The Lost Girl of Astor Street

November 21, 2016
Chicago, 1924. With Prohibition in full swing, the city is full of mobsters, illegal gin joints, cops on the take, and professionals who benefit from criminal activity. Piper Sail, 18, has a privileged life on Astor Street in Chicago’s tony Gold Coast neighborhood, but when her best friend Lydia is kidnapped, Piper—who has always been considered a bad influence by her teachers and peers due to her independent and often reckless behavior—takes it upon herself to solve the crime. She teams up with detective Mariano Cassano to find out what happened to Lydia, uncovering unsavory information about her neighbors, her new crush (the detective), and even her own family. Morrill (the Ellie Sweet series) crafts a well-plotted mystery novel with plenty of twists, turns, and red herrings. Piper’s determination and attitude make her an engaging protagonist, though her mix of naiveté and nerve can make her character seem inconsistent. Though this is an entertaining mystery, one doesn’t feel especially connected to the time and place in which it is set. Ages 13–up. Agent: Sandra Bishop, Transatlantic Literary.

December 1, 2016

Gr 7 Up-Eighteen-year-old Piper Sail, daughter of a well-to-do 1920s Chicago mobster attorney, isn't an average society girl, like her best friend, Lydia, who is always the perfect lady. Piper is surprised and concerned when Lydia shares her plans to proclaim her love for her quiet and mysterious family chauffeur, Matthew, and she grows even more concerned after Lydia disappears. Consumed with grief over the loss of her best friend, Piper vows to solve the mystery of her disappearance, even if it means resorting to some unconventional and risky investigative methods. Piper has never been one to swoon over boys, but she nonetheless finds herself falling for Det. Mariano Cassano as she searches for clues. As Piper matures and begins to understand her father's profession, she questions her judgment and the character of the handsome detective because of his family's relationship to her father. This coming-of-age tale describes the struggles of a child growing up without a mother to reinforce the behavior so expected of women at the time. It's also the story of a young woman experiencing loss and first love and learning to accept circumstances and people for what and who they really are. Morrill successfully captures the dark side of 1920s Chicago and the mobster mentality. Strong supportive characters add depth to the novel, and the author keeps readers guessing on multiple fronts. VERDICT An enjoyable yet sobering mystery with a surprising twist for inquisitive readers.-Susan Harris, Ridgeway High School, TN

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2016
A debutante eschews convention to investigate the suspicious disappearance of her best friend.With her bobbed hair and plucky attitude, Piper Sail pushes boundaries, but she isn't quite a flapper. Living in 1920s Chicago with her brother and father--a powerful and wealthy attorney--the white teen has enjoyed a life of privilege alongside her best friend, Lydia LeVine, also white and the daughter of an affluent doctor. Lydia suffers from devastating seizures, which her father dismisses until they occur publicly. When Lydia suddenly disappears, Piper, unable to quietly sit by with her hands folded, launches her own investigation. Soon the spirited ingenue finds herself entrenched in a dark web of secrets, speak-easies, and Mafiosi, and everyone--from Lydia's family to their hired help (including a black housekeeper with distressingly stereotyped speech patterns) to Lydia's employer--seems like a prime suspect. Aided by a handsome young detective, Piper plunges herself further into the case, going undercover in an effort to bring Lydia justice, which leads Piper to face some hard truths about her society life. After a somewhat slow and stiff start, readers will be rewarded for their patience as tensions grow and red herrings abound. Morrill has a keen eye for historical details and setting, making Jazz Age Chicago Piper's invisible yet omnipresent sidekick. Here's hoping this won't be the last case for this strong and admirable female sleuth to solve. A mostly well-crafted historical whodunit. (Historical mystery. 12-16)

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November 15, 2016
Grades 9-12 Piper Sail, 18, lives in the choicest area of 1924 Chicago, but that doesn't stop her best friend from disappearing. That event causes headstrong Piper to throw off her socialite trappings and get down and dirty, combing the seedier parts of the city as she tries to discover what happened to Lydia. Because this is almost as much a romance as it is a mystery, Piper has several able fellows hovering about: a police detective, a baseball player, and a journalist. There's a good, solid mystery here, but the many subplots (Piper's family situation; her acquisition of a dog; the inner workings of the Chicago underworld) sometimes intrude, and the Roaring Twenties setting seems more affect than effect. But Piper is a strong, sharp heroine, and her abilitiesfrom stretching the truth to often foolhardy braveryprevent her from being a paper doll. Fans will note that the final pages indicate Piper will have a future seeking out Chicago's underbelly. So more chances to solve another mystery: who's the right guy for her?(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2016, American Library Association.)