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The Improvisers

Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

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.

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  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      Starred review from September 2, 2024
      Glover returns to the alternate 1930s America of her Murder and Magic series in this thrilling spin-off, an intoxicating blend of mystery and fantasy. Velma Frye’s days as a bootlegger of forbidden magic are behind her, and she now divides her time between performing high-flying aerial stunts and working as an investigator for magical rights group the Magnolia Muses. Trouble arises when a magic-fueled fight over a pocket watch breaks out after one of Velma’s air shows. She learns the pocket watch is one of many enchanted objects that have been causing unexplained violent incidents across the country, including one that led to a woman’s death. Velma sets off to locate the rest of the dangerous artifacts and gains an unexpected travel companion, the annoyingly charming journalist Dillon Harris. Dillon’s inquisitive nature and skills as a spellcaster prove useful for Velma’s investigation, and together they discover that the enchanted objects are part of a deadly conspiracy with unexpected ties to Velma’s family. 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. Agent: Jennifer Goloboy, Donald Maass Literary.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Bahni Turpin gives voice to an appealing heroine in this compelling fantasy mystery set in the U.S. during the early 1930s, when Prohibition outlaws both alcohol and some magic. Stunt pilot and former bootlegger Velma Frye also works for a magical rights group. A murder investigation leads her to the existence of magical objects that cause harm, and tracking them down takes Velma--along with Dillon Harris, a tenacious reporter Velma is slowly growing closer to--across the country in her plane. Turpin's skilled performance keeps the large cast of African American characters sounding unique and recognizable. Velma herself sounds smart, resourceful, and confident, whether she's wielding celestial magic or flying her plane (or doing both at the same time). It's an action-packed adventure in a fascinating alternate version of our world. J.M.D. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine
    • Library Journal

      May 1, 2025

      Velma Frye, an aviatrix, former bootlegger, and magical mystery solver, is pulled into a deeply tangled web of cursed arcane artifacts when a magically corrupted pocket watch sparks a fistfight at one of her air shows. In an odyssey that takes her across the country and throws her alongside the irritatingly fast-talking journalist Dillon Harris, Velma uncovers long-hidden truths about secret societies, magical corruption, and even her own family home. Glover's thrilling spin-off, set in the universe of her "Murder and Magic" series, combines immersive worldbuilding with commentary on U.S. social and civil rights issues of the 1930s. The flurry of characters is occasionally disorienting, but narrator Bahni Turpin embodies each with distinction and heart, allowing their personalities to shine through. Turpin ably guides listeners through the riveting, quick-moving plot and keeps them guessing through the story's twists and turns. While some might wish for a more tightly plotted mystery, Turpin's depiction of Velma, Dillon, and their crew makes the action come alive. VERDICT An exciting and energetic novel, melding magic, mystery, and even a touch of enemies-to-lovers romance. Glover's fans and new listeners alike will be pleased.--Zoey Colglazier

      Copyright 2025 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

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  • English

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