What a fun book! I will say I did struggle a bit with the audiobook and actually switched to a physical copy. I felt like I couldn't connect with the characters all the way, like I was being kept at arms difference. It also felt a bit YA but I did like how whimsical the writing was.

Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman

This book was so fun! Set in the 1920s in New York City, the atmosphere of this story is spectacular. Vivian is a seamstress living with her sister, but by night she frequents the Nightingale, an underground dance hall. One night at the Nightingale she discovers a dead body in the back alley and quickly gets swept up in the mystery of this man’s death.

This is a mystery with a bit of romance and a bit of family drama. The characters, especially Vivian, were well developed and complex. I loved the mystery and never guessed the ending.

But what I loved most about this book was the atmosphere. I love the 1920s and the writing was so descriptive. So fun and lively!

Thank you to @minotaur_books for my advanced copy. This one is out today!

What’s your favourite drink to order at a bar/restaurant?

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Last Call at the Nightingale is a murder mystery set in prohibition era New York. There is a rich cast of characters including various races and sexuality. The main character, Vivian, is visiting her best friend Bea at the Nightclub Bea works at when the find a man's body behind the club. Vivian gets drawn in to the mystery of who this man was and who would have wanted him dead.

I really enjoyed this audiobook. The characters were interesting and I also enjoyed the setting. I guess one of the books twists but did not guess a few of the others, so even if you think you have everything figured out, you probably don't.

An outstanding mystery with the mob, speakeasys, both rich and poor women, love, violence, and betrayal all mixed in.

Vivian and her sister are orphans living in a small apartment and working in a sewing factory. Florence is quiet and quite respectable. Vivian, while equally as moral, loves to dance and have fun at the Nightingale. As she and her friend are taking a break behind the building one evening, they discover a man’s dead body. Hux tells them to forget about what they saw but once Vivian gets something in her mind, she doesn’t let it go. This will cause her all kinds of trouble as she tries to solve the murder while keeping Florence, Bea, and herself safe.

I really enjoyed this book. I switched between the audiobook and the printed version. I preferred the audio but that may have been because Sara Young did such a good job narrating. The characters are well defined, and the reader becomes attached to them. They show both kindness and survival instincts though the bad pretend to be good. The good characters are enjoyable. The bad are just evil.


I received an ARC from St. Martin’s Press and Dreamscape Media through NetGalley. This in no way affects my opinion or rating of this book. I am voluntarily submitting this review and am under no obligation to do so.

Vivian Kelly spends her days working in a factory, alongside her sister Florence, sewing nice clothes for the rich members of society. At night she finds escape by going to The Nightingale, a dance hall where the illegal alcohol flows and many people escape the drudgery of their lives through the music and dancing. The Nightingale is a place where people can find acceptance and excitement regardless of the lives they lead outside. When a dead body is found in an alley outside the club, Vivian’s happiness is threatened, as is The Nightingale. 

I absolutely loved this novel: the time period, the characters, the setting, the mystery. The characters are simply amazing. I really liked the fact that the main characters, while being the lower members of society, are strong and determined in their individual ways. I also enjoyed how many of them are females and some are minorities during a time when they were viewed as less-than. Last Call at the Nightingale grabbed me from the first page and kept me hooked right up until the end. It also kept me guessing throughout, making it into a real page-turner.

I liked the audiobook as well. Sara Young did a wonderful job narrating this novel; between her tone, inflection and character’s voices I found myself absorbed and lost in the narrative. I feel that my enjoyment of Last Call at the Nightingale was added to by listening to this novel.

Last Call at the Nightingale is a book that can not be missed by any fan of mysteries set during Prohibition. I highly recommend this novel.

This was an adventure that takes you back to the 1920's. From the first page the story left out and transported me to another time. This story takes you on a journey as you try and figure out what happened to a murdered man that was found in an alley.

The Roarin' 20's, just...yes.

I love the women in the flapper dresses looking dazzling and the men in those dapper af suits, oof. They both just hit different.

A speakeasy, raids and a murder. Vivian just wants to let loose a little, shake up a life she isn't all that happy with, so she often spends her nights at the speakeasy owned by Honor, aka Hux, where the liquor and jazz flow easily. Until one night she finds a dead body in an alley.

Owing Hux a favor, Vivian tries to find out what she can about the murder by befriending a young man named Leo. Uncovering truths that others kept hidden she also is facing her own as she balances advances from Hux and Leo.

The mood in this one felt like velvet. Do I know what this means? No, not really.

I was on the fence with this audio at times. There were places they did a wonderful job (sultry voice of Hux) but in other places it fell flat a bit. Overall, glad I listened.

Thank you so much @dreamscape_media, @minotaurbooks, @netgalley and Katharine Schellman for the gifted copies.

Absolutely captivating Jazz age mystery.

The Nightingale is more than an underground dance hall. People come here to lose themselves from ordinary everyday life. Release the pressure of playing roles that society is expecting them to be... The Nightingale is home to rebels. Vivian is one of these people. One night, she stumbles upon a body in an alley of the club. the accident can cause big problems for the club and many of its visitors may lose the only place they can truly be themselves. After some persuasion, Vivian decides to help her beloved club, in a long run making new acquaintances and building a new and bright future.

The beginning of the novel was very slow. My biggest pet peeve is the large number of characters in the novel. I was pleasantly surprised by the way the author navigated thru the characters, making them all useful and a part of one big picture. Overall it was a very enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books publisher for a free copy of the novel.

Rating: 3.75
Author: Katharine Schellman

“First in a captivating Jazz age mystery series from author Katharine Schellman, Last Call at the Nightingale beckons readers into a darkly glamorous speakeasy where music, liquor, and secrets flow.” GR

I started this one by listening to the audiobook but quickly realized the narrator wasn’t for me. Everything was feeling very flat and I was having a hard time getting into the story. Luckily, I was also given a physical copy and started reading that instead. I’m so glad I did because I definitely had a better experience with this story.

This is a fun murder mystery to read while relaxing with a good drink. It was well written and while the plot wasn’t anything new or crazy I still found it enjoyable. I really loved that it took place in the 1920’s because it's been forever since I’ve read a book from that time. The author did a great job of making the reader feel as though they were in the club. It definitely made me want to go dancing! Since this is a murder myster I’m keeping the review short to avoid spoilers. Just know it was well written and I found the characters to be likable and they all had their own personalities.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this one. It has strong female characters, a close bond between two good friends and takes place in a fun/fresh setting. I’ve seen mixed reviews so I think this book will definitely depend on the person and their mood.

Thank you so much @minotaur_books & @dreamscapemedia for the #gifted copy on #netgalley and the physical copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4

I'm a sucker for anything 1920s, and this beautiful cover sucked me in. I also love mysteries, so this was a no-brainer for me.

Prohibition is in full swing in NYC, so what's a working class girl to do when she wants to kick up her heels and forget the worries of everyday struggle? For Vivian Kelly, after a mind numbing day of sewing her fingers to the bone with her killjoy but loving sister Florence, the Nightingale, a speakeasy and dance hall where all are welcome and she can spend time with her friends and dance her cares away is the answer. Vivian and Bea, her best best friend and waitress at the Nightingale, discover the body of a well-to-do but not very nice guy in the alley behind the speakeasy and tell Honor Huxley, the owner of the club. She tells them to forget about it, that she will take care of things. Soon after, the club gets raided and Vivian ends up in the pokey. Honor bails her out but says Vivian now owes her a favor. Honor wants Vivian to keep her eye on a new patron who showed up the night of the murder, which shouldn't be too tough since he's clearly got a thing for Viv. Vivian can't help but try to figure out what happened to the dead guy, and that of course puts her in danger.

I definitely enjoyed the book and it did take me a bit of time to figure out who the murderer was, but I wish there had been a bit more atmosphere and more time spent fleshing out the characters. I listened to the audio book and felt the narrator did a good job of adding feeling to the words, and did especially well with her voicing of Honor Huxley. If there is a another book in the future featuring these characters, I will give it a read as well.

Thank you to Netgally and Dreamscape Media for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Last Call at the Nightingale by Katharine Schellman is the first in a series of mystery novels set in New York during the 1920s.  I did not know that this would be a series when I first started the book because I am so bad with waiting for the other books, but what’s done is done.
 
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
 
Synopsis:
Vivian Kelly’s life is mundane.  As an orphan she only has her sister whom she lives with in a small tenement and a job that requires her to sew for hours a day.  But, at night, Vivian lets lose at The Nightingale which is a secret underground dance hall where liquor flows freely during prohibition and the band plays scandalous tunes like the Charleston.  Vivian can become another person at night and even though her sister disapproves of the nightlife, there is no stopping Vivian.  But when she discovers a dead body behind the club her life is forever changed.  Police raids and jail time are just the beginning of what is in store for Vivian.  Who was the man she found and how will that affect Vivian?
 
Thoughts:
-       I listened to the audio for this book and I think this was why I could not connect with Vivian.
-       The narrator was very monotone and there was almost no expression in her voice. 
-       If you plan on reading this book do not listen to the audio!
-       There was so much potential for this book and I am sure I would have enjoyed it more if I read it myself.
-       Clearly, I cannot get over how much I disliked this audiobook.
 
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Last Call at the Nightingale

I’m a sucker for a story set in the 1920s, especially in a fun setting like a jazz club/ speakeasy.

The author has such a knack for writing a period piece- she clearly does her research and keeps things authentic.

My favorite character was Vivian. She was not afraid to take chances to do what she wanted, even if that meant she disappointed her sister. I loved the sisters relationship. It was complicated but still rooted in love. I liked seeing them grow together and fight for each other. I would love to see these characters show up in later books.

This was such a fantastic mystery! It had me guessing till the end!

As far as the audio, this was very well done. It was one narrator but felt like more

I highly recommend anything by Katherine Schellman. She is an auto read author for me!!

This is out June 7th!!

This book was unlike any other book I’ve ever read and I loved it! It’s a slow-burn historical fiction mystery that will hook you in as you learn about what life was like in Prohibition-era New York.

Synopsis: Vivian Kelly’s days are spent living with her protective sister and sewing for hours at a dress shop, but most nights she escapes to The Nightingale, an underground dance hall. The Nightingale is a place where Vivian can dance and drink and no one cares about who she is or how much money she has. She gets lost in the music and often forgets the dangers of the Prohibition era, until one night when she finds a dead body behind the speakeasy. People assume Vivian knows more about the crime than she’s letting on and she finds herself caught up in the dangers of New York’s underground where she learns secrets and information that could be deadly.

This book had me on the edge of my seat as I read about Vivian’s encounters. I loved her courage and curiosity, but was always questioning her decisions and wondering if she was trusting the right people. I was so excited to learn that this is the first book of a new series because when it was over, I was wishing there was more (I also think it’d be great as a tv series!). Thank you for the chance to read and review the advanced audiobook! I can’t wait for the next one!

This was my first time reading the author. I was dropped straight into an underground dance club in 1924, New York.

We meet Vivian our FMC and Honor Huxley, the dance club owner and her friend, Bea!!

Vivian and her sister Flo were so good together. Grew up with nuns and they could kill for each other.

Vivian finds a dead man in an alley and things escalate from there. The mystery was okay and I could tell who did it. Still an interesting read!!

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was an exceedingly atmospheric murder mystery and I’m absolutely obsessed with this cover - It’s just so captivating and stunning!

This one takes place in Manhattan in the 1920s Jazz Age and roaring twenties. I’ve always been incredibly intriguing by this era and the whole idea of speakeasy’s during prohibition so I just loved this setting! Add in some secrets, crime, corruption and a whodunit and I’m in!

I admired how poignant this one was and it’s inclusiveness. Schellman did a great job of including diverse representation and touching upon class, gender, race and sexual orientation seamlessly.

I enjoyed sleuthing alongside Vivian and I was excited to know that this was the first of a forthcoming series and I look forward to joining her next adventure!

New York City, 1924, Prohibition is the law, yet underground clubs abound and illegal booze flows freely.
Last Call at the Nightingale, by Katherine Schellman, is a delightful atmospheric mystery featuring The Nightingale, a jazz club which welcomes all comers, in an inclusive atmosphere, who like to dance and drink and forget their cares for an evening.
The protagonist, Vivian Kelly, is a poor Irish young woman, who, with her sister Florence, works in a dress shop as a seamstress, barely making enough money to rent a small 4th floor walkup in a dingy New York neighborhood. Late at night, her alter ego is a vamp, who dances into the wee hours at The Nightingale with an eclectic group of friends and employees. It is her temporary escape from the reality of her poverty, until she becomes embroiled in a murder investigation of a patron whose body is found in an alley behind the club.
No spoilers here—Viv is a spirited character with a strong joie de vivre, but also a level of recklessness that gets her into troublesome situations. With a good amount of pluckiness and a sassy demeanor, she winds her way through the central murder mystery with aplomb.
The more serious side of this novel touches on issues of socioeconomic disparity, the powerlessness of poor women, racial discrimination, and gender identity. Acknowledging these issues did not distract from but enriched the story.
I found Viv the most interesting and well-developed character, followed by her sister, the stereotypically serious older sibling, with the supporting cast of best friend Bea, bartender Danny, and charming Leo nicely adding depth to the story. The honor of “best supporting actress” goes to sultry Honor Huxley, owner of The Nightingale!
I enjoyed the audiobook advanced copy and thought narrator Sara Young did a great job, with a nuanced delivery and suitable character’s voices.
I highly recommend this clever Jazz Age mystery, and I most definitely look forward to reading the next in this series by Katherine Schellman.

Thank you to DreamScape Media and NetGalley for the advance audiobook to review. These are my honest opinions.

Last Call at the Nightingale has a murder. I kept forgeting about the body found in the alley as I soaked up the language and the strange rules of a long ago time when prohibition was forcing people to go underground and become criminals if they went out for a night on the town. I was fascinated by the settings and the feeling of the times and a little bit interested in who dunnit.

I’ve been really into historical fiction lately and this one includes a mystery! I was so happy to receive an audio of this from NetGalley!

This book did not disappoint. If you like historical fiction or mystery/thriller books, you’ll enjoy this one! It follows a girl after she finds a dead man behind a club that operates less than legally. She’s determined to find out who killed this man - especially after the club owner asks for her help.

There’s action, mystery, love interests and a beautiful historical setting with likable character - I didn’t want to put it down!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Intrigue during Prohibition as a body is found in the alley outside the Nightingale, an illegal club for dancing and drinking that only the loosest of girls frequent. I loved the narration and the 20's atmosphere of the book. There's nothing better than a jazz club during Prohibition.

A murder mystery in a speakeasy sounded awesome to me but this one just didn’t resonate with me. I didn’t have any connection with the characters and wasn’t concerned about what was happening to them. I found my mind drifting a lot during this audiobook. I think the narrator wasn’t the right choice for this - she sounded super modern and some of her voices were a bit odd so it took me out of the story. The writing was cheesy at times but maybe the author was just trying to capture the era. My recommendation would be to read this one and skip the audiobook!