Are you looking for a noir style mystery, set in prohibition era New York, but with a bisexual female protagonist? Do I have a book for you!

This is the second entry in the Nightingale Mysteries series by Katharine Schellman. I have not read the first entry and I did not need to. Schellman did an excellent job of creating a self contained story that didn’t rely on context from the first book. There were hints of what came before, but not enough to ruin the first book if you want to go back and read it too.

Writing mysteries is a balancing act when it comes to how much information the author needs to give to their audience. I’m not the type of reader that thinks that the author needs to give me all the clues to figure out the mystery myself, but I do need enough information to get close. Schellman doled out the perfect amount of information as the plot progressed for me to make guesses about what was happening, but not too much to where I figured it all out instantly.

While the pacing can be a little slow in a few places it is in service of deeper character development. I liked the ending of this story very much. While this is a complete story it is also clear that there are open plot threads that will be explored in future books. I’m really glad that I had the chance to read this book early.

Life in the tenements in 1920s NYC comes with all sorts of daily problems for Vivian, her sister, and their friends. However, when her friend Bea’s uncle dies under suspicious circumstances and a large amount of money goes missing, Vivian finds herself hanging on by a thread as she tries to untangle some confusing clues while facing down some scary and unsavory members of the criminal underground. When her sister is endangered as a result of Vivian’s investigation, everyone in her sphere becomes entrenched in solving the crime and keeping the girls alive.

Schellman does a splendid job of bringing the life of the working poor in the Jazz Age alive, with the excitement of the speakeasy - from dancing and music to drinking and secrecy - to the need for neighbors to look out for one another. Through Vivian and her sister, Schellman captures the tensions between the modern girl evolving at that time and the limits of respectability of the past that the flappers pushed against. And finally, without distracting from the plot, she brings to light the harsh and the subtle realities of racial, gender, and sexual diversity in a time too many books and movies would rather paint as homogeneous.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author Katharine Schellman for early access to this entertaining and well-written sequel.

There is no singer at the Nightingale on that night. Rumors are passing among the staff. Bea arrives late to sing because her Uncle Pearlie is dead. Dr. Harris says it's suicide. Pearlie has only been around a few months and had been working at the Nightingale as a bouncer. Vivian and Bea have been best friends for years. They both know that several neighbors have received letters telling them the writer wants an item which is valuable. Those who haven't followed instructions have been poisoned. When Vivian and Bea go with Leo to Pearlie's apartment, they search for some money he has recently acquired. When they finally find the hidey hole behind the headboard, the money is gone, and there is a bottle of liquor with a note saying to drink a toast to our continued work together. They take the bottle to the coroner and it is full of arsenic. However, the bottle disappears.

When a letter comes to Vivian's sister Florence telling her to steal a very expensive silk dress with sewn on jewels she has been working on for the dressmaker where she works, Florence thinks it's a joke, but Vivian knows about other letters and deaths when someone doesn't obey. Vivian knows she has to find a safe place for Florence. She takes her to the Nightingale that evening and asks Honor if they can stay there. Honor says it isn't really safe enough, but Honor suggests Danny's place. However, Honor says she'll go with Vivian to steal the dress.

Florence and Vivian move to Danny's house, and help out by washing dishes in the restaurant. Florence and Danny begin to get close. Vivian finally thinks she has figured out the person who killed Pearlie. At this point, things become very exciting.

Great mystery set in 1920s New York City amidst nightclubs, speakeasies, Prohibition, and music, with people doing their best to survive however they can. Vivian is our heroine, and she helps her friend Bea solve the mystery of Bea's uncle's maybe-suicide, maybe-murder. Complex plot with numerous threads the author ties together in the end, with one unresolved plot twist which will probably be the subject of a future book. This is the 2nd in the series, but I haven't read the first book and had no problem following along. I look forward to more books in the series and returning to this fascinating time and place. Thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the ARC.

United States Publication: June 6, 2023

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. In exchange, I am providing an honest review.

We met Vivian Kelly in book 1 of this new series by Schellman. As Book 1 wrapped up, Vivian had taken a job at the Nightingale. This title starts off with a rumor being whispered fast and furiously around the club late one night. Vivivan's best friend, Bea, has had a family tragedy occur. Her Uncle Pearlie, a doorman at the nightclub, has been found dead, apparently by suicide. But in 1924, suicide is such an easy conclusion to make in light of DNA and forensic evidence. Bea and Vivian aren't willing to believe Uncle Pearlie killed himself so they start quietly making inquiries and conducting their own investigation. They begin to uncover nefarious activity in Uncle Pearlie's neighborhood, as well as around the city. When the activity threatens Vivian's sister, Florence, the stakes suddenly feel much higher.

I really liked the start of this series with Book 1, however, Book 2 fell a little flat for me. I didn't find it as interesting as the start of the series. I found the nightclub owner, Honor, really interesting and intriguing in the first book but in this title I was just annoyed by her. I also wasn't as enamored with Vivian as I thought I was. I did find the softening of Florence, Vivian's sister, interesting as well as the building mystery surrounding the loss of their mother. I'm undecided if I'm going to continue with the series. I will most likely give book 3, assuming there will be one, a try in hopes that this is a "sophomore slump" but my enthusiasm for the series is definitely dampened upon reading this installment, which is a huge bummer for me because I was really excited about this series after reading the first one.

This was a perfect mix up to my normal reading genres! All that jazz and murder mystery in NYC ugh this absolutely immersed you into the vibe of the time! Honor is quiet the BAB! Viv and Bea are a great duo, and the best part is guessing who dunit’

Set in 1920's NewYork With Vivian and her friends trying to solve some theft and murder.
Drama, twists, suspense little history of the times and slight romance..
Voluntarily reviewed.

After reading the first Nightingale mystery, I couldn't wait to pick up this book, and it was a light and fun read. The mystery plot wasn't my favorite. It dragged at times, and the reveals were all crowded close together. But the characters were so engaging, and the setting in 1920s NYC prohibition was perfect, so it was still a fun read!

Thank you to Minotaur Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Drop of Hemlock is the second in Nightingale Mysteries by Katharine Schellman, set in Jazz Age New York. Schellman also writes the Lily Adler series, set in Regency England. I recommend both.

During the day, Vivian Kelly works as a delivery person for a dress shop where her sister also works, but nights will find her at the Nightingale, a speakeasy. Her friend, Bea, works at the Nightingale, and Vivian is drawn into investigating the death of Bea's uncle, which was initially ruled a suicide. Vivian puts herself at risk to discover the truth.

I admit having a bit of trouble getting into the first book, Last Call at the Nightingale, but I am so glad I stuck with it and then read this one. From having read the Lily Adler series, I wasn't surprised by the slow pacing, but Vivian is a much more energetic character than Lily. Some of that is due to the difference in time periods and how women were expected to behave. Lily is a much more deliberate thinker than Vivian. Vivian started out using the club as an escape, but it's becoming a home to her. She knows her fellow Nightingales have her back (although sometimes it comes at a price). The club is a mix of all races, genders, and sexualities, both in customers and clientele, which is not something I've seen often in historical mysteries. Vivian's struggles to make her place in the world while she figures out who is a friend and who may be more than a friend are very real and relatable.

Now, on to the mystery. It was a good plot, and the steps in the investigation made sense, but I did figure out whodunnit well before Vivian. That was okay, though, because I like the characters enough to spend time with them just doing day-to-day things.

Is this everyone's cup of hemlock, uh, tea? it should be, because there's a lot of good stuff there already, and potential for more. There's a nice little love triangle, and I was also glad to see Vivian's sister Flo step out a bit in this book.

4 out of 5 stars. Recommended.

I received an advance copy from Minotaur Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Another riveting mystery from Schellman! I continue to be obsessed with Honor Huxley. Don't know if I want to be her or make out with her.

Me oh My, Katharine Schellman, you are my spirit animal. I specifically waited to write this review so it would be my 700th review!

Im literally addicted to Schellman's writing style and I just won't quit (not that I would ever want to!)

The Last Drop of Hemlock

Follow up to, Last Call at the Nightingale, one of my favorite books of all time.

These books are just oh so cool. They take place during the jazz era and I can just see every scene play out before my eyes like a favorite movie. (If Netflix doesn't jump on these books I will be surprised)

These are the types of books you just don't want to spoil for anyone, I highly recommend going into them blind. Don't read the back of the cover, don't read any spoilers, don't read the reviews, just dive right in! The cover alone should pull you right in, they are just absolutely stunning.

I won't give anything away but I will tell you that these are both 5 star reads and as you wait for The Last Drop of Hemlock to release, you need to pick up Last Call at the Nightgale.

Teaser:

New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly has gotten a job at the Nightingale, a speakeasy known to the young and fun as a place where the rules of society can be tossed aside for a dance and a drink, and things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence. They might not be living like queens—still living in a dingy two-room tenement, still scrimping and saving—but they're confident in keeping a roof over their heads, and every once in a while, there is fried ham for breakfast.

Of course, things were even better before Bea's Uncle Pearlie, the doorman for the Nightingale, was poisoned. Bea has been Vivian's best friend since before she can remember, and though Pearlie's death is ruled a suicide, Bea's sure her uncle wouldn't have killed himself. After all, he had the family to care for...and there have been rumors of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian's poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don't comply.

With the Nightingale's dangerously lovely owner, Honor, worried for her employees' safety and Bea determined to prove her uncle was murdered, Vivian once again finds herself digging through a dead man's past in hopes of stopping a killer.

This is a wonderful second installment that brought me right back into Vivian Kelly's world, full of mysteries, danger, intrigue, and potential romance. I didn't see all the pieces coming together until the reveal, and am excited to see what happens next.

historical-fiction, historical-research, mystery, thriller, amateur-sleuth, suspense, LGBTQIA, class-consciousness, prohibition, NYC, dancing, historical-places-events, historical-setting, history-and-culture, bootlegging, secrets, 1920s, seamstress, sisters, waitress, extortion, poisons, gangsters, multicultural, investigation*****

Excellent period piece of fiction! In the gritty world of speakeasys and overt gangsters in a place of tenements and crooked politicians and police this story is more than a cozy mystery yet less than a noir novel. But it is also entertaining and drew me in and held my interest. At times the pacing is a bit irregular, but that made the plot twists much more alarming. And twisty it is! As good as the first!
The author's note at the end gives recommended further reading for history geeks like me.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

It is NYC during prohibition and the speakeasy era. Vivian Kelly and her sister Florence are getting by, Florence as a dressmaker and Vivian doing deliveries during the day and waitressing at the Nightingale during the evenings. Someone has been threatening and stealing from the poor tenement folk, prompting the sisters to investigate the mystery and endangering themselves in the process. Vivian's best friend Beatrice, the singer at the Nightingale, is devastated when her uncle Pearlie is murdered. Out of loyalty and concern for Beatrice, Vivian pursues the mystery of his death, uncovering dangerous and unwelcome information along the way. A tale of forbidden pleasures, unsavoury characters, hard times and the city after dark.

This is the sequel to Last Call at the Nightingale, which I have not read. This did not pose any difficulty however, as I had no trouble getting a quick grasp of the characters and their relationships. I really enjoyed the Prohibition era and speakeasy setting of the novel, and the cast of characters which highlighted the cultural diversity of the city. Nevertheless I found my attention lagged at times even though it is a relatively short novel. Upon reflection, I feel like the mood of the book was rather sad and serious rather than the carefree hedonism of the period which I would have expected. In the acknowledgements at the end, the author notes that it was a grind to write the novel, a surprising admission which perhaps influenced the mood of the book. Many thanks to Minotaur for providing me with a copy to review.

I do not care for Vivian and she's annoying enough that I don't care to finish. Love triangles are such a waste of paper

Vivian Kelly and her sister, Florence, are just barely scraping by in 1920's New York City. Vivian works by day with her sister at a dressmakers. But at night, she works as a dancer in a nightclub. Her best friend is Bea, who sings at the club.

Bea's uncle, who also works at the club, is found poisoned. Vivian and her friends set out to find the murderer. What they find is a larger scheme to extort money out of the poor residents.

A well-written novel, this book gives us a wonderful glimpse of life during the roaring twenties. The characters are well-developed. Dialogue is witty. I highly recommend this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this next installment of this relatively cozy mystery series. Set in the 1920s New York with jazz and speakeasies, Vivian and her sister Flo are still slumming it, with slightly better circumstances than before. But somehow, they still find themselves caught in the middle of solving a murder. Vivian is helping her friend Bea find out what happened to her uncle. With the same colorful cast of characters including Honor Huxley, Danny Chan and Leo Green, the two sisters manage to keep their heads afloat. I'll keep reading this series!

“I never ask a question if I don’t want to know the answer.”

An underground nightclub, sketchy people in power, and a mob operation….POISON-tively delicious! 😏 Vivian and Flo find themselves in the center of another operation, this time as victims. All of the neighbors are dying by “suicide” but Viv (and Bea) think these are highly suspicious. Everyone has suggested that Vivian drop this but she’s determined, even calling in favors. And some favors aren’t really friendly. Will she solve the crimes before the criminals find her….?

This was another juicy historical mystery! The author is very witty and the mysteries WITHIN mysteries is what hooks me every time. She does a fantastic job of weaving in good and bad characters and making the majority of them quite suspicious. The ending was more abrupt than I expected but it still wrapped up nicely! I look forward to another book in this series!

This is a great follow-up to Last Call at the Nightingale. Vivian has managed to renegotiate her life as a working-class woman in prohibition era NYC to make things a little easier for herself and her sister. She isn’t thrilled by the idea of undergoing another investigation, but she also doesn’t hesitate to help Bea.

I really appreciated the relationship between Vivian and her sister Florence. It’s clear that the events of the previous book have allowed them to become much closer. Flo is finally beginning to bloom into her own person rather than a protective older sister.

Note: This is the second book in the Nightingale Mysteries series. This story builds off the previous book, so it is best to read them in order. Book 1 is Last Call at the Nightingale.

Expected publishing date of this book is June 6th 2023.

The setting of this book is New York in the 1920’s. The main character is Vivian, who works at a speakeasy called the Nightingale. Her friends uncle, was poisoned. It turns out that several individuals in their neighborhood have been threatened with poison as well. Vivian and her friends investigate the crimes, and the local police don’t seem too concerned about deaths in their poor neighbour hood.

This book was a bit slow at the start, but quickly picked up momentum. Overall, well written with well developed plot and characters. I enjoyed the mystery, even though books set in the 1920s aren’t usually my jam.

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martins Press for providing me with an eARC of this book to read and review.