First, I was given an advance audiobook. The following review is in my own words and is completely my honest review. This happens to be my favorite genre. Well what is sexier than the 1920’s prohibition New York in a downstairs jazz club. It has the glit, there are mobsters and cops on the take to look the other way. All paid for by the beautiful Honor the no nonsense owner/operator of the club. She can be found in her office most nights where she can overlook the floor to see what is happening. As the book begins, rumor of Pearly’s death is buzzing through the club. He was the doorman/bouncer at the club. He was also the uncle of the club’s jazz and blues singer. She comes to work very distraught. Police told her it was suicide. She knew it wasn’t because he had received a letter that stated Pearly had to give up his most valued possession or he would have drink of hemlock. The niece and her friends from the club can’t get the police to listen to them stating it was murder. Everyone starts receiving the same letter telling the person to give up their most valued possession. More people end up dying. and the story moves at a fast pace then. There is a little romance thrown in. Nothing happens in the bar that Davy isn’t aware of. Davy is the head bartender and body guard for Honor. I would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys this genre. This is best in genre for me so far this year. Special thanks to the following for allowing me to review early: Get your copy now for your weekend read.
#NetGalley
#Dreamscape
#KatharineSchellm
Pub Date. June 6,2023

Ｂｏｏｋ ｒｅｖｉｅｗ

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗛𝗲𝗺𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸 by Katherine Schellman
Published: June 6, 2023 by @minotaur_books
Reviewed by: Mel
Format: Audiobook via @NetGalley

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲
✽ Cozy Mystery
✽ Badass girls breaking stereotypes
✽ Prohibition/Jazz-era New York
✽ Whodunnit with mostly women
✽ Journey of self-discovery with a hint of queerness

Huge thank you to @NetGalley and @Minotaur_books for gifting me an ALC copy of this book. #gifted #netgalley #thelastdropofhemlock

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
Ok ok ok, I love a good mystery series, especially when it is a door into another world or era and lordy am I into the dark mystique of prohibition-era New York City! I wanted to read the two books in the series back-to-back to be sure I was staying immersed in the world of Vivian and Florence, and to be sure I was doing the books justice when comparing the two.

For reference, I listened to both on audio and while the narrator is the same for both, she does a MUCH better job with Hemlock than she did for Nightingale. I was very disappointed in her narration for the first book, so I was a bit hesitant going in, but other reviews said she was better and I agree.

Schellman tends to write with a LOT of dialogue, and I mean A LOT. I think that was why I wasn’t as into the first book in the series because it was so incredibly heavy on dialogue and lacked the atmospheric descriptions that I wanted from a jazz-age story. The first half of Hemlock is the same, but once we learn about the plotline and meet some additional characters, Schellman opens up a bit and relies less on just dialogue, which definitely made this a much better read.

Both the relationship and character development are also much stronger in this installment, and I really enjoyed the storyline with Danny as well as the will-they-or-won’t-they between Vivian and both Honor and Leo. I look forward to another installment of this series!

Have you read this series yet? Is it on your TBR?

The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman is a multi-layered murder mystery that kept me guessing. I enjoyed the characters and how they were interwoven into each others lives both personally and professionally. The use of poison was a unique touch.

The pacing of the book was a little jumbled. At times it moved fast and at others it went to a crawl. I think it had to do with the repetition of the letter system and then it being described over and over again to different characters.

This is the first book I've read in the series and I felt it worked well as a standalone.

I thought the narrator did a good job at the various voices and I was able to speed up the audio without losing the words. However, I did find the tone to be a little flat early on in the novel.

Thank you for access to this ARC!

This is the second book about sisters Florence and Vivian and their exploits at the speakeasy "The Nightingale." Is a highly entertaining historical mystery. The sisters are likeable and well developed, even though I find it annoying when Vivian - again - makes stupid decisions and venture out on her own, instead of trusting her large support system.
Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read and revies this ARC.

"Some days it was too hard to look life in the face. Some days it was easier to just dance to the music."

Words to live by; especially for Vivian in Book 2 of the historical fiction The Nightingale Mystery Series, The Last Drop Of Hemlock by mystery author Katherine Schellman. The Nightingale doorman, and best friend Bea's uncle is found dead. It's ruled a suicide but Bea knows different and Vivian is just the one to prove the cops wrong...again.

Narrator Sara Young continues to give Vivian a strong voice as she figures out how the speakeasy, blackmail and pawn shops led to murder. The gritty grime melting pot of 1920s NYC is felt throughout this noir as Vivian deals with family, romance and poison.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from Dreamscape Media via #NetGalley for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

A historical mystery set in the 1920s prohibition era New York City. Just like the first book in this series Last Call At The Nightingale this second installment was so fabulously written. The book is deeply rooted in well researched historical fiction while having a captivating mystery plot and an inclusive cast of appealing characters. Schellman presents to us the social divide that existed between the haves and have-nots during The Roaring Twenties, a period of rapid economic growth and social change. The eponymous Nightingale is a speakeasy that serves a mixed clientele in race, class, and sexuality. I loved that this book just like the first one focused on how people who were at a disadvantage lived not just a privileged few. Viviane the sleuth is a seamstress by training earning extra cash waitressing. Left an orphan with just her sister Florence she knows how hard it is to just make a living but she also loves to dance the Charleston.
Pearly a bouncer at the Nightingale is dead and the police is quick to assume a suicide, there is not really much interest in the death of a middle aged black man but for Vivian it‘s personal since Pearly is her friend Bea‘s uncle and Bea is convinced that a suicide is out of the question. Vivian quickly uncovers that there may have been way more to this death … and things get dangerous.

The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman

Narrated by Sara Young

Thank you to @netgalley and Dreamscape Media for a copy in exchange for my honest review.

Historical Fiction | Mystery & Thrillers

This is Book 2 in the Jazz Age series. I didn't read the first one but I've seen great things about it.

I liked the narrators voice on this read. The author did a good job with the descriptions because I was able to visualize the old timey, NYC era.

The Book just jumps in with two feet and immediately the bouncer is dead. The author wasted no time at all lol Overall, it was a decent listen.

Synopsis:

Life as a working-class girl in Prohibition-era New York isn’t safe or easy. But Vivian Kelly has a new job at the Nightingale, an underground speakeasy where the jazz is hot and the employees look out for each other in a world that doesn’t care about them. Things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence... until the night Vivian learns that her friend Bea's uncle, a bouncer at the Nightingale, has died.

His death is ruled a suicide, but Bea isn’t so convinced. She knew her uncle was keeping a secret: a payoff from a mob boss that was going to take him out of the tenements and into a better life. Now, the money is missing.

Though her better judgment tells her to stay out of it, Vivian agrees to help Bea find the truth about her uncle's death. But they uncover more than they expected when rumors surface of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian's poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don't comply.

Death is always a heartbeat away in Jazz Age New York, where mob bosses rule the back alleys and cops take bootleggers’ hush money. But whoever is targeting Vivian’s poor and unprotected neighbors is playing a different game.

A great historical murder mystery sequel to the first book in this series. I love the queer FMC in this series and thoroughly enjoyed the world the author has created. Great on audio narrated by Sara Young. and perfect for fans of books like The witches of Manhattan by Ami McKay. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early ALC copy in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS

This is book 2 in a historical mystery series set in the Jazz Age during Prohibition. It is not a standalone and you need to read the first book before this one.

Synopsis:
Vivian Kelly now works at The Nightingale where her best friend Bea’s uncle gets poisoned. It is ruled a suicide, but the girls think it might be murder and they try and solve the mystery.

I enjoyed this book as much as the first book. The setting is so vibrant and well described that you felt you were in NYC in the middle of a jazz club in the 1920s. I liked how we got to see more of a sister relationship between Flo and Vivian as they work together to solve the mystery. The cast is very diverse with queer, disabled, & multi racial characters. It made for more interesting sub plots during an era where a lot was taboo. I liked the storyline of her mother and wanted more of that at the end.

I did listen to this on audio and thought the narration was great. The voice was very pleasant to listen to and not overly dramatic. If you enjoy historical fiction set during Prohibition, you will enjoy this book. Also the cocktail on the cover looks delicious! 🍸😍

Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the audiobook! ❤️

DNF at 41%

I really kept trying to truck through this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t read the first book in the series, so I wonder if that is my problem. I couldn’t connect to the characters and get invested into the storyline. I loved the era and the mystery was interesting, but this book just wasn’t for me.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

I liked this novel and think that Katherine Schellman is doing an excellent job in developing these mysteries set in the 20s.
There's a lot of fun in this solid mystery and I enjoyed it even if I didn't read the first book in this series.
The narrator did an excellent job
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I have really enjoyed historical fiction lately - and while I did like this story, it wasn’t my favorite.

It is set in the prohibition era, and a majority of the story happens in an underground club full of forbidden alcohol and dancing. It has love, scandal, and murder - all ingredients for a good whodunit! Vivian takes it upon herself to help out her best friend, Bea, to help solve the mystery of who killed her uncle. What seems like a simple death ends up just scratching the surface of what really happened….

I listened to the audiobook, and I did enjoy the narration - I thought that the narrator transported me back to the prohibition era (and kudos to the author because the style of writing was great). Still, the story didn’t draw me in as others have. I think it is just a preference thing because the story was well written, and the plot was developed - just not my jam :)

The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katherine Schellman is the second entry in the delightful, atmospheric mystery series set in NYC. It is 1924, Prohibition is the law, yet underground clubs abound and illegal booze flows freely. The Nightingale, a jazz club, again features as the setting for the eclectic group of characters to gather, as most are employed there or hang around into the wee hours of the morning, dancing their cares away.
Vivian Kelly again is the protagonist and most engaging character, as she helps her best friend Bea to investigate the murder of doorman Pearlie, Bea’s uncle. Viv’s sister Florence is usually shy and quiet, but she kicks up her heels a bit in a flirtation with the bartender, Danny. Leo, with a foot in both law-abiding and shady camps, is a colorful accomplice in their investigation. The honor of best supporting character again goes to the sultry, enigmatic Honor Huxley, owner of the Nightingale. With her usual pluck and inquisitiveness, Viv winds her way through the central murder mystery with aplomb.
The more serious side of the books in this series touches on issues of socioeconomic disparity, the powerlessness of poor women, racial discrimination, and gender identity. Acknowledging these issues does not distract from but enriches the stories.
I enjoyed the audiobook advance copy and thought narrator Sara Young was outstanding, with nuanced delivery and suitable character’s voices. Reading the first book, Last Call at the Nightingale, will enhance the richness of this entry.
I highly recommend this clever Jazz Age mystery, and most definitely look forward to reading the next in this series.

Thank you to DreamScape Media and NetGalley for the advance audiobook to review. This is my honest review

I liked this one more than book 1, but it still fell flat in parts for me. I am not exactly sure what it is that I am missing in this series, but there is just something that keeps them from being more than just an average read for me. I don't dislike them [and I really liked the narrator MUCH more this time around; this could be due to me having so many really awful narrators as of late, who knows] and I find, after this one, that I do want to keep reading them [once I am invested in a story, look out]. Maybe by book 3, I will be able to figure out why.

What I really did like about this book:
* Vivian and Florence. The way their relationship has grown is fantastic to see. The first book was rough since the sisters were so at odd all the time. I really like how Florence has loosened a little bit and how the sisters now work together as much as possible. I also love the relationship that Flo has developed with Danny and it will be interesting to see how that progresses, especially with Danny's parent's not loving the idea of a white girl dating a Chinese man [it is the 1920's; their concern is not unwarranted].
* The setting. You really feel that you are in the middle of NYC in the 1920's. I love the accuracy and descriptions of both the city [and places like where Viv and Flo live] and the clubs.
* The people at the Nightingale. They are chosen family and they all work so well together and have each other's backs. It is so glorious to see.
* The overall mystery. THIS. WAS. SO. GOOD. I never saw coming what happened and it was all just so good. And that end...whoosh. I can see why it happened, but gosh my moral compass was totally FREAKING out and had me asking "what would I HAVE DONE if I had been in the same situation?".

What I didn't like:
* The pacing. I think that is some of my problem with these books; they do seem to drag in the middle and I tend to wander and want it to move a bit faster. It could just be me, but regardless, it is something that I wish would change.
* Honor. I 100% DO NOT LIKE how she treats Vivian. Totally led her on only to decide she couldn't "risk" getting involved with someone. IF you make that decision, you don't get to be mad when the person you have "dumped" gets involved with someone else. I was fuming though most of the scenes with her and Viv. While I somewhat understand why she cannot be emotionally involved with people who work for her, I hate how she strings people along. UGH.
* I *KNOW* you are not supposed to love Viv and Flo's sewing boss, but MY GOSH she is awful. UGH. And she just doesn't get better. Even after having something traumatic happen doesn't soften her a little bit. She is such an unpleasant character and she was in this a lot more than I enjoyed.
* All the parts that fell flat for me. I will say there was less of that this book than book 1, but it was still there and I can only hope that some of that is resolved by book 3 [WHICH I will be reading because like I said before, I am TOTALLY invested in these characters].

I was lucky enough to get an audiobook ARC of this book and this was something that DID work MUCH better for me than the first book. I enjoyed the narration MUCH more than in book 1 [same narrator; go figure] and I really got into the book because of how well it was narrated. I am so glad that I was able to listen to this one and it turned out as well as it did. I will say that I don't love all the voices she does [the generic side characters tend to all sound a like], but all the main characters are really well done [she really captures Alba's whining] and really helps draw you into the story.
Well done.

Thank you to NetGalley, Katharine Schellman, Sara Young - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing both the eARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book and can't wait for the next one to come out, I need to know how this ends! I love all the strong female characters in this book. They are doing what needs to be done given what they have at hand and where they were born in life. Usually with little to no help from those in power and/or the men around them. I am adding all of Katherine Shellman's books to my TBR!

#TheLastDropofHemlock
#NetGalley

A wonderful second book in Nightingale series - set in the seedy environment of 1920’s Prohibition New York. Vivian Kelly and her sister Florence are orphans who live in a tenement on the lower east side. Flo is a gifted seamstress and works tirelessly at an atelier while Viv delivers finished garments to rich women uptown. Viv is still working nights as a cocktail waitress at the illegal speakeasy Nightingale Club. Vivian loves this place because she can dance, listen to great jazz and sip champagne…feeling young and alive in an otherwise dreary and very hard life. Viv’s best friend Bea also works at the Nightengale as the very talented singer with the house jazz band. While life is hard for poor Irish like the Kelly sisters and Danny Chen, the Chinese-American bartender and 2nd in command at the Nightingale, the world is doubly hard for Bea and her family because they are African American. In a city filled with mobsters, dirty cops and illegal booze smugglers, the poor and especially people of color are disposable and have no champions. So, when Bea’s beloved uncle is found dead at it’s ruled a suicide, she and Vivian decide to find out what happened because they believe he was murdered. They are repeatedly told to stop asking questions or they will be in danger and they certainly do. Bea and Viv enlist help from Danny, Honor the mysterious Nightengale owner, and Leo their friend who’s the estranged nephew of the NYC Police Commissioner and who has a somewhat questionable past. Both Leo and Honor have feelings for Vivian but she needs to decide what her future path to love will be. Both roads would be bumpy….an Irish Catholic girl with a Jewish boy or a lesbian couple. Also, Flo and Danny seem to be developing a relationship with all the dangers of being an interracial couple laying ahead of them. So full of atmosphere, you can almost hear the jazz….

This was an atmospheric and intriguing historical mystery that takes place in the 1920s jazz age. The scenic setting of a speakeasy was fascinating and I always enjoy reading about plots set during prohibition.

I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and their amateur sleuthing. This whodunit kept me continually guessing which is a huge bonus but in the end I was just looking for a little something more.

Well that was quick - "Bea" rhymes with "Lee" not "Leah." It was so jarring every time that I cannot continue. Seriously disappointed this didn't get caught before release.

**Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC**

Gosh, I REALLY loved this second installment in the Nightingale Mysteries series. The Last Drop of Hemlock is so atmospheric. I love loved all the NYC references and all the lovely nights at the club. I love the tension between Viv and her *two* love interests and I really loved the developments with Florence this book. This one as a real mystery- I was definitely hooked and truly enjoyed the audio narration. There are so many excellent historical references. I think this one’s even better than the first and I look forward to the next in the series.

3.5, The first book was more enriched with painting the picture of the neighborhood and the club. This really focused on the who done it. I did really enjoy the characters and the new stories that you learn along the way. This is wide open to for book three and I will be tuning in for the next story in this lovable historical thriller series.

The narrator really helps bring this to life.