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The Case of The Formidable Fiend
A rising star in classical music should not become addicted to crime scenes. Specifically—interdimensional ones.
When a witch is murdered in the magic realm, Celwia’s elite circles erupt in outcry. The political tinderbox enflames, latching onto Ella—what subtle role might she have played in the death? With her unique witch abilities, she relives the victim’s final, brutal moments—and prays it never happens again...
It does.
Ella is compelled to aid the investigation, haunted by her inciting speech at the Celwian election, but will the demanding case devastate her career? Toby Hawkins is no help; the selectively charming captain of the MIS Special Projects team is her enabler. Misery loves company.
An alarming pattern of mystical murders should be enough to scare her back to her life on Earth—as a concert pianist, wife, and young mother.
But the truth? She’s never felt more alive.
The Magic Investigations Society Archive is a page-turning series where murder meets magic and witches still have day jobs. For fans of mystery, the supernatural, and cozy-ish danger. Young Adult and up.
This book was written solely by the human author, with no AI-generation for the prose, plot, or storyverse.
When a witch is murdered in the magic realm, Celwia’s elite circles erupt in outcry. The political tinderbox enflames, latching onto Ella—what subtle role might she have played in the death? With her unique witch abilities, she relives the victim’s final, brutal moments—and prays it never happens again...
It does.
Ella is compelled to aid the investigation, haunted by her inciting speech at the Celwian election, but will the demanding case devastate her career? Toby Hawkins is no help; the selectively charming captain of the MIS Special Projects team is her enabler. Misery loves company.
An alarming pattern of mystical murders should be enough to scare her back to her life on Earth—as a concert pianist, wife, and young mother.
But the truth? She’s never felt more alive.
The Magic Investigations Society Archive is a page-turning series where murder meets magic and witches still have day jobs. For fans of mystery, the supernatural, and cozy-ish danger. Young Adult and up.
This book was written solely by the human author, with no AI-generation for the prose, plot, or storyverse.
304 pages, ebook
4 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
H.B. Chapman
3 books4 followersH.B. Chapman is author of the series, Magic Investigations Society Archive. Her broad creative and commercial background, which spans the computer games industry, marketing, content creation, copywriting, theatre making, and grant writing, has influenced her aim to craft narratives that hook, offer humane perspectives, and earn the reader’s attention.
In writing her debut series, this eclectic working life merged with her love for fantasy pop culture and fiction, as in her formative years, she was in awe of its powerful use of metaphoric universes to transcend real-world limitations and resonate with people on an deeper level.
The Magic Investigations Society Archive is a genre-blending series. It ramps up the pulse of a paranormal cozy with a little more adventure and fantasy worldbuilding, and all while remaining warm and fuzzy. The tone is playful, the content clean, the plots twisting, and the danger magical.
H.B loves cats, super-dark chocolate, dancing, unsolicited dress-ups, and ugly cars (except Fiat Multipla—that’s going too far). She lives in Australia with her wonderful partner, two cats, stash of dark chocolate, box of costumes (for you-never-know-when), and…her little red ugly car.
In writing her debut series, this eclectic working life merged with her love for fantasy pop culture and fiction, as in her formative years, she was in awe of its powerful use of metaphoric universes to transcend real-world limitations and resonate with people on an deeper level.
The Magic Investigations Society Archive is a genre-blending series. It ramps up the pulse of a paranormal cozy with a little more adventure and fantasy worldbuilding, and all while remaining warm and fuzzy. The tone is playful, the content clean, the plots twisting, and the danger magical.
H.B loves cats, super-dark chocolate, dancing, unsolicited dress-ups, and ugly cars (except Fiat Multipla—that’s going too far). She lives in Australia with her wonderful partner, two cats, stash of dark chocolate, box of costumes (for you-never-know-when), and…her little red ugly car.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 14, 2025
Love the characters in this series. A bit madcap and magical but then they grab you with emotional moments. They really expand in book 2. The MIS folks are cool, flawed for various reasons, and that's when the main character, Ella, shines in her 'civilian' wisdom.
Book 2 is a fantastic follow-up on the unique universe and magic rules in book 1, which I rediscovered through the epic mystery plot (for a cozy). I wondered about this from reading other reviews before I got book 1 - this series does lean into cozy fantasy.
Is it YA, or above, or both? Mmm. Perhaps depends less on your age and more on your humour. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek style often seen in surreal TV series that place real-world adults in a make-believe world. I laughed a lot for something that isn't a comedy. The author didn't always smooth that shift between the serious character exchanges (emotionally authentic and quite well done) and the surreal campiness fitting of the quite entertaining universe. However, I consume a lot of books/shows with this surreal flavour and it wasn't glaring enough for me to drop a star because I love where these characters are taken in both extremes. Can't wait for book 3.
Recommended for those who:
1) like their para cozy mystery a bit 'bigger' in plot and world-building
2) like surreal characters and dry wit, parody
3) happily read books that sit between genres
Book 2 is a fantastic follow-up on the unique universe and magic rules in book 1, which I rediscovered through the epic mystery plot (for a cozy). I wondered about this from reading other reviews before I got book 1 - this series does lean into cozy fantasy.
Is it YA, or above, or both? Mmm. Perhaps depends less on your age and more on your humour. I enjoyed the tongue-in-cheek style often seen in surreal TV series that place real-world adults in a make-believe world. I laughed a lot for something that isn't a comedy. The author didn't always smooth that shift between the serious character exchanges (emotionally authentic and quite well done) and the surreal campiness fitting of the quite entertaining universe. However, I consume a lot of books/shows with this surreal flavour and it wasn't glaring enough for me to drop a star because I love where these characters are taken in both extremes. Can't wait for book 3.
Recommended for those who:
1) like their para cozy mystery a bit 'bigger' in plot and world-building
2) like surreal characters and dry wit, parody
3) happily read books that sit between genres
April 24, 2024
Moved down in stars from 1
I liked book 1, which seemed targeted well at YA as well as general fantasy readers.
This book is uncertain of its target audience.
In some places it is still YA, but in others, it has moved down in style and content to younger readers. Take, for instance, the radio phrases ending in 'floof' and involving 'eggnog' etc. Silly phrases and words that younger readers may giggle at, but...
A shame but this is so often the case where authors start series with good intentions. Either book 2 shows an improvement in plotting, style, etc, or the opposite.
I liked book 1, which seemed targeted well at YA as well as general fantasy readers.
This book is uncertain of its target audience.
In some places it is still YA, but in others, it has moved down in style and content to younger readers. Take, for instance, the radio phrases ending in 'floof' and involving 'eggnog' etc. Silly phrases and words that younger readers may giggle at, but...
A shame but this is so often the case where authors start series with good intentions. Either book 2 shows an improvement in plotting, style, etc, or the opposite.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews