The Last Drop of Hemlock

by Katharine Schellman Narrated by Sara Young

Overview

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.

Editorial Reviews

AUGUST 2023 - AudioFile

As whispers about the dead abound in a 1920s speakeasy at the start of this audiobook, Sara Young's narration adds to listeners' curiosity. Vivian Kelly, a dancer at the illegal club, begins looking into the death of her friend's uncle, a former customer, with the help of Leo, a shady guy who is also associated with the club. The uncle's death was reported to be a suicide--but Vivian is suspicious. Young makes Vivian sound both determined and nervous, adding to the effectiveness of scenes in which she wheedles answers from reluctant people who may have clues to what happened. Young also captures Vivian's inner conflict as she weighs her romantic feelings for both Leo and Honor, the woman who runs the nightclub. Young's delivery of Schellman's cliff-hangers keeps listeners on the hook. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

"Vivid . . . A brisk and bubbly period whodunit with a pair of indomitable heroines." —Kirkus Reviews

“The sequel to Last Call at the Nightingale is a riveting historical mystery set in New York City’s demimonde.” —Library Journal

“Schellman’s real strength is the rich sense of time and place she creates.” —St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“A perfect summer read.” —Red Carpet Crash

“Some intriguing developments have me ready and eager for the next installment in the series.” —Dear Reader

"This entertaining book moves along swiftly to its conclusion.” —Deadly Pleasures

Praise for Last Call at the Nightingale:

A Library Journal "Best Crime Fiction of 2022"
A Publishers Weekly Mystery/Thriller Summer Reads 2022 Pick
One of Goodreads' 2022 "Spring's Most Anticipated New Mysteries"
One of BookPage's "Four Best June Mysteries"
A Bustle "Most Anticipated Book of June 2022"
A Virginia Living "Notable Spring Book"
A GO Magazine "Slide Into Spring and Summer with these Fabulously Gay Reads"

"Fizzy . . . Vivian is a terrific character, plucky and resourceful, determined to choreograph a different life for herself."—New York Times Book Review

"Excellent . . . Vivian proves to be a most imaginative sleuth. Readers will eagerly await her return."—Publishers Weekly (Starred)

"The well-developed supporting cast is diverse in race gender, and sexuality, and the suspense will keep readers guessing until the end."—BookPage (Starred)

"A compelling, atmospheric series debut. Schellman expertly creates a strong sense of pace, introducing a nightclub as a world where people of different races, classes, and sexual orientations can come together."—Library Journal

"A Jazz Age murder thrusts a good-time girl into the uncomfortable role of secret shamus . . . A colorful period crime yarn with a heroine with rooting for."—Kirkus Reviews

"Readers will love Last Call at the Nightingale for its twisting plot, its flair for historical detail and its inclusive cast of appealing characters. Don't look away, as the surprises keep coming until the final page."—Shelf Awareness

“One of the pleasures of Last Call at the Nightingale is how the city thrusts the characters together, across the socioeconomic spectrum and racial and ethnic divides . . . the Nightingale is a world unto itself.”—BookTrib

“[Schellman] touches on issues of segregation, poverty, and class divides with a deft hand that leaves plenty of room for a very satisfying murder mystery with a great deal of heart.”—Mystery & Suspense

"This debut from Katharine Schellman is as thrilling as it gets. For any fans of mystery looking for a new spin on a beloved genre, here’s your next great summer read."—BuzzFeed Books

"As with the Nightingale club, the mystery plot crosses lines of class, gender, and ethnicity. This novel plays with our expectations and keeps our attention on every fast-moving page. Highly recommended."—Historical Novels Review

"Schellman has thoroughly researched the people and the mores of the period, and skillfully uses characters of different sexes and races that the reader slowly determines. Subtle, blatant, the book begs the question: 'When’s the next one?'"—Lavender Magazine

"Last Call at the Nightingale is a sexy, fun romp through the Jazz Age. With a well-plotted mystery and applause-worthy female characters, readers will soak up this spellbinding read."—Michelle Gable, New York Times bestselling author of A Paris Apartment and The Bookseller's Secret

"This sharply paced, queer murder mystery, set in 1920s New York City, offers equal amounts of atmosphere, danger, and crime-solving. Schellman is at the top of her craft and delivers a murder mystery with clever twists and turns and memorable personalities."—Denny S. Bryce, Bestselling Author of Wild Women and the Blues

"Complete with speakeasies, mobsters, and an unflappable flapper as its heroine, this is a book that should be savored with a glass of bootleg gin in one hand and a 78 of Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five on the gramophone."—Allison Montclair, author of The Right Sort of Man

"Brimming with Jazz Age atmosphere, suspense, and a cast of engaging characters. Vivian is smart and gutsy, a character you’ll root for. I’m already looking forward to her next adventure!"—Ashley Weaver, author of the Amory Ames and Electra McDonnell series

"Original, bold, and sexy. This delicious mystery takes you to the Nightingale, a club where people can be who they really are, but everyone has secrets. Dirty doings among New York's elite, family drama, and more than one love story make for a fantastic start to a great new series."—Mariah Fredericks, author of the Jane Prescott series

AUGUST 2023 - AudioFile

As whispers about the dead abound in a 1920s speakeasy at the start of this audiobook, Sara Young's narration adds to listeners' curiosity. Vivian Kelly, a dancer at the illegal club, begins looking into the death of her friend's uncle, a former customer, with the help of Leo, a shady guy who is also associated with the club. The uncle's death was reported to be a suicide--but Vivian is suspicious. Young makes Vivian sound both determined and nervous, adding to the effectiveness of scenes in which she wheedles answers from reluctant people who may have clues to what happened. Young also captures Vivian's inner conflict as she weighs her romantic feelings for both Leo and Honor, the woman who runs the nightclub. Young's delivery of Schellman's cliff-hangers keeps listeners on the hook. J.A.S. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID:	2940178006900
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	06/06/2023
Series:	The Nightingale Mysteries , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged

Videos