I couldn’t wait for this book, and, while I read it a few weeks ago, I’m still sad it is the last of the series. I have truly enjoyed meeting all of the characters and watching them evolve, especially the main character Vivian and her sister. Schellman has served them well, mirroring their struggles and exploration of freedom with the crimes and liberation of 1920s NYC. FInally having the opportunity to meet their fathers, there are of course mixed emotions, and my heart was pulled in all the ways theirs were. Not all characters end up with a happy ending, but the conclusion is satisfying and leaves me feeling as though these girls are, finally, going to be ok.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author Katharine Schellman for early access this exciting conclusion to the Nightingale Mysteries.

This was a fitting end to a series that had some ups and downs for me. I like that we got some resolution on some lingering mysteries from earlier in the series although the end of some of the storylines felt a little rushed.

I love this series - I love the time in history, I love the setting of the speakeasy, I love the characters. This cozy mystery was no different, except that perhaps it was the last installment in the series! I will actually miss these characters going forward, but it was an excellent ride while it lasted.

Last Dance Before Dawn is the last book in Katharine Schellman's terrific 1920's set mystery series set in and around the nightclub known as the Nightingale.

Over 4 books, we've grown to love the crew at the Nightingale - Viv, our protagonist, waitress and sometime sleuth; Honor, the aloof, competent bar owner (and possible love interest for Viv); Bea, Viv's best friend and chanteuse extraordinaire (aka Beatrice Bluebird); Florence, Viv's straight-arrow sister, now navigating motherhood; Danny, charming bartender and Florence's husband; and Leo, all-round mysterious guy, nephew to the police commissioner and one-time love interest for Viv. This bunch are a racially, economically and sexuality mixed group, and they are in many ways each other's chosen family.

This being the final book in a strong series, there are a lot of ends to be tied up. Somehow, Schellman manages that without leaving anything feeling forced. Viv and Florence get some closure around their family history, though it may not be in the form they would have chosen. Viv and Honor and Leo have to figure out if they're a triangle or not. And somehow, people have to figure out who the mysterious Hugh Brown is. I did not figure it out quickly, which I always think is a good sign. As ever, there's an unexpected twist or two in the resolution - again, something I enjoy as a reader.

Schellman always does her homework, and that means that her books genuinely make you feel like you are hanging out with the denizens of a 20's speakeasy in New York. She raises big issues within the stories - poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia - but not ever in a way that feels forced. These are stories of people living their lives as best they can. 4 stars and a tear or two to be leaving the Nightingale for the last time.

# Grateful for the Opportunity to Read This ARC!

A heartfelt thank you to NetGalley for allowing me the chance to read this advanced reader copy! I have truly adored this series and have grown more attached to the characters with each installment.

Last Dance Before Dawn* immerses you in the story alongside its characters, with captivating details and unexpected twists that certainly do not disappoint. While I am saddened that the series has reached its conclusion, it wrapped up beautifully! I cherished the storyline, although it felt like it ended all too soon

Vivian hopes that things will finally calm down at the Nightingale after all the hassle they’ve dealt with. And then a mobster from Chicago comes poking around the club looking for someone. And mysteries from her own past come knocking at her door.

This was gorgeous and just what I wanted from a finale for this series. I really love the lush setting of a 1920s speakeasy, it’s described so well. And the casual diversity of the cast is wonderful. Every character has unique wants and desires. I would have loved to see more of Bea, but I understood this story centered more on Viv and Florence’s relationship. And oh the relationships between everyone. Vivian’s friendships with Bea and Danny, her complicated feelings for both Honor and Leo, Vivian is just trying to do her best for everyone she loves.

The stakes were much higher here and so tense, I could feel my heart racing as we got closer and closer to the climax of the story. But it all resolved satisfactorily. So I guess it’s time for me to dive back into the Lily Adler books, as there’s no more to come from the Nightingale.

My thanks to both NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the opportunity to review this arc.

Last Dance Before Dawn is the fourth and final book in the Nightingale Mysteries cozy mystery series. Set during the height of the 1920s, it follows working girl Vivian as she works by day as a delivery girl for a dressmaker and by night as a waitress at a speakeasy, and gets herself tangled up in murder mysteries along the way. In this last book, everything neatly ties back to the beginning, answering a few unanswered questions, resolving the love triangle Vivian finds herself in, and bringing in key players from past books. It’s a bittersweet ending, but it’s also lovely to see just how far everyone’s come.

There’s never a dull night at the Nightingale, with new faces always showing up. One in particular catches Vivian’s eye. He doesn’t quite fit in, and it doesn’t help that he’s asking for a Hugh Brown, certain that someone at the Nightingale must know him, because a crime boss from Chicago, Harlan O’Keefe, is looking for him. Of course, no one at the Nightingale knows a Hugh Brown, but that doesn’t stop O’Keefe from taking a strong and deadly stance with the Nightingale’s staff in order to get his guy. So of course Vivian takes it upon herself to both find this Hugh Brown and protect the people she loves most. At the same time, she and her sister Florence make strides in discovering what happened to their late mother’s body and who their father is, and the answer is more tangled up in Vivian’s case than they expect.

There’s a lot going on in this novel, and sometimes it was a little too much. There’s the mystery involving Hugh Brown, the discovery of Vivian and Florence’s father and the effect that has on everything, changes happening within the Nightingale partly because of the current mystery and partly because it’s time, and the cautious dance between Vivian and Honor. This being the last novel in the series, it has a lot to resolve in addition to dealing with an entire mystery, but I did like how it all tied together. It was mostly neat and tidy, and sometimes it felt overly complicated with some parts of the story getting more page time than others. I also felt like things were sped up a little too much, and I felt like I was taking a dive into something that should have taken a few more books to play out. But I did enjoy the way it ended, and I like the feeling that these characters just quietly went back to their daily lives and things are playing out the way they’re supposed to.

I really did like how all the pieces fit together to form a whole. Each plot was linked to everything else, and it’s so deftly done. At the same time, I thought they linked up a little too quickly and a little too conveniently. I was disappointed that all the little clues just seemed to light up in the narrative. It was so easy to pick up on all of them, so I was a bit let down when I figured out all the key pieces before Vivian did. I could even predict what she was going to do next with that information. I’m not sure if it’s just because Vivian’s become this predictable after three books or if the dropped clues were just that glaringly obvious. But it was nice to be able to focus on all the other details because I’d already solved each puzzle.

Though the story often felt a little bloated and predictable, I did enjoy it. There’s a great deal of emotion in this one as everyone’s lives were upended. Vivian feels things very deeply here, and I really liked how it affected her throughout the story. The changing relationship between her and Honor, while I thought it evolved really fast considering their history in a previous book, was really lovely, and I loved how much they allowed themselves to feel, their pull to each other stronger than all the big and small betrayals from the past. Then there’s Florence’s new family, one that’s adopted Vivian as well, and the things they’ll go to protect their own. It’s fierce, and fascinating, and I just loved how much everyone has come together to form a family, whether it’s Florence’s in-laws or the Nightingale’s staff. It’s lovely to see how far they’ve come and how close they are.

Last Dance Before Dawn really took me into the 1920s, and I loved every moment. While the story felt a little too burdened with things and the characters perhaps a touch more emotional than I’m used to, I really loved this world. It felt real to me, and I loved how it balanced the sparkling upper crust and how they took part in the illicit, and how the poorer working classes found their own ways to indulge and forget for a night. I loved seeing the daytime and the nighttime, and the way LGBTQ relationships were viewed back then was really nicely woven in. There’s subtle prejudice, but I liked how the characters rose above it.

As the final book in the series, Last Dance Before Dawn really managed to wrap things up and offer a beautiful future to all the characters. It was nice to see some old faces and meet some new ones. It’s bittersweet, and I sometimes wonder just how much Vivian will manage to stay out of trouble, but it was fantastic to see how each book built towards this conclusion. Vivan has really grown, and it was wonderful to get to know her. This was a fun book, if sometimes a little too stuffed, and I’m sad to say good-bye to everyone, even if I think they all ended up much better off than where they started.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

The final book in this series, this was the first of Schellman's works I've read. And I WILL be going back to read the others!

In Vivian, Schellman has created an intricate character. At times naive and trusting, she's also exceedingly brave and fiercely loyal. As her story unfolds, you are swept away by the obstacles she battles while trying to save The Nightingale and her determination to succeed.

A good read for a quiet afternoon

[I was fortunate to receive a pre-publication of the book thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur books, with no expectation to review. all comments and opinions are entirely my own and given freely.]

Last Dance Before Dawn is the fourth and final book of Katharine Schellman's exciting historical series Nightingale Mysteries. I'm really heartbroken that this is over! It's much better to read the series from the beginning, else you may be a bit confused if you don't know what transpired in previous books. That being said, I unfortunately didn't get to read book three, but I had no trouble following along. This was the best book of the series! I'll miss it, but at least it went out with a bang!

In 1925 in Manhattan, Prohibition is in full swing. Vivian Kelly has made a home and family for herself at the Nightingale speakeasy. Everyone there has secrets to keep, but no one really cares there. They are, after all, looking to leave their secrets and the real world behind. A stranger from Chicago shows up looking to settle old scores, and Honor Huxley, the speakeasy's owner, sends him on his way. However, that stranger was just a warning. People who have made the Nightingale their refuge are being followed and hunted. And it won't end until he solves a mystery that's been cold for many years: a missing girl, a young man out for revenge and a truck full of cash that disappeared when a job went dreadfully sideways. Vivian wants to protect the people she loves, and begins to dig up the past to keep them safe. But will she remain safe if those secrets are revealed? Now that she has a family, she has so much more to lose!

Out of all the ways I saw this series ending, I certainly didn't see any of this coming! Maybe I would have had a clue if I read the previous book? Would I have? Vivian and Florence Kelly were orphans who grew up in an orphanage; they knew their mother had died, but had no idea what had happened to their father. Florence had been doing research on their father. A good amount of the book dealt with that issue; it was tied wonderfully to the storyline of the man who was threatening all who were a part of the Nightingale. Who was this Hugh Brown the stranger and his goons were searching for? This part of the book, when all was revealed, had me totally gobsmacked! I was not expecting THAT! This was such an outstanding series, but it was the characters who had me coming back. Vivian and her sister Florence worked at a dress shop, but at night Vivian served at the Nightingale and filled in when short a bartender. Being there - and dancing, which she so loved - made her the most happy she'd ever been. For the first two books I was not crazy about Honor Huxley. There was attraction between her and Vivian, but I just didn't trust Honor; she would manipulate Vivian. However, I really grew to like her here; maybe it was because she revealed a tender side of herself. I was rooting for another character for Vivian, but I think where that ended up was a good thing. I really liked sister Florence who married Danny Chin, the head bartender and Honor's right-hand man. They just had an adorable baby named Mei. It took me a while to warm up to Florence, but I liked Danny from the first book. I absolutely adored Beatrice (Bea) Henry, aka "Beatrice Bluebird", a Black woman who sang at the club and was Vivian's best friend. My favorite character, however, has always been Leo Green, a bootlegger who I thought was going to have a grand romance with Vivian. I was wrong on that count! New character "Mr. Quinn" was a revelation. And the goons were perfect bad guys you loved to hate. This last book of the series and its characters have made this one of my favorites so far this year. I'm going to miss the Nightingale!

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman

Dear Fellow Readers,

Spring is rapidly turning to summer here in Wisconsin. We do not seem to always have Spring. Often it seems to go from winter coats to shorts. This year, we have had more of Springlike weather but still we are going from 60’s to 90’s overnight.
Last Dance Before Dawn by Katharine Schellman is the fourth in the series of the Nightingale Mysteries. I have reviewed two of the other books (The Last Drop of Hemlock and The Last Note of Warning). I have enjoyed her prior books, and I enjoyed this book also. It is the last book in the series.
In this book, Vivian Kelly is happy with her life at the Nightengale until a man shows up one night looking for someone. Vivian does not recognize the name of the person he is looking for, but the man is sure that she knows the man. She does not think that she has ever heard the name before and is puzzled but very wary. Then the night security guard is killed and the Nightengale family is scared. She receives another threat along with her boss Honor Huxley that they have 48 hours to turn over the mystery man.
At the same time, Vivian and her sister get a lead to find a family member. They go and despite the friendly letter they received, the woman is not friendly at all. She practically shoves them out of the house. They did not understand the change. The woman does tell them that she is their aunt and that their father is dead. Vivian’s sister, Frances, is extremely disappointed and Vivian thinks there is something odd going on. Vivian is right, something very odd is going on.
When all the mysteries merge and affect Vivian’s real and chosen families, she must be on top of her game to get through this situation alive.
I like this series. There are good twists and turns in the plot, and we find out more about the characters in each book. While I did not read the first book, I think that you need to read the other books in order. I hope you enjoy reading this book.
Thanks for reading!

What a wonderful final book in this series set in the jazz age, with prohibition era New York City as its setting. Vivian is drawn into a cold case as she needs to save her family, both found and blood, from losing the place that is home to everyone who needs a place to escape to, even for just a few hours. The characters and the settings are so well rounded I could feel myself in a smokey room with the music soaring, the dancers being swept into the beat, and Viv’s mysterious boss Honor watching it all with her red lipstick. The plot has twists and red herrings, it kept me reading well into the night. While this last book can be read as a standalone please do yourself a tremendous favor and read the series in order so you better know the characters and their history, you won’t regret a minute spent immersed in this world!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy, I recommend all four books to any mystery lover who enjoys history, a highly atmospheric setting and well written plots that will
capture your attention from the start. I can’t wait to see what the author will turn to next.

Last Dance Before Dawn is the fourth and final book in Nightingale Mysteries by Katharine Schellman.
This was an exceedingly atmospheric murder mystery and I’m absolutely obsessed with this series!
The mystery was engaging with several twists and turns along the way that kept me wanting more.
A compelling, intriguing and intensely riveting, crime read which I loved, with its rich descriptions and details of the period made this a phenomenal read.

Thank you St. Martin’s Press, for this arc.


I’ve enjoyed this series but I thought this book would probably wind it up. Lots of threads that have been wound through the previous three books get tied up so this is definitely not a place for new readers to begin.

There’s a fairly large number of characters in this world, many but not all of whom have been in the first three books. Character traits and relationships have been established. One major thing about leading lady Vivian is that she’s the type who tends to act quickly and at times impulsively. She’s also a loyal friend whether or not another person reciprocates.

The villain is that cold, smirking type who makes sure you know he’s bad news while he holds his power over you. Except no one at the club knows who this fella wants or how to get rid of the villain. Vivian is used to being around troublesome people as no one with soft edges can survive in this tough world. Soon though Vivian is about the only person advocating for the villain’s victim rather than tossing the victim into the lion’s mouth in order to save everyone else. Vivian’s relationship with her female boss has changed over time from distrust to warmer feelings though they still have a lot to work out in this book. A female crime boss who has been in Vivian’s orbit is also someone to be wary of and avoid if you know what’s good for you.

Florence, Vivian’s sister, has been trying to track down any family they might have and has married one of the bartenders at the Nightingale, a Chinese-American whose family has welcomed Vivian as well. Yes, the interracial marriage raises eyebrows and Danny has known his fair share of racism and issues while growing up in NYC. A long time friend of Vivian’s is the black sheep of his family, among whom is the police commissioner, because his mother married a Jew. And all of these people are going to be wrapped up in trying to clear out the villain before anyone else turns up dead.

By this point, I know not to be surprised if Vivian acts quickly and ends up putting herself in danger. Vivian’s got her share of rough edges and survival skills. She can turn her hand to, well maybe not blackmail but she’ll use advantages when she sees them. Still yes, there are times when Vivian’s family, friends, and lovers want to shake her for dashing into situations.

But in the end, it’s usually Vivian who manages to fix things, look out for her friends, or think of a solution to a thorny problem in a way that protects those she cares for while seeing that justice is done. Her seeming recklessness still drives me nuts at times but I have to admit that this isn’t a new trait in her. I guessed some of the secrets and plot twists and had a good idea about others. The series ends with some threads neatly tied off but in ways that make sense given the way the series has been written. There’s a will-she or won’t-she relationship that is left until the end to be decided but in the end, I think most of the characters got what they wanted or deserved and I enjoyed my time at the Nightingale. B

The Roaring Twenties, a secret speakeasy run by a mysterious woman, a seamstress by day and flapper by night, and a dangerous man seeking a mystery man he insists they both should know. This mystery/thriller has a beautiful textured setting with interesting characters and a gripping plot. I highly recommend it!

An atmospheric jazz age tale that's not only a mystery but also about the family we make. Vivian made a home for herself and her sister Florence at the Nightingale and now Florence is married to Danny the bartender and she's a mom. Their happiness is threatened by a villain from Chicago and a cold case that Vivian can't let go. Someone wants her to stop and keeps after those she loves. No spoilers. I've been a fan of this series and while I'm sorry to see it end, Schellman wrapped things up well. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Well worth a read even if you haven't read the earlier books.

The Nightingale Mysteries series wrapped up in "Last Dance Before Dawn" and the book did not disappoint. Our protagonist, Vivian Kelly, gets entangled in a mystery once again and proved to be a go-getter to solve a cold case mystery, yet caring for the ones close to her. The theme of a found family (figuratively and biologically) was important to the plot as Vivian and her sister, Florence, learned about what really happened to their relatives. The constant twists and turns were the best part of the novel because there were always new things unraveling. Though the pacing was slow at times, the novel wrapped up the four book series. If you like the Jazz Age, historical mysteries and plot twist, be sure to check out the The Nightingale Mysteries series, including Last Dance Before Dawn (best to read in chronological order).

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

Last Dance Before Dawn is a moody, elegant, and emotionally rich conclusion to Katharine Schellman’s Nightingale mystery series. Set in the shadowy, Prohibition-era world of 1920s New York, this final installment finds Vivian Kelly more anchored than ever at The Nightingale, a speakeasy that serves as a refuge for society’s outcasts. But when a stranger from Chicago stirs up old secrets and unfinished business, Vivian is pulled into a web of past betrayals, a long-missing girl, and a criminal job gone wrong.

Schellman expertly blends noir-style intrigue with tender character moments and a vivid historical setting. While the mystery feels slightly more streamlined than previous entries, the emotional tension and sense of danger keep the narrative taut. The queer found family at the heart of the series remains its greatest strength, and Vivian’s arc comes to a fitting, heartfelt close.

A satisfying farewell to a series that dared to be stylish, subversive, and sincere.

Last Dance Before Dawn is the fourth and final book in the mysterious and queer Nightingale mystery series by Katharine Schellman, and is absolutely page-turning.

The series is set in 1920s New York and features Vivian Kelly who works at a speakeasy known as the Nightingale. Her coworkers at the Nightingale are like family, so when a threatening stranger from Chicago shows up, asking about a man no one has heard of, they send him packing. But this stranger doesn’t take no for an answer and begins to violently target the staff of the Nightingale, sure they know more than they are admitting. Vivian doesn’t tolerate threats to her family and friends and is determined to find out more about what is happening and to protect those she loves.

I was pulled into this story and the underground world of New York in the 1920s from page one and inhaled this story in one day, ignoring all the chores that were on my to-do list. I couldn’t stop turning the pages, needing to know if Vivian and her friends and family would be safe. The plot is fast paced, full of jaw dropping secrets and plenty of red herrings.

Vivian is such a determined, huge-hearted and strong character. And she isn’t the only one – the Nightingale’s owner, the mysterious and alluring Honor Huxley, is so fascinating and strong. Honor has made a life for herself where she can be her true self (and not take any guff from anyone who might disagree). There’s a cast of other characters from Vivian’s sister, to her brother-in-law and unknown relations that are each so fully developed. Each character has a role to play in the plot that is handled masterfully. Watching Vivian come into her true self was a treat.

The story is rich with historical details that made the setting so vivid – the story is atmospheric, and I could easily picture Vivian’s life in New York in 1925. I could visualize the clothes, the apartments, the drinks and could even hear the music from the Nightingale in my head as I read.

While this entry marks the end of the series, the wrap-up is handled with care and grace, and I appreciated getting a glimpse at what was next for so many of my favorite characters. This is a captivating read that fans of historical mysteries will love.

As this was the final book in a four part series, I appreciated that the author has brought closure to series, especially the focus on the growth and maturing of Vivian Kelly's character and her relationship with Honor Huxley, but not in the manner I had expected, Overall, I found the book less interesting that the earlier books in the series. Nevertheless I would recommend it to readers of the earlier book.

My thanks to NetGalley and St Martin’s for an ARC of this novel to read and review.

When you find a book series you love, it’s very hard to come to terms with the fact that you are reading its final installment. You’re not prepared to concede that you’ll never again read about new developments in the lives and loves of your favourite characters. That’s especially true when the characters are so well-written, and their lives and loves so well-drawn. This is the case for Katherine Schellman’s cast at the Nightingale, a smoky, music-filled speakeasy in Jazz Age New York City.

In this final outing for Vivian Kelly, the female lead, much has changed, including Vivi herself. She is still tight with her older sister Florence, now happily married to bartender Danny, with a beautiful baby girl, and living above his family’s Chinese restaurant. For the orphaned Kelly girls, the warmhearted Chin family is as much of a family as they’ve ever had. Their mother had left their father abruptly when Florence was a toddler and Vivian not yet born. When she died shortly after giving birth, they were raised in the local Catholic orphanage, trained as seamstresses, and let into the world to fend for themselves as teenagers. No one knew what had become of their father.

That longing to know follows them through the previous three novels and they manage to get to the truth in this one. Their father, by a strange twist in circumstances, is not only closer than they thought, but also unwittingly involved in some of the same channels. The situation gets dangerously close to ‘be careful what you wish for.’

Getting into further detail regarding those circumstances would reveal too much of the main mystery, which, in the way of serials, never strays far from the Nightingale and its beautiful, and shrewd owner, Honor Huxley. A ruthless Chicago mobster will stop at nothing to find a mystery man known as Hugh Brown who once worked for him. He suspects Honor knows him, but she won’t cooperate. Her own faithful men and their families are threatened, including that of Bea, known as Bluebird, their enormously talented singer. Vivian is also threatened, and Danny and Florence fear for their lives and their baby’s.

The pressure on Honor intensifies as men disappear or are found brutally killed. Then they use someone especially important to her as leverage. Her relationship with Vivian has also evolved, pivoting from attraction through distrust and back, through the earlier books. It continues, frustratingly, much the same way here until Vivian makes a decision that precipitates both loss and gain, the closing of some opportunities and the stirrings of others.

Once again, the author does a lovely job with the historical setting, especially concerning the Nightingale, which is ‘home’ to so many of the city’s outsiders. Although the Nightingale was exactly the kind of place where ‘acting out’ and dropping masks could comfortably happen, in an atmosphere of illicit booze, tobacco smoke, the latest and most daring music and fashion, much of what went on there was confined to its crowded floors and tables. That included the love between women, and between couples of different cultures and races. The tensions are very real.

Of course, even a clever author can’t fix those tensions without denying history. Schellman doesn’t try to glide over the hatreds that keep them going, and how they constrain even attempts to bridge the gaps. What she does really well is to show that, for those who choose love over glory or even safety, there is hope. The ending was done in an intelligent and ultimately believable fashion, but many of us wish the Nightingale saga could just go on.