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Nightingale Mysteries #2
The Last Drop of Hemlock
New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly has gotten a job at the Nightingale, a speakeasy known to the young and fun as a place where the rules of society can be tossed aside for a dance and a drink, and things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence. They might not be living like queens?still living in a dingy two-room tenement, still scrimping and saving?but they're confident in keeping a roof over their heads, and every once in a while, there is fried ham for breakfast. Of course, things were even better before Bea's Uncle Pearlie, the doorman for the Nightingale, was poisoned. Bea has been Vivian's best friend since before she can remember, and though Pearlie's death is ruled a suicide, Bea's sure her uncle wouldn't have killed himself. After all, he had the family to care for...and there have been rumors of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian's poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don't comply. With the Nightingale's dangerously lovely owner, Honor, worried for her employees' safety and Bea determined to prove her uncle was murdered, Vivian once again finds herself digging through a dead man's past in hopes of stopping a killer.
336 pages, Hardcover
First published June 6, 2023
106 people are currently reading
13392 people want to read
About the author
Katharine Schellman
19 books1,178 followersKatharine Schellman is the author of the Lily Adler Mysteries and the forthcoming Nightingale Mysteries. Her debut novel, The Body in the Garden, was one of Suspense Magazine's Best Books of 2020 and led to her being named one of BookPage's 16 Women to Watch in 2020. Her second novel, Silence in the Library, was praised as "worthy of Rex Stout or Agatha Christie" (Library Journal).
Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.
Katharine lives and writes in the mountains of Virginia in the company of her husband, children, and the many houseplants she keeps accidentally murdering. Find her on Instagram as @katharinewrites.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 294 reviews
May 5, 2023
After coming off of a five star read, I probably had higher than normal expectations. I was hopeful that I would enjoy this novel based on other readers' reviews. But knowing that I'm more critical than most readers, I wasn't surprised that my interest waned early in the novel.
The novel is touted as the second installment in the Nightingale Mystery Series. And though I didn't get to read the first installment, I didn't have a problem navigating through the different characters and backstories. There was enough background information to get me up to speed.
I found the pacing to be problematic for me. It's slower that what I'm accustomed to. But if you're a reader that enjoys atmospheric novels, The Last Drop of Hemlock just might be in your wheelhouse.
I didn't quite like the storyline. And perhaps the pacing had a lot to do with it. I just got bored. And after completing 35% of the novel, I gave up trying to find that spark or breadcrumb to keep me going. An unfortunate one star DNF.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The novel is touted as the second installment in the Nightingale Mystery Series. And though I didn't get to read the first installment, I didn't have a problem navigating through the different characters and backstories. There was enough background information to get me up to speed.
I found the pacing to be problematic for me. It's slower that what I'm accustomed to. But if you're a reader that enjoys atmospheric novels, The Last Drop of Hemlock just might be in your wheelhouse.
I didn't quite like the storyline. And perhaps the pacing had a lot to do with it. I just got bored. And after completing 35% of the novel, I gave up trying to find that spark or breadcrumb to keep me going. An unfortunate one star DNF.
I received a digital ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 5, 2023
I liked this one more than book 1, but it still fell flat in parts for me. I am not exactly sure what it is that I am missing in this series, but there is just something that keeps them from being more than just an average read for me. I don't dislike them [and I really liked the narrator MUCH more this time around; this could be due to me having so many really awful narrators as of late, who knows] and I find, after this one, that I do want to keep reading them [once I am invested in a story, look out]. Maybe by book 3, I will be able to figure out why.
What I really did like about this book:
* Vivian and Florence. The way their relationship has grown is fantastic to see. The first book was rough since the sisters were so at odd all the time. I really like how Florence has loosened a little bit and how the sisters now work together as much as possible. I also love the relationship that Flo has developed with Danny and it will be interesting to see how that progresses, especially with Danny's parent's not loving the idea of a white girl dating a Chinese man [it is the 1920's; their concern is not unwarranted].
* The setting. You really feel that you are in the middle of NYC in the 1920's. I love the accuracy and descriptions of both the city [and places like where Viv and Flo live] and the clubs.
* The people at the Nightingale. They are chosen family and they all work so well together and have each other's backs. It is so glorious to see.
* The overall mystery. THIS. WAS. SO. GOOD. I never saw coming what happened and it was all just so good. And that end...whoosh. I can see why it happened, but gosh my moral compass was totally FREAKING out and had me asking "what would I HAVE DONE if I had been in the same situation?".
What I didn't like:
* The pacing. I think that is some of my problem with these books; they do seem to drag in the middle and I tend to wander and want it to move a bit faster. It could just be me, but regardless, it is something that I wish would change.
* Honor. I 100% DO NOT LIKE how she treats Vivian. Totally led her on only to decide she couldn't "risk" getting involved with someone. IF you make that decision, you don't get to be mad when the person you have "dumped" gets involved with someone else. I was fuming though most of the scenes with her and Viv. While I somewhat understand why she cannot be emotionally involved with people who work for her, I hate how she strings people along. UGH.
* I *KNOW* you are not supposed to love Viv and Flo's sewing boss, but MY GOSH she is awful. UGH. And she just doesn't get better. Even after having something traumatic happen doesn't soften her a little bit. She is such an unpleasant character and she was in this a lot more than I enjoyed.
* All the parts that fell flat for me. I will say there was less of that this book than book 1, but it was still there and I can only hope that some of that is resolved by book 3 [WHICH I will be reading because like I said before, I am TOTALLY invested in these characters].
I was lucky enough to get an audiobook ARC of this book and this was something that DID work MUCH better for me than the first book. I enjoyed the narration MUCH more than in book 1 [same narrator; go figure] and I really got into the book because of how well it was narrated. I am so glad that I was able to listen to this one and it turned out as well as it did. I will say that I don't love all the voices she does [the generic side characters tend to all sound a like], but all the main characters are really well done [she really captures Alba's whining] and really helps draw you into the story.
Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katharine Schellman, Sara Young - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing both the eARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
What I really did like about this book:
* Vivian and Florence. The way their relationship has grown is fantastic to see. The first book was rough since the sisters were so at odd all the time. I really like how Florence has loosened a little bit and how the sisters now work together as much as possible. I also love the relationship that Flo has developed with Danny and it will be interesting to see how that progresses, especially with Danny's parent's not loving the idea of a white girl dating a Chinese man [it is the 1920's; their concern is not unwarranted].
* The setting. You really feel that you are in the middle of NYC in the 1920's. I love the accuracy and descriptions of both the city [and places like where Viv and Flo live] and the clubs.
* The people at the Nightingale. They are chosen family and they all work so well together and have each other's backs. It is so glorious to see.
* The overall mystery. THIS. WAS. SO. GOOD. I never saw coming what happened and it was all just so good. And that end...whoosh. I can see why it happened, but gosh my moral compass was totally FREAKING out and had me asking "what would I HAVE DONE if I had been in the same situation?".
What I didn't like:
* The pacing. I think that is some of my problem with these books; they do seem to drag in the middle and I tend to wander and want it to move a bit faster. It could just be me, but regardless, it is something that I wish would change.
* Honor. I 100% DO NOT LIKE how she treats Vivian. Totally led her on only to decide she couldn't "risk" getting involved with someone. IF you make that decision, you don't get to be mad when the person you have "dumped" gets involved with someone else. I was fuming though most of the scenes with her and Viv. While I somewhat understand why she cannot be emotionally involved with people who work for her, I hate how she strings people along. UGH.
* I *KNOW* you are not supposed to love Viv and Flo's sewing boss, but MY GOSH she is awful. UGH. And she just doesn't get better. Even after having something traumatic happen doesn't soften her a little bit. She is such an unpleasant character and she was in this a lot more than I enjoyed.
* All the parts that fell flat for me. I will say there was less of that this book than book 1, but it was still there and I can only hope that some of that is resolved by book 3 [WHICH I will be reading because like I said before, I am TOTALLY invested in these characters].
I was lucky enough to get an audiobook ARC of this book and this was something that DID work MUCH better for me than the first book. I enjoyed the narration MUCH more than in book 1 [same narrator; go figure] and I really got into the book because of how well it was narrated. I am so glad that I was able to listen to this one and it turned out as well as it did. I will say that I don't love all the voices she does [the generic side characters tend to all sound a like], but all the main characters are really well done [she really captures Alba's whining] and really helps draw you into the story.
Well done.
Thank you to NetGalley, Katharine Schellman, Sara Young - Narrator, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Dreamscape Media for providing both the eARC and the audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 5, 2023
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: June 6, 2023
It’s Jazz Age New York. Prohibition is the law, the mob rules the city with paid-off cops. “The Last Drop of Hemlock” is a throwback to the countless gumshoe murder mysteries inspired by the era. Most of the story’s action occurs in “The Nightingale,” a hopping speakeasy and jazz club. I didn’t know the novel was a part of the “Nightingale Mysteries Series,” but I had no trouble following along. With a love of noir dating back to the first time I saw 1947’s “Out of the Past,” I expected to lose myself in the book. But Katharine Schellman is no Mickey Spillane. The novel is much cozier than any Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe affair.
Our sleuth and protagonist, Vivian, is tasked with solving the murder of a singer’s uncle. By day, Vivian works for a dressmaker. By night, she is a cocktail waitress at the Nightingale. She lives with her sister, Florence, in a tenement apartment brimming with the struggles of the working poor. The story begins when a string of letters are sent to various members of the neighborhood, including the singer’s uncle, demanding their valuables. In exchange for a family heirloom, they get to live.
Vivian first gets involved because she is friends with the singer. When her sister receives a letter, the stakes are raised. Vivian’s sleuthing is sometimes corny, and often unbelievable. But it’s clear that Schellman isn’t going for realism. The world she creates is more akin to murder mystery dinner game.
If you are looking for romance, Vivian is caught in a love triangle with her female boss, who runs the Nightingale with an iron fist, and her male lover, who is the nephew of the corrupt police chief. He is more colorful than scary, another example of the story’s coziness. I wanted more grit. Where is Robert Mitchum? Still, I applaud the author for creating a bisexual heroine. Seeing the female characters call the shots is refreshing. And the ensemble is diverse, reflecting the Black, Jewish, and Asian makeup of 1920s Manhattan. Still, hoping for a classic noir, I never quite got my fix. I got something more like champagne without the fizz.
I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://books6259.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
https://www.amazon.com
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https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/c...
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub. Date: June 6, 2023
It’s Jazz Age New York. Prohibition is the law, the mob rules the city with paid-off cops. “The Last Drop of Hemlock” is a throwback to the countless gumshoe murder mysteries inspired by the era. Most of the story’s action occurs in “The Nightingale,” a hopping speakeasy and jazz club. I didn’t know the novel was a part of the “Nightingale Mysteries Series,” but I had no trouble following along. With a love of noir dating back to the first time I saw 1947’s “Out of the Past,” I expected to lose myself in the book. But Katharine Schellman is no Mickey Spillane. The novel is much cozier than any Sam Spade or Philip Marlowe affair.
Our sleuth and protagonist, Vivian, is tasked with solving the murder of a singer’s uncle. By day, Vivian works for a dressmaker. By night, she is a cocktail waitress at the Nightingale. She lives with her sister, Florence, in a tenement apartment brimming with the struggles of the working poor. The story begins when a string of letters are sent to various members of the neighborhood, including the singer’s uncle, demanding their valuables. In exchange for a family heirloom, they get to live.
Vivian first gets involved because she is friends with the singer. When her sister receives a letter, the stakes are raised. Vivian’s sleuthing is sometimes corny, and often unbelievable. But it’s clear that Schellman isn’t going for realism. The world she creates is more akin to murder mystery dinner game.
If you are looking for romance, Vivian is caught in a love triangle with her female boss, who runs the Nightingale with an iron fist, and her male lover, who is the nephew of the corrupt police chief. He is more colorful than scary, another example of the story’s coziness. I wanted more grit. Where is Robert Mitchum? Still, I applaud the author for creating a bisexual heroine. Seeing the female characters call the shots is refreshing. And the ensemble is diverse, reflecting the Black, Jewish, and Asian makeup of 1920s Manhattan. Still, hoping for a classic noir, I never quite got my fix. I got something more like champagne without the fizz.
I received this novel at no cost from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Find all my book reviews at:
https://books6259.wordpress.com
https://www.goodreads.com
https://twitter.com/NeesRecord
https://www.amazon.com
https://www.facebook.com/martie.neesr...
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/c...
June 4, 2023
This was an atmospheric and intriguing historical mystery that takes place in the 1920s jazz age. The scenic setting of a speakeasy was fascinating and I always enjoy reading about plots set during prohibition.
I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and their amateur sleuthing. This whodunit kept me continually guessing which is a huge bonus but in the end I was just looking for a little something more.
I enjoyed the diversity of the characters and their amateur sleuthing. This whodunit kept me continually guessing which is a huge bonus but in the end I was just looking for a little something more.
May 12, 2023
It's rare to read a book that conveys a time and setting as well as The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman. It was delightful to be taken to New York in 1924, where Vivian Kelly and her sister eke out a living in a tenement. Vivian lives a bit of a double live, spending her days delivering gowns for a dress shop that caters to wealthy women and her nights serving drinks at The Nightingale, a speakeasy.
In this story, Vivian is trying to solve the murder of The Nightingale's doorman, who is also her best friend's uncle. Vivian stumbles upon a blackmail operation that is targeting people in her neighborhood, where most are struggling to make ends meet, and is inspired to investigate with the help of her friends. In a delightful turn, we see Vivian's sister, who didn't approve of Vivian spending her nights at the speakeasy, joining in and possibly finding a little romance. The love triangle that was established for Vivian in the first book continues to develop in this one. The characters are so appealing that it's hard to root for one of the love interests over the other.
In addition to perfectly conveying the atmosphere in this series, Katharine Schellman creates a wonderful, diverse cast. We even saw a person with a disability in this story, as one of the victims of the blackmail scheme is deaf. There was some development in the mystery that will probably have a series-long arc, which is whether the sisters have living relatives.
Because I received the audiobook from NetGalley, I have to add that I was especially pleased that the narrator didn't try to use stereotypical New York accents for the dialogue in this book.
While the audiobook ARC was provided, I loved this book so much that I ordered a physical copy for myself.
In this story, Vivian is trying to solve the murder of The Nightingale's doorman, who is also her best friend's uncle. Vivian stumbles upon a blackmail operation that is targeting people in her neighborhood, where most are struggling to make ends meet, and is inspired to investigate with the help of her friends. In a delightful turn, we see Vivian's sister, who didn't approve of Vivian spending her nights at the speakeasy, joining in and possibly finding a little romance. The love triangle that was established for Vivian in the first book continues to develop in this one. The characters are so appealing that it's hard to root for one of the love interests over the other.
In addition to perfectly conveying the atmosphere in this series, Katharine Schellman creates a wonderful, diverse cast. We even saw a person with a disability in this story, as one of the victims of the blackmail scheme is deaf. There was some development in the mystery that will probably have a series-long arc, which is whether the sisters have living relatives.
Because I received the audiobook from NetGalley, I have to add that I was especially pleased that the narrator didn't try to use stereotypical New York accents for the dialogue in this book.
While the audiobook ARC was provided, I loved this book so much that I ordered a physical copy for myself.
August 14, 2023
The Last Drop of Hemlock
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Katherine Schellman
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly has gotten a job at the Nightingale, a speakeasy known to the young and fun as a place where the rules of society can be tossed aside for a dance and a drink, and things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence. They might not be living like queens—still living in a dingy, two-room tenement, still scrimping and saving—but they're confident in keeping a roof over their heads and, every once in a while, there is fried ham for breakfast.
Of course, things were even better before Bea's Uncle Pearlie, the doorman for the Nightingale, was poisoned. Bea has been Vivian's best friend since before she can remember, and though Pearlie's death is ruled a suicide, Bea's sure her uncle wouldn't have killed himself. After all, he had the family to care for . . . and there have been rumors of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian's poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don't comply.
With the Nightingale's dangerously lovely owner, Honor, worried for her employees' safety and Bea determined to prove her Uncle was murdered, Vivian once again finds herself digging through a dead man's past in hopes of stopping a killer.
My Thoughts: This was book number two of the Nightingale Mysteries. I did not read the first book and was able to navigate fine in this second book, so it can be read as a standalone. This is a slow burn atmospheric cozy mystery. It was a little too slow for my liking. The author creates a very diversified 1920’s Manhattan with Black, Asian, Bisexuality, and Jewish.
The characters were mysterious, expansive, and creative. The one character that I really did not care for was Viv and Flo’s boss at the sewing shop, she was just so mean and played a bigger part in the book that I wanted to see. The characters from the Nightingale were not blood but were created as family, which is so refreshing to see. It is also not the blood that makes a person family. The author’s attention to detail was so immersive that you felt like you had been dropped in New York in 1920. The pacing and flow of the book was off to me, the beginning was great and the last part of the story was great, but the middle seemed to drag on too much. I hoping some of the parts that fell flat will be resolved in book three.
I was lucky to get the digital arc and audio arc. The narrator did a good job with narration and I have read that this book two was narrated better than book one. Overall, a good mystery and if you love historical cozy mysteries, then I would recommend this one for you.
⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Katherine Schellman
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly has gotten a job at the Nightingale, a speakeasy known to the young and fun as a place where the rules of society can be tossed aside for a dance and a drink, and things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence. They might not be living like queens—still living in a dingy, two-room tenement, still scrimping and saving—but they're confident in keeping a roof over their heads and, every once in a while, there is fried ham for breakfast.
Of course, things were even better before Bea's Uncle Pearlie, the doorman for the Nightingale, was poisoned. Bea has been Vivian's best friend since before she can remember, and though Pearlie's death is ruled a suicide, Bea's sure her uncle wouldn't have killed himself. After all, he had the family to care for . . . and there have been rumors of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian's poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don't comply.
With the Nightingale's dangerously lovely owner, Honor, worried for her employees' safety and Bea determined to prove her Uncle was murdered, Vivian once again finds herself digging through a dead man's past in hopes of stopping a killer.
My Thoughts: This was book number two of the Nightingale Mysteries. I did not read the first book and was able to navigate fine in this second book, so it can be read as a standalone. This is a slow burn atmospheric cozy mystery. It was a little too slow for my liking. The author creates a very diversified 1920’s Manhattan with Black, Asian, Bisexuality, and Jewish.
The characters were mysterious, expansive, and creative. The one character that I really did not care for was Viv and Flo’s boss at the sewing shop, she was just so mean and played a bigger part in the book that I wanted to see. The characters from the Nightingale were not blood but were created as family, which is so refreshing to see. It is also not the blood that makes a person family. The author’s attention to detail was so immersive that you felt like you had been dropped in New York in 1920. The pacing and flow of the book was off to me, the beginning was great and the last part of the story was great, but the middle seemed to drag on too much. I hoping some of the parts that fell flat will be resolved in book three.
I was lucky to get the digital arc and audio arc. The narrator did a good job with narration and I have read that this book two was narrated better than book one. Overall, a good mystery and if you love historical cozy mysteries, then I would recommend this one for you.
June 27, 2023
Bea's uncle Pearlie dies suddenly, but Bea is unwilling to believe that he committed suicide, as authorities say. She asks Vivian to check into things, leading Viv to a series of other poor people who had received threatening letters forcing them to hand over precious possessions, and a few who died also of suicide. Viv discovers that those who refused to comply to the letter writer's demands were killed.
Viv also discovers, as she looks into things, that there are dirty cops mixed up, somehow, with the thefts, and things only get more serious when Viv's older sister Florence receives a letter. (Though the two have had problems, they're working to repair their relationship.)
The letter sends Viv into overdrive, figuring out how to protect Flo while more determined than ever to find the culprit. Viv stashes Flo at Danny's (the Nightingale's bartender) parents' place, but feels some qualms as she notices that both Danny and Flo are captivated by the other. Viv also gets into multiple violent situations before finding a resolution that leaves her somewhat shaken, but on a better footing with her sister.
I enjoyed this book even more than book one, perhaps because I was already familiar with the cast at the Nightingale and the sisters' friends.
Katherine Schellman does a great job fleshing out the 1920s setting, giving us a sense of the poverty, but also of the search for diversion, such as drinking and/or dancing at speakeasies like the Nightingale. The prevalence of criminal activity and the shadiness of Honor and others Viv spends time with also further flesh out the setting.
I loved how much the Viv and the other staff at the Nightingale supported each other, and how varied and interesting they all are.
I am also intrigued by the small positive development there was in the sisters' own mystery of what happened to their mother, and whether they have any living family in New York City. I'm looking forward to whatever Viv gets up to next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
Viv also discovers, as she looks into things, that there are dirty cops mixed up, somehow, with the thefts, and things only get more serious when Viv's older sister Florence receives a letter. (Though the two have had problems, they're working to repair their relationship.)
The letter sends Viv into overdrive, figuring out how to protect Flo while more determined than ever to find the culprit. Viv stashes Flo at Danny's (the Nightingale's bartender) parents' place, but feels some qualms as she notices that both Danny and Flo are captivated by the other. Viv also gets into multiple violent situations before finding a resolution that leaves her somewhat shaken, but on a better footing with her sister.
I enjoyed this book even more than book one, perhaps because I was already familiar with the cast at the Nightingale and the sisters' friends.
Katherine Schellman does a great job fleshing out the 1920s setting, giving us a sense of the poverty, but also of the search for diversion, such as drinking and/or dancing at speakeasies like the Nightingale. The prevalence of criminal activity and the shadiness of Honor and others Viv spends time with also further flesh out the setting.
I loved how much the Viv and the other staff at the Nightingale supported each other, and how varied and interesting they all are.
I am also intrigued by the small positive development there was in the sisters' own mystery of what happened to their mother, and whether they have any living family in New York City. I'm looking forward to whatever Viv gets up to next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
July 4, 2023
Back at the Nightingale for another murder mystery! Vivian and Florence are at it to figure out Bea's uncle's death, but run into a scheme of threatening letters and the mob.
I liked the mystery aspect of this one in trying to figure out who was sending the threatening letters, but I wished it had more one the time period feel like the first book. Maybe I just wanted more of it taking place in the Nightingale.
Some nice character background development happen as well with Vivian and Florence trying to find out more about their mother, but I dominated the story a bit and interfered with concentrating on the mystery.
I hope the next book brings back more of the speakeasy feel!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
I liked the mystery aspect of this one in trying to figure out who was sending the threatening letters, but I wished it had more one the time period feel like the first book. Maybe I just wanted more of it taking place in the Nightingale.
Some nice character background development happen as well with Vivian and Florence trying to find out more about their mother, but I dominated the story a bit and interfered with concentrating on the mystery.
I hope the next book brings back more of the speakeasy feel!
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing me a copy of this ARC for my honest review.
January 4, 2024
I liked the character development, but the "mystery" part was all over the place. It was definitely secondary to the characters' personal plot lines instead of being integrated like in the 1st book of the series. But, since I like the characters and their development, I'll still be moving on to the third book. :)
December 28, 2023
I gotta say that I really enjoy mystery novels that are set during the late 1800s and through the early to mid-1900s… I don’t know what it is exactly about them that I love so much but the vibes are just so good.
Vivian Kelly is an absolute boss of a woman… To get involved in some shady crime stuff to help your good friend find out how the friend’s uncle died is insanely brave… I don’t know if I could’ve done the same thing because you mess with the wrong crowd, it could be your head they come for next.
I was not expecting the criminal to be who it was in the end but it doesn’t surprise me. I have to keep telling myself it’s the people you least suspect!
I love, love, love Danny and Florence together. She’s more
timid and shy and he’s outgoing and lively and they totally balance each other out. Leo and Vivian? SO CUTE!! That man is always there for her no matter what she needs and that’s iconic of him. Deep down, I also love Honor and Vivian together but I know it’ll never be between them because Honor separates work life from personal life and Vivian works for her so it makes sense.
I wish I could say it surprises me that the police in NYC at the time were involved in shady shit but I’m not surprised so… To be involved in that kind of work that Bea’s uncle was in is dangerous stuff, even today.
A great second part to this series!
Vivian Kelly is an absolute boss of a woman… To get involved in some shady crime stuff to help your good friend find out how the friend’s uncle died is insanely brave… I don’t know if I could’ve done the same thing because you mess with the wrong crowd, it could be your head they come for next.
I was not expecting the criminal to be who it was in the end but it doesn’t surprise me. I have to keep telling myself it’s the people you least suspect!
I love, love, love Danny and Florence together. She’s more
timid and shy and he’s outgoing and lively and they totally balance each other out. Leo and Vivian? SO CUTE!! That man is always there for her no matter what she needs and that’s iconic of him. Deep down, I also love Honor and Vivian together but I know it’ll never be between them because Honor separates work life from personal life and Vivian works for her so it makes sense.
I wish I could say it surprises me that the police in NYC at the time were involved in shady shit but I’m not surprised so… To be involved in that kind of work that Bea’s uncle was in is dangerous stuff, even today.
A great second part to this series!
June 1, 2023
THE LAST DROP OF HEMLOCK is an engaging historical mystery/amateur procedural set during the prohibition era. Vivian works at a Speakeasy called Nightingale, and she has recently learned that her friend Bea's Uncle Pearlie, a doorman for the club, has died under suspicious circumstances. While the police have decided it is not suspicious, Bea is convinced that it was not self-inflicted, considering that Pearlie has just come into some money through associations with the mob. When the money is found to be missing, Bea's suspicions seem to be confirmed. With Vivian's help, they will look into the case and figure out whodunnit.
This was a great amateur detective mystery that had a bit of a cozy feel. Prohibition, the mob, and plenty of shady characters made this a particularly fun read. The historical setting felt well-crafted while the writing flowed smoothly with some great red herrings. The speakeasy tie-in from the first book works well and makes for plenty of fun along the way. The clues and pace they are found worked well, with interviews and physical clues both used to lead towards solving the case.
There was also a lot of interesting elements with the mob and police during this era, that added a layer of danger to the story. In addition to the murder, there were also threatening notes that community members have been receiving that upped the ante with a feeling of who could be next. The ending was satisfying, and the clues seemed to lead appropriately to figure out who was behind Pearlie's death. This was a solid mystery/procedural.
Overall, THE LAST DROP OF HEMLOCK was an engaging historical mystery that I would recommend for people who enjoy amateur detectives and unique settings. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
This was a great amateur detective mystery that had a bit of a cozy feel. Prohibition, the mob, and plenty of shady characters made this a particularly fun read. The historical setting felt well-crafted while the writing flowed smoothly with some great red herrings. The speakeasy tie-in from the first book works well and makes for plenty of fun along the way. The clues and pace they are found worked well, with interviews and physical clues both used to lead towards solving the case.
There was also a lot of interesting elements with the mob and police during this era, that added a layer of danger to the story. In addition to the murder, there were also threatening notes that community members have been receiving that upped the ante with a feeling of who could be next. The ending was satisfying, and the clues seemed to lead appropriately to figure out who was behind Pearlie's death. This was a solid mystery/procedural.
Overall, THE LAST DROP OF HEMLOCK was an engaging historical mystery that I would recommend for people who enjoy amateur detectives and unique settings. Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.
May 30, 2023
Vivian Kelly, a barmaid at the local speakeasy, The Nightingale, is entangled in another mystery. In the first of the Nightingale Mysteries, Vivian frequents The Nightingale to escape the drudgery of her seamstress life and finds the dead body behind the club. Vivian is in quite a bit of danger from the underworld and the city's wealthy in the first mystery. In The Last Drop of Hemlock, Vivian's friend's, Bea, uncle was poisoned. Was this accidental or suicide or something more sinister? Bea doesn't believe her uncle would commit suicide and believes that some nefarious is afoot. Vivian begins to investigate and learns that many poor tenants in her neighborhood are being blackmailed for their few valuable possessions. This mystery will keep the reader asking questions until the end, it's well paced and I enjoyed the characters and the setting of Prohibition era NYC. I do recommend reading the first book before reading the 2nd for character development.
I enjoyed the narration, the narrator was well spoken.
I picked up this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest interview.
I enjoyed the narration, the narrator was well spoken.
I picked up this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest interview.
March 15, 2024
Vivian Kelly has gumption, a good head on her shoulders, and a healthy respect for the challenges that surround her. She also has a pair of resourceful friends a little bit in love with her. With the help of friends, favors, and potential lovers, Vivian sets out to untangle the unfortunate mess surrounding an apparent suicide with connections to the Nightingale.
Katharine Schellman has a way with words. This second installment of the Nightingale Mystery series, like the first, has more tension than I usually seek in my mysteries, but I just love her work so much that I can’t help myself. I’m thoroughly delighted by the turns of phrases and the brilliant character crafting. The narrator, Sara Young, is marvelous and her voice brings this story to life beautifully. There’s adventure, growth, diversity, and a lovely little bit of love in this latest installment.
Set in the Jazz Age, this sequel returns us to the lovely cast of folks, scraping by and doing their best, supporting each other along the way, and trying to sort out exactly what’s happened when one of their own - a beloved uncle - is found unexpectedly deceased. There's mystery, risk, community and maybe even a little blackmail to keep us on our toes the whole way through! I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel - The Last Note of Warning - coming to us in June 2024! I'm sure it'll be another exhilarating ride with wit and heart!
Katharine Schellman has a way with words. This second installment of the Nightingale Mystery series, like the first, has more tension than I usually seek in my mysteries, but I just love her work so much that I can’t help myself. I’m thoroughly delighted by the turns of phrases and the brilliant character crafting. The narrator, Sara Young, is marvelous and her voice brings this story to life beautifully. There’s adventure, growth, diversity, and a lovely little bit of love in this latest installment.
Set in the Jazz Age, this sequel returns us to the lovely cast of folks, scraping by and doing their best, supporting each other along the way, and trying to sort out exactly what’s happened when one of their own - a beloved uncle - is found unexpectedly deceased. There's mystery, risk, community and maybe even a little blackmail to keep us on our toes the whole way through! I'm looking forward to the upcoming sequel - The Last Note of Warning - coming to us in June 2024! I'm sure it'll be another exhilarating ride with wit and heart!
June 12, 2023
Another foray into the seedy, yet often surprisingly wholesome, world of the Nightingale-a 1920s speakeasy owned by a fascinating woman. There is so much history in this series, and so much heart. Vivian and her sister are orphans trying to make their way in New York City. Florence as a talented seamstress, and Vivian who works at the speakeasy under its beguiling owner, Honor Huxley.
While Vivian works to uncover clues about the murder of her best friend’s uncle, she also tries to untangle her feelings about Honor, which have only become more complicated. As the mystery deepens, so does her confusion and longing. I love the easy way Schelleman paints Viv’s bisexuality, using the setting of the Nightingale as a social equalizer.
I’m so happy with the way the series is progressing and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
While Vivian works to uncover clues about the murder of her best friend’s uncle, she also tries to untangle her feelings about Honor, which have only become more complicated. As the mystery deepens, so does her confusion and longing. I love the easy way Schelleman paints Viv’s bisexuality, using the setting of the Nightingale as a social equalizer.
I’m so happy with the way the series is progressing and can’t wait to see what happens next!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my free copy. These opinions are my own.
June 21, 2023
If you enjoy mysteries and historical fiction, this series is perfect for you. The action takes place in New York City in the 1920s, which means Prohibition and speakeasies. Our main character, Vivian Kelly, works two jobs to make ends meet: making deliveries for a high-end seamstress by day, and waitressing and dancing at the Nightingale club at night.
In addition to scenes at the speakeasy, we also get glimpses into the lives of ordinary working folk. Vivian lives with her older sister, Florence in a tenement building (bathroom down the hall and all that entails).
As the book opens, we find out that Pearlie, uncle to Bea, Vivian’s friend and coworker, has died. It’s ruled a suicide but Bea doesn’t believe it. Also, someone is threatening poor neighborhood folk via anonymous letter, getting them to give up their one precious item, like a gold locket or a set of candlesticks. Those who don’t comply, wind up poisoned. Vivian gets involved.
This time we get more of Florence, and also a lot more of Danny Chin, the Nightingale’s bartender. These characters have really grown on me, as well as Leo, who is also back in this book. Vivian is conflicted about her feelings for Honor, the owner of the Nightingale, and her growing feelings for Leo.
As with the first book in the series, I enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
In addition to scenes at the speakeasy, we also get glimpses into the lives of ordinary working folk. Vivian lives with her older sister, Florence in a tenement building (bathroom down the hall and all that entails).
As the book opens, we find out that Pearlie, uncle to Bea, Vivian’s friend and coworker, has died. It’s ruled a suicide but Bea doesn’t believe it. Also, someone is threatening poor neighborhood folk via anonymous letter, getting them to give up their one precious item, like a gold locket or a set of candlesticks. Those who don’t comply, wind up poisoned. Vivian gets involved.
This time we get more of Florence, and also a lot more of Danny Chin, the Nightingale’s bartender. These characters have really grown on me, as well as Leo, who is also back in this book. Vivian is conflicted about her feelings for Honor, the owner of the Nightingale, and her growing feelings for Leo.
As with the first book in the series, I enjoyed the Author’s Note at the end of the book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
June 15, 2023
Unfortunately, this one moved at a snails pace in my opinion. I love the setting, I love the characters, I love being lost in this world, but the plot in this book was way too simple, not enough happened, and just needed some work overall. The setting wasn’t enough to carry it.
May 22, 2023
“I never ask a question if I don’t want to know the answer.”
An underground nightclub, sketchy people in power, and a mob operation….POISON-tively delicious! 😏 Vivian and Flo find themselves in the center of another operation, this time as victims. All of the neighbors are dying by “suicide” but Viv (and Bea) think these are highly suspicious. Everyone has suggested that Vivian drop this but she’s determined, even calling in favors. And some favors aren’t really friendly. Will she solve the crimes before the criminals find her….?
This was another juicy historical mystery! The author is very witty and the mysteries WITHIN mysteries is what hooks me every time. She does a fantastic job of weaving in good and bad characters and making the majority of them quite suspicious. The ending was more abrupt than I expected but it still wrapped up nicely! I look forward to another book in this series!
*I would highly recommend reading book 1 first as this book would spoil all of it. Everyone and their connections to each other are all explained very well in book one too and don’t really go into depth in this one.
An underground nightclub, sketchy people in power, and a mob operation….POISON-tively delicious! 😏 Vivian and Flo find themselves in the center of another operation, this time as victims. All of the neighbors are dying by “suicide” but Viv (and Bea) think these are highly suspicious. Everyone has suggested that Vivian drop this but she’s determined, even calling in favors. And some favors aren’t really friendly. Will she solve the crimes before the criminals find her….?
This was another juicy historical mystery! The author is very witty and the mysteries WITHIN mysteries is what hooks me every time. She does a fantastic job of weaving in good and bad characters and making the majority of them quite suspicious. The ending was more abrupt than I expected but it still wrapped up nicely! I look forward to another book in this series!
*I would highly recommend reading book 1 first as this book would spoil all of it. Everyone and their connections to each other are all explained very well in book one too and don’t really go into depth in this one.
August 18, 2024
Set in NYC. 336 pp. Buddy read thread
The Last Drop of Hemlock (Nightingale Mysteries, #2) by Katharine Schellman
The Last Drop of Hemlock (Nightingale Mysteries, #2) by Katharine Schellman
September 24, 2023
Another fun historical mystery from Katharine Schellman.
This is the follow-up to Last Call at the Nightingale, and while it’s a bit less engaging than the first book in the series, it’s entertaining enough and the characters remain likable and worth rooting for.
Viv’s romantic entanglements don’t particularly interest me, but the central mystery is intriguing enough and the buddy mystery vibes of these remain solid. I’d like to see more of Danny and Viv’s sister and maybe a bit less of Honor, but on the whole the series continues to be worth reading. I’m a little worried that there isn’t really a worthy continuing plot line to keep readers engaged from book to book, but perhaps we’ll get there eventually.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
This is the follow-up to Last Call at the Nightingale, and while it’s a bit less engaging than the first book in the series, it’s entertaining enough and the characters remain likable and worth rooting for.
Viv’s romantic entanglements don’t particularly interest me, but the central mystery is intriguing enough and the buddy mystery vibes of these remain solid. I’d like to see more of Danny and Viv’s sister and maybe a bit less of Honor, but on the whole the series continues to be worth reading. I’m a little worried that there isn’t really a worthy continuing plot line to keep readers engaged from book to book, but perhaps we’ll get there eventually.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
June 18, 2023
The Last Drop of Hemlock
A Mystery
By: Katharine Schellman
Publish Date: 6 June 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Historical Fiction/Mystery & Thriller
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
In The Last Drop of Hemlock, the dazzling follow up to Last Call at the Nightingale, even a dance can come with a price…
The rumor went through the Nightingale like a flood, quietly rising, whispers hovering on lips in pockets of silence.
New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly has gotten a job at the Nightingale, a speakeasy known to the young and fun as a place where the rules of society can be tossed aside for a dance and a drink, and things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence. They might not be living like queens—still living in a dingy, two-room tenement, still scrimping and saving—but they’re confident in keeping a roof over their heads and, every once in a while, there is fried ham for breakfast.
Of course, things were even better before Bea’s Uncle Pearlie, the doorman for the Nightingale, was poisoned. Bea has been Vivian’s best friend since before she can remember, and though Pearlie’s death is ruled a suicide, Bea’s sure her uncle wouldn’t have killed himself. After all, he had the family to care for . . . and there have been rumors of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian’s poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don’t comply.
With the Nightingale’s dangerously lovely owner, Honor, worried for her employees’ safety and Bea determined to prove her Uncle was murdered, Vivian once again finds herself digging through a dead man’s past in hopes of stopping a killer.
Book Review:
This is the second book in a series. I would recommend that you read the first book before picking up this one. The author did a great job of giving you back story so you wouldn’t be lost just in case you haven’t read the first book. I gave this book 3 stars. Even though I liked the story and the characters I had a hard time wanting to pick it up, but once i did I couldn’t put it down. The story did seem to drag a little for me at least. I love the family and friendships in this story. i love how they back each other up and even though at time’s they were mad each other they never let that get in the way of their friendship.
Viv wants to help her friend, Bea figure out what truly happened to her uncle. Did he kill himself or did someone do it and make it look like it. Along the way they find out somethings that are hard to believe. There are several mysteries happening at once and this is what caused me some problems. Even though the death of the uncle is solved there are two more mysteries that need to be solved. At least two unsolved mysteries aren’t dangerous or are they. There is also a love triangle between Viv, Honor and Leo. Which one will win Viv’s love you will have to wait and continue reading the series. A new possible love looks like it might appear between Danny and Florence.
There is a lot going on in this story and I do find it interesting enough to continue on with the series but first I need to read the first book.
A Mystery
By: Katharine Schellman
Publish Date: 6 June 2023
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books
Historical Fiction/Mystery & Thriller
100 Book ReviewsProfessional Reader
I would like to thank both St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
Good Reads Synopsis:
In The Last Drop of Hemlock, the dazzling follow up to Last Call at the Nightingale, even a dance can come with a price…
The rumor went through the Nightingale like a flood, quietly rising, whispers hovering on lips in pockets of silence.
New York, 1924. Vivian Kelly has gotten a job at the Nightingale, a speakeasy known to the young and fun as a place where the rules of society can be tossed aside for a dance and a drink, and things are finally looking up for her and her sister Florence. They might not be living like queens—still living in a dingy, two-room tenement, still scrimping and saving—but they’re confident in keeping a roof over their heads and, every once in a while, there is fried ham for breakfast.
Of course, things were even better before Bea’s Uncle Pearlie, the doorman for the Nightingale, was poisoned. Bea has been Vivian’s best friend since before she can remember, and though Pearlie’s death is ruled a suicide, Bea’s sure her uncle wouldn’t have killed himself. After all, he had the family to care for . . . and there have been rumors of a mysterious letter writer, blackmailing Vivian’s poorest neighbors for their most valuable possessions, threatening poison if they don’t comply.
With the Nightingale’s dangerously lovely owner, Honor, worried for her employees’ safety and Bea determined to prove her Uncle was murdered, Vivian once again finds herself digging through a dead man’s past in hopes of stopping a killer.
Book Review:
This is the second book in a series. I would recommend that you read the first book before picking up this one. The author did a great job of giving you back story so you wouldn’t be lost just in case you haven’t read the first book. I gave this book 3 stars. Even though I liked the story and the characters I had a hard time wanting to pick it up, but once i did I couldn’t put it down. The story did seem to drag a little for me at least. I love the family and friendships in this story. i love how they back each other up and even though at time’s they were mad each other they never let that get in the way of their friendship.
Viv wants to help her friend, Bea figure out what truly happened to her uncle. Did he kill himself or did someone do it and make it look like it. Along the way they find out somethings that are hard to believe. There are several mysteries happening at once and this is what caused me some problems. Even though the death of the uncle is solved there are two more mysteries that need to be solved. At least two unsolved mysteries aren’t dangerous or are they. There is also a love triangle between Viv, Honor and Leo. Which one will win Viv’s love you will have to wait and continue reading the series. A new possible love looks like it might appear between Danny and Florence.
There is a lot going on in this story and I do find it interesting enough to continue on with the series but first I need to read the first book.
June 22, 2023
Thanks so much to the author and Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press) for the gifted advanced copy of this book, as well as to Netgalley for the gifted e-copy, in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are entirely my own. { partner } My reviews can also be found on Instagram @Tackling_TBR and on my blog at tacklingtbr.home.blog
TW: death/murder, some violence, robbery, blackmail/threatening letters
After loving Last Call at the Nightingale, the first in this Nightingale Mysteries series, so much and so recently, I had very high hopes for this book - and while I don't think I loved it quite as much as the first, I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed!
This book picks up a little while after the events of the first book, I believe only a few months or so afterwards, but I will say that I believe this book could likely be enjoyed as a standalone story as well. There is enough background on the characters and relationships from the first book present in this one that I think you'd pick up any information you need if you were to read them out of order.
So let's get into it - I LOVED the story and mystery in this book! In fact, I think that I might have preferred the mystery being solved in this book over the one in Last Call at the Nightingale. Part of that may be that I already loved the characters and settings so I felt more able to really lean into it in this book, or partially because those characters and settings are a bit more established and on display in this one. Either way, it really worked for me!
What didn't work for me quite as much in this one was the pacing. The first book was a bit of a slow-moving mystery as well, but this one felt a bit slow even in comparison. It took me a while to get through this book - not because I was bored or wasn't interested in what was happening, but just because I sometimes had a hard time turning to this one after a long day at work when my brain was already tired, if that makes sense. I don't mind a slower read if I'm enjoying it, so this didn't ruin the book or the experience for me by any means, but it did knock off a star for me.
Overall I would absolutely recommend this book (and series) to my friends and fellow readers. I think that the best way to read this book would be sitting somewhere with jazz playing softly in the background, and drinking a French 75 - and not just because it's my favorite cocktail, but it's a favorite of a few of our favorite Nightingale characters as well! It only feels right.
TW: death/murder, some violence, robbery, blackmail/threatening letters
After loving Last Call at the Nightingale, the first in this Nightingale Mysteries series, so much and so recently, I had very high hopes for this book - and while I don't think I loved it quite as much as the first, I'm glad to say that I was not disappointed!
This book picks up a little while after the events of the first book, I believe only a few months or so afterwards, but I will say that I believe this book could likely be enjoyed as a standalone story as well. There is enough background on the characters and relationships from the first book present in this one that I think you'd pick up any information you need if you were to read them out of order.
So let's get into it - I LOVED the story and mystery in this book! In fact, I think that I might have preferred the mystery being solved in this book over the one in Last Call at the Nightingale. Part of that may be that I already loved the characters and settings so I felt more able to really lean into it in this book, or partially because those characters and settings are a bit more established and on display in this one. Either way, it really worked for me!
What didn't work for me quite as much in this one was the pacing. The first book was a bit of a slow-moving mystery as well, but this one felt a bit slow even in comparison. It took me a while to get through this book - not because I was bored or wasn't interested in what was happening, but just because I sometimes had a hard time turning to this one after a long day at work when my brain was already tired, if that makes sense. I don't mind a slower read if I'm enjoying it, so this didn't ruin the book or the experience for me by any means, but it did knock off a star for me.
Overall I would absolutely recommend this book (and series) to my friends and fellow readers. I think that the best way to read this book would be sitting somewhere with jazz playing softly in the background, and drinking a French 75 - and not just because it's my favorite cocktail, but it's a favorite of a few of our favorite Nightingale characters as well! It only feels right.
June 7, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery set in 1924 during the jazz age in New York City. This is the second book in the series and I have enjoyed both of them. Katharine Schellman has done a terrific job of integrating diverse characters into an original storyline. Vivian has now been working at the speakeasy for a few months now, and her best friend Beatrice, an African American, is now the singer with the band. When Bea’s uncle, who is a bouncer at the club, dies unexpectedly questions, arise as to whether it was suicide or murder. With the connections Vivian has made in the last few months, she decides to put her sleuthing hat on and see what she can find out for the family. Considering the various types of people she encounters, she could very well be putting her life and that of her sister in jeopardy.
Thanks to the publisher, Minotaur Books, I was introduced to this author and series, and I am so grateful. I love the original characters and the stories are so believable and interesting that it’s hard for me to put these books down. there are subplots aside from the murder that continue from book to book, such as Vivian’s, complicated, romantic feelings towards her boss, and the questions surrounding the father. She and her sister have never known. there is also the organized crime element that is prevalent here and brings a level of danger and authenticity. this is a series that I will definitely keep reading along with other books by this very talented author. Thanks again to the publisher and. £netgalley for my review copy.
Thanks to the publisher, Minotaur Books, I was introduced to this author and series, and I am so grateful. I love the original characters and the stories are so believable and interesting that it’s hard for me to put these books down. there are subplots aside from the murder that continue from book to book, such as Vivian’s, complicated, romantic feelings towards her boss, and the questions surrounding the father. She and her sister have never known. there is also the organized crime element that is prevalent here and brings a level of danger and authenticity. this is a series that I will definitely keep reading along with other books by this very talented author. Thanks again to the publisher and. £netgalley for my review copy.
March 31, 2023
The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman is a humdinger of a tale.
Will Vivian figure out what happened to Pearlie and his mazuma?
Vivian Kelly
Viv is our sleuth and the main character. She has a complex personality and a grasp of the world around her. Vivian takes care of those close to her. However, she is also a bit jealous of them too. I like Vivian. She is willing to go to extremes for her loved ones but won't compromise her core values.
Florence is Vivian's older sister. The two of them grew up in foster care, but now that they are adults, they are doing okay. However, okay in the 1920s is different from okay today. Vivian and Florence truly help their neighbors by purchasing food to help them out, helping with laundry, or washing dishes. These ladies aren't afraid of hard work.
The Mysteries
So, our central mystery is who killed Bea's Uncle Pearlie and took his money. Then there is who is threatening the poor people in their neighborhood into giving up their valuables. And the mystery of what happened to their mom and who their dad is. There is a bit of romance, with some couples forming and lots of flirting. Oh, finding the culprits and their justice is surprising. I didn't see it coming.
Five Stars
My rating for The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman is five stars. I loved the history lessons, the complex relationships, and the character growth throughout the story. Overall, it is entertaining, engaging, and a berries of a story. I highly recommend The Last Drop of Hemlock. I haven't read the first one but am adding it to my TBR. Hopefully, I will get to it before the third book comes out.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Vivian figure out what happened to Pearlie and his mazuma?
Vivian Kelly
Viv is our sleuth and the main character. She has a complex personality and a grasp of the world around her. Vivian takes care of those close to her. However, she is also a bit jealous of them too. I like Vivian. She is willing to go to extremes for her loved ones but won't compromise her core values.
Florence is Vivian's older sister. The two of them grew up in foster care, but now that they are adults, they are doing okay. However, okay in the 1920s is different from okay today. Vivian and Florence truly help their neighbors by purchasing food to help them out, helping with laundry, or washing dishes. These ladies aren't afraid of hard work.
The Mysteries
So, our central mystery is who killed Bea's Uncle Pearlie and took his money. Then there is who is threatening the poor people in their neighborhood into giving up their valuables. And the mystery of what happened to their mom and who their dad is. There is a bit of romance, with some couples forming and lots of flirting. Oh, finding the culprits and their justice is surprising. I didn't see it coming.
Five Stars
My rating for The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman is five stars. I loved the history lessons, the complex relationships, and the character growth throughout the story. Overall, it is entertaining, engaging, and a berries of a story. I highly recommend The Last Drop of Hemlock. I haven't read the first one but am adding it to my TBR. Hopefully, I will get to it before the third book comes out.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
May 10, 2023
[arc review]
Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Drop of Hemlock releases June 6, 2023
3.5
*This is the second book in the Nightingale Mysteries series*
We’re back at the Nightingale club with new roles for some of the characters — Bea being the lead singer and Vivian now a part time waitress.
The start of this story reveals that Bea’s uncle died of an apparent suicide, but Bea thinks it was a murder since Pearlie was doing well for himself and had a sudden influx of cash.
Not long later, Vivian and Bea learn that the person who gave Pearlie his cash and alcohol payout, laced it with arsenic.
Throughout the story, we follow a string of individuals who are on the receiving end of threatening letters that are demanding valuable goods from poor folk.
Who is the person behind these threatening acts, and will Vivian, her sister, and her friends come out unscathed? Or will the people you think you know best end up being the ones to blindside you?
Compared to the first in this series, I found this one to be much more gripping.
The tension between Huxley and Vivian is amplified and made for some interesting dynamics (though there’s still no resolution for the love triangle).
I enjoyed seeing Florence stepping out of her comfort zone!
I’m hoping that we’ll get a third installment to further explain the history of what happened to Vivian and Florence’s mother, plus it will be interesting to see how Vivian and Bea move forward in their friendship after that ending.
Thank you to Minotaur Books for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Drop of Hemlock releases June 6, 2023
3.5
*This is the second book in the Nightingale Mysteries series*
We’re back at the Nightingale club with new roles for some of the characters — Bea being the lead singer and Vivian now a part time waitress.
The start of this story reveals that Bea’s uncle died of an apparent suicide, but Bea thinks it was a murder since Pearlie was doing well for himself and had a sudden influx of cash.
Not long later, Vivian and Bea learn that the person who gave Pearlie his cash and alcohol payout, laced it with arsenic.
Throughout the story, we follow a string of individuals who are on the receiving end of threatening letters that are demanding valuable goods from poor folk.
Who is the person behind these threatening acts, and will Vivian, her sister, and her friends come out unscathed? Or will the people you think you know best end up being the ones to blindside you?
Compared to the first in this series, I found this one to be much more gripping.
The tension between Huxley and Vivian is amplified and made for some interesting dynamics (though there’s still no resolution for the love triangle).
I enjoyed seeing Florence stepping out of her comfort zone!
I’m hoping that we’ll get a third installment to further explain the history of what happened to Vivian and Florence’s mother, plus it will be interesting to see how Vivian and Bea move forward in their friendship after that ending.
November 12, 2023
I received an e-ARC of this book from Minatour Books and St. Martin's Griffin through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!
Trigger warnings: murder, violence, blackmail, theft, grief, lying, manipulation
I tried, I really did, I swear. This series just isn't for me. If you can see how long it took me to read this book, you'd know it's extremely rare of me to push through this long and manage to finish. Usually, I would've given up, but this was an eARC and I really wanted to give the series a good shot. On paper, this series is for me: queer, set in the 1920's and full of mystery, intrigue and tension. However, I need to be able to connect emotionally to characters to fully buy into a novel and I just cannot with Vivian. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is about her that I just cannot buy into. She's kind of a prickly main character; pretty stubborn and thinks she's more prepared than she is to go into the situations she finds herself in. She also has a nasty habit of lying to the people she cares about the most which honestly grinds my gears to no one. I do like the side characters a lot; I think the dynamic between Vivian, Leo and Honor is really interesting and I like how it's been a slow burn between the love interests. We're still unconfirmed about what the endgame is and I think that's pretty fun for readers. I also liked how the relationships between characters developed in this book from the first. They were expanded, complicated and grew in all different ways. But I just cannot get past the narration. I don't end up hating the novel by any means, but it doesn't call for me to read it or to find out what the mystery is all about. I just slug through it and force myself to pick it up which isn't fun you know? I think this series would definitely be more suited for people who love plot driven narratives, so if that's you, maybe try it out!
Trigger warnings: murder, violence, blackmail, theft, grief, lying, manipulation
I tried, I really did, I swear. This series just isn't for me. If you can see how long it took me to read this book, you'd know it's extremely rare of me to push through this long and manage to finish. Usually, I would've given up, but this was an eARC and I really wanted to give the series a good shot. On paper, this series is for me: queer, set in the 1920's and full of mystery, intrigue and tension. However, I need to be able to connect emotionally to characters to fully buy into a novel and I just cannot with Vivian. I can't put my finger on exactly what it is about her that I just cannot buy into. She's kind of a prickly main character; pretty stubborn and thinks she's more prepared than she is to go into the situations she finds herself in. She also has a nasty habit of lying to the people she cares about the most which honestly grinds my gears to no one. I do like the side characters a lot; I think the dynamic between Vivian, Leo and Honor is really interesting and I like how it's been a slow burn between the love interests. We're still unconfirmed about what the endgame is and I think that's pretty fun for readers. I also liked how the relationships between characters developed in this book from the first. They were expanded, complicated and grew in all different ways. But I just cannot get past the narration. I don't end up hating the novel by any means, but it doesn't call for me to read it or to find out what the mystery is all about. I just slug through it and force myself to pick it up which isn't fun you know? I think this series would definitely be more suited for people who love plot driven narratives, so if that's you, maybe try it out!
June 19, 2023
The Nightingale Mysteries really know how to bring the roaring 1920s atmosphere alive with its speakeasies, jazz music and lingo. I adore the diverse cast and the overall trouble and mayhem that Vivi always finds herself in. Vivi and the whole cast really found a way to have some character growth through these last two books and I really can’t wait to see where it takes them in the books to come.
Although, it took me quite awhile to read this one. The mystery was great, I truly didn’t know who did what, but it felt dragged out a bit. But overall, I love how cozy and lower stakes this mystery feels. It’s easy to just jump into this world and get lost a bit!
Although, it took me quite awhile to read this one. The mystery was great, I truly didn’t know who did what, but it felt dragged out a bit. But overall, I love how cozy and lower stakes this mystery feels. It’s easy to just jump into this world and get lost a bit!
May 19, 2023
A girl’s gotta support her family, even if it’s family by choice. This is exactly what Viv does when Bea’s Uncle dies, even though the coppers believe it was a suicide. With her nose for sniffing out clues and digging, Viv will find the truth, if the truth doesn’t kill her first.
I wish I had read the first one in this series, but I was able to follow along just fine and will fix my mistake by reading the first one very soon. I really love the camaraderie and closeness of not only Viv and Flo, but the speakeasy family. I wish I could go back in time and experience it myself, as a guest for an evening…though the writer really does take you there.
I wish I had read the first one in this series, but I was able to follow along just fine and will fix my mistake by reading the first one very soon. I really love the camaraderie and closeness of not only Viv and Flo, but the speakeasy family. I wish I could go back in time and experience it myself, as a guest for an evening…though the writer really does take you there.
June 8, 2023
DNF at 41%
I really kept trying to truck through this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t read the first book in the series, so I wonder if that is my problem. I couldn’t connect to the characters and get invested into the storyline. I loved the era and the mystery was interesting, but this book just wasn’t for me.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
I really kept trying to truck through this one, but I just couldn’t get into it. I didn’t read the first book in the series, so I wonder if that is my problem. I couldn’t connect to the characters and get invested into the storyline. I loved the era and the mystery was interesting, but this book just wasn’t for me.
Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 13, 2023
Thank you Netgalley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read a copy of The last drop of Hemlock by Katherine Schellman. This is the 2nd book in the Nightingale mysteries. I loved the first book Last call at the Nightingale, with the exception of the abrupt ending and while I enjoyed Last drop, it wasn't as good as Last call. The characters are great, I enjoy the chemistry between Vivian and Leo, and the author made me feel like I was in the twenties at the Nightingale. The mystery was good, but I found the first part of the book somewhat disconnected and I had to go back to the ending of the first book to remind myself of some of the characters. I do recommend this series, and suggest you read Last call at the Nightingale first. 31/2 stars rounded to 4.
August 8, 2024
this perfectly balances the romance of the 1920s timeframe with modern sensibilities, filled with great characters and an intriguing mystery
the whole time i kept thinking how much i’d love reading more books exactly like this, only to be delighted to learn this is actually the second in a series of three! yay!
the whole time i kept thinking how much i’d love reading more books exactly like this, only to be delighted to learn this is actually the second in a series of three! yay!
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