The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman

The Last Drop of Hemlock

by Katharine Schellman

Series: Nightingale Mysteries #2
Series Rating:
Published by Minotaur Books on June 6, 2023
Setting: New York
Genres: Historical Mystery
Pages: 336
Format: Kindle
Source: NetGalley
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Get Your Copy at: Amazon, Books-A-Million

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.

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.

The First Book

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman.

Until the next time,

 

Reading this book contributed to these challenges:

• Jenz 2023 ABC Soup Authors RC
• Jenz 2023 Beachcombers Mystery RC
• Jenz 2023 Cloak and Dagger
• Jenz 2023 Craving the Cozies
• Jenz 2023 Cruisin' thru the Cozies
• Jenz 2023 Goodreads RC
• Jenz 2023 Medical Examiner RC
• Jenz 2023 Six Shooter

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