Combining the fascinating setting of the Roaring ’20s with a smart, savvy heroine, Morrill has hit the perfect note with this captivating story. Piper will particularly appeal to young adult fans, but there is plenty of substance here to entrance readers of all ages. The tale is fast-paced and entertaining without being overly melodramatic. Piper’s impetuousness gets her involved in some potentially inappropriate situations, particularly for the time period. Fortunately, the steadying influence of her male friends keep her from getting too far off track.
Eighteen-year-old Piper Sail is looking forward to graduating and getting on with her life. She's worried about her friend Lydia's health problems, and becomes even more concerned when Lydia disappears without a trace. Piper, along with young policeman Mariano Cassano, begins to investigate what might have happened to Lydia and tries to locate her. The more they look into the situation, the more they see the seedier parts of Chicago. This makes Piper fear for her friend's life, and maybe a bit for her own as well.

Piper Sail is an 18-year old young woman living amidst the jazzy 1920s. When her best friend, Lydia—the perfect example of a high-society woman—goes missing, Piper breaks all society’s expectations for a woman her age and decides to investigate. Most raise their eyebrows in disapproval at Piper’s actions, but she manages to catch the eye of a handsome detective. Together the two continue the search, but Piper discovers information that causes her to think her friend’s disappearance is part of a bigger scheme. A scheme that will cause her to uncover secrets that she may wish she had never known.
Complete with flapper dresses, speakeasies, mobsters, and corruption, this novel will transport you back to the heart of Chicago in the midst of the glitzy 1920s and make you never want to leave.

1) The Theme
One of my favorite aspects of any story is the theme, and The Lost girl of Astor Street did not disappoint. The story follows Piper Sail’s investigation of her friend’s disappearance and shows the strength and power of friendship. Piper is not afraid to travel to the dangerous underbelly of Chicago in order to find any information neither is she afraid to use her feminine charms to gather information from unsavory men. While Piper’s methods are not always 100% honest, it shows just how much she is willing to risk for her friend’s sake.

2) The Characters
Strongly tied to the theme are the characters. Piper is the main character of this 1st person point of view story. While she is deemed beautiful, her radical ideas and stubbornness cause many to turn their noses up at her. On the rare occasion, her stubbornness seemed unwarranted or annoying, but for the most part, Piper was very relatable. She cared more about her friend than society’s expectations and opinions of her although it was often hurtful to see other’s disapproval of her actions. Her insistence on helping her friend was honorable, and something many people can relate to.

Lydia was sweet and a great complement to Piper. The two girls were the best of friends even though Lydia’s mother disapproved of their friendship. She was one of the few character’s whose advice Piper heeded (or at least tried to heed) and was a society rebel in her own secret way.

Jeremiah and Emma Crane are a brother and sister who attend school with Piper. Jeremiah has made it clear to Piper that he is interested in her, but his reputation as a gossiping journalist makes her wary to even befriend him. His sister, Emma, on the other hand, is a sweet, innocent girl who shares in Piper’s love for adrenaline rushes and adventure, making the two a good match as friends.

Mariano is the handsome detective whom Piper teams up with for the investigation. His charm and wit immediately intrigue her, and they quickly develop a relationship with many squeal-worthy moments. However, when Piper discovers he has been harboring his own secrets, Mariano becomes a mystery himself.

3) The Plot
Stephanie Morrill introduces new twists into every chapter, complicating the mystery at every turn. The romance adds a flair to the story as Piper and Mariano are not only working on the mystery together but are also trying to figure out their relationship. As the story progresses, I was drawn further and further into it and experience everything along with Piper. The emotions Piper felt, I was feeling too, making me not only interested in the building suspense of the plot but also emotionally invested as I loved Piper’s character and wanted everything to work out for her.

4) The Setting
1920s Chicago with speakeasies, mobsters, and flapper dresses. Is there anything else you could want? I was immediately drawn into the setting, and Morrill did an absolutely amazing job at portraying the affluence of Astor Street against the corrupt underbelly of Chicago as well as intertwining the two at times.

This novel took me a few chapters to really become drawn into the story as the beginning chapters were necessary introductions to the characters. However, once the plot began, I was sucked into the story, and there was no distracting me. The characters and mystery will keep you turning page after page all the way to the end.

This is really beautifully steeped in very specific little historical details of the time, which I appreciate. I also love that the protagonist has some bite in her and she's not afraid to show it.

Stephanie’s other books are also written for teen girls, but are contemporary novels and I have enjoyed reading those. But I LOVED the Lost Girl of Astor Street. This book is gritty and real, and deals with emotions, life issues, and tragedy in a genuine, honest way. The twists and turns are many and most I didn’t expect. There’s adventure, suspense, mystery, history, and romance in this book, all skillfully woven together and appropriately done for this audience. I didn’t want to put this one down, not until I discovered with Piper whodunit, and what effect that would have on Piper and her family. I would love to see more from Stephanie revolving around Piper and this era, so here’s hoping!

As many have found, the young adult genre is also a great area for adult readers as well, and this is one of those that both older and younger readers would enjoy.

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions expressed are my own.

I was trying to think of how to compare this book when I read the first sentence on Goodreads: Perfect for fans of Veronica Mars and Downton Abbey, and yeah, that's kind of it...this is a cross between Downton Abbey and Veronica Mars - two shows that don't seem to have too much in common. But our heroine, Piper, has the spunk and zest that those of us who watched Veronica Mars remember her having.

The story: Piper Sail is a late teen in 1924 Chicago. Piper's best friend, Lydia, is missing and Piper knows that Lydia would never leave without saying goodbye, and Lydia has never once been in trouble so she's sure that Lydia is in trouble. The Roaring Twenties in Chicago is not the safest for a young girl to be exploring, but Piper is sure that the police are looking in all the wrong places so she begins her own investigation. Piper does get one young, handsome, detective to help her, though he isn't convinced she really knows what she's doing.
I love jazz-age fiction (and there's a nice moment in the book where Piper is reading some F. Scott Fitzgerald) and author Stephanie Morrill has done a very nice job of researching the period and bringing us in to the world of speakeasies and crime bosses and where women are beginning to discover a sense of freedom and individuality.

There is a scene late in the book that is breathtakingly terrifying. I was quite impressed with Morrill's ability to capture a sense of hopeless, helpless struggle with near death consequences. I was uncomfortable and really wanted the moment to end. In that sense it actually took me out of the story even though it was so wonderful written.

There were more than a few moments when I felt that Piper's behavior was more akin to the twenty-first century rather than 1920's, but I still really enjoyed this period mystery.

Looking for a good book? The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill is a historical fiction mystery that entertains and is worth reading.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for a honest review.

This is one of my top favorite historical mysteries I've EVER read! And not only that, it also had a beautiful touch of romance, that evened out the whole plot! Stephanie Morrill knew how to take the story in unexpected directions, and you could see all the love she tenderly put into this book. I desperately look foreword to a hopeful sequel. Check out my blog for an exclusive interview with the author: http://gabriellaslade.com/2 ...more

I did not finish The Lost Girl of Astor Street. Both Piper and Lydia are too whiny for my taste in protagonists. I get that they are upper class, but it read like it was trying too hard to be Downtown Abbey (which I enjoyed for the first couple of seasons, and then I stopped watching sometime around end of season 3/beginning of season 4 when it was just drama for drama's sake).

An absolutely marvelous book! An entrancing blend of mystery mixed with romance with a major city as a character during a very significant time in it's history. I could not put this down. A must read for fans of flappers, gangsters, Chicago, mystery and romance!

What is a girl to do? It is 1924 and we are introduced to Lydia LeVine and Piper Sail who are classmates at a posh prep school in Chicago where they rap your knuckles for being less than a lady. Timeline is set. Lydia goes missing. Mystery ensues. Piper is determined to figure it all out and bring Lydia home. Agony, familial relationships, romance, corruption, all in all a quick, enjoyable read that perhaps looses its footing in some places with language that reverts to the 21st century.

I want to be like Piper Sail when I grow up! It's been a few weeks since I read such a great mystery book. It's fast, engaging, with captivating characters, and new details come to lite with every page. I could not get enough of this book.

A storyline takes place in Chicago, 1924 (I love this time!). Piper's best friend vanishes from the safest street in town, and police seem to be looking in all wrong places. Impatient Piper takes the investigation into her own hands. Sadly, Lydia's body is recovered from a river. Family chauffeur, who suddenly disappears, is being blamed for young girl's death. Police seem to close the case. But Piper can't give up on her best friend so easily. Detective Sail has made a list of suspects and has made a priority to find the right person responsible for Lydia's death.

Is it Lydia's father, Doctor DeVine, who has hidden his daughter's illness for months and was ready to send Lydia away to the clinic to get well?

Or is it Matthew, family chauffeur, who was sweet on Lydia, and Lydia was over heels in love with a young man?

Or is it next door neighbor, who cheats on his wife with a nanny and has a history of hitting his son?

Or is it one of Chicago's gangs, the Finnegans, who have some connection to both Piper and Lydia's fathers... and Matthew?

During her investigation, Piper befriends a young and handsome detective Cassano, who is related to another of Chicago gangs, but claims that he is an honest cop. The two catch feelings for each other and become an adorable sweet couple.

But let's not forget all other amazing characters: Walter, Piper's first love and "big brother", a son of Sail residence cook/housekeeper. Emma and Jeremiah Crane, a brother/sister duo that also came to Detective Sail's help during her investigation. Nick, Piper's big brother. And Alana, Nick's new lady love and an annoying reporter who keeps sniffing around for more scoops about Lydia and Matthew's story.

With a surprising discovery (and some scratches and broken bones), our little detective concludes her investigation and brings Lydia's killer to justice.

"I don't think Chicago's underbelly has seen the last of Piper Sail." - I hope this is true. I would love to read more about this fascinating character.

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book--I just knew I was excited to read it! As soon as I delved in, I was hooked by the plot and characters. Piper's just so feisty--it was like a breath of fresh air! And Mariano made for the perfect swoony hero. Though the plot took a turn I didn't expect (it got a tiny bit darker than I was hoping for), I did enjoy reading the book and would recommend it to my friends. I can't wait to read Stephanie Morrill's next historical book!

In a lot of ways, this book was not at all what I expected! The story drew me in right away, and I love that there is so much going on with the mystery! I love how Piper develops as a character, as she is thrown out of her comfort zone and left without her best friend. She's a delightful heroine who is strong and feminine at the same time.
I'm hopeful that this one will turn into a series.;)
I received this title through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Why I Choose this Book:

This is at least the fourth post in which I've talked about The Lost Girl of Astor Street in the last month, so you probably are getting tired of hearing how excited I am about it. The solution? Just read the book for yourself and see how cool it is. =)

Quick overview though: I've been wanting to read this book ever since Stephanie first mentioned she was writing it in 2014. I was intrigued right away, and the book did not disappoint.
What I Thought about this Book:

It was a total surprise. I'm not sure what I expected, but Lost Girl blew my ideas out of the water and pretty much amazed me. I was sucked into the world, intrigued by Piper's point of view, and throughly enjoyed getting to know the characters better.

And, on the subject of characters, let me talk about them for a bit...

Piper - First of all, she has an incredible name, so cute. Second of all, I was pretty impressed with how very different she was from Stephanie's other main characters. Piper was unique, experienced growth, and although I couldn't always relate to her personally, I felt like I understood her. She was also very realistic, so yay!

Lydia - Lydia is a rather uncommon name in books, so it was a little bit weird to be reading about one (since I share the name). I'll have to say, the plot twists with her were a total surprise to me. I liked her character, she was a good balance for Piper. It makes sense that the two of them would be best friends.

Walter - Goodness! I was caught between wishing the plot would go somewhere that it didn't, and thinking YES! Finally, a book that gets it right! In the end, my happiness for the part Walter played in the story won out. I liked him a lot, and could relate to the relationship he had with the other characters quite well.

There are obviously a lot more characters I could talk about, but those were my top three I felt like discussing. On to the plot....

It's a mystery. I knew that, but somehow I sorta forgot that when I began reading the book (probably because the other books Stephanie has written aren't mysteries). It didn't take long for the mystery part to erupt though, and erupt it did. The pacing of the book was really well done. The plot had twists. The mystery was intriguing. Altogether it was a fantastic book, and one I'm looking forward to re-reading after I receive the hardback copy I bought.
Conclusion:

I don't condone all of Piper's actions by any means, and there was some violence, etc.... For the most part though, it was kept vague and I was happy with it. Way to go, Stephanie!

Rating:

I’m giving Lost Girl of Astor Street 4 out of 5 stars, and 8 out of 10.

*I received this book from the author

I don't read a lot of young adult fiction but I couldn't resist giving this one a try. Stephanie Morrill is a new author to me and I look forward to reading more from her.

The Lost Girl of Astor Street is very well written. The characters are engaging and the plot has a complex set of twists and turns that leave the mystery intact until the very end.

While this is a clean read I would probably limit it to teens and above. The subject matter involves the mafia, murder, kidnapping, prostitution, and other sundry topics. The story doesn't go into great detail on these topics but they are still present. This would be a particularly good choice for a reading group.

I was provided a copy of this book to facilitate my review.

Piper was a difficult character to root for. Her stubbornness did not seem empowering to me. Instead she reminded me of a spoiled child who is unwilling to see past her own pre-conceived notions. I hated how she treated her father's fiancee, her family, and even her potential beau. Her whiney attitude was too much. I understand that women of her time were more sheltered but Piper was trying to do more with her life. And then the second she learns something she doesn't like, she went back to behaving like a child. I was confused as to what any of her admirers saw in her. The story itself was light on historical info and heavier on the mystery surrounding the missing girl, Lydia. I wish the author had delved into more info on the epidemic of missing women that was happening at that time or even talked more about the girl that was found. I enjoyed the mystery but the conclusion was rather predictable. This story had lot of potential but ultimately it did not live up to it.

The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill is a thrilling historical, mystery, romance novel that readers will absolutely love. Readers will be enthralled and sucked into this book from the first chapter. Morrill creates a fantastic cast of characters, including Piper Sail and her best friend Lydia. This story is about how Lydia randomly goes missing one day and Piper is bound and determined to find out what happened to her best friend no matter what the cost. With the dangers of Chicago’s Mafia and vividly depicted characters and scenes, readers will thoroughly enjoyed the intense thriller/mystery part of the story. With just the right amount of intensity to keep them on the edge of their seats and plenty of twists and turns, this thrilling and enticing novel is one that teens and adults alike will utterly enjoy and will not soon forget.

Piper Sail and Lydia DeVine have been best friends since toddlerhood when they moved to the upper class neighborhood of Astor Street in 1920's Chicago. The two ladies are polar opposites, Lydia is sweet, kind and demure and Piper is inquisitive, tenacious and quick to act. Now that they are young ladies, Piper and Lydia are supposed to be looking to the future and a potential husband. However, that all changes when Lydia goes missing. Piper jumps into action to try and find her friend; Piper knows secrets about Lydia that even her parents won't divulge and her persistent nature makes her a natural detective. WIth the help of the the detective assigned to Lydia's case, Marion Cassano, Piper is determined to find out what happened to her friend. As Piper delves into Lydia's disappearance, she also must go into the underbelly of 1920's Chicago, bordellos, speakeasies, mafia connections and plenty of secrets will be unearthed during Piper's search.

The Lost Girl of Astor Street is an exciting historical mystery with an awesome female lead. From the very beginning I knew that I would like Piper, she never gives up, loves with a ferocious heart and encompasses the emerging modern and independent '20's female. Her determination and grit to find out what happened to her best friend drives the story. As Piper gets deeper into Lydia's mystery, carefully layered secrets begin to reveal themselves. Another part of the story that I loved was the exploration of 1920's Chicago, with having to investigate all types of people and places, Piper gets to the heart of the time period. With a sweet romance that doesn't take away from the plot, The Lost Girl of Astor Street provides a riveting historical mystery.

This book was received for free in return for an honest review.

While period mysteries aren't for everyone, I found this book pretty enjoyable. The characters are solidly portrayed - dynamic, nuanced, and distinct. They develop depth as the plot progresses. The plot holds a decent number of twists. There were inte4rpersonal developments I predicted that never came to fruition. The resolution has groundwork laid early on, so it is logical but not obvious. The real strength in this book, though, is the historical setting. The atmosphere is fantastic. Someone looking for a thrilling read, with lots of twists and nail-biting moments, probably won't enjoy this book. But, if you're someone who prefers to enjoy the moment and the scenery, give this book a try.