What a unique historical fiction novel. This book surrounds the story of Zia, a widow, living with her late husband's family and following the rules laid out for her. But when tragedy strikes and the police cannot do anything, she takes matters into her own hands.

Books about strong women are always worth the read!!

I read The Blue some years ago and really enjoyed. When I saw this book on Netgalley, I decided to request it and I was not disappointed. Zia De Luca is a widow with a young son, living with her in-laws in Little Italy in New York. She is working part-time at the public library when a man she briefly interacted at the library is killed. At first, Zia is of made a target of police interest. But then another murder, closer to home, occurs, which has Zia seeking answers herself before anyone else is hurt. This takes Zia into the underworld of the speakeasy during the Prohibition to solve this crime.

I really enjoyed this book for its wonderful worldbuilding of Little Italy, New York, the 1920s, the underworld. You really felt you were right there, along with Zia. And it's shown that Zia is smart and stronger than she knows as she takes on so much when she has lost so much. And the end of the story is quite satisfactory with hope of a better future.

Overall, I give this four stars. Thank you to Netgalley and Lume Books for giving me a free advanced reader copy. I have written and provided this review voluntarily.

3.5 rounded up

A historical fantasy plus a mystery - This was such a fun ride
My first book by this author, I really liked it - Very Godfather + Agatha Christie vibes

I especially loved reading about NYC in the 1920s and the analogy with orchids was pretty good

I really enjoyed reading this book. The style is easy to read and the story draws you in, I didn't know orchids could be so interesting.
The 'real' characters in the story come to life and the descriptions of the 20s and prohibition/bootlegging seem very accurate.

In Nancy Bilyeau's latest novel, "The Orchid Hour," readers are transported to 1920s New York City, where they are introduced to Zia De Luca, a widow residing in Little Italy. Zia's life takes an unexpected turn when she becomes entangled in a murder investigation after a man she was asked to translate for is killed. With the police questioning her and her life in danger, Zia embarks on a quest for the truth, aided by her cousin Salvatore.
Bilyeau skillfully blends historical fiction, mystery, and self-discovery in this captivating tale. The novel explores themes of reinvention, ambition and power.
Fans of historical mysteries will find themselves engrossed in the gripping narrative.

Set in Prohibition era New York, The Orchid Hour is a compelling, atmospheric murder mystery. Young widow Audenzia seeks answers after her politician read and then her father in law are brutally murdered. The author captures the period well, the underground speakeasies, police corruption and the power of the crime mind as well as the music and fashion of the Jazz Age. I enjoyed it very much. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

"The Orchid Hour" takes readers on a captivating journey through 1920s New York City, where secrets, murder, and a quest for justice intertwine. Following the life of Zia De Luca, a widow struggling to rebuild her life after losing her husband in the war, we are immersed in the vibrant world of Little Italy and the allure of Greenwich Village's speakeasies.

With an intriguing murder outside the library where Zia works and a personal tragedy striking close to home, Zia finds herself at the center of a gripping mystery. As the police investigation falters, she takes matters into her own hands, guided by a cousin who opens her eyes to the seductive underworld of The Orchid Hour. The novel skillfully weaves together themes of ambition, power, and the desire for a fresh start.

As Zia delves deeper into this enigmatic world, the reader is kept on the edge of their seat, eager to uncover the truth alongside her. The author paints a vivid picture of 1920s New York, capturing both the glamorous allure and the shadows lurking beneath the surface.

"The Orchid Hour" is a masterful blend of historical fiction, mystery, and self-discovery. It explores themes of reinvention and the lengths one is willing to go to find justice and protect their loved ones. With its richly drawn characters, immersive setting, and a plot brimming with suspense, this book is an absolute page-turner. Fans of historical mysteries will be delighted by this captivating tale.

Crime and its aftermath is a curious thing. The bullets always seem to find their way home.

Nancy Bilyeau pulls out all the stops in her latest novel, The Orchid Hour. She's dug deep into the past in order to present an era in America where smokey jazz clubs and speakeasies lined the back alleys of New York City. It's 1923 and Prohibition hasn't stopped the wicked thirst of those who tossed back flutes of champagne and those tipping heavy shot glasses with whiskey......from rot gut to the very best.

We'll meet the widow Audenzia "Zia" De Luca, an immigrant from Palermo, who lives with her in-laws and her young eight year old son, Michael, in an apartment above their store De Luca's Cheese. Little Italy is lined with row houses and crammed apartment buildings where recent immigrants clustered. Everyone knows everyone's business.

Zia's intelligence and knowledge of languages gets her a job at the Seward Branch Library, also known as the Immigrants' Library. Zia is an asset to the library and comes to be noticed by a gentleman dressed in black who enters the library at the same time every day. Miles G. Watkins wishes for Zia to translate a play in Sicilian to English. But before she can agree, Watkins is killed in the street. It turns out he's the Deputy Mayor.

And now Zia is being questioned by the police. Furthermore, someone believes that Zia knows crucial information about Watkins that could incriminate the murderer. Honor among thieves guarantees you'll be rubbed out in a heartbeat.

Zia contacts her cousin, Salvatore Lucania, who she believes is into small crimes and misdemeanors. He's her link into finding out what actually happened with Watkins. Sal gets her a job at The Orchid Hour, an upscale speakeasy where Zia hopes to hobnob with the rich and infamous. She'll go to the police with what she finds out......or she'll turn up like Watkins.

Bilyeau lines this one with actual factoids of the criminals in and out of speakeasies and in and out of jail in New York City. We've got a solid female lead character who re-invents herself to keep her family safe and to help land the bad guys in jail. But the body count rises and the risks rise even faster. New York became a Tale of Two Cities with the best of times in imbibing illegal liquor and the worst of times with the heinous crimes committed to keep the booze flowin' and the illicit money coming in. And, believe me, Bilyeau delivers in aces.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Lume Books and to Nancy Bilyeau for the opportunity.

There was a lot of build up for each scene as it gives a lot of back stories to each character.

I really enjoyed the setting with the characters being Italian. However there was something missing in terms of feeling a connection with the characters. Because there was so many characters and all their names are similar, De luca, Luciano, and Lucania and Louis and so forth.

It didn’t seem as if we were getting much focus on the main Character Zia

Zia is an Italian immigrant widow during the prohibition who wants a better life for herself. While working at a local library she befriends a man who is later murdered followed by her father in law. She wants answers so she enlists the help of her gangster cousin Sal to get a job at an up and coming speak easy, The Orchid Hour. Will she get the answers she craves or will she blur the lines of her real life to the self appointed undercover one?

I very much enjoyed the mixture of history, fact and fiction and the period when the book was set. There is prohibition in America and speakeasies are setting up all over the city under the noses of the police who all appear to be in the pay of the gangsters. I loved the descriptions of The Orchid Hour nightclub. The decor, the food, the music and the clientele are all the very best possible and described in beautiful detail.
Zia is an engaging main character, who grows much stronger and sure of herself as the book progresses.

Her relationships with Walter, with David da Costa and with her cousin, Sal and the rest of her family developed really well, as they mystery changed their relationship, and who book had a very Italian 'voice' to it.
But it was the period details of things like the bootleg trade, the narcotics, the gang rivalries between the Italians, the Jews, and the Irish, the speakeasies, the costumes, the music, and the slow burn love story that develops that made the book for me. Very enjoyable. With thanks to Netgalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

An insightful read about speakeasy days, the opportunity for a woman to make her mark, the amazing power of the orchid —all wrapped up in an intriguing mystery and love story. I learned a lot about prohibition and flowers—quite a combination. If this is a time period that you love or that you know nothing about, it’s a great read. The characters are real, adventurous and authentic.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lume books for the Advanced Review Copy.

Courtesy of Netgalley and Lume Books, I received the ARC of The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau, one of my favorite historical fiction authors. This well researched book focuses on 1923 and the era of prohibition, speakeasies, and the influence of organized crime. In the midst of the real life gangsters, the fictional Zia DeLuca introduces the atmosphere of Little Italy and it's immigrants. As an intelligent and strong central character, she gets caught up in a murder mystery while exploring the dynamics of family bonds. To learn of the allure of fragrant orchids was a bonus! Highly recommend!

An interesting book. I didn't realise, until the Cotton Club was mentioned, that many of the characters were real people. The prohibition years were very violent and challenging so it doesn't make for easy reading. It's not easy to blend fictional characters into realt life events. This works quite well here although I'm always a little uncomfortable when violent criminals are humanized. Charles/Sal was not a nice man in real life, nor were his friends. I found Zia quite unlikeable and reckless given that she has a son. However, I learned things about the period which were fascinating.

This book was fantastic and a perfect example of why Nancy Bilyeau is one of the best historical fiction writers there is. Mysterious, delightful, historically accurate, original - this book was near unputdownable. The characterization is perfect, the plot is thrilling, and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough. I highly recommend this book and think anyone who needs a satisfying read is in for a treat with this one!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers of "The Orchid Hour" by Nancy Bilyeau for the advanced copy of this novel.

I'll start by saying that I enjoyed this book and I think it's is an admirable addition to the wealth of historical fiction that is out in the world right now. Nancy Bilyeau brings us a historical fiction with elements of murder mystery set in prohibition New York with a focus on Italian immigrants and first generation experiences. The book follows Audenzia (Zia) De Luca, a widow with a young son who lives with her in-laws and works at a library. Zia's life is altered following the murder of a patron outside the library as she finds herself at the centre of the investigation. In the aftermath of this murder comes a second tragedy that hits closer to home and throws Zia into a personal investigation which sees her enter the nighttime world of prohibition era nightclubs.

A captivating novel with a strong female lead who grows throughout the narrative. Nancy Bilyeau hits the right balance of romance - subtle and proportional without distracting from the central storyline. I thought all the characters were nicely fleshed out and realistic, My only criticism would be that the ending was slightly rushed and lacked the feeling of danger and tension which I would have expected in a high stakes situation.

I’ve been reading Nancy Bilyeau’s work for years, going back to her original medieval trilogy featuring the young Dominican novice, Joanna Stafford. The thing Bilyeau does so well as a historical fiction author is that she immediately pulls the reader into the time frame of the story through all the sounds, sights and cadence of her character’s voices. The Orchid Hour is no exception.

As a lifetime Midwesterner now living in Chicago whose experience with New York is that of a gnat, this story opened up the fascinating world of the city’s Italian immigrant population during Prohibition for me. Admittedly, I found the early unfolding of the story a bit confusing and a little slow going as I tried to understand how everyone was connected, but in all fairness, I have no doubt much of this was because of my unfamiliarity with the Italian culture (especially back then).

As other reviewers here have recounted The Orchid Hour’s plot and characters extensively, I’ll not repeat that here. Instead add, that in besides the twists of the mystery story line, what really pulled me in was how Bilyeau, through Zia’s eyes, introduces us to the undercurrent of emotional challenges for women within a severely patriarchal and familial culture... and then, unexpectedly with great emotional courage, knowing the cost, Zia stands her ground, owns her authenticity, claiming who she really is and what she needs, against the backdrop of familial expectations, making us want to cheer her on!

While skillfully knitting all of the various elements of this story together toward its conclusion, I loved the little extraneous details Bilyeau slipped in. For example, the references to the ‘Egyptian look’ in fashion which was in a frenzy of the time owing to Carter’s 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb and the mention of her ‘signature color’ blue from her Genevieve Planché novels...which also happens to be a predominant color in the pharaonic tombs if you’ve ever traveled to Egypt.

Overall, I enjoyed The Orchid Hour and look forward with anticipation to her next book. Finally, I greatly appreciated Nancy’s inclusion of New York’s political and lawful background framing this story in her Author Notes, which only added more weight to her usual attention to historical detail. My thanks to Lume Books and Net Galley for this ARC which I volunteered to read and honestly review.

An entertaining historical mystery romp. Bilyeau has a good eye for detail and is able to capture the specific atmosphere of early 20th century New York. The plot is paced fairly well and keeps you on your toes. The only gripe I have is the prose is a bit inelegant.

I was intrigued by the cover design and the title of the book.

This was an interesting read. I thought the writing style was quite dark but elegant, and I was interested in the characters, as I thought some of them seemed enigmatic.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for a free copy to review.

This book is, I think, loosely based on fact. How much, I’m not exactly sure. You don’t learn this until late on in the novel and I’m not going to explain why. If you know more than I do about 1920s New York, it might be obvious to you, but the anti-immigrant and prejudice shown to Italians and others is a little harrowing to read.
How much this played into the events is anyone’s guess, but I believe it was substantially. People do things at a survival level sometimes…….
The story is told in flashbacks from 1963 to 1923 and is shown from a variety of perspectives. That of widowed Zia de Luca, her cousin Salvatore, a police officer and organised criminals. All in all, this was totally fascinating and even though it was slower paced than I typically like, the detail was riveting enough to keep me hooked.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to read this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, this has been one of my favourite reads in quite a while.

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read by Nancy Bilyeau – her Joanna Stafford Tudor Trilogy, her two Genevieve Planché thrillers set in the world of 18th century art, and Dreamland, her novel about a Coney Island theme park – so I couldn’t wait to start reading her new book, The Orchid Hour. The setting sounded intriguing: New York’s Little Italy during the 1920s, the era of prohibition, so I was anticipating another good read.

The novel opens in 1923 and introduces us to Audenzia de Luca, known as Zia, a young Sicilian woman whose husband was killed in the Great War. Zia is trying to build a new life for herself and her son and has started working at the Seward Park branch of the New York Public Library while also helping out in her in-laws’ cheese shop in Little Italy. At work one day, she is approached by a regular visitor to the library who asks if she could translate an Italian text into English for him. Zia agrees, but before she can begin the task, the man is found shot dead outside the library.

When a second murder follows the first, a sequence of events is set in motion that leads Zia to the doors of The Orchid Hour, an elegant nightclub that also operates as a speakeasy, selling illicit alcohol in defiance of prohibition. With the police investigation into the murders going nowhere, Zia decides to do whatever she can to uncover the truth. She believes The Orchid Hour holds the key to the mystery but when she discovers that her cousin Salvatore, to whom she is very close, is mixed up with the criminal underworld, she must find a way to bring the killer – or killers – to justice without endangering her own loved ones.

This is not my favourite of Nancy Bilyeau’s books, but with such a range of plots and settings, it’s inevitable that I’ll like some of them more than others and this was still a very enjoyable novel. It was interesting to read about Zia and her family and I found that I was learning a lot about the lives of Italian immigrants in 1920s New York, the way they were treated and the type of jobs open to them, as well as the constant threat of the Society of the Black Hand, who extorted protection money from their fellow Italians. The novel also explores other issues, such as attitudes towards prohibition and why the police would sometimes turn a blind eye, and the best conditions for growing delicate orchids. Bilyeau’s Author’s Note at the end of the book describes some of her research and sources and tells us which of the characters were fictional and which were based on real people.

I found the mystery element of the book slightly less successful, particularly as several chapters are written from the perspective of one of the gangsters, so we knew who was involved in at least one of the murders right from the beginning. Still, I enjoyed this book for the historical detail and because it immersed me in a world I previously knew very little about.