Oh to be a high society female in 1889 is hillarious where to think independently for yourself is considered " Female hysteria" instead of wanting more then to get married to someone rich as you or your equal and have kids to continue that bloodline.

Mathilda Pembroke and Her sister Lucy ( The perfect one) because Mathilda is more questioning everything such as why I guess you call that a curious mind. Instead of a dutiful daughter and constient. Takes place in New york when mysterious and sad circumstances happen. Bram Stoker's Dracula is mentioned and compared a lot which is really appealing to me.

It points out opiod addictions and there use ( to keep women in check or to get rid of reality) What is reality and what is fantasy ? They also talk about abinsthe alot which was very popular in the writing and acting scene especially around early 1900's. Aka the green fairy. New york Immigrant culture is mentioned alot for historical accuracy.

I was given this Arc by netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A terrific book that had me hooked right from the beginning. It features a strong, if flawed, heroine and a fascinating, detailed look at life in Gilded Age Manhattan. As a murder mystery, it has many twists and turns, which are resolved in intelligent, satisfying ways. I really enjoyed “A Beautiful Poison” by Lydia Kang, and this book is reminiscent of that one in the setting and use of old-fashioned medical practices.

For me this was very much a fun read.
Tillie was a spirited character,who over the course of the book becomes one of the biggest drug takers I can think of,yet still functions almost normally.
Blending a murder with the recently released Dracula was a great idea...
All loose ends were neatly tied by the end,with no major surprises.
An enjoyable read. I'll look out for this author again.

I thoroughly enjoyed being taken away to a different time in this charming novel. Things get going right from the start with Tillie breaking a bone and her sister Lucy being murdered. Due to the broken bone, Tillie develops an addiction to laudanum and then morphine which makes her investigation of what happened to her sister complicated. However there is more than her addiction complicating things, her standing makes moving about and meetings with Ian even more difficult.

I loved the vampire aspect and how that fit in the setting and time. There are quotes from Dracula throughout that added to the charm and mystery. But the strength for me was in the characters. Of course Tillie was my favorite but all of the secondary characters had draws and motivations that made them come to life. The grandmother gave me the shivers, and I could imagine her presence making everyone shrink back. The pace was snappy making it a fast read for me that is easy to recommend.

I love a story with a strong heroine... this did not disappoint! I found it interesting how this young woman found creative ways to fight the confines and limitations of her time for the greater good and to satisfy her very curious nature. I will read more from this author!

A very enjoyable read. I love reading books set in Victorian times and this was the perfect mesh of mystery, paranormal and romance. A beautifully detailed way to see 1899 New York. I felt that it was accurately painted. The author did an excellent job with her characters, making them detailed and interesting. The plot was well developed and although not a fast-moving book, it holds your interest and doesn't let go.

The main protagonist, Tillie, is wonderfully curious, extremely resourceful, makes blunders and yet follows through. She persistently attempts to locate her sister's killer, despite an injury to her collarbone, addiction to her painkiller and being restricted by the confines of being a woman in the Victorian era. A very resourceful young lady.

My favorite quote? "You'll learn how to survive this, Matilda. No woman lives a life unscathed. It's what makes us strong. We are broken and mended, remade every time. We must, or it destroys us." How prophetic Tillie's grandmother's words are. I definitely recommend this book.

I would like to thank Lydia Kang, Lake Union Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is the second book by this author and this book has now made me a huge fan.
A historical friction / mystery and a huge page turner !

Interesting historical fiction/ murder mystery. Very well written!
Once I started reading, I found myself fully engaged and couldn't put it down!
I loved the well written characters and the plot was great!
4 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley the publisher and author for an ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.