I lasted all of 2.5% of the eARC audiobook. Even though Piper is an awesome teen FMC who is totally a 1920s Nancy Drew, I didn't love the foreshadowing of her friend Lydia's medical condition and what is likely going to be a fatal diagnosis that only Piper and Lydia's parents know. I don't choose to take the time for the "Oh, fatal illness" trope.

I really enjoyed the narrator, however, this was not a story for me. It did not grab my attention, and I found it hard to come back to finish. The writing was done well, and it is not a knock to the author, it just was not a story for me.

Women just earned the right to vote, prohibition is under way & Piper just wants to live her life without dealing with her soon-to-be stepmother.

However, life takes a few wrong turns and her best friend goes missing. Piper vows to find out what happens to Lydia.

This is the first book that I have listened to by Stephanie Morrill and I really enjoyed it. There were a few things that I was able to guess along the way, but I think that comes from decades of reading mysteries. I already plan on getting the 2nd book in this series.

I'm starting to appreciate Historical mysteries a lot more than I normally would lately so I was excited to start reading this! We follow Piper Sail, who's best friend Lydia goes missing one day, which forces Piper to team up with a handsome detective to try and uncover the truth of what happened to her friend. The book is set during the 1920's (one of my favorite era's) which Morrill does an excellent job bringing to life. I loved the characters and the blossoming romance. The mystery was interesting I was invested into finding out what happened. Excited to start book 2 soon!

Audiobook was great, I've listen to quite a few Megan Trout audiobooks and have liked them all!

Well well well where was little gem hiding?

I love Piper! She is exactly what I was looking for in a FMC!

I love a good whodunnit and this one had just enough intrigue to have me hooked!!

It also wasn't too fluffy which was nice! She was strong and capable and I loved the plot. Such excellent writing and I am excited to see what happens next

4 stars

This is an excellent start to a new series! I absolutely adore Piper and Mariano, and the mystery was spot on. This is a period I don’t read often but I really enjoyed the ambiance of 20s prohibition Chicago! It lent a gravity to the proceedings and really added suspense to the mystery. I was repeatedly surprised by the twists and turns, but loved every minute! Huge thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review!

This was a new to me author and series that I am excited to continue reading! It's a pretty easy read that is mystery meets historical fiction with some very likable and relatable characters. The protagonist, Piper, sort of falls into the role of detective as she endeavors to understand what happened to her childhood best friend. And her journey unearths some family secrets that she can't ignore. I look forward to what is next for Piper and her new crush.

“Morrill has a keen eye for historical details and setting, making Jazz Age Chicago Piper’s invisible yet omnipresent sidekick. A…well-crafted historical whodunit.” —Kirkus Reviews

I don't think this reviewer read the book. You could barely tell the setting

I received this audiobook from NetGalley and devoured it. The story completely captivated me! The narrator, Megan Trout, did a wonderful job giving the many characters in this coming-of-age mystery distinct voices and personalities. I love stories where the female main character solves the crime because she is relentless in asking questions and seeking justice. Set in 1924 Prohibition Chicago, Piper is about to graduate when her best friend, Lydia, is kidnapped. Time is of the essence because Lydia suffers from seizures. When the police have little to go on, Piper sets her sights on doing anything she can to finding her friend. I really appreciated how the author tackled heavier themes of grief, police corruption, organized crime, and what day-to-day life was like for young women in the 1920's. The author also shows Piper's day-to-day life continuing around her even though she is going through this massive trauma. It's something truly unique that we don't often see in YA mysteries. Usually, the entire focus of the character is on the solving the crime. This was a great nod to how we have to navigate traumas in real life when the world keeps on spinning for everyone else. I cannot wait to read the next one!

After a series of DNFs, this was the book that got me out of my slump.

📖Piper's best friend Lydia goes missing. With the help of the handsome detective Mariono, they enter Mafia ruled parts of Chicago to save Lydia.

Set in 1920, Piper's father is a criminal defense attorney. Three doors down, is her best friend Lydia, the daughter of a local doctor.

I loved ❤️

-Piper is a force to be reckoned with. She does not let her age or gender stop her from pursuing justice.

-Mariano has a complex backstory and is the sweetest MMC

-While the emphasis is mostly on the mystery, my romance loving heart adored how this subplot was woven in

-The storytelling immediately immersed me in the culture and time period. Side characters were well written with full personalities

I didn’t love 🤔

-The descriptions of acts of violence

-It is advertised as a cozy mystery, but there was definitely more violence and some details than cozy mysteries I've read before

🕵‍♀️🕵‍♀️🕵‍♀️🕵‍♀️🕵‍♀️🕵‍♀️

Overall I enjoyed it. I thought about the mystery when I wasn't reading. I'm glad book 2 is already out.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

❓️Would you want to visit Chicago today?

My answer in the comments

Thank you #Netgalley for the copy

8.5/10: 4.25⭐️’s rounded to 4⭐️’s.
What a charming book!! Narrator, Megan Trout, was excellent.
It’s 1924 in Chicago. Piper Sail’s best friend, Lydia, disappears and Piper investigates with the help of detective Mariano and a few other friends, although not all are exactly willing participants.
Piper is an absolutely delightful character. I was constantly forgetting that she is only 18 and just finishing high-school when this occurs. I loved so many of the characters. Walter, Mariano, Emma, Cole, Father, even Nick turned out to be a decent guy!
I had an inkling of who the culprit turned out to be. Tagging along on the investigation was so much fun, Although quite sad at times, it was also full of warmth and love. This is the first book I have listened to or read by this author and it won’t be the last. I am headed off to find out what happens in Piper’s next investigation as soon as I hit submit!

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to listen to this book. I enjoyed it so much. All opinions are my own.

Original rating and review posted: 9/6/25

The Lost Girl of Astor Street was a great historical mystery book. I thought it was fast paced and easy to follow. Narration was great as well.

*actual rating 3.75 stars rounded up

I was in the mood for a historical fiction when I saw the second book of this series and - not to make the same mistake twice - decided to listen to The Lost Girl of Astor Street, book one in the Piper Sails Mystery series, first to keep the chronology. I believe this book was originally published in physical format in 2017, and is now being released in audio format to coincide with the upcoming sequel, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street.

I enjoyed this although it's not a new favourite. I liked the 1920s Chicago setting, and I really enjoyed the twists as Piper uncovers what happened to her friend Lydia; and despite how early on Lydia goes missing, the author weaved Lydia's importance and friendship with Piper's story that I cared about what happened to her. Also a hint of romance that adds to the storyline rather than overpowers - so refreshing, especially for a YA/NA audience!

I liked the narrator's accent and pacing, sometimes a quick rewind was needed to fully grasp some things but no major auditory issues that I experienced.

Definitely going to listen to book 2 soon!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for providing me access to an arc copy in exchange for an honest review. All feelings and statements are my own.

What happens when a Chicago girl has her best friend vanish? Piper uses every means possible to locate her. Detective Mariano Cassana enters Piper Sails' world when she hands him a list of things they said and did the day before her friend went missing. Did she elope with her new love? Did she experience one of her fainting spells? Inquiring minds wanted to know. In an effort to unravel the mystery surrounding the disappearance of her closest friend Lydia, 18-year-old Piper Sail assumes the role of amateur investigator.

I found myself drawn to Piper Sail, a high-society schoolgirl, and the 1920s setting. I liked the community, their friendships, and their character development. I was instantly drawn into the drama when Piper sets off on her own quest to find her best friend. She was convinced the police weren't looking in the right area.

Piper is headstrong and frequently jumps in with both feet, oblivious to the fact that she is endangering herself and others. For me, it kind of stalled after readers discovered where her friend is. The intensity builds again as the story nears the end. I enjoyed this story and was thrilled to learn of a new author. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.

Note: This book was originally published in 2017. I listened to the audio book and loved how the narrator used different accents to make the story come alive.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I requested and received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog https://psalm516.blogspot.com/

This is a solid little book. Easy to listen to. Well written and narrated. Meets expectations exactly. Only warning is that there is mention of a cat dying from poisoning.

Cute fast moving YA historical mystery story about a young girl investigating the disappearance of her best friend in 1920s Chicago. Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins Focus/ Blink books for a review copy for a honest review.

📚ARC REVIEW📚
The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
Publication Date: 5 August 2025
Rating: 3,5✨️

I was truly pleasantly surprised by this book. I went in knowing very little, I just grabbed it from Netgalley, because I had never tried an audiobook through them before and I wanted to get a new experience. The writing of this book is really good and the narrator truly brings it to life in this audio version. I had a lovely time with Piper Sail.

Despite Lydia disappearing very early on in the book, the author has done a great job making us care for her through the love Piper has for her. It was very easy to connect to Piper and feel her struggles, I was contemplating who to date right along with her, Sweet Walter, Lovely Jerimiah, or Mysterious Detective Mariano. It just felt very real, you could clearly see how much research the author has put in and her love for these characters and the book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blink for this ARC

This was a well written historical mystery. I enjoyed the MC and am looking forward to the next one i the series.

The story was interesting but I found it to be slow passed an a bit hard to get through at times because of the passing, I didn't full get excited till close to the end,when everything started to come together.
Certain character voices were also really jaring to listen to, I'm not use to a strong Chicago accent

Still going to check out the next story in the series as I found the characters to be very interesting

I couldn’t stop listening and am ready to dive straight into book 2.

This book has everything I could have wanted - great characters, tension and drama.

I love that the female characters in this book are so strong. They each show strength in different ways and I love the message it gives that we all have the power in us. We don’t have to be the same to be seen and be bold.

The plot was well written and had plenty of twists to keep you guessing. I liked how different elements combined throughout.

#TheLostGirlofAstorStreet #NetGalley