THOMAS EDISON AND THE MAGI SOLUTION

A team of unlikely heroes, including Thomas Edison and Noel Coward, embarks on a desperate quest to defeat Nazis—and demons—in Church’s historical novel.

The third volume in the author’s Edison Trilogy continues the astonishing adventures of the inventor and his former assistant, John Dawkins. The story opens in 1941 with German Deputy Fuhrer Rudolf Hess’ daring solo flight to Scotland to deliver a cryptic warning about Hitler’s secrets—a message he’ll disclose only to Thomas Edison, John Dawkins, or President Franklin Roosevelt, and only in person. Hess is dismissed as delusional: Edison has been dead for 10 years. (Dawkins has settled down on a farm in rural Pennsylvania with his wife, Sophie, a former investigative journalist, and their 10-year-old son, Josh.) Four years later, after Dawkins’ family is attacked by Nazi spies, Roosevelt asks Dawkins to go to London to “do whatever needs done,” which means dealing with unknown supernatural forces. Dawkins, with his family in tow, sets out for London, where Hess reveals Hitler’s obsession with the occult, saying, “the Magi possess the solution.” Dawkins reunites with Thomas Edison—whose spirit temporarily occupies a boy’s body—and they are joined by real-life playwright and composer Noel Coward, here an undercover agent for British intelligence. The three set out on a dangerous mission through enemy territory to discover the meaning of Hess’ cryptic words and thwart an evil that threatens the whole world. The plot moves quickly, with one action scene after another, several surprises, and a healthy dose of humor. Dawkins is a stalwart hero, Sophie is smart and plucky, Coward is witty even in dire situations (after faking a panic attack while imprisoned, he says, “I am not merely a coward. I am the Coward”), and Edison is always thrilled to learn something new. A few scenes don’t feel necessary, such as the team’s visit to an abandoned zoo, and there’s too much detail about some of the minor characters. Still, this is an entertainingly outré yarn.

Three unlikely companions face the ultimate evil in this engaging, if far-fetched, adventure.