4.5 stars. An enjoyable cosy mystery set in 1920s Chicago, featuring Piper Sail who again investigates a mystery locally. This times it’s not the death of someone she knows, but the brother of a girl at her former school (where she’s now started working after graduation), as the police have said it was suicide but the sister doesn’t believe that…

All our favourite characters return from the first book, and this has a slightly more fleshed out mystery, so if you liked The Lost Girl of Astor Street, then I think you’ll definitely like this one.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.

After an 8 year gap from when the first in the series was published, I was so happy to see this 2nd Piper Sails book. The story picks up seemlessly after the first one, and the growth of the characters flows smoothly. Piper is still grieving the loss of her best friend and is floundering, trying to figure out what direction her life should take. Because Piper deliberately sets out the investigate this mystery, the plot proceeded in a more step-by-step manner, with a bit less of a thriller feel. But it is still a many-layered mystery with well-developed characters. A good choice even for younger teen readers. There are hints that there could be a book three. I, for one, certainly hope so!

I really enjoyed the first one, and this surpassed that. The mystery was more intriguing, and had more twists and turns than the first one. The characters relationships continued developing well, and I really enjoyed the author acknowledging how people would have actually treated Piper in the 1920s, rather than just pretending that her working as a private detective would have been fine. I also thought Piper’s own thoughts on being a private detective played out really nicely, from ‘oh no I can’t’ to ‘I work for a private detective’ to ‘I am a private detective’. Overall really enjoyable. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Move over Nancy Drew, a new young female detective is in town.

I really enjoyed this story. The mystery was a much stronger one than the first book and its clear that the author has gotten more confident with her characters and her setting. Piper is introduced to a girl whose brother committed suicide - a fact the sister refuses to accept. Eager to prove herself and find her own way in the world, she takes on the case but it quickly proves to be one full of many twists and turns. The case was fun, Piper deserved to solve it.

Just as good as Piper's investigation was the way in which the author explored the aftermath of a tragedy. Grief litters the pages, different people dealing with different issues in different ways. Each person's grief feels very real and honest, sometimes raw.

Mariano, Piper's boyfriend, is as adorable as ever, albeit with his own issues. My only compliant was there wasn't nearly enough of him, but I love how comforting and supportive he was, as well as proud of who she was.

~Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review~

There is a touch of Nancy Drew in Piper Sail, the new mystery investigator.
Set in the 1920’s, Piper has finished school and is at a loss of what to do with herself. Previously, as a student, her best friend was kidnapped and murdered. Piper was the one who discovered the truth and it set her life course on a different path.
A job offer to be secretary at her old school allows her time to work and also to investigate a new crime. Louisa, a student, approaches Piper with a case. Her older brother committed suicide a few months previously and Louisa is convinced it was murder. Piper takes the case and begins investigating and it leads her to some unsavoury and seedy places- this is 1920’s Chicago with mobsters, prohibition and speak easy’s. As the truth begins to emerge, Piper really needs to consider several key questions and characters in order to get to the facts.
This is a well written and intriguing mystery- I wish I had read the first one but I will find it and read about the first mystery Piper solves. I believe there is another one already published so will be hunting that down as well.