Reviews

The Undertakers by Nicole Glover

ketutar's review

4.0

Not as good as the first one. The solution to some of the problems were rather unsatisfactory. :-(
But, all in all, a very good book. Totally recommend it to everyone who shares my taste in books, and I am eagerly waiting for the continuation. I love Nicole Glover's characters.

gabalodon's review

4.0

Solid follow-up to the first, even perhaps a bit less convoluted so easier to follow all the threads. As with the first, I didn't always follow the logic or conversational leaps, but it was exciting and I enjoyed the ultimate comeuppances.

disabledbookdragon's review

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

staceyrz's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional informative mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

sydney_arcuri's review

4.0

review to come

canthaltme's review

adventurous dark mysterious tense medium-paced

• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

nic_r's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

corvingreene's review

adventurous hopeful mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

I enjoyed this even more than the first book in the series. The actual mysteries they're trying to solve really aren't that interesting, but I love the magic system (focused mostly on sigil magic, and called Celestial Magic, which is outlawed for Black people to use), but I like the characters and found family, and I love a fantastical alternate-history tale. 

goatsinspace's review against another edition

mysterious

3.25

In the second installment of Nicole Glover's Murder & Magic series, our favorite spouses return as magic practitioners and detectives in post–Civil War Philadelphia. The city is plagued by fires and racial tensions. And the narrative kicks off with a seemingly straightforward case involving Raimond Duval, a victim of one of the recent fires that have ravaged Philadelphia. Officially declared dead, Hetty and Benjy's investigation takes an unexpected turn as they uncover a connection to a powerful Fire Company known for allowing homes in the Black community to burn. However, the case becomes more intricate when Raimond's son is also found dead. As the Rhodes couple faces the ghosts of the past, the story unfolds against the backdrop of a city grappling with social upheaval and supernatural forces.

Glover skillfully intertwines the investigation with the Rhodes' personal history, providing readers with flashbacks that offer a deeper understanding of Benjy and Hetty's characters. I also adored the LGBTQIA+ representation in this one. While the exploration of the characters' backgrounds and the representation in the story are noteworthy, the central mystery may not have the same gripping allure as in the first book. Despite this, "The Undertakers" remains an enjoyable read, offering a blend of historical fantasy and murder mystery with magic. 

incrediblemelk's review

I have to accept that as I haven't read any more of this in nearly a year, but have gone on to read four other ebooks in my e-reader, it hasn't grabbed me and I won't be returning – although I won't rule out that I just haven't been in the right headspace for it, because I did enjoy the previous book in the series, The Conductors, enough to seek this one out.