The Lost Girl of Astor Street

Piper Sail Mystery Series #1

by Stephanie Morrill

To most people, Piper Sail looks like a rich girl with little potential, but she surprises everyone, including herself, when she starts investigating her best friend’s disappearance. Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Maureen Johnson, The Lost Girl of Astor Street combines the allure of Jazz Age Chicago with a twisting mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Lydia has vanished. Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said goodbye.

Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation into Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper searches for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago. Did Lydia get abducted by one of the city’s most notorious gangsters? Or does the trail lead back to their own affluent neighborhood?

Piper must decide if she’s willing to risk her life to find out the truth.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Young Adult, Historical, Romance, Fiction, Mystery Thriller

352 pages, Paperback

First published February 7, 2017

About the author

Stephanie Morrill writes books about girls who are on an adventure to discover their unique place in the world. She is the author of several contemporary young adult series, as well as two historical young adult novels, The Lost Girl of Astor Street and Within These Lines. Within These Lines was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard selection, as well as a YALSA 2020 Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Since 2010, Stephanie has been encouraging the next generation of writers at her website, GoTeenWriters.com, which has been on the Writer’s Digest Best Websites for Writers list since 2017. She lives in the Kansas City area, where she loves plotting big and small adventures to enjoy with her husband and three children.

Reviews

[mary liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-Read July 2019:

Aghhhhhhhhhhhh I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK. *hugs it for all eternity* It was just as fun the third (yes, third) time around. I was supposed to be buddy reading it with my sister, and I really tried to . . . but she was taking forever to make any progress on it. I couldn't stand it any longer. xD

I will never stop screaming about how much I love Piper and Mariano. Just read the darn book and tell me you don't feel the same way. ;)

/ / / / / / / / / / /

Re-Read February 2018:

SO THIS WAS JUST AS WONDERFUL AS I REMEMBERED. I got the uncontrollable urge to dive into this lovely book once again and was not disappointed in the slightest.

(Also . . . have I mentioned I really love Mariano? *grins*)

/ / / / / / / / / / / /

*grabs a loudspeaker and shouts to the world* I HAVE FOUND A GOOD BOOK AT LAST.

Perhaps I've grown spoiled with all the good books I read last year, but recently, I've had a hard time finding new books that I actually really like. And to be quite honest, I was getting kind of desperate for a good read.

Well, I can breathe easy now because I found one.

Lovely Things:

- The setting. JEEPERS, THE SETTING. <33 I've really become a sucker for historical fiction lately, and this book was no exception. I haven't read a lot of 1920s books, but all the details (like the trilbies and candlestick phones and Model T's) really breathed life into the story. I could see all the details unfold so well. Plus, Chicago is legit the perfect place for this book.

- The characters. *makes strangled platypus sounds* YES YES YES. I loved the characters! Piper was headstrong and stubborn and opinionated...but also sweet and loyal and compassionate. In other words, she was awesome. ;) And Mariano was THE BEST, OKAY? I. Need. Him. Add to that a host of other great characters--Emma, Lydia, Sidekick (he was adorbs), and Walter--and you've got yourself a wonderful group of charries.

-The writing style. It was a good balance of description and dialogue--I liked that. It was written in first person present tense, which felt slightly off to me at times, but seemed to work well for the story most of the time.

- The romance. OKAY JUST LET ME FLAIL FOR A THOUSAND YEARS BECAUSE MARIANO AND PIPER ARE ADORABLE

- The mystery. It's been a little while since I've read a mystery novel, and I really liked it! I wasn't exactly on the edge of my seat for the whole thing, so if you're looking for a heart-stopping action book, this isn't the one. But I really thought that the mystery was handled well for the most part and it made for an interesting, engaging plot.

Not So Lovely Things:

(Not much to mention here. ;P)

- The mystery. HUSH, NOW LET ME EXPLAIN. I liked the mystery--I really did! But...it was rather less exciting than I thought it would be. It seemed to fit the book well, and I wasn't really bored...but somehow the ending left me wondering if that was all. The whole book builds up the mystery to be a huge deal, but it ended kind of anticlimactically, in my opinion. *shrugs*

- The ending. Again, liked it for the most part, but it felt a bit rushed to me. I'm kind of picky about endings, though. XD

Overall? This book was REALLY good! AND THERE BETTER BE A SEQUEL WITH THAT ENDING, OKAY?? I seriously need more of Piper and Mariano.

4 stars!

[Sarah Grace Grzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

I don't even know what to rate this! Or say about it . . . . Goodness!

The setting for this story, 1920s Chicago, was a ton of fun! I haven't read a lot in this timeperiod, so it was even more interesting. I liked Morrill's writing style a lot. Simplistic, but pretty and heartfelt.

The characters were all pretty spot-on. Piper was fantastic. (And I am seriously in love with her name! 'Piper Sail'? Really? L.O.V.E.) Her struggle and emotions throughout were very well portrayed, and I was able to emathize a lot with her character. I also loved Mariano! He was just too sweet! His character was just as fantastic! I also loved Lydia, Piper's father and brother, Emma, and even that other dude . . . I'm blanking on his name right now. And Walter too! Sweetness! THANK YOU SO MUCH to Stephanie Morrill for NOTTTTTTTTT making Walter and Piper an item! Ugh! That would have been terrible!

So, mystery isn't my favorite genre. There are a TON of mysteries I really really enjoy, but it's not a genre I would chose to read exlucsively. So I think that fact made me like this a little less. The mystery just didn't make a ton of sense to me. And why did we know what happened to Lydia less than halfway through the story? That just ruined it for me. I basically didn't have any reason to keep reading more. Also, if felt like there were a few elements of the mystery that just didn't make sense or get wrapped up. And the middle section (shortly after it was revealed what happened to Lydia) just flopped for me. I wasn't really that interested anymore. That being said, I really enjoyed the ending! I stayed up way to late, and woke up too early just to finish it. (Seriously, I was up before 6:30 am to read it - and also cause I couldn't sleep. :P) I would say the last 5 maybe chapters were the best part of the book. I'd give those chapters alone 5 stars. I just really liked them.

All in all, this was a bit of a let-down. I was worth a read, but I wouldn't read it again. I would recommend it for ages 16+ due to elements of kidnapping, rape - very briefly mentioned - clubs, alcohol, men being unfaithful to their wives, etc.

[Katie Hanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A most excellent historical romance.

People. People, are you listening?? People: THIS BOOK IS REALLY GOOD.

I really enjoyed it!!! I'm not exactly sure what I was expecting; but whatever it was, this book was a heck of a lot better than that. It was smart. It was fun. It was sassy. It was deep, in places. And it moved me . . . it moved me, Bob.

What I liked:

- THE CHARACTERS. ALL THE YES.
Particularly:
- Piper!!!!! I didn't always cotton to her in a superficial sense, and I didn't always relate to her 100% (because we're, like, POLAR OPPOSITES and that's cool with me); but she was good. She had a big heart, she genuinely cared about other people, and she took the time to learn things and admit when she was wrong. Her character arc was beautifully done--the changes were kept subtle enough to be believable, but at the same time, deep enough to be meaningful. I loved watching her mature over the course of the story. And of course, I loved her spunk ;-) She's quite the Gairl of Spirit, as a certain one of P.G. Wodehouse's characters used to say. I approve--I approve most thoroughly. Well done, Ms. Morrill! (Or can I call you Stephanie? I don't know if hanging out on Go Teen Writers gives me the right to call you Stephanie in my review. Anyway--point being, WELL DONE.)
-And while we're at it: How 'bout that Mariano boy, though?? He was Legitimately Cool. I will admit being just a trifle skeptical of my friends' glowing reports of him--but rest assured, I am quite convinced now ;-) Smart and savvy and kind-hearted, with an appropriate degree of caution to counterbalance Piper's impulsiveness. Oh . . . and tolerably good-looking, too :-P
- MARIANO AND PIPER'S RELATIONSHIP. HALLELUJAH FOR HEALTHY ROMANCE IN YA BOOKS.
They take the time to listen to each other. They respect each other's opinions. They negotiate instead of bickering pointlessly. They even go so far as to apologize quickly when they've hurt each other's feelings?? WHAT IS THIS. I am shocked and astounded. I must have died and gone to YA Heaven, or something. *shakes head*
-The setting!! And the descriptions. I loved that Ms. Morrill didn't try to overwhelm me with a flood of sensory information, but she included enough salient details in every scene to convince me I really was in 20s' Chicago--and I loved it. I especially enjoyed the food (hot dogs and pizza for the win!) and the clothing; like Piper's scarlet evening dress. I could envision it perfectly, and it looked lovely :-)
-The clever use of dream sequences. Creepy, sure--especially when you're reading into the night *COUGH*--but pretty amazing. Also pretty emotional. Because #spoilers. *nods*
-The realistic way the story treated the criminal/detective elements. The author didn't try to convince us that Piper was some kind of Magic Amateur Whiz who could solve all of Chicago's deep-rooted crime and corruption with a wave of her hand; but she did show Piper as a smart, caring person who wanted to make a small difference, and believed she could make a small difference, and that's important.
-The fact that Piper and Mariano's Big Misunderstanding wasn't just there to create a romantic obstacle of the "oh-how-could-you-deceive-me" variety; instead, it was there as a vehicle for Piper to acknowledge the ways in which she'd been deceiving HERSELF, for many years, about both her own family and her own city. It allowed her to self-reflect, to grow and mature as a character; instead of just beating her head against the wall and moaning until her hero came rushing back to sweep her off her feet again. I liked the way it was handled, very much. *nods*

What I didn't like:
- Not much, honestly.
- I did feel there MAY have been a few loose ends with the mystery at the end?? I didn't feel like I necessarily got *all* the answers I'd been waiting for? Like why DID Lydia actually get in the car? And was the index-finger-thing important, or not? But I'm not sure, and definitely don't quote me on that. Plus, this story isn't so much about "the mystery," per se, as it is about Piper's conflicts and growth; so even if wasn't 100% perfectly executed, that's okay with me. (Overall, I really thought the mystery was very good.)
- I can't think of anything else.

Conclusion:

Friends, Romans, and countrymen, I feel it in my bones: we have a new historical-romance writer we must keep tabs on ;-) And in the meantime: GO. READ. THIS.

[Eva-Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating: 4.5.

First of all, take a look at that cover. Drink it in. Gorgeous, isn’t it? Well, let me tell you that the story inside fully measures up to the glamour and elegance and intrigue that the cover promises. Just so ya’ll know before I go any further into this review, I was given an advance copy of The Lost Girl of Astor Street in exchange for my honest review. I didn’t know much about the story before I started reading, just that the cover was pretty and it was historical YA fiction and I kinda sorta knew the author from the writing blog that she co-runs (http://goteenwriters.blogspot.ca/). Oh, and A FREE BOOK. Always exciting, right?

Anyway, I started reading and got sucked in pretty quickly. And it ended up surprising me. For one thing, since The Lost Girl of Astor Street is a YA novel, I expected there’d be a love triangle (especially since there’s at least three available guys that Piper could’ve become involved with) and I determined I’d slog through it and focus on the other aspects of the story, but there wasn’t a love triangle at all. Huzzah! What I got instead was an adorable, swoony romance that complimented the mystery side of the story without overpowering it. (I like my romantic subplots to be sweet and to the point.)

I quite liked all the characters. Piper, of course, was determined and stubborn and actually quite inspiring since she’s the same age as me and doing so much with her life. I did think she cried a little too much, even considering the extreme circumstances swirling around her, but that could just be me. Lydia was a dear, as were Walter and Emma and Matthew. Mariano was the BEST, in my opinion. I even liked Nick. It was so fun to read a solid, interesting novel with immensely likable characters who were easy to fall in love with.

The setting of The Lost Girl of Astor Street was beautifully drawn, both the place and the time period. It’s always satisfying to start reading a historical novel and realize that the author has researched everything so well, and that’s what this book did for me. 1920’s Chicago was a fascinating place to ‘live in’ for several hours and as I read this on my Kindle, I kept checking to see how much I had left, not because I was bored, but because I didn’t want the story to end. Oh, and I enjoyed the Italian mafia angle to the story – I’ve always been fascinated by The Mob for some reason, so that was cool.

Overall, The Lost Girl of Astor Street was a thoroughly enjoyable read that I’d recommend to fans of Downton Abbey and period dramas in general (books, movies, and TV shows).

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 2 out of 5]

About this book:

“Lydia has vanished.
Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said good-bye.
Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost.
When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.”


Series: As of now, no.


Spiritual Content- ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers & praying; Mentions of chapel/churches, church going, the reverend, & a book of the Bible; Mentions of Heaven & angels; A few mentions of thanking God & praising God; A few mentions of Bibles; A couple mentions of miracles; A couple mentions of blessings; A couple mentions of choirs & hymns; A mention of mustering to believe God is with you; A mention of a God-fearing man; A mention of stained glass of saints; A mention of Catholics;
*Note: A mention of being dragged through hell; A mention of spirits.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: three ‘idiot’s, four ‘dumb’s, eight forms of ‘blast’s, and seventeen forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm, Sass, & Eye rolling; All about a missing best friend & trying to find her *Large Spoiler* Her body is found, what happened (barely-above-not-detailed), and Piper grieves her best friend hard *End of Large Spoiler*; Being held at gunpoint, a gunshot, seeing someone shot, pain, passing out, blood/bleeding, being held hostage, tied up, & nearly strangled (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of missing girls, runaways, & kidnappings/abductions; Many mentions of mafias, gangs, mobsters, & threats; Many mentions of illegal alcohol/wine, drinking, speakeasies, & drunks; Many mentions of secrets, lies, & lying; Mentions of finding dead bodies & murders (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of gang shootings & deaths; Mentions of beatings & being held hostage; Mentions of violence & trauma; Mentions of fights & injuries; Mentions of crimes & criminals; Mentions of guns, gunfire, shooting, seeing someone shot, pain, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of whippings, punishments, bruises, & pain (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of seizures, blood/bleeding, & urine (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of jails; Mentions of screams; Mentions of hatred; Mentions of gossip & rumors; Mentions of smoking, smoke, cigarettes, & pipes; Mentions of nightmares & nightmares of seeing someone abducted (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of poisoned & murdered animals (& a threat of doing it to someone’s pet dog); A few mentions of an illness & death; A few mentions of gambling & money laundering; A couple mentions of wars; A couple mentions of slavery; A mention of slitting someone’s throat; A mention of someone who was murdered for sport; A mention of an old saloon; A mention of vomit;
*Note: Mentions of car brands; Mentions of celebrities/actors/actresses/singers, songs, & movies.


Sexual Content- a barely-above-not-detailed kiss, and a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss; Touches/Brushes & Hand Holding (barely-above-not-detailed); Some Noticing & Nearness; Flirting; Mentions of a young woman who got pregnant, her son does not know who his father is, & her parents sending her somewhere for an abortion (which she does not get); Mentions of brothels, girls sold to them, refusing the captors orders, those who escape, prostitutes, & men who spend time with them; Mentions of married man’s lady friend (who used to work for his family) & affair; Mentions of Piper’s father’s girlfriend who is a year older than his oldest son; Mentions of dating, dates, boyfriends, & girlfriends; Mentions of flirting & flirts; Mentions of blushes, winks, & crushes; A few mentions of jealousy; A mention of a man taking advantage of a woman; A mention of a mistake of passion ending in a pregnancy; A mention of a gangster’s female companion; A mention of a woman with loose morals; A mention of unwanted male attention; A mention of a man staring at Piper’s legs; Some love, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of a mother who died in childbirth; A couple mentions of an infant that passed away; A mention of a miscarriage; A mention of waitresses showing a lot of their legs.

-Piper Sail, age 18
1st P.O.V. of Piper
Set in 1924
350 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{{Trigger warning to those sensitive to abductions.}}
{BFCG suggests this book to have at least a 16/17+ rating on it due to content}

Somedays, I’m a glutton for punishment.
Typically, those days are when I pick up a book by a publisher I’ve had content problems with in the past.
----
As many of y’all may have seen before, I’ve reviewed quite a few books published by Blink and in all honesty, none of them have met my standards.
So, why in the world did I pick this one up?
----
Seeing this book for a dollar at a bookstore and seeing some trusted friends’ reviews had me get this story.
Compared to the past dozen books I’ve read by Blink, this novel set in the 1920s had the most “Christian” content, but to be honest, it was not a high bracket it needed to pass by any stretch. However, for going in assuming that there would be none, it was a shocking amount I wasn’t expecting. Oh, don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t the amount I would have liked, but for my past history with these books it a pleasant surprise.
Other reviews have mentioned that there was a lot of prostitutes and such mentioned, but I feel like there was much more mentions of illegal drinking, gangs, and violence. Add in about our main girl’s best friend (which, I’d like to say, makes me seriously mad about that all ended up and give a major trigger warning to readers) and while it wasn’t gory, it was straight and blunt.
The first-half of the book had me nicely surprised by the story and characters. “Will this book possibly get three stars from me?” I wondered. I liked that there was an opposite gender friendship in the book that had no hints of romance or attraction between them. That’s something I’d love to see more of in the Christian Fiction YA market.
The title of this books suggests an innocence. The Lost Girl of Astor Street. “Oh, okay, she’s just lost. Everything will end up okay.” My reasoning when the disappearance happened.
That wasn’t true and causes me to put out a major trigger warning to those sensitive to abductions.
I personally found the reason behind everything happening from the middle to the end to be ridiculous like some other readers. I was so disappointed the book went that way.
----
While I know this book and publisher does not advertise as Christian, this is a Christian book review site and books will be held up to that. For a Christian book, this book has some major trigger warnings and the rating is low. Two-stars on this site imply that the book was okay. I don’t want to give the message that everything in this book was okay. It wasn’t. For seeing it as a secular book, it could have a bit of a higher rating. But I stand by my content rating of reviewing it from a Christian perspective.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Roseanna White · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure and honor of reading an advance copy of THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET--and can't wait to read it again!

Full of compelling characters, intricate twists, and some of my favorite literary elements--like the Roaring 20s, Chicago Mafia, and plenty of wit--LOST GIRL is what you'd get if you took Veronica Mars back in time to the 20s. Fabulous book that will keep the pages turning and have you thirsty for more!

Aimed at a young adult audience, THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET is great for teens and adults alike.

[Joey · Rating 4 out of 5]

WOW
THAT WAS
WOW
JUST WOW
Okay, so this book was amazing. I’m kinda at a loss for words right now and really not in the state to be writing a review but can I just say this book was just...
WOW
The likes
-Setting and plot. Cause who doesn’t love a good mystery set in the 1900s? I know I do.
-Characters. Can I just say these characters were just... WOW. So realistically amazing.
-The romance. It was actually also realistic and not super cheesy which I definitely appreciated bc I HATE CHEESY ROMANCE.
-Everything else that I just forgot to mention or didn’t have time to that was amazing which is just about everything about this book.
Dislike(s)
-It seemed to end super abruptly... (?) or maybe that one was just me but the ending seemed like just an explosion. *shrugs* probably just me.
Anywho- to sum up
1. This book was amazing
2. You need to read this book if you haven’t
3. I definitely want more
4. Excuse me as I scream and rant and stomp and go hand out copies of this book to random strangers (jk)
Happy reading guys!

[Katie Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

8.5/10: 4.25⭐️’s rounded to 4⭐️’s

What a charming book! Narrator Megan Trout was excellent!
It’s 1924 in Chicago. Piper Sail’s best friend, Lydia, disappears. Piper investigates with the help of detective Mariano and a few other friends, although not all are exactly willing participants.
Piper is an absolutely delightful character! I was constantly forgetting that she is only 18 and just finishing high-school when this occurs. I loved so many of the characters. Walter, Mariano, Emma, Cole, Father, even Nick turned out to be a decent guy! Oh my gosh!! I almost forgot about Sidekick the dog!
I had an inkling of who the culprit turned out to be. Tagging along on the investigation was so much fun. Although quite sad at times, it was also full of warmth and love.
This is the first book I have listened to or read by this author and it won’t be the last. I am headed off to find out what happens in Piper’s next investigation as soon as I hit submit!

Definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed it so much! All opinions are my own.

Original rating and review submitted: 9/6/25
Minor edit/addition: 9/8/25
10/8/25: included publisher in thank you

[Ashley Bogner · Rating 5 out of 5]

2019 Re-read:
Loved it again.

Original Review:
I loved this book. So much. I read it in less than twenty-four hours and could not put it down (awesome thing about summer--no school to interrupt reading time). I'm sad I wrote my "best books of 2017 so far" post on my blog already, because I would have added this one to the list.

After speculative, historical is my favorite genre. I grew up reading Nancy Drew and have always loved teen sleuth stories. The Lost Girl of Astor Street totally exceeded my expectations.

Piper was such a fun main character. Spunky and independent without being over-the-top. Her reaction to Lydia's disappearance was believable. I think I laughed way too hard at her lines about how falling in love turns people's brains to mush.

Speaking of which, the romance was so sweet and I ship Piper and a certain guy. Thank you also to the author for introducing other main male characters without turning it into a love triangle.

Complaints? Um....the only thing I found strange is that almost all of the male characters in this book are in love with either Piper or Lydia. I thought that was a little unrealistic, but just a minor thing.

A content note: the book does deal with some mature themes like human trafficking and prostitution. These are dealt with tastefully, though.

I got this from the library but honestly, I might buy a copy at some point. And wait (im)patiently to see if there's a sequel.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

This book didn't feel at all like Young Adult despite the protagonist being in her last year of secondary school. A good engrossing read. A Nancy Drew feel thrown back to the 1920s with WAY better writing. :)

[Rachel McMillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, SO I really, really wanted to read The Lost Girl of Astor Street the moment I heard about it and I was savvy to have it on my radar, it turns out, because it exceeded expectations and then some.


If you like Veronica Mars, the Roaring Twenties, plenty of plot twists and knee-buckling romance, then let me invite you into Piper Sail's fully realized world of flappers and mob-men, danger and high-class sleuthery.

Piper Sail is a renowned lawyer's daughter and resident of the upscale Astor Street in Chicago. She does a poor job of avoiding trouble at her prestigious private school but is tempered by the influence of her sweet friend, Lydia. Also peppering her world are her brothers, a rakish journalist named Jeremiah Crane ( you might want to start writing that name in your notebook and drawing hearts around it) and her long-time baseball-playing friend Walter ( ditto with the heart drawing).

When Lydia is reported missing, Piper learns that her friend was a pivotal aspect of a world now seeming to fray at the seams. Nothing is as it seems and with her amateur investigation into Lydia's whereabouts, she is springboarded into a season of self-realization.

While confronting the uneasiness of a world shrouded with privilege and slowly eking out shades of darkness in her own family, Piper is joined by the absolutely swoon-worthy young detective, Mariano Cassano.

And here, fair readers, I will go tangential with cheeks blushing and fingertips tingling....

MARIANO is a friggin' dreamboat. He respects Lydia and treats her as an equal as they launch each step of their sideline informal investigation. He has a dark, broody past that only reconciles with the tenacity and virtue of his present and he is dedicated to his job. He has a winning smile, a lanky build and every time he tipped his trilby or fingered his suspenders ( maybe I wrote that in..... I don't know if he fingered his suspenders but you all know I think suspenders are hot), I went to lala land ( now playing at a cinema near you).

The chemistry between Piper and Mariano snap crackles and pops from their first meeting when (SIGH) he arrives to calmly question her about Lydia ( DOUBLE SIGH) while, of course, being all dark-haired and olive-skinned and handsome as all get out.

( Later they dance under the stars after eating pizza in the park, I kid you not).

Mariano and Piper's relationship was, to me, the center of this well-spun tale but the romance does not overcrowd the mystery. As I preambled, there really are several twists---one that happens early on in the story and that earned my respect as a discerning reader. Chicago becomes a character---from its speakeasies to the L to the high townhouses and manicured streets owned by those who are willing to play into the powerplay world of two magnanimous families: the Cassanos and the Finnegans.


Another highlight of this excessively-readable book was Piper herself. Unlike Veronica Mars ( who I mention because there are several shout-outs to the tiny blonde one), Piper showcases a realistic insecurity. For as often as she straightens her shoulders and plunges in to danger for the sake of her friend, so she is uncertain in herself and the deductive abilities she is just beginning to find sure footing in. It was Piper's normalcy that jolted this story with a little something extra for me. She is winsome in her relatability.


The pages turned easily and while I sometimes found myself assaulted by a modern verve of speech or nuance, I was for the most part transplanted to a vintage whirlwind of murder, flappers and a sort of easy grace of a time past--- a world that doesn't quite know that while it speeds hastily to outdo itself, it is spinning itself on a dangerous axis.


I so hope that we get more of Piper's adventures. And more of Mariano. Because MARIANO is just music.

Music, I tell you.


With thanks to BLINK for the review copy.

[☆ serethiel ☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

(Note: I read this book prior to its official release. It releases February seventh, 2017.)

Okay. Wow. Give me a moment to catch my breath.

The Lost Girl of Astor Street was amazing. It was riveting; the plot, characters, and writing style all meshed together so brilliantly, it was like magic. It seemed evident that Stephanie did her research, because the 1920s seemed so alive and pulsing, as if they had a heartbeat.

I do admit that it took me a chapter or two to get into it, seeing as it took that long for the heroine to grow and the story to progress. But it was so worth it.

And haven't I mentioned the romance? (*cues the fangirling*) (*pauses*) THE ROMANCE WAS SO INCREDIBLE. I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO DESCRIBE THE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES I NEARLY SCREAMED/CRIED WITH JOY. (*squeals*) (*jumps up and down like a little girl*) (*straightens bowtie*)

Stephanie tied up all the loose ends perfectly, and I firmly believe that not a strand was out of place. So I definitely recommend it -- it is SO worth the read. :)

You may want to know: There were light implications of indecent acts against characters, as well as murder, violence, and some drinking.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn't put this down! I was definitely pulled into the story right from the start. The twists and turns, family and friend dynamics and little details added layers to a story already brimming with excitement, sleuthing and excellent writing. Some of my questions in regards to the case weren’t answered by the end of the story, but otherwise the book exceeded my already high expectations. There was a strong cast of main and supporting characters, and Piper really grows as a person in the midst of tragic and difficult events.

I have to mention what a great choice for the name of the protagonist. I mean, you can't forget a name like “Piper Sail” and it matched the character perfectly! I would also like to take a moment to appreciate Mariano (😊).

I really, really hope there is a book 2! 4.5 stars.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

1920's Chicago. When Lydia DeVine goes missing, her best friend Piper Sail will do whatever she can to solve the case. Luckily, Piper has a series of friends to help her including, her childhood playmate, Walter, her neighbors Emma and Jeremiah Crane, and the handsome Italian detective that makes Piper's heart do the Foxtrot.

It took me a few chapters to snuggle into the atmosphere and lingo of 20's Chicago, but once Lydia disappeared, I was hooked! Great characterization and a very strong female protagonist have me screaming for a sequel!

Thanks to NetGalley for an e-arc of this book!

[Issabelle Perry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, it's official. I NEED A SEQUEL!!!

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I never knew that fear had a feel, but I know now that Tabitha has closed the door. Fear is sticky. Suffocating.

I've had this sitting on my TBR shelves for almost 4 years, and in typical TBR fashion, only recently did it circle back to the forefront of my mind where I could go "oh wait, why haven't I read this yet??" Especially since right now my brain is very much in "let's read every mystery we can get our hands on" mode. And WOW did I enjoy that a lot.

The vibes are absolutely immaculate. The characters were excellent. The mystery was intriguing. Was the ending a bit rushed? Maybe, but everything leading up to it was so up my alley that I can excuse it. Also where does one get a Detective Mariano Cassano in one's life? Because I would like one please and thank you.

5 stars from me!

[M Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

o_O

This book was wonderful. The splendid writing-- can we just talk about how beautiful Morrill's present-tense writing is? No three-word sentence formulas everywhere! The characters-- I love them all and it's amazing. The gripping plot and mystery-- couldn't have been better written.

I just love this book. 🤯

[R.E. Banks · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first half of the book was absolutely creepy and epic. But then the who-did-it became less exciting as it wasn't really a mystery anymore. I agree with Lisa when I say that the climax was kind of Nancy Drew-ish. Not as exciting as I had hoped, but I genuinely liked the MC Piper. She wasn't your typical "Oh, you can't get the door for me because I'm a GIRL. Are you implying I'm LESSER?" kind of touchy airhead and was more realistically independent. Though a bit reckless and naive sometimes, those flaws made her a nicely rounded character. She felt very realistic. I think the book would've easily earned 5 stars if not for the last 1/3, which in my personal opinion didn't quite live up to the absolutely spiffing beginning of the story.

[M Shen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm keeping my original 5-star rating for the sake of my past self. I still love this book.

[Tricia Mingerink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing! I couldn't put it down and literally read it in one day!

Due to some other books I've read, I was familiar with the setting of 1920s Chicago. The author keeps the setting very authentic without overwhelming the story.

And the plot line of this story...seriously wasn't expecting the one plot twist. I honestly thought this book was going to go a totally different direction than it did. Right in the feels!

[Ry · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD. So you know how you read a book, and list it as your favorite? Then you read another book that's even BETTER?? Yeah, there's no favorite category I can put this in. One of the best ones ever. I really need to read more mysteries... lol but I LOVED the 1920's setting all that! I did not expect the ending. At all. Which made it really enjoyable, cause mysteries aren't the funnest when you figure it out halfway through. lol And yes, I read this in one day staying up till 11. I'm very glad I read 100 pages before bed bc if i hadn't, I woulda been up all night, either from fear or from reading. XD

[Jazzy-girl · Rating 5 out of 5]

GOL-LY DAY.

That was *blows out breath* Woah.

Review to come...

[☕️Kimberly (Caffeinated Reviewer) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Secret Investigator of Astor Street picks up shortly after book one. Piper has graduated and has put off college for the time being, but needs something to do and wants her own funds. She has ideas about moving out of her father's home and is still dating our handsome detective. She is given the opportunity to work at her former high school when she is approached by a student seeking her help. Her brother's recent death has been ruled a suicide, but the sister suspects foul play.

This was an intense mystery as Piper goes undercover, scaring family, friends and her boyfriend. Piper delights in having a fresh case and grabs her notebook. While she is skeptical of this being anything more than a suicide, Piper realizes things don't quite add up.

Once again, the author delighted me with historical aspects of the period, from social limitations to events. The mystery is perfectly paced, feels believable and kept me engaged. The romance between Piper and Detective Mariano. Piper was born in the wrong time period, as she dreams of being a private investigator, but in 1924 that is a daunting task for a woman. I love how Mariano supports her even when he insists she bring backup.

Once again, Megan Trout narrates and does a stellar job of giving voice to these characters and setting the tone of the story. Now that the books are out on audio, I am hoping the author releases another Piper Sail mystery. This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Reviewer

[Jane Maree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am entirely obsessed with everything about this book. The setting, the emotions, the characters, the romance! It has my heart! I want ten more books about Piper and Mariano please and thank you.

[Lydia Howe · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[E.C.]

Wow. . . that was. . . interesting. It's been a while since I read a mystery, but THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET is a mysterious and suspenseful read.

WHAT I LIKED
- The suspense. It compelled me to continue reading, even through the boring parts. I wanted to see what happened to Lydia and who was responsible for her disappearance.
- The setting. It was described pretty well, and it matched the storyline and writing style.
- The writing style. Overall, it was simplistic and easy to understand—but not overly juvenile. It still had a YA feel, if that makes sense.
- This book was really clean. There was a bunch of suggestive content, but other than that, there was zero profanity. Compared to the last two books I read, it was a breath of fresh air.
- The messages about death and moving on. It was unexpected (especially the ending as I expected Piper to find Lydia , but it was definitely unique and I enjoyed it overall.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- I felt like a lot of the characters were very. . . stereotypical. There's the perfect-and-sweet-ladylike-best-friend, the handsome detective, and the mother-who's-dead-but-she-was-pretty-perfect. And then there's the main character, a girl who looks up to her dead mother and doesn't ever want to be a lady. Oh, and she dislikes her always-polished-lady stepmother. While I didn't mind it much, I felt like I've seen these characters before, and I wanted something new (I honestly thought Alana was more fascinating than the main character, in a way. But maybe that's just my villain-intrigued self. XD).
- The romance. Piper and Mariano were a cute couple, but I didn't think the romance added much to the plot.
- At times, the plot was just a bit slow. I was waiting for Piper to do something, and when she didn't (or took forever to do it), I was slightly disappointed.
- The ending. I got flashbacks to the Nancy Drew books I used to read growing up. But honestly, it kind of frustrated me a bit—because the MC didn't DO anything to get herself saved. It seemed to follow the classic format of "girl gets kidnapped by evil criminal/villain. She almost dies. . . but then the police come, and her handsome boyfriend/love interest."

CONTENT WARNINGS: Mentions of prostitution, multiple kisses (not described), flirting, suggestive stuff, an affair, violence, and a character gets shot

Overall, this is a good read for anyone looking to escape into a world of suspense for a bit.

[Rachelle Cobb · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an incredible novel! I could not wait to read Stephanie Morrill's latest release, but this book was even better than I expected. I was blown away by the attention to historical detail; I felt like I was walking up Astor Street in Chicago right along with Piper. The mystery of the main character's missing friend drew me in from Page One and kept me flipping pages as fast as I could right up until the end. Not to mention the budding romance between Piper and a certain handsome detective that never overwhelmed the story but added an intriguing element--intertwined with an unflinching look at hard truths about family, loyalty, friendship, and love. I can't recommend THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET highly enough to readers who love YA fiction, mysteries, or really great books that stick with you long after you've closed the cover.

[Liz Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book and I CANNOT WORDS.

I needed to wait a few days after reading to write this because just ... SO MANY FEELINGS AHHH.

Ehem. I'll do my usual review, only this is going to be more raving than usual because THIS IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE BOOKS OF EVER. I'm so glad I got an ARC of this, and just feel so blessed!

Three Things About The Lost Girl of Astor Street

1) THE CHARACTERS. CAN I JUST. SCREAM. FLAIL. ALDSJFJASDLFKJSDHFLKASDJ. flops wildly First off, Piper is a BOSS. In a society that's very woman can't do this blah blah blah she's so headstrong against it and doesn't care what people are telling her, how she can't help and she's just going to get in the way. She's so strong, but she's so soft at the same time and so relatable like AHHH. I feel you, Piper. I totally feel you. AND ALL THE GUYS. I LOVED WALTER. AND I LOVE HOW THEY WERE ACTUALLY JUST FRIENDS IT MAKES MY HEART SO HAPPY. dreamy sigh OH AND MARIANO HE IS SUCH AN ADORABLE CINNAMON ROLL THAT I LOVE.

2) The setting I'm a sucker for historical fiction books set in Chicago. so amazing. Stephanie totally plops us right into Piper's world and I was never confused or scratching my head at anything. The plot was so active, and the story so immersive, I forgot for one blissful while that I even lived in 2016.

3) I'm trying to refrain from using all caps but I'm sorry guys. It is just THAT GOOD. LIKE. LET'S TALK PLOT. IT WAS SUCH A FAST READ. I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN, EVEN AFTER CERTAIN THINGS WERE SORT OF RESOLVED. I WAS STILL DYING TO SEE HOW IT ENDED, AND SO I UNTIL MY EYES BURNED AND THE CLOCK READ LATER THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ON A SCHOOL NIGHT.

4) The mystery itself was sooooo so well done. I won't say much on this aspect for risk of spoilers, but Stephanie does such a good job of misleading readers, yet in a still satisfactory way. So you know something's fishy, but then it's not in quite the way you might have expected. Make sense

5) ASDJFLAKJSDFHLASDKJFHLAKSDJF. I JUST WANNA SCREAM AND FANGIRL. AND LET ME JUST SAY THIS, TOO. The Lost Girl of Astor Street pulled me from a reading slump. It made me want to grab the next book on my shelf so I could lose myself in another story. It reminded me of the magic books are capable of. It made me want to hug myself and spin around and be feisty and make my own way in life. It also really made me want to fall in love someday (if we're being honest here which WE ARE) and it just made me so DREAMY. Besides the fact that it's a, you know, mystery novel. With criminals and kidnappings and scary gang neighborhoods and all that stuff.

I did not hesitate to rate this five stars, and looking at the rating now I am still set on it. This book was an amazing read, and I seriously cannot think of a single thing I did not like. YOU MUST READ IT AS SOON AS IT COMES OUT. RUN TO THE BOOKSTORE. FEBRUARY SEVENTH, GUYS. GO BUY IT. IT IS SO WORTH IT AND IT'S JUST SOOOOOO AMAZING.

Okay. Okay I'm done. #rantover

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

What the book is about:
Lydia has vanished.
Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said good-bye.
Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper goes searching for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago, determined to find Lydia at any cost.
When Piper discovers those answers might stem from the corruption strangling the city—and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood—she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.
From the glitzy homes of the elite to the mob-run streets of 1920s Chicago, Stephanie Morrill’s jazz-age mystery shows just how far a girl will go to save her friend.



My Review:

The Lost Girl of Astor Street, was a very intriguing and wild ride! It kept me guessing and wondering who you could actually trust.
I kept thinking I might have figured out who had kidnapped Lydia, but something would happen and have me guessing again.
It was just an amazing book, that had mystery and romance<3


Let's talk about a few of the characters(aka, my favorite characters ;)
Piper, she is such a good friend and good detective ;) She's just a fun character, and I feel like I can relate to her(I don't like babies or small children, X) and I would do anything to get my best friend back <3 )
Detective Cassano, he's so sweet and amazing. I loved how he was always trying to look out for Piper, and how he helped her try to find clues on who had kidnapped Lydia <3
Walter, good friend and 'big brother'. I loved his and Piper's relationship, that they were just best friends and there was no romance between the two of them, YAY BEST FRIENDS! ;)
Sidekick, yes I'm including the dog, because I love dogs and he was so cute and I just wanted to hug him<3


One thing I wish we could have seen more of is Piper and Detective Cassano's first date, and just more of them together in general ;)
But other than that, I absolutely loved this book<3 I would recommend it to anyone who likes mystery :)




Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me an e-book, to read and give an honest review :)