The Gimlet Slip

by Fiona Davis, Greg Wands

A headstrong, fast-driving young woman gets pulled into a dangerous bootlegging scheme in this thrilling novella set in glamorous and gritty Prohibition-era New York City, written in an exciting collaboration between bestselling and critically acclaimed authors Fiona Davis and Greg Wands.

New York, 1933: America is in its second decade of Prohibition, and its citizens have never been thirstier.

Lydia Gardiner is the infamous queenpin of a criminal empire. From her penthouse in New York City’s ritzy Plaza Hotel, Lydia deals in all the city’s favorite vices—illegal liquor, drugs, women—ruling with an iron fist, a cold heart, and a knack for beating her coarse male counterparts at their own game.

Jo Hayes is an impulsive young woman determined to forge a life as an auto mechanic, but instead finds herself drawn into Lydia’s orbit following a disastrous car accident.

As Lydia takes Jo under her wing, they get pulled into a daring heist that just might bring down the city’s biggest bootlegger. That is, if they can escape the watchful eye of an up-and-coming NYPD detective with a score to settle. But as the two women flit between shady billiard halls and glitzy soirees, straddling New York’s highest society and seamiest underworld, they will soon learn that nothing is quite what it seems – and everyone has a hidden agenda.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Novella, Short Stories, New York, Historical

110 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 11, 2024

About the author

Fiona Davis is the New York Times bestselling author of several historical fiction novels set in iconic New York City buildings, including The Stolen Queen, The Magnolia Palace, The Address, and The Lions of Fifth Avenue, which was a Good Morning America book club pick. Her novels have been chosen as “One Book, One Community” reads and her articles have appeared in publications like The Wall Street Journal and Oprah magazine.

She first came to New York as an actress, but fell in love with writing after getting a master's degree at Columbia Journalism School. Her books have been translated into over twenty languages and she's based in New York City.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun ride, the vibe of the time period was great and I enjoyed seeing where the story went.

Would probably make a good film 🎥

Wouldn't read it again, but would still recommend to others.

[Samantha (bookstasamm) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an audiobook novella, and I think that it was a little too short to fully grasp the story. I love books set during prohibition but I struggled to connect with the characters. Jo, narrated by Carolina Hayes was a badass, and I enjoyed her story. I lost some interest when we got to Lydia’s section narrated by Patty Mattson. Things picked back up with Sam’s story, and I thought Marco Palaez did a really good job with voicing a cop from that era. I’ve enjoyed books previously written by Fiona Davis but I was a little disappointed with this one. I think if it was a little longer I would have liked it more.

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full RTC

[Nicole Wuthering Vines · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an atmospheric novella! I relished in the glamorous and intriguing setting of prohibition era and appreciated that it centred around such a strong and bad ass female protagonist!

It’s a fun hybrid and blend of historical fiction and mystery/thriller and at just under 3 hours, it’s a no brainer to give it a try!

[Nicola Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved The Gimlet Strip so much! I’m already a huge fan of both authors Fiona Davis and Greg Wands so I enjoyed trying to guess who wrote which sections. It was hard to know since it read so seamlessly. Loved how it started in Montauk and the way I quickly got fully invested in the characters lives. Really fantastic, fast paced listen. I don’t read many novellas so I was pleasantly surprised to binge listen to this entire story in one day!!

[Cassandra Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Gimlet Slip by Fiona Davis and Greg Wands
4/5 Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

•••Spoiler free review below•••

This prohibition era novella was so enjoyable! We follow Lydia - the head of a criminal empire, Sam - a maybe not so law abiding NYPD cop, and Jo - a smart girl looking for a new life. I really enjoyed all three of our main characters and how they interacted with each other. The three narrators had the perfect voices and set the scene for these backroom dealings the characters found themselves involved with. The only thing that could have made this read better was it being longer!

Read this book if you like:
-historical fiction
-heists
-multiple POVs
-scenes you can picture while you listen

The Gimlet Slip is out NOW and if it is not already on your tbr, it should be!
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Special thanks to Libro.fm for sharing a free copy with me in exchange for my honest opinions.

Review on Instagram

[Suzi (Lil Bit Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @prhaudio for the #gifted audiobook! #PRHAudioPartner

If Boardwalk Empire and The Fast and the Furious had a baby, it would be this glitzy and gritty caper of an audiobook! I was thoroughly entertained by this atmospheric and action-filled novella. The slang and expressions of the period are spot-on and narrators Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson, and Marco Pelaez sound like they’re straight out of the 1930s, adding even more authenticity. At a little under 3 hours (or faster if you listen faster), I got to enjoy the whole thing in just one listen!

[Erin Cataldi · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun and fast-paced novella written by bestselling authors Fiona Davis and Greg Wands; perfect for fans of the roaring twenties and mafia thrillers. New York City in the early thirties is a hotbed of gangsters, crooked cops, and thirsty citizens. Jo Hayes is an independent young woman bucking societal norms by being an auto mechanic. After a series of impulsive actions she finds herself as a getaway drivers for a bunch of rum runners. When she gets into a serious accident, Jo heads for the big city determined to salvage things and work her way up in the business. There she meets Lydia Gardiner the notorious queenpin of a sweeping criminal empire, who decides to take Jo under her wing as her protege. What they don't account for is a nosy detective with a score to settle. Narrated by a trio of voice actors whose cadence and accents give the characters grit and charisma. Clocking in at less than three hours, this audiobook was definitely short on time and hurried on plot. That being said, it was still an enjoyable listen that fans of Boardwalk Empire and other prohibition era literature will enjoy.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting historical fiction novella taking place in the 1920’s highlighting Prohibition in the U.S. I find this time period fascinating. The authors used setting, characters and plot in an authentic manner to showcase the lawlessness and corruption of this time period.

Jo is a reckless, cunning teenager with a sad background of neglect and abuse by her parents. She sets her sights on coming in contact with Lydia Gardner, a key boss lady of a crime syndicate. A third character, a New York police officer steps into the story. How they all have connections is a key ingredient of this well-plotted novella. I would love to see this novella turned into a full novel, as I wanted more from these three interesting characters.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Fiona Davis and have been anxiously awaiting this novella to see what her and Greg had come up with! I enjoyed the narration, the characters, some nods/references to other novels written by Fiona, and the ending, of course!

[Katherine Bichler · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4/5 STARS

Genre: Historical Fiction

Listening Time: 2 hrs 50 min

Penguin Random House Audio gifted me this audiobook and I listened to it in one sitting (2x speed). It is set in NYC during Prohibition and follows a female alcohol/drug smuggling boss and her unlikely sidekick a female mechanic who try and evade police. It is a novella so it is meant to be a short story with not a lot of time to develop all the characters. It was entertaining and there was a good twist at the end.

Thank you PRHAudio for the complimentary audiobook! 🎧📚

[sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

obviously too short for me to develop any attachment to the characters, but what a cute fun time ! for a second, it left me wanting a sequel, but then the last sentence really tied everything together making this a resolved stand alone

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

As short, quick read about the prohibition era. Not as in-depth as most of the her books but I liked it even though I did suspect what was revealed toward the end early on (can’t say more without spoilers).

[Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did enjoy this book. However, because it was so short I feel like a lot was missing. This would have benefited from being a full-length novel. But I was hooked the whole time. This was the first book I have read by this author and it made me want to read more by her.

[Carol lowkey.bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to PRH Audio for this gifted audiobook.

This compact and engaging mystery is set against the backdrop of Prohibition-era New York, bringing the time period to life with its rich details and atmosphere. The story unfolds as a fun caper-heist novella, a perfect blend of intrigue and mystery. The full cast narration adds depth and personality to the three main characters, making them even more memorable and enhancing the overall experience. With its clever plot and tight pacing, this audiobook is a delightful listen for fans of mysteries and historical fiction audiobooks.

[Rena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Novella!

[Mich · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook. Not horrid, not bad, not great

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story was a fast-paced love letter to the time of Prohibition and the guys and dolls who populated it. Unfortunately, the ending was on the twee side.

[Toby · Rating 3 out of 5]

love Fiona Davis. and would have probably lived this book if it had different narrators.

[Annissa Joy Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audio novella is a really fun listen!! It is less than 3 hours but is packed with action!!!

It is a mixture of historical fiction and thriller/suspense!! Set in the prohibition era, the main characters are a cop, a young girl who is an awesome driver and the female in charge of one of the alcohol suppliers!!

Really enjoyed it and hope that Fiona/Greg collaborate again!!!

[Maria Lew · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook novella which is 2 hours 50 minutes, is a quick look back into 1933 New York Prohibition-era.

There are three narrators Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson, and Marco Pelaez, they do a wonderful job with their narration of the three main characters.
Jo Hayes a very smart girl that knows her cars, and runs from Montauk Long Island to go to New York City.
Lydia Gardiner is a widow and a powerful woman that lives in the penthouse at The Plaza Hotel.
There's Sam Garrity the NYPD Detective that works in the 18th precinct, he is a good cop, or is he.

In the book Lydia mentions the statue outside of The Plaza Hotel. It's of Pomona, she's atop of the fountain and she represents abundance. My husband worked as a manager at The Plaza Hotel, I would always see the statue when I visited.

While listening 🎧 to this story it brought back memories of watching the TV series Broadwalk Empire, which also took place during this time period. I loved the TV series, and I loved this audiobook. You may need a tissue for the ending. I wish it was a novel, it was over to quick. Enjoy ❤️.

[Ceylan (CeyGo) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️


This Gimlet Slip is a fast paced novella - gangsters , booze smuggling, deception and betrayals. It was a great book to listen to and I enjoyed the narrators . I do think it had the potential to be a full size novel as I felt a bit rushed towards the end ⁣
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𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 🎧🎧🎧🎧⁣

[Ann Bickle · Rating 1 out of 5]

This felt like it should have been fleshed out into a full size story.

[Brenda TeemsWiese · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5, rounded up. Wanted more to the story.

[Leah DeCesare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A twisty escapade in Prohibition Era NYC! Fun, fast-paced and feisty.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I see “Fiona Davis” and I auto-buy, auto-read, auto-love. If you doubt that an inanimate object can be a character, you need to read Fiona Davis’ work. She has a knack for breathing life into the buildings where she sets her novels. The settings become an integral part of her stories. Except in The Gimlet Slip.

When I saw that The Gimlet Slip was a novella and only being released as an audiobook, I was hesitant. The blurb did not mention a specific architectural feature—but it did promise “a dangerous bootlegging scheme…set in glamorous and gritty Prohibition-era New York City.” Ok, I thought, no architectural marvel in this story but bootlegging? Prohibition? Head-strong woman? I’m here for it!

Alas, this was a novella that begs for a full-length treatment. Yes, I was drawn to the three main characters and very interested in the scheme. But I wanted more . I craved a deeper look at Lydia’s life, more details about Jo’s background, and to walk further in Sam’s shoes. The novella was a broad stroke at the story and I wanted the nitty-gritty.

The narration was good. The actor for Jo had me hesitating a bit. It wasn’t that I disliked the reader; it just took to the end of Jo’s section before I truly felt comfortable listening to her.

If Fiona and Greg make this into a complete novel? I would buy it in a heartbeat—even without the architectural character for which Fiona Davis has become known.

Note: Fiona Davis said in a Goodreads Q&A (https://www.goodreads.com/questions/2...) that the e-book is to be published six months after the audiobook’s release.

[Kristin (Always With a Book) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you PRH Audio for the ALC of The Gimlet Slip in exchange for my honest review.

As soon as I saw this audiobook-only novella, I immediately requested it. I am a huge fan of Fiona Davis’s historical fiction novels and I love books about the prohibition era…so this could only be a win-win for me and it definitely delivered! And if I hadn’t seen this was written by two authors, I never would have guessed…well done Fiona and Greg!

A historical mystery set during prohibition, this one completely captivated me from the start! While of course, I would have loved this to have been longer, as I was so engaged with the story, I felt I really got to know each of the three main characters. Told from each of their points of view, we learn their motivations and how they are connected. This really was such a fun story with just the right amount of twists to keep it interesting and I found myself shocked at the end. I want more from these characters!!!

And let’s talk about the setting. Prohibition NYC really comes alive in this story. The sights, the sounds, the people – it was all there. There were even some nods to Fiona’s other books, which I loved!

This is an audio exclusive and it was narrated by Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson and Marco Pelaez. Each one did an amazing job with their respective parts and I really enjoyed listening to this one. It’s just under three hours and can easily be listened to in one shot.


You can see all my reviews at: https://www.alwayswithabook.com/

[Steph Troyan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
•
The Gimlet Slip is an audiobook exclusive. It’s a very short listen coming in at just under three hours. I flew through this one and loved the atmospheric story. I mean who doesn’t love a good historical mystery set during prohibition?! I just wish that it had been longer to really grasp the story.
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Told in multiple points of view, we see that each of the characters have an ulterior motive for working with one another. I loved learning of each of the characters motives and fund that I really liked all of the characters. There were really great twists thrown into this story, which hit at the right time to keep your mind racing. Everything wrapped up perfectly with one shocking twist. I, again, really wish that this was a longer in order to really flesh out these characters and the story a bit more.
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This was narrated by Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson and Marco Pelaez. Each of the narrators played their roles amazingly and I loved listening to this one. They really transported me into this story.
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Overall a great listen, my biggest beef is that it was too short, but that is totally a me problem because it was truly a fantastic read. Highly recommend to all of my historical mystery fans. The Gimlet Slip was released on 3/5. Huge thank you to the @librofm influencer program, Fiona Davis and Greg Wands and Penguin Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[Permanently_Booked · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE GIMLET SLIP by Fiona Davis and Greg Wands arrived in all its adult glory and I finally made room on my reading schedule to enjoy both at the same time.

This fast paced audio novella by Fiona Davis and Greg Wands follows two women into a bootlegging scheme during the 1930s Prohibition-era. Lydia is an infamous queenpin of New York whose learned the ropes of keeping her empire strong. Jo drops into her life offering her a deal she accepts and this speed demon auto mechanic becomes her right hand. Let's not forget the detective! Everyone has a secret agenda in this and watching the secrets spill was so worth it.

I liked how this little audio coming in right below three hours, is packed with action,  plot and even a few twists. I wasn't expecting a touching aspect either but they wrapped it in there too. The audio is read by Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson and Marco Pelaez. They each narrated the voices and personas of their characters well. If anything, I would have enjoyed a little longer time with these MCs to craft more depth. However, even in it's novella length, it was still a fun ride through the New York streets with two powerful women.

I recommend this audio for those who enjoy historical fiction, heists and women taking control! True rating 3.75/5.

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a huge fan of Fiona Davis and have read all her books. I was eagerly anticipating reading her novella, “The Gimlet Slip,” co-written with her partner Greg Wands.

Set in 1920s New York City during the Prohibition era, the story follows Jo Hayes, a headstrong young woman who becomes a getaway driver. She’s drawn into the criminal world of Lydia Gardiner, a powerful female bootlegger. The narrative is a thrilling crime drama about an unlikely friendship and a heist that could bring down a criminal empire. It explores themes of ambition, betrayal, and female empowerment in a world of glamour and grit.

I genuinely wanted to enjoy this novella, but it just didn’t quite capture my attention. I can’t pinpoint a specific reason; I just didn’t feel fully immersed in the story from the start. The narration for Jo’s character didn’t resonate with me, which may have contributed to my difficulty in feeling connected to the narrative.

As the suspense intensified, the story became more engaging. The ending was bittersweet, but I appreciated the clear resolution that eliminated any lingering ambiguity. I’ve read several books recently that leave me with unanswered questions, so it was refreshing to have the loose ends tied up.

I purchased the audiobook of “The Gimlet Slip” through my Audible membership. The narration by Carolina Hoyos, Patty Mattson, and Marco Pelaez was satisfactory.

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