A review by leandrathetbrzero
Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River by Emily J. Edwards

adventurous funny lighthearted mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

 *Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for gifting me an e-ARC copy in exchange for this honest review! 

Private investigators Viviana Valentine and Tommy Fortuna are invited upstate to investigate odd noises occurring at the estate of wealthy and eccentric man of science, Buster Beacon. As Viv and Tommy pretend to be unassuming houseguests, the party grows ever more sinister: the strange noises continue, the roads close for snow, and a dead man is discovered among them. Can Viviana figure out who the culprit is before the weather clears, or before another person dies?

I am officially in love with Viviana and her 1950s world of private investigation. She has the perfect amount of street smarts, spunk, and unwavering loyalty. Her sharp tongue consistently makes me laugh, and I just find her character to be extremely likable. In this second installment, I was especially excited to see her working alongside Tommy this time, and I had so much fun experiencing their dynamic as they supported each other’s leads or theories. Naturally, I am a sucker for a good ‘fake dating’ trope, so when the two had to pretend to be engaged while attending Buster’s party, I was on cloud nine! Overall, just a wildly entertaining historical mystery with a vibrant setting, whether Viviana finds herself in New York City or on an expansive country estate.

There were some interesting references to scientific and technological advancement of the time, and these references heavily influenced the mystery plot. It’s obvious that Edwards performed the necessary research to make the plot coherent and keep the political and war history fans entertained. Always impressive when the author proves that they’ve done their research!

I can’t recommend this series enough to those who enjoy historical mysteries, wildly entertaining and sharp women sleuths, and satisfying romantic subplots. I’ve said it once, but I’ll say it again great for fans of Phryne Fisher or her niece Peregrine, His Girl Friday, and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. The voice narrator is fantastic as well for those who enjoy audiobooks or immersive-reading with book + audio!