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The Virtuosi Chronicles #1
The Day the Whimsy Died
Somebody strangled my oldest friend with a violin string. Then the whole city started forgetting how to laugh.
My name is Dekker Kohl. I'm forty-two, war-broken, and I haven't written a song worth keeping in months. I call it a dry spell. It's a symptom.
I work magical crime for a hidden conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, which sounds more glamorous than it pays.
Turns out Felix wasn't just my old roommate. He was the secret Guardian of Whimsy — the magic keeping color, laughter, and play in the world. With him dead, it's bleeding out. Streetlights flicker. Children sit motionless in the parks. And it's not just my beer that's flat.
The government department that "treats" the creativity out of artists has sent its own investigator, and it's not here to help. Whoever's draining Whimsy started long before Felix stopped breathing, which means they're not finished.
I've got seven days, an instrument that is definitely not a lute, and a teenage apprentice who insists that it is. He also thinks I'm a bard. Bards are weekend warriors in puffy pants at a ren faire. I'm the guy with twenty years of unfinished arguments with a dead man, and one apology left worth making: find his killer.
If I fail, the world won't end; it'll just stop being worth living in.
The Virtuosi Chronicles, Book 1. A fantasy noir murder mystery for fans of The Dresden Files and Rivers of London who like their magic with a jazz soundtrack and their detectives with a fencing habit.
My name is Dekker Kohl. I'm forty-two, war-broken, and I haven't written a song worth keeping in months. I call it a dry spell. It's a symptom.
I work magical crime for a hidden conservatory in Columbus, Ohio, which sounds more glamorous than it pays.
Turns out Felix wasn't just my old roommate. He was the secret Guardian of Whimsy — the magic keeping color, laughter, and play in the world. With him dead, it's bleeding out. Streetlights flicker. Children sit motionless in the parks. And it's not just my beer that's flat.
The government department that "treats" the creativity out of artists has sent its own investigator, and it's not here to help. Whoever's draining Whimsy started long before Felix stopped breathing, which means they're not finished.
I've got seven days, an instrument that is definitely not a lute, and a teenage apprentice who insists that it is. He also thinks I'm a bard. Bards are weekend warriors in puffy pants at a ren faire. I'm the guy with twenty years of unfinished arguments with a dead man, and one apology left worth making: find his killer.
If I fail, the world won't end; it'll just stop being worth living in.
The Virtuosi Chronicles, Book 1. A fantasy noir murder mystery for fans of The Dresden Files and Rivers of London who like their magic with a jazz soundtrack and their detectives with a fencing habit.
322 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2026
About the author
Tim A. Mills
8 books2 followersTim A. Mills spent his childhood dreaming of writing and the blade, captivated by the heroics of Scaramouche, Captain Blood, The Three Musketeers, and the Jedi Knights. While it took him until adulthood to finally pick up a sword, he hasn’t put it down since.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Tim now spends his days orchestrating urban fantasy and his evenings teaching Olympic fencing with his beautiful wife. When asked whether the pen or the sword is mightier, he refuses to choose. He simply uses both.
Based in Columbus, Ohio, Tim now spends his days orchestrating urban fantasy and his evenings teaching Olympic fencing with his beautiful wife. When asked whether the pen or the sword is mightier, he refuses to choose. He simply uses both.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 7, 2026
Thank you BookSirens for this ARC!
'The Day the Whimsy Died' is set in a modern universe but music plays a big part in it. We follow Virtuosi Kohl and his sidekicks as they are trying to figure out why his old high school friend ends up strangled along with why creativity and harmony seems to be dying.
I liked the premise of this book, but I feel like it was somewhat poorly executed. It felt like the author was using overly complicated language to explain something that was quite simple and that just confused me. Also, there were a few things that I felt were just muddy and some scenes that I didn't grasp the main part until it was later explained in a later chapter or I had reread it a few times. There was a red thread but it felt like it had a bunch of offshoots that led nowhere but we still followed, not all ends were woven into the final work.
Overall, I did enjoy the premise and I'm giving it 3.25 stars. I just wish that the ends would have been woven in better and that the language wasn't as complicated.
'The Day the Whimsy Died' is set in a modern universe but music plays a big part in it. We follow Virtuosi Kohl and his sidekicks as they are trying to figure out why his old high school friend ends up strangled along with why creativity and harmony seems to be dying.
I liked the premise of this book, but I feel like it was somewhat poorly executed. It felt like the author was using overly complicated language to explain something that was quite simple and that just confused me. Also, there were a few things that I felt were just muddy and some scenes that I didn't grasp the main part until it was later explained in a later chapter or I had reread it a few times. There was a red thread but it felt like it had a bunch of offshoots that led nowhere but we still followed, not all ends were woven into the final work.
Overall, I did enjoy the premise and I'm giving it 3.25 stars. I just wish that the ends would have been woven in better and that the language wasn't as complicated.
May 14, 2026
3.5 stars
The Day the Whimsey Died takes place in an alternate present/near future where magic is real and manipulated by music. The guardian of Whimsey is murdered, and Dekker, a virtuosi from the Conservatory, is sent to investigate. With Hoagy, the new recruit in tow, Dekker uses his ossia (not a lute, not a lyre, not a guitar) to tease out the facts and find the killer.
This was a fun and fresh urban fantasy that had a unique magic system. While I didn't fully understand how this particular magic system worked, it didn't get in the way of my enjoyment of the story (but this is what kept my rating from being higher). I particularly enjoyed Dekker's wit and sense of humor. It reminds me a lot of old black-and-white detective movies from the 1940s. I may be dating myself here, but it's very "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" (a great movie with Steve Martin).
If you like a little musical magic in your mystery, this is the book for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Day the Whimsey Died takes place in an alternate present/near future where magic is real and manipulated by music. The guardian of Whimsey is murdered, and Dekker, a virtuosi from the Conservatory, is sent to investigate. With Hoagy, the new recruit in tow, Dekker uses his ossia (not a lute, not a lyre, not a guitar) to tease out the facts and find the killer.
This was a fun and fresh urban fantasy that had a unique magic system. While I didn't fully understand how this particular magic system worked, it didn't get in the way of my enjoyment of the story (but this is what kept my rating from being higher). I particularly enjoyed Dekker's wit and sense of humor. It reminds me a lot of old black-and-white detective movies from the 1940s. I may be dating myself here, but it's very "Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid" (a great movie with Steve Martin).
If you like a little musical magic in your mystery, this is the book for you.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 22, 2026
Day the music died.
Dekker Kohl is a musician and composer going through a dry spell; he also investigates magical crimes for a hidden magical conservatory. But currently the crime he is investigating, with an apprentice he didn’t want, is the death of his old roommate who just happens to be the new Guardian of Whimsy. What he discovers though is that the government agency that regulates magic has a much more sinister mission.
I absolutely loved Dekker, he’s sarcastic, funny, and refuses to stop investigating the death of his friend. All of the characters are complex with quirky personalities that kept me engaged and immersed in the pages of this book. I highly recommend this urban fantasy with an intriguing mystery. Magic, music, a fascinating and well-developed world, and unexpected twists and turns in the plot made it impossible to put this book down.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
Dekker Kohl is a musician and composer going through a dry spell; he also investigates magical crimes for a hidden magical conservatory. But currently the crime he is investigating, with an apprentice he didn’t want, is the death of his old roommate who just happens to be the new Guardian of Whimsy. What he discovers though is that the government agency that regulates magic has a much more sinister mission.
I absolutely loved Dekker, he’s sarcastic, funny, and refuses to stop investigating the death of his friend. All of the characters are complex with quirky personalities that kept me engaged and immersed in the pages of this book. I highly recommend this urban fantasy with an intriguing mystery. Magic, music, a fascinating and well-developed world, and unexpected twists and turns in the plot made it impossible to put this book down.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary ARC provided by Hidden Gems.
Review of advance copy
I enjoyed this book once I got into the story, it took a little bit to grab me but I will definitely be keeping an eye on when the next in the series is released. The addition of mentioning modern social media was a bit jarring as it needs to be added more or left out in my opinion. It presently just disrupts the flow of the story and this is the main reason for a 4 star instead of a 5.
The author -Tim Mills- is now on my list of authors to read and I am looking forward to seeing where he goes with his world building.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author -Tim Mills- is now on my list of authors to read and I am looking forward to seeing where he goes with his world building.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
May 16, 2026
"The Day the Whimsy Died: The Virtuosi Chronicles Book 1" is a delightful and intriguing read. Tom A. Mills crafts a magical world on a quest to reclaim its lost whimsy, blending a detective story with a hidden realm. Captivating, well-written, and layered.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 24, 2026
A death will lead one man to find the truth behind his friend death. In this tale the Colour is draining from the world and will follow one man fight to stop the Colour disappearing. A world without Colour will be dark and gray. See if he can recover the Colour and find the truth
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a brilliant read
I received an advance copy from hidden gems and a brilliant read
Review of advance copy received from Publishers Weekly
Set in Columbus, OH, this new fantasy series is off to a great start. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks for the ARC Booksirens.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Thanks for the ARC Booksirens.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews