Jenny Adams returns to 1921 Philadelphia in A Poisonous Silence. Edie Shippen starts her career as a private detective without clients and her former associate in danger Dr. Gilbert has just finished diagnosing a cyanide poisoning death. Edie gets her first case to defend her friend the star Ava from being arrested for the murder of her husband and fellow fellow film star. Then the cyanide poisonings fall across a Philadelphia mobster's associates. The two worlds collide in the person of Dr. Gilbert who is from the world where the mobsters rule in Philadelphia. Great story with underpinnings of poison and witchcraft.

1921 Philadelphia and Edie Shippen is trying to establish herself as a private investigator. She hasn’t got a single client but when an actress is poisoned, Edie along with Lizzie is on the case. When her friend Ava appeals to her, to help her as she is thought of as a murder suspect, Edie puts caution to the side. Along with her friend and a romantic interest, Gilbert Lawless from the coroners office, Edie and Gilbert have to tread carefully. Apart from the body count increasing, Gilbert finds that he is bringing the wrath of the mob on his family and they will stop at nothing to protect their own.

The setting of the theatre with its own double standards where women were concerned, what was considered proper for society women like Edie and the chasm that separates Edie and Gilbert who was just a ordinary middle class guy. Characterization was spot on, there were plenty of blind ends to follow, Prohibition added to the story.

Adams' writing and plotting has really bloomed and I may have enjoyed this more than the first, which I liked a lot. It was fun to be back in Edie and Gil's world.

A solid second installment in The Deadly Twenties series! Book 2 finds Edie setting up shop as a private investigator. The enterprise is on wobby legs until she finds herself pulled into a murder investigation that takes her onto a film set shooting outside Philly and reunites her with an old friend from California.

The theme for this second is MORE. More twists, more players, and more romance (yes, please!) I loved that Adams continues to incorporate LGBTQ+ rep and details that communicate BIPOC communities exist in 1920s Philly. While I usually don't like the mystery device of the explainer near the end that connects all the dots, in this one, it was incredibly helpful.

Can't wait for Edie and Gil's next adventure.

Gangsters, movie stars and murder collide in Jenny Adams’ A Poisonous Silence, set in the Roaring ’20s.

In Prohibition-era Philadelphia, private detective Edie Shippen lands her first client when a concerned neighbor hires her to investigate the death of a low-level gangster. While Edie tries to figure out who would poison the man, she runs into an old friend, actress Ava Sylvester. Ava invites Edie to the set of her new movie, where the women witness Ava’s co-star and new husband, Duncan Carroll, die of an apparent poisoning. Police suspect Ava of murdering Duncan, leading Edie to take on that case, too.

Meanwhile, coroner’s assistant Gilbert Lawless is busy: A third man has died after ingesting cyanide, and his team is working to figure out if the cases are related and who’s to blame. Gilbert’s and Edie’s paths cross, and the pair (who met in the series’ first installment, A Deadly Endeavor) agree to help each other investigate. They must navigate feuding gangs, behind-the-scenes movie drama and complex feelings for each other—before the poisoner strikes again.

A Poisonous Silence transports readers to the ’20s, when booze was banned and gangsters controlled neighborhoods through violence and loyalty. Both Edie and Gill recognize their strong attraction, but their romance is anything but assured. Together, they are the heart of the novel—their slow-burn romantic relationship will keep readers engaged throughout the story, and their individual journeys mirror each other. While Edie endures debilitating migraines, Gil battles shell shock, now known as post-traumatic stress disorder, from his service during World War I. And while Edie faces discrimination as a working woman, Gil endures prejudice because of his Irish heritage. A Poisonous Silence can be read as a standalone novel; however, readers will appreciate Gil and Edie’s growth more for having read the first installment in the Deadly Twenties series. (Also, A Poisonous Silence contains spoilers for the mystery of A Deadly Endeavor.)

Adams has created a vivid and exciting world in A Poisonous Silence, a compelling mystery where secrets, romance and poison are commonplace.

I think the mark of a good writer is often seen in book two of a series. In book one, the author has put in everything – every twinkly, sparkly element they’ve had in mind forever. When it works, it’s magical. Jenny Adams’ debut, A Deadly Endeavor, was just such a beginning. Excellent, rich, main characters, interesting setting, and good storyline. In this book, the second in her series, she proves her chops, with a more focused plot line and continuing the development of her main characters, who are estranged as the book opens.

The story follows Philadelphia socialite Edie Shippen, and a war veteran/doctor suffering from what we would now recognize as PTSD, Dr. Gilbert Lawless. Gil has recently given up a dependence on morphine and taken up boxing to still the demons he wrestles with. It’s 1921, and he served in WWI. Gil is also the widowed father of a young daughter, who lives with his parents.

The hook: Edie has set up shop – after her shenanigans in the first book – as a private detective, thinking she will be handling lost dogs or missing jewellery. Instead, a woman appears at her door looking for justice regarding the poisoning death of her neighbor. She’s sure the wife is guilty of the crime. Coincidentally, this is the same death Gil was called in on to investigate in his job as coroner. While Edie isn’t quite sure she’s up to a murder, she sets out to solve it anyway. When another death occurs, and the two men appear to be linked through the mob bosses they worked for, the murders begin to draw unwelcome attention from the bosses.

It’s the third death that’s a puzzle. Edie had been at a party with Gil when her long time friend Ava, an actress, announces her marriage to her leading man. She invites Edie to watch the filming of her movie – Romeo and Juliet – when the leading man is struck down during filming, an apparent poisoning.

These are the crimes that kick off the story, and the threads that draw Gil and Edie back together. Gil is holding himself somewhat aloof from Edie, thinking to himself he can romance a “fine” girl at his work, but the attraction between Edie and Gil is a powerful one, and this novel certainly has elements of romance throughout. With her lively story telling style and romantic elements, Adams reminds me very much of Ashley Weaver, whose Amory Ames series wrapped up in 2020. If you’re a fan of that series, check out these books.

As Gil and Edie get closer to a solution the threads of their lives converge. Edie’s history with Ava, and her employment of Gil’s sister as her assistant, come to the fore, as does Gil’s history with the neighborhood “boss,” Tommy, who makes no bones about wanting to know how his man was struck down. I thought the solution was pretty ingenious. What stays with me about this series, though, are the main characters of Edie and Gil, who are human and relatable with all their flaws and virtues. Adams also has a knack for pacing, which is not as common as you might think.

This series looks to be settling in for a long run, and I very much look forward to seeing what Edie and Gil get up to in the next book.

Prohibition is a bit of a different setting for a murder mystery series.. The era allows the opportunity to includes things like gangsters and clubs with illegal activities. I also liked that Edie's partner in solving the mysteries wasn't a detective for a change. This is book 2 and I didn't realise this and hadn't read Book 1 but didn't feel this hindered my enjoyment of this one. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was not aware this was the second book in a series but I enjoyed it very well as a stand alone.

It is set in 1921 in Philadelphia in the prohibition era. The main character, Edie Shippen, is a financially independent young lady who works as a P.I.,- not to make money as she has plenty, but to help people in trouble. Gilbert Lawless is a coroner's assistant with rather too many personal issues who ends up helping Edie in her work.

In this story a film star is murdered on set and Edie's friend, Ava Sylvester, is the chief suspect. Edie and Gil work together to find out who is really responsible. There is a lot of attraction between the two but Gil is one of those heroes who thinks too much about right and wrong and keeps causing difficulties in their relationship.

Prohibition is a great setting for murders and mystery, with gangsters, clubs with illegal activities and an inefficient police force. I thought the use of a coroner's assistant rather than a detective as Edie's partner was original and it worked well. The characters were good, the mystery interesting and there were plenty of red herrings to keep this reader occupied. Four stars.

A complicated mystery in which Edie Shippen tries to solve a series of poisonings. Gangsters and the brand-new movie industry also make appearances. Edie works closely with Gil, a coroner from an Irish immigrant family well below Edie's social status. The details of life in 1920s Philadelphia are fascinating, and the author does a good job developing the characters (Edie is more mature in her actions) and their relationships. "A Poisonous Silence" is the second in a series, and it may be difficult for a new reader to understand all of the relationships and characters' back stories. Somewhere between 3 and 4 stars so rounding up. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the eARC.

It's 1921 and someone in Philadelphia is using cyanide to kill. Edie, our intrepid PI without a client is determined to find out who and why and she does it with an initially reluctant Gil. This second in the series should be fine as a standalone but even those who read the first book might appreciate a bit of a recap as this does build on it. Edie's old pal Ava is in town to make a movie but that movie is dangerous. And then the villain threatens Gil and Edie. I'm a fan of Gil, a WWI vet with PTSD and a small daughter to raise. These two make a good team and they give good banter. No spoilers from me on the mystery. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. Looking forward to the next one.

I loved Jenny Adams's debut and had high expectations for her sophomore novel, and it did not disappoint! Adams is so deft at weaving historical detail and romantic tension together without sacrificing pacing to create a completely engaging story. Edie and Gil have my whole heart and I hope we get so many more stories with them!

Private investigator Edie takes on her first case when a film actress’s husband is murdered, all signs pointing to her friend. As the body count rises, she and a reluctant coroner’s assistant must solve the mystery before they become the next victims.

This is a fun and entertaining cozy mystery with a romantic subplot. While it can be read as a standalone, it would be better to read the series in order. The humor and character relationships add dimension to the mystery plot.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This sophomore effort in an historical mystery series was every bit as good as its predecessor...probably a little better as we already had the background set up, and I felt more invested in the characters and plotline.

This one centers around the 1920s film industry and features poison as the weapon of choice. Both the mains, Edie and Gil, are seen to be striving to overcome some issues in their lives, and I must say it's a bit refreshing to watch characters who have roadblocks in their lives reaching to heal/care for themselves.

We continue to see Edie in her quest to become a "modern" woman as she begins her private investigator endeavor, and Gil is a revelation as a man beset by past demons who is striving to become both a better caregiver/assistant coroner. Both are compelling in their own ways, but together they are a solid, intelligent team.

There's some humor and obviously some suspense, and even though I had figured out the villain from the cast of suspects, I didn't feel let down or have a "I told you so" moment. Rather I just enjoyed the ride to its conclusion.

I'm excited to see where this series leads and look forward to future Edie and Gil adventures.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing the free early arc of A Poisonous Silence for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

2.5 Stars rounded up.

This book was like someone poured me a giant shake of things I'm not going to like. You know - take some of this, add some of that, throw in some of this, shake it up, and pour. Too many bits and pieces that have nothing to do with the mystery are added to this book. Yes, it did have a twist at the end; I liked that part, but this is common with these sorts of mysteries.

It could have been great as a mystery minus all the side stories, although they did finally blend somewhat. I mean, we deal with PTSD, Drugs, Mafia, migraines, mild lesbianism, love, a whole slew of main characters and secondary/tertiary characters, and many other things besides several people being killed by poisoning. Cyanide specifically.

Perhaps it would have helped me like this book more had I read the first in this series, but if this book is anything to go by, I think not. I found it to be a tedious read, with nothing in it to make me like the characters or to even lose myself in the time period.

Others have liked this book, so I would suggest you take my opinion for what it's worth and go by your instincts.

*ARC provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, the author, and NetGalley.

A mystery that keeps you on your toes. Just when you think you figured out the culprit, another twist happens to throw you off kilter. It was such fun to read, even when things got a little grisly. Definitely a winner!!

Thanks to NetGalley for this arc, which I voluntarily reviewed.

I really wanted to like this more. I enjoy historical mysteries and unconventional pairings. Here we have Edie Shippen, a rich heiress from an elite Philadeplphia family and Gilbert Lawless, a medic veteran of WWI suffering from shellshock. He’s from an immigrant Irish family and has a small daughter to bring up with the help of his family. Is it a coincidence that Shippen was the name of Benedict Arnold’s wife who supposedly encouraged him in his treason. That’s never mentioned, but I couldn’t help but wonder about that.

There was just too much going on in the story. There are three separate murders, the victims all being killed by cyanide. There are dueling murderous gangs who may or may not be connected to the murders. There are threats to Gilbert’s family. There is a mysterious lady who supposedly is giving women who were victims of domestic violence poison to deal with their tormentors. There is a silent film being made in Philadelphia starring an old friend of Edie’s.

There were also lots of references to the first book in the series. I’d read that book but didn’t remember enough of it to keep all the references straight. It’s a common problem that authors of books in a series have. They don’t want to tediously summarize the plots of previous books, but they need to give enough background so that new readers can follow and previous readers can have their memory jogged enough to remember what happened in an earlier book if it’s relevant. Here it was relevant to understand the tension between Gilbert and Edie. I wish the author had given us more.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

This book was just as enthralling as book 1. Edie and Gilbert are just amazing together. He thinks he made a mistake before and does not want to repeat it. She is just so independent and wanting to matter that she subtly pushes him to give more. Their tentative bond gets tested multiple times with all the murder, mystery, and mayhem surrendering them. I have my hopes and cheers up for them to make it together.

#netgalley #APoisonousSilence

3.5/5

Edie Shippen is now a private detective, but business is slow and she hasn't even had a solid case to investigate. This all changes when she runs into an old friend, Ava, who is now a movie star. Their reunion is cut short however when Ava's new husband, and costar, dies after being poisoned making her the prime suspect. This is not the only case of poisoning in the city, Gil Lawless has already seen two while working at the morgue. He's still recovering from the events of the previous book and would like to keep his nose clean and out of trouble. However, all three murders seem to be related, and Eddie and Gil won't be able to stay away from each other or from danger.

Another fun addition to this series! I enjoy reading about Edie's adventures because they're entertaining and have a good balance of tension and warm feelings. It's very much a detective book in the way of cozy mysteries, so while there are some stakes the core is mostly the characters and their relationships. Edie is still fun and vivacious, but she does come off as more mature than last book, meanwhile Gil is steady and focused yet more open to his feelings. The ensemble cast is back, characters like Lizzie and Marco make an appearance, plus some new minor ones that I'm presuming will get more developed as the series grows.

When it comes to the mystery this one was harder to solve than the previous one, that one was just too obvious. I liked the challenge and the twists it took but I felt the ending was a bit too rushed and needed a couple more pages of denouement, plus it hinged on a key piece of evidence that we only got near the end. Still, I loved the chemistry between Edie and Gil, and that kept me going even when the mystery wasn't my cup of tea at the end. Interesting set up there at the end for the next book, I'm glad the series is continuing and I will be reading for sure.

Philadelphia, 1921: While heiress Edie Shippen has become a private investigator, she has done more shopping than actual investigating. Her first case is from a woman who suspects her neighbor murdered her husband, a death that the police suspect is natural. When she finds out the coroners involved in the case are her assistant’s brother and her sort of friend Gilbert Lawless, she immediately decides to take the case. Gilbert helped her perviously but was injured. That injury coupled with PSTD from World War I had kept him sidelined, doing desk work until this case. It’s not exactly stated, but one gets the impression Edie is perhaps more than interested in Gilbert as a friend, while Gilbert is probably more interested in avoiding Edie. However, when she shows up at the office to question to question Marco and Gilbert, she manages to rope him into taking her to a party being thrown by a film company to celebrate their latest film as an old friend of Edie’s is one of the guests of honor of the party. Things quickly go sideways a few days after the party when the other guest of honor when her old friend’s new husband is killed during a scene, poisoned by a prop. Incidentally, the method of death happens to be the same as the neighbor in Edie’s first case. Edie is ready to jump in to the investigate, but Gilbert isn’t - he’s been warned about being involved in Edie’s cases.

I enjoyed this book even though it felt like it was as much a slow burn romance between Gilbert and Edie as it was a mystery. There was lots of backstory about Gilbert’s deceased first wife, his efforts to raise his young daughter and provide a better life for her and some about Edie’s family, too.

The is the second book in the Edie Shippen - Gilber Lawless series after 2024’s A Deadly Endeavor.. I think it works as a standalone as I hadn’t read the previous one and still enjoyed it. However, while there wasn’t any explicit spoilers about the first book, there were enough that you could probably figure out the guilty party was. If you’re highly sensitive to spoilers, I’d recommend reading the first book in the series before reading this one.

Highly recommended - I’ve add the first book in the series to by TBR list. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley.Com which I voluntarily reviewed.

Review of "A Poisonous Silence" by Jenny Adams
Oh, I just finished "A Poisonous Silence" by Jenny Adams (huge thanks to Crooked Lane Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!), and I'm just bursting to tell you all about it! Imagine stepping into a 1920s drawing-room, all glittering and glamorous, but then peeking behind the curtains and finding a world of secrets and shadowy corners. That's exactly the vibe this book gives you – a wonderful mix of elegance and intrigue.
The mystery itself? Absolutely delightful! I was completely hooked, trying to piece together the clues right alongside the characters. And let me tell you, I was wrong so many times! Jenny Adams really knows how to keep you guessing, with twists and turns that kept me turning the pages late into the night.
But what truly made this book special for me were the characters. They felt like real people, with their own quirks and secrets. I loved getting to know them, and I was so invested in their stories. Plus, the way the book explores the lives of women in the 1920s, across all those different social classes, was just fascinating. It really made you think about the challenges they faced, and the strength they showed.
If you're looking for a mystery with a touch of glamour, a dash of intrigue, and characters you'll genuinely care about, "A Poisonous Silence" is perfect for you. It's like curling up with a cup of tea and a really good puzzle – you won't want to put it down! I highly recommend it!
Thanks again NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.