Dear Fellow Readers,

It is finally raining here. We have been in near drought conditions. While I am an unknowledgeable gardener, I know that the ground has been way too dry. There is something about the dirt turning to more of a powder when you go to plant than feeling like dirt. Hopefully, this rain will mean that I don’t have to water for a few days.

The Last Drop of Hemlock is not exactly a cozy mystery. While it has elements of a cozy, I think there is more scene setting and character development than I usually see in your typical “cozy”. It is a mystery that has a few twists and turns that will keep you guessing. The book takes place in New York during the Prohibition Era. Vivian Kelly is the main character. She lives with her sister, Florence, in a poor neighborhood. Vivian and Florence were trained as seamstresses while they were in foster care. Florence still works as a seamstress but Vivian works doing deliveries for the tailor shop during the day and as a cocktail waitress at the Nightingale speakeasy at night.

Vivian’s good friend, Bea is the singer at the speakeasy. One night Bea is distraught because her uncle, Posey, was found dead and the police say that he killed himself. Bea is sure that this is wrong and wants Vivian to help her prove it.

This request sends Vivian into the path of gangs of poisoners and thieves. While she is smart and clever, she needs her mysterious boss, Honor, to help her along with a speakeasy customer Lou. Lou has connections and is street-smart. He helps untangle the mystery with Vivian and is there when it seems that despite knowing who was responsible for most of the troubles, she can do nothing.

There are several loose ends that leave us ripe for the next book in the series.

This book was the second in the series. The first was Last Call at the Nightingale. I have not read that book. If you have read this blog before, you know that is not my style. I always try and read books in the correct sequence. I didn’t know there was another book. When I have some time, I would go back to read the first book in the series. I liked the book and would recommend it to you.

I was given this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thanks for reading!