Piper Sail has done it again! I love her! This was a much tougher case and topic to investigate. It was supposedly a suicide, but the sister wouldn't accept that. So Piper was put on the case. She's grappling with the grief of losing her friend in the first book, navigating her relationship, and becoming who she wants to be: a private investigator. She is meant to be more than a wife, and this is her chance to prove it. She breaks rules, uses lies, and stirs up trouble to find the truth. I adore Piper. I'm so excited to read anything else she will be in.

I was recently introduced to this author and this world that he has created. It has quickly become a favorite series. I love how well developed the characters are, the glimpses into a different simpler time and all the twists and turns in the stories. Just when you think you have it figured out you get new information and start making theories again. Completely engaging.

The long awaited sequel to The Lost Girl of Astor Street find Piper Sail navigating life after high school, and taking on the case of a investigating a young man's mysterious death.
An engaging read that brings to life the class divide of the the 1920's, as Piper balances her life as a society girl where an advantageous marriage is still expected and her investigations into the seedier mafia underside of Chicago. A well written read that evokes the time period well, and does a good job of presenting complex family dynamics, and coming of age in 1920's Chicago, we see Piper's home life change as well as her relationship with Mariano mature and grow.

A solid historical fiction read that deals with tough topics, growing up, family, and love. I liked that we see Piper deal with not knowing all the answers, but pushing forward and searching for answers. She's ready for the most daring of challenges, and is spunky enough to take risks in search of truth. Great balance between the mystery, as well as character growth and interactions, with a compelling storyline. It didn't disappoint!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Enjoyed this companion mystery to The Lost Girl of Astor Street more than I did the first one. And I think that was because it was a companion novel to the first one and didn't need the world building more time was able to spent on the mystery and character aspect of the story and I loved that.

I was so happy to see another Piper Sail mystery book as I loved the first one and the setting of 1920s Chicago. The mystery hooked me, but the execution of the story was a little clunky. Most of the book focuses on Piper having conversations with Mariano or her friends and telling them everything she has learned, which becomes tedious. She also spent a lot of time contemplating Mariano's feelings for her instead of actually talking with him about her concerns. Thank you so much for an ARC, NetGalley. If another Piper Sail mystery is written, I will definitely pick it up.

I really enjoy Stephanie Morrill’s writing, so it was a no-brainer for me to read this book. If Piper Sail and Astor Street seem familiar to you, it’s because of The Lost Girl of Astor Street, the first book in which we meet Piper and follow her as she unravels the mystery of her best friend’s disappearance. That book was published in 2017, so it’s very possible you hadn’t heard of or remembered the book, either. (If so, the good news is that now you have two new mysteries to read.)

This story is set in 1920s Chicago. Piper has graduated from school, and her family expects her to enroll in college and/or find a prospective husband and start a family. The last thing Piper wants to do is have children, and she’s not ready to settle down. She has some doubts about the direction of her current relationship with Mariano, a detective who helped her in the first book.

I loved the way the story explored Piper’s questions about her direction for her life. She knows she doesn’t want to have kids. She isn’t ready to get married. But how can a young woman work as a private investigator? It’s not something that’s done. Whose permission does she need? How will anyone ever take her seriously?

The story makes space for Piper to explore these questions as her investigation into a supposed suicide unfolds. The balance between this theme and the mystery is perfectly done. We get a deeper understanding of Piper and follow her character development, but it never slows down the narrative.

If you enjoy historical mysteries, put this one on your list. I hope that this book marks a revival of the Piper Sail Mysteries as a series. The ending definitely leaves room for a new story.

Once again, we are back in 1924 Chicago. Piper has graduated. She and the Detective are “courting”, maybe not traditionally, but no one has ever accused Piper of being traditional.

After the events that lead her to the truth of what really happened to her best friend, and a physical reminder of what getting to the truth almost cost her, Piper Sail, finds herself, well, adrift.

Mariano is still in her life, although there have been bumps. She has a new job, at her old school which is where she is when she is asked to look into the death of the brother of a friend of hers.

Piper is hesitant at first, (shocking, I know), but finally decides that she will see if she can find out anything the police may have missed.

What I love is how supportive Mariano is. (Now, if her information gathering takes her into some crazy situations, what he doesn’t know won’t worry him, right?). Well, more like what her family doesn’t know…Honestly, almost everyone is kept in the dark.

This was a sad, intricately woven mystery that had me guessing until the end.

Now, the real question becomes, what will Piper do in the future? Is she ready to step into the light or will still investigate from the shadows? I can’t wait to find out.

I would like to thank the publisher Blink and NetGalley for a copy of this book. All opinions are my own and my review is voluntarily given. As always, I wish you happy reading!

A solid sophomore cozy mystery from Stephanie Morrill. I really enjoy the way she portrays the reality of the 1920's where women really don't have many rights. Piper is a fun character that wants to break the typical mold and be a detective, even though she can't be an actual detective. I worried for her safety because at the end of the day, she still acts like a typical 18 year old who thinks she's invincible.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stephanie Morrill for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Secret Investigator of Astor Street coming out August 5, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received the first and second books at the same time. Unfortunately this book really didn’t work for me. Piper has a personality that some people enjoy. I thought she was very wishy washy and annoying. I really couldn’t get behind her actions for doing anything. It just didn’t feel like the time period. It felt too modern.

⭐️:3.75
🌶️: 0

Thank you for NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, Blink and the author Stephanie Morrill for sending me an ALC & ARC of this book.

After finishing the first book in this series, I immediately jumped into the second because I needed to know what happened next with Piper Sail. But as with the first book, this one took a while to really hit its stride. I honestly got a bit bored between 10% and 35% but pushed through because I had a long drive ahead of me and needed something to listen to. And I’m honestly glad I did.

I continue to enjoy Piper and her very modern way of thinking especially for 1924. Even though she gives off this aura of confidence, she still questions what her future holds and what she’s doing with her life. Her continued doubts of if she should investigate and insecurities about being perceived as a private investigator are so authentic to that time period. I do continue to want to strangle the men around her, namely Jeremiah in this adventure, who believe they know what’s best for her without ever thinking to ask her what she wants.

I do continue to love Mariano. He never once tries to tell her what she should or should not do. He listens to her, asks smart questions and gives her different perspectives to consider. He finds ways to show her he loves her by protecting her without being over the top.

Although the lack of communication around the state of their relationship does prove incredibly annoying. It hovers very close to the miscommunication trope that I wanted so badly to roll my eyes. And the excuses Piper makes for their relationship issues made me want to chuck my kindle a couple of times. But she’s young and this is her first relationship so I try to give some grace.

I would love to see this series continue. I love a smart woman with gumption who doesn’t care for babies or desire to follow in the path most expected of her. Especially now that she can no longer be considered a “secret” private investigator. I hope the author continues and the books are able to catch me and hold me from the start.

Eighteen-year-old Piper Sail secretly dreams of becoming a detective, despite society’s expectations for a young woman in 1920s Chicago. When she is asked to investigate a death officially ruled a suicide, Piper dives into the city’s dangerous, mafia-run underworld. With her notebook in hand and determination driving her, she sets out to uncover the truth.


I didn’t realize this was a sequel until I started reading. So I put it down to find the first book, read it in a few hours, and came back to this one. I love Piper as a character! She’s plucky and clever. I thought the author did a fantastic job of blending expectations of the time with positive support for Piper’s ambition.

The mystery was fantastic and kept me guessing. I liked how the effects of the first book were felt in this book. I also liked how Piper slowly got more friends, which helps her deal with the loss of her friend.

Overall, this was a fun read. It pulled me in so much that I didn’t realize it was written in present tense until I was well into it. Readers who enjoy plucky heroines solving crimes will enjoy this one. I received an advance reader copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own.

Stephanie Morrill is back and she is 2/2 on the Piper Sail mysteries!

When I read the first book in the series, The Lost Girl of Astor Street, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved it, but remember thinking that the actual mystery and romance aspects were lacking. Well, the follow up may have taken eight years, but I’m so happy to say that it was worth it. I felt more invested in the romance this time, with us finally getting to experience a bit of conflict for Mariano and Piper that made him a more complete character for me. I felt that the mystery was much more flushed out and less expected this time, with red herrings that made more sense contextually and a more intriguing resolution.

The Secret Investigator went in a much different direction than Lost Girl, but still fully retained the things that made it so, so good: the super thorough research into Jazz Age Chicago, the exploration of Piper’s transition to adulthood, and of course, sneak peeks into some Prohibition Era hijinks and debauchery. This book had me googling automats, mimeographs, and B/G sandwiches, providing a fully immersive setting that had me strangely yearning to live in the 20’s (of course, only if I could be a rich, white girl like Piper).

I’m sort of a snob and rarely feel an actual connection to protagonists; that being said, I find Piper so lovable and thoroughly enjoy how much time we spend on her character development, her relationship with her family, her insecurities, and her ongoing grief. Despite the difference of a century, many of her thoughts feel universally relatable and resonate with me even now. The aftermath of events from the first book realistically continue to play a major role in the lives of Piper and those around her, allowing us to watch the story continue to develop and compound, which not all serial mysteries accomplish. Unfortunately, I would say this means you definitely have to read the first book to enjoy the second.

Overall, I absolutely recommend this series and can only hope there are more to come!

⭐️: 3.5
I don’t know about you, but I mostly read this book for Piper and Mariano, and boy did Stephanie deliver.

This book was a surprisingly good sequel. You know how sometimes the sequel just isn’t on the same level as the first one? I’d say this book was on par with the first in the Piper Sail series. While I personally felt like it was very dragged out (to the point that I felt like I was still in the middle of the book at almost 90%) I feel like the information given in that time perfectly foreshadowed the ending. The ending felt a bit abrupt and I wish we had more time to marinate with the ending, but it was already a long book, so I understand. I felt this way (length and pacing) about the first book too, so I wasn’t entirely surprised.
Anywho, all in all it was a pretty great book and still reminded me of the AGGGTM trilogy :)

In this sequel we follow Piper Sail some months after her graduation from school. She is still dating Mariano, although with his work as a cop picking up they don't get to see each other as much, dealing with family dramas, and has just started a temporary secretary job at her previous school. While at work one day, she is approached by a student whose brother has recently passed in what the cops are saying is suicide, but Louisa doesn't think that sound like her brother at all. Piper starts investigating and runs into new and old trouble. I appreciated the growth we see her go through throughout the story in both her investigations and her family life. I am the minority in that I was happy to not see Mariano as much. I don't particularly care for him as a love interest. I find him too perfect and a little boring and he isn't allowed to do wrong for very long. It's immediately dismissed away, which I found a little irritating. I do like that we mostly focus on Piper and her personal growth as a person in these stories. I would be interested to read another one in the series if the author does end up writing more.

Though this is book number two in the series, I feel like this book gives the reader enough background to know a bit about where we came from to know where we are going, However, if you don't want book #1 spoiled for you, then you may want to read that one first.

Piper Sail is diving into her second investigation and is still nervous to call herself an investigator. In the 1920's, women weren't officially eligible to be detectives, but since she has solved one case, she feels drawn to keep looking into cases if they came across her desk. Though she has graduated from the Preston's Girl Academy, she takes a job working as an administrative assistant in the front office. Her friend Emma brings a friend named Louise who hopes Piper is able to look into the death of her brother. Louise is adamant that her brother didn't kill himself and wants answers.

As Piper looks into the case, it takes her to a mafia run gambling den and to various other parts of Chicago. I love her spunky attitude and determination to try and get answers when it seems things aren't adding up. I am not sure I would say this is "perfect for fans of Agatha Christie", however it is a very cute and cozy murder mystery as we look into whether it was murder or not. I also really like her boyfriend Mariano. Though he's busy working as a detective for the Chicago PD, he is really quite supportive of who Piper is. He just wants her to be safe and talk to him which I thought was incredibly healthy compared to other love interests we often run across.

I give the book about 4.25* but I am going to round up since I will be on the look out for another installment of Piper's cases.

4.5 Stars!

Wine, 1920s Jazz playlist, Candles + Piper Sail = a perfect Sunday afternoon


Set in 1920s Chicago, this historical mystery follows amateur sleuth Piper Sail as she takes on her first case as Private Investigator. She has been hired to investigate a suspicious death that’s been too quickly ruled a suicide. As a young woman navigating high society, gang activity, and her own grief, Piper balances intuition and courage in her search for the truth.

I was lucky enough to receive both the eARC and the ALC audiobook, so I read along while listening – and it really brought the story to life!! I even played a 1920s jazz playlist in the background, which made the whole experience feel completely immersive and so much fun!!



Pros

- The 1920s setting was vivid and atmospheric, from grand mansions to smoky speakeasies

- Piper's character has grown since the first book - she's determined, thoughtful, and more independent

- The mystery kept a strong pace with well-placed clues. One of the things I liked most was how the investigation made sense, it wasn't just convenient leaps of intuition, but a believable chain of clues and decisions

- HER CRIME BOARD CUPBOARD every detective needs a crime board!

- Themes of grief, self-doubt and finding purpose are handled with care

- The audiobook narration was clear and engaging - it paired really well with the text

- A perfect read to pair with jazz and a cup of tea (or whiskey)



Cons
- The romantic subplot with Mariano felt underdeveloped - more distant and a sub-sub-suuubplot. Though the few scenes they did get together had some very sweet moments. MORE PIPRIANO PLEASE 😋

- A few side characters that I loved in the last book didn't return (Walter :() and I felt this took away from the story. Her friendships were a huge part of the last book and I missed those interactions. Though hopefully a certain crooked nosed person will make another appearance! Would be interesting to see a friendship between him and Mariano



Overall it was a smart, witty & atmospheric mystery with a strong female lead and a richly described setting. I enjoyed this even more than the first book and loved how Piper’s personal growth took centre stage. With the audiobook, eARC, and a jazz playlist going, it felt like stepping right into 1920s Chicago!! Highly recommend for fans of historical YA or cosy mysteries with a bit of an edge.

I can't wait for more Piper Sail mysteries to be written!!


Content Warnings:
References to suicide


Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for both the eARC and audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

'The Secret Investigator of Astor Street' brings the same great mix of 1920s mystery, character depth, and clean storytelling—just with a more reflective tone. Piper takes a secretary job at her old finishing school (which, let’s be honest, no one really thinks suits her), and it ends up leading her into her first big case since solving Lydia’s murder. Chicago’s prevalent gang activity during the Prohibition era adds even more depth to the mystery this time around.

Piper is still trying to figure out what her future looks like after so much loss—her mom, Lydia, and the version of life she thought she’d have. She loves investigating, but that’s not exactly a career path women have the opportunity to pursue. She and Mariano hit some bumps, mostly due to miscommunication, but their relationship is still really sweet to follow.

Jane steps into more of an antagonist role here, but I get why she’s written that way—her presence helps push Piper toward independence. It makes sense, even if she’s hard to like sometimes. Piper’s growing friendships with Hannah and Emma bring warmth, humor, and a grounding sense of support through all the changes she’s facing. Whether you read or listen, this is a well-rounded sequel that’s worth your time.

Special thanks to Blink and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was just as wonderful as the first one! I loved getting to know Piper better and seeing her in action on her first case where she doesn’t have a connection to the victim. This requires her to use her smarts and personality to get the information she needs. The blossoming relationship with Mariano as well as the complicated relationships she has with her family add a layer of depth to the story that had me just as captivated as the mystery. I can’t wait for the next one!

What a fun YA historical mystery novel! Think Veronica Mars meets 1920’s Chicago. Follow Piper Sail while she investigates the death of Clarence Dell, ruled a suicide by the Police. Head undercover to some mob owned speakeasies, smoke shops and more! Piper is a fearless FMC! She’s smart, clever and doesn’t back down! I loved her tenacity! Couldn’t get enough of her, Sidekick (her dog) and Mariano. This book has just the right amount of suspense and I could picture 1920’s Chicago as if I were there in real time!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, BlinkYABooks and Stephanie Morrill for this eARC! Loved it! Hoping there will be more Piper Sail Adventures!!

I somehow missed the first Piper Sail mystery, but I’ll be sure to read that and any that follow. I loved how the author subtly wove in the setting, thoughtfully using slang and societal constructs from the 1920s without overdoing it. Some of this balance came about because the characters were nuanced, with a range of perspectives on issues such as the role of women, especially whether a young woman can / should be a private investigator. The stresses and freedoms of social class are also deftly handled. Along with a complex, carefully crafted mystery, this is In some ways, a coming of age novel. Piper has to come to terms with her changing role in society, having graduated from school, and her changing family with her new step-mother. The realistic approach to these elements are addressed within the context of the time, but are entirely relatable to today’s world as well. I really enjoyed this book, and think many teen mystery lovers will too.

Thank you to Blink, Netgalley, and the author for early access to this delightful YA mystery.