Book Review – Last Call at the Nightingale

STATS

Genre:	Historical Mystery	Amazon Rating:	4.1
Publication Date:	2022	Goodreads Rating:	3.6
Pages:	325	POV:	3rd, past

DISCLAIMER:  

1. Trigger Warnings.  Should you desire trigger warnings, please seek them out.  If you do not know where to look for said warnings, I found this article from Book Riot to be a helpful starting place.  
2. Spoilers.  I apologize in advance, but there will probably be some small spoilers.  I try to limit discussion to information found in the cover copy.  If you are sensitive to spoilers, you may want to skip My REST section.  

SETUP.

Set in 1924 New York City, Vivian wants nothing more than to forget the drudgery of her seamstress job, her tenement living, and the oppressive eye of her older sister by dancing away her trouble at The Nightingale, her favorite speakeasy where all are welcome. However, when Vivian and Bea, her best friend and waitress at the club, discover a dead body in the alley behind the speakeasy, her safe haven is threatened. What at first glance looks like an easily explainable murder of an unknown bootlegger, quickly turns into a more complex mystery involving the powerful elite and the disposability the City’s poor. Vivian must dive into the underbelly of New York, maneuvering through thugs, crooked police, and the wealthy and powerful, to unravel this mystery. Will Vivian be able to discover answers before her family, friends, and she, too are consider disposable?

MY WHY; or, What I Thought I’d Like About This Book.

I like mysteries and I like the 1920s.  In fact, I’ve recently found myself doing a lot of research into the American 1920s, World War I, political tension, the presidencies, racial tension, immigration, prohibition, etc.  Needless to say, I’ve found a rabbit hole.

The cover drew me in, with its art deco frame and backlit liquor bottles. Then when the blurb talked about a speakeasy and tenement living, I knew we weren’t going to be exploring a Gatsby world.  I’m reeled in.  And the final hook: 

Buy.  (Plus, I have a soft spot for the name Vivian.)

NOTEWORTHY ELEMENTS.  (You decide if they are Pros or Cons.)

1. The Nightingale.  Not a glitzy Gatsby party, but a gritty New York speakeasy where all are welcome regardless of wealth, race, sexuality, or religion.  I found the Nightingale with its all-inclusive policy and female owner, slightly idyllic, but I enjoyed reading about it.  Was it improbable that such a speakeasy existed?  Yes.  But was it impossible?  No.  Plus, Schellman does a great job exploring the tension and conflict between wealth, race, sexuality, and religion outside of the Nightingale that I welcomed the safe haven of the speakeasy.  I think we all need to have an everyone-welcome-here place in our lives, or at least believe that such a place could exist.

2. The mystery.  It was a well plotted mystery with a few twists and turns along the way that I really enjoyed.

3. A love triangle (sort of).  I hesitate to mention this because I know people have strong feelings about love triangles.  I will admit that I did a little eye roll when I realized what was happening, however the love triangle does tie into Vivian’s development and motivations.  Plus, this is going to be a series, so you can’t exactly have her fall in love with her forever person in the first book.  Where’s the sexual tension in that? Just know I’m rooting for you, Honor, but I hope you get your shit together because your words and your actions weren’t always aligning.  

4. Vivian is young.  She is bold.  She is headstrong.  She can be selfish at times, and she makes mistakes.  And that is all okay.  As much as this story is a mystery, it is also, in part, a coming-of-age story for Vivian.  She grew up sheltered by her older sister and an orphanage and now she’s stepping out in the world, questioning the norm, and trying to find her place.  I love that Vivian has a safe, judgment-free place in The Nightingale to explore herself.

5. Strong Female Characters.  Even if not all the female characters are “likeable,” Schellman did a good job of showing why they are doing what they are doing, aka motivation.  All the women are strong in their own right.  

6. The Historical Piece.   Apart from the improbability of the Nightingale, as I mentioned above, the tensions and atmosphere reflected much of my own research regarding the 1920s in New York City.  The majority of Americans were not living The Great Gatsby style of life.  There was division based on wealth and religion, but also immigration status, how long you’d lived in America, country of origin, political affiliation, etc. which Schellman captured, as well as portraying the sense of lawlessness at the time due, in part, to prohibition. Money and power spoke, many police were on the take or carried personal prejudice into the job, so who do you turn to when you need help.  I think Schellman did a great job balancing the history and essence of New York City in the 1920s, and providing enough detail to flavor the story, but not completely overwhelm it. 

7. Strong Family Themes.  Whether it’s Bea and her connection to her family, or Vivian with her ties to her sister, or Honor, the Nightingale’s owner, and the found family she is creating at her club, family runs strong in this story.  (If you’re not familiar with found family, it’s what it sounds like: the family you choose.)  I hope Schellman continues to grow and strengthen these connections as the series continues.  

My REST.  (Reaction. Experience. Summary. Thoughts.) 

Ultimately this is a story, one of many that I’ve read recently, that is about those with power getting away with murder, often literally.  Schellman explores the Haves and Have-Nots through the lens of the 1920s.  The mystery was solid, and the backdrop was engaging.  While I wouldn’t label this a “cozy” mystery, – I know there’s a whole subgenre of 1920s English estate murder mysteries that are cozy – there wasn’t a lot of gore or violence on page.  (But do not take my word if you are sensitive to these elements; please double check.)  I also appreciated the gray in Schellman’s story, which is another reason why I wouldn’t categorize this in the cozy section.  There wasn’t just “good” and “bad” and one simple “right” truth, there was nuance and complexity and shades of gray, which I enjoyed exploring. 

I think if you like a mystery, are interested in the 1920s, speakeasies and prohibition, and you don’t mind a younger protagonist, then you might enjoy this book.  So far there are two books out in the series.  The Last Drop of Hemlock, book two, was released in June of this year and I hope to get to it soon.

Thus concludes an in-depth book review of Katharine Schellman’s Last Call at the Nightingale.  Hope you enjoyed.  I’ll catch you the next time I pop my head up out of a book.