Murder & Magic Series
The Conductors (Murder & Magic #1)

- Publication Date: March 2, 2021
- Publisher: Mariner Books/ HarperCollins
- ISBN-13/EAN: 9780358197058
- ISBN-10: 0358197058
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Cover illustrator: Elizabeth Leggett
- Cover Designer: Martha Kennedy
- Publisher Website

- Publication Date: March 4, 2021
- Publisher: Del Rey/ Penguin Random House UK
- ISBN 9781529102079
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Cover Designer: Henry Petrides
- Publisher Website
The Undertakers (Murder & Magic #2)

- Publication Date: Nov 9, 2021
- Publisher: Mariner Books /HarperCollins
- ISBN-13/EAN: 9780358197102
- ISBN-10: 0358197104
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Cover Illustrator: Hillary Wilson
- Cover Designer: Martha Kennedy
- Publisher Website

- Publication Date: Nov 11, 2021
- Publisher: Del Rey/ Penguin Random House UK
- ISBN: 9781529102086
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Cover Designer: Henry Petrides
- Publisher Website
The Improvisers (Murder & Magic #3)

- Publication Date: Nov 5, 2024
- Publisher: Harper Voyager
- ISBN-13/EAN: 9780063293595
- ISBN-10: 0063293595
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Cover Illustrator: Jeff Manning
- Cover Designer: Jennifer Chung
- Publisher Website
The Starseekers (Murder & Magic #4)

- Publication Date: Jan 6, 2026
- Publisher: Harper Voyager
- ISBN-13/EAN: 9780063293632
- ISBN-10: 0063293633
- Genre: Historical Fantasy
- Cover Illustrator: David de las Heras
- Cover Designer: Jennifer Chung
- Publisher Website
Book Blurbs
The Starseekers
Indiana Jones meets Hidden Figures in this brand-new stand-alone historical fantasy, in which the space race of the mid-20th century will be determined by magic…if not murder.
Cynthia Rhodes, a brilliant arcane engineer at NASA’s Ainsworth Research Labs has her eyes fixed on the stars. Talented in math and magic, when she’s not working to get astronauts to the moon, 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.
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 Improvisers
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.
The Conductors
As a conductor on the Underground Railroad, Hetty Rhodes helped usher dozens of people north with her wits and magic. Now that the Civil War is over, Hetty and her husband, Benjy, have settled in Philadelphia, solving murders and mysteries that the white authorities won’t touch. When they find one of their friends slain in an alley, Hetty and Benjy bury the body and set off to find answers. But the secrets and intricate lies of the elites of Black Philadelphia only serve to dredge up more questions. To solve this mystery, they will have to face ugly truths all around them, including the ones about each other.
In this vibrant and original novel, Nicole Glover joins a roster of contemporary fantasy writers, such as Victor LaValle and Zen Cho, who use speculative fiction to delve into important historical and cultural threads.
The Undertakers
Nothing bothers Hetty and Benjy Rhodes more than a case where the answers, motives, and the murder itself feel a bit too neat. Raimond Duval, a victim of one of the many fires that have erupted recently in Philadelphia, is officially declared dead after the accident, but Hetty and Benjy’s investigation points to a powerful Fire Company known to let homes in the Black community burn to the ground. Before long, another death breathes new life into the Duval investigation: Raimond’s son, Valentine, is also found dead.
Finding themselves with the dubious honor of taking on Valentine Duval as their first major funeral, it becomes clear that his passing was intentional. Valentine and his father’s deaths are connected, and the recent fires plaguing the city might be more linked to recent community events than Hetty and Benjy originally thought.
The Undertakers continues the adventures of murder and magic, where even the most powerful enchantments can’t always protect you from the ghosts of the past . . .
The Improvisers
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
The complex mystery keeps readers on their toes and the pages flying. The colorful cast, unique magic system, and slow-burning, enemies-to-lovers romance between Velma and Dillon add to the fun. New readers and returning fans alike will devour this.
Library Journal (Starred Review)
Fantasy fans and steampunk enthusiasts will enjoy Glover’s astounding, creatively envisioned Prohibition-era United States, where magical and historical events intertwine in a thrilling plot full of adventurous characters.
Booklist (Starred Review)
The Improvisers is packed with action, family drama, and even some romance. The plot is fast-paced and varied and Velma is a protagonist who feels realistic and accessible. There are lots of great characters, including a librarian named Lois, but Dillon Harris, Velma’s rival and companion, stands out as a foil to the famed aviator, often saving and annoying her in the same paragraph. Velma and Dillon’s back-and-forth banter is reminiscent of classic screwball comedies and contrasts delightfully with the complex mystery at the center of the story.
The Conductors
Publishers Weekly (Starred Review)
Inventively mixing mystery, magic, and alternate history, Glover’s nail-biting debut takes readers to Reconstruction era Philadelphia…… Glover is a writer to watch.
Glover’s debut defies many expectations. ….
DEBUT Set at the end of the Civil War, this magical first novel follows Hetty and Benjy, runaways who ferry people to safety from slavecatchers, as well as solve crimes, often with the aid of celestial magic. …..
VERDICT Blending historical fantasy and mystery, this fast-paced debut with predominantly Black characters will engage fans eager for a combination of each.
Library Reads – March 2021
“Hetty and Benjy meet as Underground Railroad conductors, settling in Pennsylvania where they’re known for their celestial magic. Glover does an incredible job of world building in this supernatural mystery. Her cast is almost exclusively Black, and the characters are rich, with Hetty and Benjy’s relationship showcased as a lovely progression of romantic ideals…”
The Undertakers
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…….The easy momentum will keep both new and returning readers racing along to the end. It’s fun, twisty, and richly detailed.
The sequel to Glover’s historical mystery/fantasy The Conductors picks up where it left off with magic-practicing detectives Hetty and Benjy, a Black formerly enslaved couple in post–Civil War Philadelphia who have recently become undertakers. …Characters from The Conductors return and new ones are introduced, but Glover’s latest can be read as a standalone.
VERDICT Glover has written another fast-paced story of luck, fate, and betrayal. Readers will be engrossed by its celestial magic, hidden tunnels leading to unexpected places, and cliffhanger ending.
“….Hetty and Benjy’s camaraderie is the real star of the show, no matter how many spells they fire off at assailants.”
Author Bio
Nicole Glover is the author of the historical fantasy series, Murder and Magic, which begins with The Conductors. Her latest novel, The Starseekers arrives in 2026. She’s been a Locus Bestseller and won The 2024 Webster Award. When she’s not writing, she’s working as a UX researcher where her knowledge about murder and other mysteries is surprisingly useful.

