Interesting era to read about from the view of impoverished Irish sisters and the New York scene during Prohibition years. The plot was fairly convoluted and at times seemed repetitive in the twists. Strong characterizations and subtlety with the gay/lesbian inclinations were well written. Story pacing a bit uneven but overall an engaging mystery. Didn't find the wrap up very well finessed. Perhaps a lead into Book 2?

Note added after posting review: the author wrote a fascinating "Afterword" at the end of her story, all about the Jazz Age in New York, and the cultural changes that accelerated societal norms to change during Prohibition (1920-1933). ( )

Thanks to NetGalley, and Minotaur books for access to an eARC for an honest review.

This was such a solid book for me. It personally took me a few days to really dive in due to this being my first eBook I've read for pleasure, however once I started I quickly devoured the rest of the story.

Set in 1920s New York City, is a perspective I have yet to read before, a queer murder mystery. Vivian Kelly just wants to enjoy her time dancing at The Nightingale, a speakeasy during Prohibition. But her fun nights at the jazz club are suddenly upturned when she and her friend find a dead man in the alley outside the club. Vivian is tasked with finding information on a handsome newcomer, Leo Green, who suddenly begins showing up the night after the murder, by the female club owner, Honor Huxley, that has taken a shine to Vivian in more ways than professional. Vivian struggles to balance her home life (with her prudish sister, Florence, who disapproves of Vivian’s nightlife), her work life (a view into a 1920’s young woman’s career options), her nightlife (The Nightingale was open to all, regardless of wealth, class, race or sexual orientation—and the reader is able to see Vivian sort through the feelings she develops for both Leo and Honor) and this new job of trying to gather the puzzle pieces of who was involved with the murder of Willard Wilson.

I found the scenes between the sisters to be the most compelling. While not completely opposite from each other, Florence is shocked and dismayed at Vivian’s lifestyle, the late nights at the illegal jazz club. In my opinion however, it was their love for each other that drives them both, and in the end that love is what drives Vivian to make her choices, not the tension between Viv and Leo or Viv and Honor. I wish that there was more time given to fully flush out the sisters’ relationship, or at least dive more deeply into Florence's background.

I think this would be a great book for high schoolers and up to read. There is some violence (Vivian is involved in a couple altercations) and some light gore (dead body, a man dying after being shot), and implications of child sexual abuse. There is some sexual tension, but no actual scenes depicting sex acts. I believe high school and up would be an appropriate audience. ( )

Needs a stronger editor to clean up some messy sentences. I'd also ask a fact checker to look at some possible anachronisms. ( )

I didn´t find it "captivating". ( )

I thought I was going to love this book, it had all the elements - New York City, 1924 - an underground jazz club during the era of prohibition, very interesting characters, a murder crying to be solved, a protagonist while downtrodden with enough spunk and moxie for a dozen. So why did it leave me wanting more? Confusing semi-stereotypes that walk a thin line and are always looking back over their shoulder and skirting the margins. A time when information was the mostly precious currency used to keep the wealthy at the top of the protected heap, the poor down and in their place, the troubled always on the edge tilting toward ruin and worse.

They all hang out at the Nightingale, Vivian the poor seamstress who has yet to figure out much less declare her sexual identity and only wants to keep dancing, Beatrice the waitress who happens to be Vivian’s best friend and black so we know what her social status is in 1924 NYC, Danny, the bartender who happens to be Chinese tries to protect so many, Mags the young heiress who loves to go slumming as long as she can do it with glamour, Leo who might or might not be a thug and is most definitely interested in Vivian, and Ms. Honor Huxley at the very center of everything to do with The Nightingale.

A murder, a raid, a night in jail, a deal to be made, a twist, a turn, another red herring, another twist, and while the action moved the story forward something just seemed to be missing and hovering at the edge. A solid 3-1/2 stars that I am rounding up. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for a copy. ( )