights organization. When she comes across magical items causing fights and mayhem, she quickly surmises that they are being spread deliberately, and she needs to find any others before more damage is done. Especially when she discovers that the items are tied to the house she originally grew up in. But Dillon Harris, a journalist, is hot on her heels with his own investigation, and she’s worried that his investigation will ruin hers. Since he’s insistent, she decides that they’ll have to join forces and includes him on her searches across the country. They’ll find a bigger plot that could be even more damaging than she originally feared. But will they be able to figure out the real culprit and stop them in time?

A fun historical-fantasy, action/adventure, murder mystery. The world-building is excellent, with an interesting magic system. And the exploration of prohibition to be of Black magic potions not alcohol was an interesting inclusion. There were some minor inconsistencies that didn’t get caught in editing, and some of the situation of the dinner party at the inn was confusing as it wasn’t clear who was in on the plan and who wasn’t. But still very much a page-turner as I wanted to see how it would all end. Still really enjoyed even with the minor problems.

[Nathan Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an uncorrected proof of The Improvisers as a giveaway from Goodreads First Reads, and I am grateful for the opportunity to review it.

This is an enthralling, intriguing mystery that kept me gripped until the end. The magical and scientific elements fit in nicely with the pseudo-historical backdrop of the 1930s. It's a very interesting setting, and now I want to learn more about this alternate world in the other books.

That's another thing I appreciate about this book: it works well enough as a standalone. I wasn't even aware that there were other books in the Murder and Magic series until I saw other reviews and checked the front to see a couple other books listed. Even with this being my first dive into the characters and setting, everything flowed smoothly such that I didn't worry about the things I didn't know about, or figured them out over the course of the narrative. It's nice to be able to jump into a book without necessarily needing to read the preceding books first, and still being captivated enough to want to read the other books afterwards.

Anyway, if you like urban magic, historical, mystery-driven stories, I definitely recommend checking this book out.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received an eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

The Conductors and The Undertakers took me by surprise when I read them in 2022 so I had been anxiously awaiting news of the rest of the series and was thrilled to get an eARC of this installment! While this takes place in the same world as the other two books, it can be read as a standalone as it takes place in the 1930s and follows a new generation of the Rhodes family.

I love the way that Nicole Glover is able to infuse history and magic and mystery into these books. Throughout the story we get to see a lot of places in the United States as it exists in this magical alternate history Glover has created and it was so interesting. I also loved Velma as a main character. She is brash and determined to get answers and was a joy to follow through the story. There's also an antagonist to lovers relationship here that I loved watching develop.

I thought the pacing was a little off in parts of this book, though I can't tell if it has to do with the quest nature of the story or if maybe there was one too many "but could this person have betrayed us" red herrings at the end. That being said, I finished this in one day despite it being about 450 pages.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another enjoyable addition to the Murder and Magic series. This time, the story is set in the 1930s, and the main character is Velma, the granddaughter of the protagonists in the first two books. Like her grandparents, she's black and is a trained magic practitioner. This story is a mystery with an adventurous, cozy feel to it and more exclamation points than I would normally like, but in some ways, it works here, and feels like intentional melodrama. I appreciate how this story plays off the idea of prohibition - adding in potions and magical tonics to the same category as alcohol. It touches on some of the discrimination black people face, but focuses more on family, both in terms of the way so many members of Velma's family are close with each other, and in terms of dealing with a relative who's causing trouble. Plus, there's a sweet budding romance. I particularly enjoy the easy banter between family members and how they look out for each other. I also appreciate the presence of a same-sex relationship as well as a minor character who's Deaf and signs.

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

A clever mix of fantasy and historical fiction set in 1930's America. Velma is a skilled aviatrix as well as a former bootlegger and detective of sorts. She leaves the daredevil show along with an annoying reporter and switches to a detective hat in search of a strange machine that is wreaking havoc. The relationship between Velma and the reporter goes from irritation to much more and I enjoyed the dialogue between them but I did get a bit lost with all the side characters. This is billed as a standalone but is part of a series so that could be where the backstory for much of this has already been ironed out in a previous book. The energy level is kept high between Velma using her magic, escaping near death, flying and a bit of romance. There is a distinct Agatha Christie vibe especially at the end that is sure to please old fashioned murder mystery readers. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Kay Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Initially a slow read as I tried to absorb the complexities of spell driven magic and enchanted items, together with lives of a black American aviatrix in the time between World Wars 1 and 2. Alternative history as far as I know because while there were black women pilots, I don't think they were gifted in spellcraft or spycraft either.

This book is fascinating and engrossing once you get into it. Velma is a great character. I wish I'd learned more about the reporter Dillon, and young cousin Olivia, but that may come in furure booksby Nicole Glover. Fingers crossed.

Velma is the granddaughter of Henrietta and Benjamin Rhodes of earlier books by Glover but reading them isn't essential to enjoying this.

HT for introduction in Afterward to Bessie Coleman the first African-American woman and first Native American to hold a pilot license, and the earliest known Black person to earn an international pilot's license. She died in a plane crash aged 34YO.

[Tim Hicks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Shucks. I didn't care for The Undertakers but I thought I'd give this a chance anyway.
Especially since I came across it by chance the same day my wife started a different "based on actual" story about a Black woman ace pilot.

Bad start: we hear about Velma's trick where she climbs out of the cockpit & tapdances along the wing. On the very next page we learn that her plane has a closed cockpit.

Really early on we see that (a) Velma is one of those Plucky Girls who is implausibly good at everything (b) Dillon Harris is going to be one of those old-fiction annoying journalists, only more annoying than usual. I don't like either of those.

Finally, we see a world that's really a lot like Realworld 1930s but people are chucking magic around like an argument over dinner at Unseen University, or a Jack Vance / Fritz Leiber "Oh yeah? I'll hit him with Ningauble's Unspeakable Mattress of Inversion and see how he likes it!!!"

Nah, not for me. Hope you enjoy it.

[Dwight Buchholz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could identify with the main character. Velma loves her family, but it’s complicated. Velma flys, but the plane is far more than transportation. Velma is clever and fun and smart, but just as confounded by the daily realities of family relationships, workplace politics, and figuring out what she wants as the rest of us.
As a lover of fantasy the magic holds up well. Mysterious, effective, yet vulnerable, the magic employed throughout the book is unexpected and clever. As much is riding on using the magic effectively as having it at all.
The mystery is satisfying with no cheating. We get the pieces of the puzzle as Velma finds them. And there are some pieces of the puzzle that seem to point past the mystery at hand. The novel puts you into the perplexed mind of the investigator and grants the satisfaction of seeing how all the pieces connect.

[claudia reads it all · Rating 5 out of 5]

Velma Frye is a queen.

A daredevil pilot, former bootlegger, and wielder of magic, Velma deals with racism, sexism, and more, and now she must figure out who is behind the magical items being found, and which have very dangerous consequences. The character relationships, both romantic and familial, are well developed.

While this is part of a series, I never felt like I didn't understand the dynamics of the story - and I love the fact that there are more books in this world that I can enjoy.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book we return to the world of the Murder & Magic duology and the Rhodes family, this time with set in the 1930s with Hetty and Benjy's granddaughter. If you loved those two books as much as I did, you will certainly love this one too. There are still murders, and there's still magic, and Velma, a pilot, is delightful main character. Her rival and investigative partner, Dillon, a reporter, is also great fun to read about. This is supposedly stand alone, but I wouldn't be sad if Glover writes more about Velma and Dillon, especially since she left the door open for more.

[Fraser Sherman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Third in the Murder and Magic series that started with The Conductors. Velma, a 1930s barnstorming pilot (and grandchild of the first book's protagonists) gets involved in a mysterious involving strange symbols, a magical object and murder.
The barnstorming opening is great and there are good flashes, like when Velma arrives on a 1930s movie set. Most of the book feels like a hybrid of urban fantasy and cozy mystery without the sharp, distinctive period details that made the first book memorable.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to review this. I didn't DISlike it, but I wasn't engrossed in it either. I think it might just be the wrong time for this book for me.

Everything about this was . . . okay. I liked Velma, the world building was interesting, the supporting characters made sense with the rest of the story, and the plot was good. It just wasn't GRABBING me like I experience with a book I really love.

I might come back to this another time and finish it but I have another book on tap and it's a library book that I have to return so I'm moving onto that one.