Murder & Magic

Nicole Glover

In the aftermath of the Civil War, former Underground Railroad Conductors Hetty Rhodes and her husband, Benjy, use constellation-powered magic to investigate murders and supernatural crimes that Philadelphia’s white authorities would rather ignore. When an old friend is killed, their search for the truth draws them into a dangerous web of hidden histories, neighborhood tensions, and secrets that challenge everything they believe about those closest to them. Set in the vibrant Seventh Ward, this richly imagined historical fantasy explores racial injustice, community, marriage, memory, and resistance through a compelling blend of mystery, magic, and social history.

Nicole Glover

In this richly imagined historical fantasy, former Underground Railroad conductors Hetty and Benjy return to confront another dangerous mystery in post–Civil War Philadelphia. As tensions rise within the city’s Black community, the pair must navigate hidden magic, shifting loyalties, and threats that challenge both their partnership and their hard-won place in a changing world. Blending supernatural intrigue with a vivid portrait of Black life, the story explores resistance, community, justice, and the improvisational skill required to survive in an uncertain era. Nicole Glover’s atmospheric, character-driven style brings historical detail and inventive magic together in a compelling continuation of her acclaimed series.