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louisekf's review
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Gun violence, Murder, Violence, and Death
rusereviews's review
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
The Last Drop of Hemlock by Katharine Schellman is a a historical cozy mystery set in Prohibition-era New York City, and the second book in the Nightingale Mysteries series.
Vivian Kelly, former seamstress, is now working part-time at The Nightingale, a speakeasy in 1924 NYC where people can drink, dance, and don't have to hide who they are. Things are looking up for her and her sister, Florence, but times are still hard. Pearlie, a doorman at the club and Viv's best friend Bea's uncle, was recently poisoned. The cops say it was suicide, but Bea is certain he wouldn't have killed himself. And blackmail letters have been floating around their neighborhood as well...
Just like the first book in this series, I had a fun time with this one. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and mysteries and this series continues to be a good melding of the two.
As always, the queer representation in this book is pretty good. Vivian is bisexual and has a love triangle with Honor, the lesbian owner of The Nightingale who always wears men's trousers, and Leo, the rough-and-tumble nephew of the police commissioner. Personally, I would love it if this ends up being a why-choose but we'll see!
There's also more discussion of racism and classism, as Viv and her sister are Irish orphans who were raised by nuns (with allusions to her mother having her children out of wedlock, scandalous at the time) and Nightingale songbird Bea is a black woman. We delve even more into Bea's family in this installment, and we also learn more about a Chinese family and a Latina family as well.
CW: murder, death, poison, firearms
I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions contained herein are my own. The Last Drop of Hemlock releases on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
Vivian Kelly, former seamstress, is now working part-time at The Nightingale, a speakeasy in 1924 NYC where people can drink, dance, and don't have to hide who they are. Things are looking up for her and her sister, Florence, but times are still hard. Pearlie, a doorman at the club and Viv's best friend Bea's uncle, was recently poisoned. The cops say it was suicide, but Bea is certain he wouldn't have killed himself. And blackmail letters have been floating around their neighborhood as well...
Just like the first book in this series, I had a fun time with this one. I'm a huge fan of historical fiction and mysteries and this series continues to be a good melding of the two.
As always, the queer representation in this book is pretty good. Vivian is bisexual and has a love triangle with Honor, the lesbian owner of The Nightingale who always wears men's trousers, and Leo, the rough-and-tumble nephew of the police commissioner. Personally, I would love it if this ends up being a why-choose but we'll see!
There's also more discussion of racism and classism, as Viv and her sister are Irish orphans who were raised by nuns (with allusions to her mother having her children out of wedlock, scandalous at the time) and Nightingale songbird Bea is a black woman. We delve even more into Bea's family in this installment, and we also learn more about a Chinese family and a Latina family as well.
CW: murder, death, poison, firearms
I received a copy of this book to review. All opinions contained herein are my own. The Last Drop of Hemlock releases on Tuesday, June 6, 2023.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Gun violence, and Death
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