Searching for answers, Zia enters the shadowy underworld of speakeasy The Orchid Hour. In Little Italy, New York, during the heady atmosphere of the Roaring Twenties, a young widow named Zia De Luca finds herself at the center of a murder investigation. "Nancy Bilyeau has created a beautifully layered and utterly seductive tale… and, at its living, tender heart, a strong-willed and magnetic heroine." – Emilya Naymark, author of Behind the Lie, finalist for the 2023 Sue Grafton Award
There is a certain hour, in the dead of night, when the orchid’s scent can put you under a spell… I volunteered to read it and give my honest opinions. Thanks to Lume Books and NetGalley for this ARC. For me, it was a perfect historical mystery with excellent character development. The book really pulled together all the many, many details about this murder mystery at the end, it left me very sad when the book was finished, not because of the ending (which was awesome!) but because I wanted the story to go on and on. Watkin’s and Audenzia’s friendship was a joy (and sad) to see develop. The danger and racism at that time was captivating to read about. I didn’t know what it was like to live in NYC in the 20’s, so I learned a bit as well. It made the story suspenseful and fun at the same time. My heart was in my throat as the danger got worse, but the book made me smile too, as the Italian accents were perfect. And I love libraries! So these four things made the book unputdownable for me! It was a slow burn for the first 3 chapters, and by chapter four, the tension was fast-building. I fell in love with the main character Audenzia, right from the start. From a New Yorker’s perspective, this book is spot on when describing New York City and its famous neighborhoods, love that! The roaring jazz age of the 20’s feels like a fresh timeline when reading historical fiction.
Five out of five stars, as a NYC, murder mystery, and historical fiction lover. "I needed this book as a New Yorker in this post-pandemic world because NYC was, and always will be, heaven on earth.
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