The story is set at the 1904 St. Louis World Fair, a time of glitz and glamor shrouding a secret underbelly of danger and darkness. Our sleuth, Grace Covington, is the daughter of a disgraced high-society woman who married for love instead of wealth. Grace’s cousins, still apart of the upper class, sweep her away into their world, and all seems perfect until one of their friends is murdered and her cousin Oliver is arrested for the crime. Grace determines to prove her cousin’s innocence, no matter the cost for herself.

If you love stories with rich worldbuilding, Pride & Prejudice romance vibes, and red herrings that will keep you guessing (I was shrieking at the end because I thought I knew whodunnit and didn’t!), I highly recommend preordering this book.

4.5 Stars

Quick Plot Summary: In 1904, a young woman named Grace and her cousins Oliver and Lillie are visiting the World's Fair in St. Louis. They meet a few other companions, including the handsome Theo, and begin exploring the beautiful exhibits together as a group. When one of the members of their group dies suddenly, Oliver is framed for murder. Grace, Lillie, and Theo set out on a detective mission to exonerate Oliver. However, they have to carefully avoid traps set in their paths that could make them the next victims. Will they be able to help Oliver clear his name before it's too late? Is there a future for Grace and Theo amidst the chaos of the investigation?

My Impressions: The setting of St. Louis during the 1904 World's Fair was magnificent. I've never read anything about this event, and the author did an excellent job of bringing it to life and incorporating real details that I will remember.

The story itself was overall engaging and only dragged a little for me in the middle. The writing style was plot-driven and had a host of characters, so I had to slow down a bit to keep up with the details of the unfolding story.

Grace and Theo had palatable, slow burn tension and great chemistry together. An enjoyable read that I would highly recommend to fans of clean, romantic historical fiction!

Content Considerations: No profanity (that I can remember), kisses only no spice.

Thank you to Union Square & Co. and NetGalley for the complementary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. My review is my honest opinion and is in no way influenced by the author or publisher.

I'm not usually much of a historical fiction reader, but I love mysteries, and I'm glad I decided to try The Ivory City. The comparison to Devil in the White City, which I thoroughly enjoyed several years ago, was very apt, both in terms of setting and the balance between history and mystery. The glamour and grit of the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair was an immersive setting for a mystery that tangled together the class clashes of high society with a compelling cast of characters.
For me to enjoy a mystery, the clues need to be noticeable, but I like an ending that still surprises me, and this one definitely managed both. I got the validation of having solved one specific clue when it appeared, but the plot twists for the ending still managed to take me by surprise.
I don't usually read historical for the reason that I feel a little too compelled to research every small detail and term to make sure it fits, and there were a few times I wondered if I'd bumped up against an anachronism, but none of them pulled me out of the book and sent me over to a browser for confirmation, so I'd consider that a win.
If you're looking for historical fiction in a unique setting, a cast of complex, multifaceted characters, and a plot that might take a bit of time to pick up steam but then moves full speed ahead to the finale, this book is absolutely worth the read!

Historical fiction plus a mystery plus a lovely romance. Sign me up!

Set during the World’s Fair in St. Louis in 1904, the book follows Grace, a poor but loved friend of her cousins Oliver and Lillie.

Grace navigates her way through St. Louis’ upper crust with Lillie and Oliver’s help, knowing that she’ll have to leave it for a more humble life. The World’s Fair is one last hurrah for her. But all that changes when an actress dies of poisoning and Oliver is accused of her murder.

Driven by her loyalty and love for her cousin, Grace goes digging for the truth.

What I loved most about this book was that Grace was interesting and clever, without ever falling into the “Not Like Other Girls” trope that so many historical novels immediately default to. She hates snobbishness, but she doesn’t disdain beautiful clothes or food or music.

I also like the way that the romance developed. Some misunderstanding and miscommunication … but not in a frustrating way that makes you want to yell at the characters for being stupid. In a realistic and believable way.

One big compliment I can give to a book is when it makes me set aside another book I’m enjoying. This did just that, as I had to see how everything would work out. A very satisfying read.

An exciting setting (the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair) and a delicious Art Nouveau cover make this a promising read, but the delivery could use refinement.

For some unknown reason this title is classified as adult/general fiction. It should be placed soundly in the YA category, due to a distinctly teen voice and a majority of "pre-adult," coming-of-age characters still living with parents or finding their independence. I doubt content is the reason for the classification, as there is very little adult language and while drug use is mentioned, it's handled subtly and appropriately.

My biggest qualm with the book is its anachronistic dialogue. If I hadn't been told, I would not for a moment have suspected the time was 1904. While I didn't research every phrase for its date of first use, this book should have had an editor dedicated to that task. According to a quick internet search, the use of the expression "getting high" to refer to drugs only dates to around 1932. Even then, I would wager it wasn't widespread and certainly not among young ladies. Then there were phrases like "My memory is trashed right now" which pulled me right out of the historical atmosphere.

As to the characters, I enjoyed the unconventionally attractive Theo the most, but wished he could have been developed further. With his distinctive birthmarked appearance and brooding demeanor, he had the makings of a great YA hero. For some reason, for the first half of the novel, I had to keep reminding myself to tell Grace and Lillie apart. Lillie, somehow, did not seem to have as distinct a personality or place in the story as she could have, but maybe that's just me.

The identity of the killer was slightly predictable, but I'll admit I was kept guessing by the abundant red herrings. There was a bit of "villain-splaining" in the climax. Afterwards, the story was tied up a little too neatly.

The book's greatest asset remains the setting. It's a time and place that hasn't been overused in novels yet, and I enjoyed the beautiful descriptions and sense of wonder. Not being an expert in the subject, I can't speak to historical accuracy, but I appreciated the amount of research that seemed to have gone into evoking the setting.

For the proofreading team: I noticed a few minor typos throughout the copy, mostly errant italics.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!

I loved the setting of the World's Fair. Murphy brings it to life, capturing the sense of wonder, magic, and anticipation while not shying away from exposing some of the fair's sadder parts. It's a wonderful backdrop for the story.

The plot is perfect for fans of amateur sleuth stories. There was one small plot element that might have been dropped at the end of the book, but it's likely that I just missed how it connected to the mystery reveal. I read the entire book in three sittings, I think, =)

Theo and Grace's banter was fantastic. I also loved the tight relationships between the cousins. Murphy did a nice job rounding out her cast of characters.

While The Ivory City is marketed as an adult book, I think it has crossover appeal to upper YA readers as well. I really enjoyed this one.

Cautions: seven instances of swearing; three instances of British swearing; brief mentions of drugs, overdoses, and addiction; moderate romance; three kisses; brief mentions of prostitutes; brief moderate violence

You can see that the author has done her research as it is reflected in the story which I can appreciate!

There is attention to detail which you can see in the descriptions of the clothing, facial expressions and body language, food and drinks and the scenery at the fair. However, at the same time it felt a bit repetitive.

Sometimes I forgot Grace was trying to solve a murderer as I was sucked into what they were doing at the fair. You can see that she grows more confident throughout the story as she was dealing with her lower status in a time where status meant everything.

Overall, the end was predictable but it was a good read

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an arc for an honest review

Thank you to NetGalley, Union Square & Court, and Emily Bain Murphy for a free ebook ARC in return for my unbiased review.
Grace is the poor but plucky cousin of Oliver and Lillie, two kind and funny souls who treat her like she’s their equal, even if their terrible mother (and the rest of society) look down on Grace and her family due to their lack of money. Grace decides to spend one last trip with her cousins at the St. Louis World Fair when tragedy strikes and someone is murdered.

The rich descriptive language regarding the clothing, the food and drinks, the scenery around the fair, and the various amusements drew me into the story quickly. I struggled with some of the writing-tears spring to eyes, jaw muscles ripple, Lilly gets her cheekbones from her mother…many of these are phrases that are used frequently in other books and felt predictable. However, as the story progressed, Grace grows more confident and it felt like the story and writing did too-I felt more and more interested in what was going to happen, even if I correctly anticipated several moments. Overall I enjoyed it and appreciated that the author didn’t shy away from the darker side of history-the incubators for the premie babies and the racist/classist parts were hard to read about but important. It was enjoyable.

Where do I start? I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the World's Fair as a backdrop and I loved the mystery.
Lillie and Oliver are planning on spending a week visiting the Fair with their impoverished cousin Grace who is visiting. While they make no distinction in her class or standing, others are quick to judge her for her lack of wealth. When Oliver is accused of murder, Grace races against time to clear his name and find the real murderer.
The mystery was solid and kept me guessing right up until the very end even though I had my suspicions. The plot moved along at a fast enough pace that I didn't get bored but it wasn't so fast it felt rushed. The side plots were compelling and at times I felt like I was a member of their little group watching things unfold. The characters, Grace and Theo and Walt in particular were vivid and nuanced. They reacted to the story as real people would have and conveyed a range of complex human emotions that hit me right in the feels. Also NGL Theo, in my head was hot and brooding. Who doesn't love hot and brooding?
This was the period novel I didn't know I needed and I am so glad I got it.

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed my time with *Ivory City* by Emily Bain Murphy. Set against the dazzling backdrop of the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair, the novel swept me away into a world of intrigue, glamour, and secrets. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was right there among the palaces and pavilions, soaking in the excitement and danger lurking beneath the surface.

The story follows cousins Grace and Lillie, whose close relationship is tested when a shocking murder throws their lives into chaos. I found myself rooting for Grace as she bravely tried to clear Lillie’s brother’s name, navigating the complexities of high society and the fair’s mysteries. The suspense kept me guessing, and I loved the dynamic between the cousins-there was real heart in their loyalty and struggles.

One of my favorite lines from the book is when Grace reflects, *“Sometimes the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows.”* That perfectly sums up the atmosphere Murphy creates: glittering on the outside, but filled with secrets and danger beneath.

If I have one small critique, it’s that the pacing lagged in a few places, and I wished some of the side characters were a bit more fleshed out. Still, the immersive setting and engaging plot more than made up for it.

Overall, *Ivory City* is a delightful blend of historical detail, mystery, and emotion. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves atmospheric historical fiction with a dash of suspense!

(Disclaimer: I received the ARC from the publisher, but this has in no way influenced my review. My thoughts are entirely unbiased and honest.)

Reading The Ivory City is a rewarding experience because the amount of research and care by the author is really obvious.

It holds a tender spot in my heart with the inclusion of Filipinos who acted as 'civilized' and 'uncivilized'
(knowingly and unknowingly) during the historic Chicago fair that inspired the story.

Besides these factors, however, I wasn't a fan of the prose of the story so that's my rating.

Either only used to other kinds of POVs in other murder mysteries or the author's way of writing really limited how the readers can be attached to the characters can be argued.

Personally, I felt that everything was enumerated rather than me following the characters (specially Grace) grow as the answers discovers are revealed.

Take this review lightly, because it's purely my preference. It ended with a happy ending though, so no regrets.