The second book in this series and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

It follows on from the first book and the plot is particularly interesting.
There is a focus not just on the case but the personal relationships between the characters as well.

Perfect for those who enjoy solving a crime.

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

After finishing the first one in a pretty short timespan I thought why not grab the second one too. And to my pleasant surprise once again, I think I liked this one even more than The Lost Girl. Piper is really becoming her own person. She has finished High School and is kind of stuck on what to do now. Uni doesn't really seem like her and all she really wants is to become a private investigator. Sadly, with this being the 1920's that is not a job women are allowed to do. However, Piper might have just find a way to work around that.

I thoroughly enjoyed, and once again I really loved the characters. I adore how supportive Emma (Piper's closest friend) and Mariano (Piper's boyfriend) are of what Piper wants and does. The difference between Jeremiah being protective by telling her not to do things and Mariano being protective by doing things with her, really shows me she made the right choice. Although I did kind of miss Walter in this one, he was a lovely friend/older brother to Piper. Her real older brothers were also still fun in this book tho.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blink for this ARC

A very fun read and great follow up to the first in this series. The author had be guessing until close to the end. Love the plot twists.

The long awaited sequel to The Lost Girl of Astor Street find Piper Sail navigating life after high school, and taking on the case of a investigating a young man's mysterious death.
An engaging read that brings to life the class divide of the the 1920's, as Piper balances her life as a society girl where an advantageous marriage is still expected and her investigations into the seedier mafia underside of Chicago. A well written read that evokes the time period well, and does a good job of presenting complex family dynamics, and coming of age in 1920's Chicago, we see Piper's home life change as well as her relationship with Mariano mature and grow.

A solid historical fiction read that deals with tough topics, growing up, family, and love. I liked that we see Piper deal with not knowing all the answers, but pushing forward and searching for answers. She's ready for the most daring of challenges, and is spunky enough to take risks in search of truth. Great balance between the mystery, as well as character growth and interactions, with a compelling storyline. It didn't disappoint!

Excellent narration that draws you into the story, and loathe to push pause.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a fun one. I love the historical info as well as Piper kind of bucking the normal of the time. She wants to work and drive and do all the things that the men don't think women should do. Glad her fella is supportive. I did guess who the bad guy was early on but still enjoyed the story.

If Sherlock Holmes and Nancy Drew had a baby and that baby grew up to be a 1920s Chicago socialite with zero chill about justice...

Listen, I picked up The Secret Investigator of Astor Street expecting a quaint mystery with some light sleuthing and maybe a swoon-worthy romance subplot. What I got was Piper Sail: part bloodhound, part bulldozer, and 100% unstoppable force of nature who makes Jessica Fletcher look like a casual hobbyist.

Our girl Piper doesn't just investigate mysteries—she becomes the mystery. "Where did my friend go?" turns into "Why am I now personally involved with Chicago's entire criminal underworld?" faster than you can say "but I'm just a debutante!" The woman has the investigative subtlety of a marching band, and honestly? It works.

And can we talk about Mariano? This man showed up to be a love interest and accidentally became the voice of reason, which must have been exhausting for him. Poor guy's just trying to be supportive while Piper treats every social gathering like a potential crime scene. "Would you like to dance?" "Not now, Mariano, I'm analyzing suspicious mustache patterns."

Morrill writes 1920s Chicago like she personally attended every speakeasy and can confirm the gin quality. The historical details are so rich you'll start expecting a flapper to walk out of your closet. The mystery itself has more twists than a pretzel factory, and just when you think you've figured it out, Piper uncovers another layer that makes you question everything you thought you knew about wealthy Chicago society (spoiler: they're all hiding something).

Fair warning: this book will make you want to wear pearls and solve crimes, possibly simultaneously. Side effects may include an irresistible urge to investigate your neighbors and an unhealthy obsession with 1920s fashion.

The Verdict: Four stars because it's absolutely delightful, even if Piper's detective methods gave me anxiety. Sometimes the best mysteries are the ones where you're not sure if the protagonist is brilliantly intuitive or just really lucky. Either way, I'm here for it.

P.S. - Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own, as is my newfound desire to own a magnifying glass.

Title: The Secret Investigation of Astor Street
Series: Piper Sail Mystery Book #2
Author: Stephanie Morrill
Format: 🎧
Narrator: Megan Trout
Publisher: Harper Collins Focus/Blink
Genre: Mystery Thriller, Historical, Teen/YA
Audiobook Pub Date was: August 5, 2025
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
Pages: 384

Was drawn to this novel as it reminded me of how and when my love of mysteries started. I lived in a small town where the Library was run by volunteers so opened in the afternoons. I would sit on the steps outside and wait for it to open so I could get my next Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew novels. However, Piper gets more involved!

Setting Chicago 1920
Piper Sail has graduated high school with no plans to go to colleges as she wants to be a detective. She is currently working in the student’s records Department at the school where she attended.
Last year she solved the case of her missing best friend Lidia. However, in 1920 an eighteen-year-old society girls- actually any female - it wasn’t done! They were mothers and if worked they were teachers, nurses or a secretary.
Piper is dating a police investigator so figures she has a chance to get into investigation work. .Especially when she is approached by a former classmate who wants her to look into her brother Clarence’s recent death. The police ruled it a suicide, but she is convinced it was murder. She wants Piper to help her prove it. Piper, of course, is willing to help!- plus will be paid was a PI.
Her investigation shows her a difference side of Clarence. He may have been a model student but got ‘kicked out’ of college for cheating plus is hanging out with a crowd at the “The Fox’ a popular Chicago casino. When she meets Elspeth who was dating Clarence and works at “The Fox’[ Piper knows she must go there and speak to Liam in particular but the others as well. However, “The Fox’ is not a place for women-unless a stripper or any gal who works there. Elspeth tells her that the boss is going to be out of town and she can get Piper in as her helper as a Cigarette Girl but will need to wear a costume – Piper thinks Yikes!

I really enjoyed this and looking forward to Book #3. I like her blossoming relationship with Mariano and hope more develops in the next adventure,

It was fun for me as that Piper reminds me a bit of Nancy Drew.
In fact, I was drawn to this novel as it reminded me of how and when my love of mysteries started. I lived in a small town where the Library only opened in the afternoons. I would sit on the steps outside and wait for it to open so I could get my next Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew novel.
True, Piper gets far more involved!

At the end of the book, author Stephanie Morrell does tell us that the story is Historical Fiction and yes there is a lot that did happen in Chicago in the 1920 but also tells us the parts that she took liberties and used her imagination.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harper Collins Focus/Blink for this audiobook.
Audiobook Publishing Date was August 5, 2025.

(A Piper Sail Mystery #2) by Stephanie Morrill and narrated by Megan Trout ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to Harper Collins Focus /Blink, Stephanie Morrill and NetGalley for giving me early access to this audiobook for review! All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Piper Sail is a bit at loose ends after the death of her best friend and her own near death experience. She takes on a “case” to help a friend of a friend solve her brother’s death that was ruled a suicide. Piper is worried about the state of her relationship with her detective boyfriend and her friends are worried about her.

I really enjoyed this clean, historical, new adult mystery. In fact, I liked it better than the first book of the series. This book seemed to have a slightly more cozy mystery feel than the first one. For the most part, these characters are well written but, I do wish there would have been more of the detective boyfriend in this book. Piper wrestles with her self esteem and self worth for most of the book and by the end of the book she makes the necessary adjustments to go forward productively. While this is an awesome lesson to teach young ladies, I don’t know how historically accurate it is to the time period of this book. As I stated, overall this a well written, and fun mystery, and I will more than glad to read the next one.

This audiobook was well done. I think Megan Trout did a great job with the narration. My only criticism would be that it would have been great to hear a bit of Chicago in the accent.

I think any lover of clean cozy mysteries would enjoy this book, especially those who enjoy historical ll ones! Those people looking for a character 💯 accurate to the time period might not like this book.

Another great story. This is the second book in the Piper Sail's Mystery series. I absolutely love that this one builds off the previous book and picks up shortly after The Lost Girl of Astor Street (book 1) leaves off. I'm particularly fond when series that pick up right where the previous book left off or shortly after the previous book left off (within a few months in the timeline).

I've been getting into more historical fiction as of late, and this series mixes perfectly with my love of cosy mysteries. We're in the Roaring 20s, and Piper has just finished high school and is moving on to the next phase in her life. While other girls are looking for a husband, Piper is trying her best to become a private investigator.

There's a mix of romance in this that I adore. We have the man her father would prefer her to be with and the man Piper admits she loves (that kinda mixes with the Chicago mafia, but he's trying to be a good guy). I can't wait to see how this all plays out in the future, and looking forward to the next book. I can see this quickly becoming another cosy mystery series I adore, and immediately need the next book right after the new one comes out.

I was absolutely enthralled by this book. I got hooked onto the first book in the series and started this one immediately after. Stayed up till 2 am listening to this (I'm not a night owl) and I have no regrets. Everything about the story was so convincing and satisfying, I am in awe. It's a mystery at it's core, but I love that the author takes the time to expand on Piper's life outside of the sleuthing, and her range of very relatable roadblocks and emotions.

The romance in this one is top notch, chef's kiss, every compliment I could ever give. I was initially hoping she got together with Jeremiah, but the author gave me plenty reason to appreciate Mariano and everything he bought to the story. After all the drama with them, I'm glad there was a good conversation that played out between them, and I'm very pleased with the way their communication skills were developed and shone through.

Life progresses onward with other characters too, and we get glimpses of Piper's father and Jane's married life. I appreciate how there's themes handled with sensitivity and care, conversations surrounding the family were truly captivating. The story has a beautiful flow to it, is so easy to read and get addicted to. I love Piper so much! I'm genuinely bursting with joy and applauds for this perfection of a book and characters. The narrator has done a great job that just adds to this experience.

Only downside is that I miss seeing Walter and more of Nick. I think they were splendid side characters in the first book, and I would've loved for them to be a bigger part of this book. I'm hoping they do get more showtime in the third book. I'm also desperately praying for the third book to come out ASAP, it's a need at this point. Stephanie Morrill, you are a genius and an amazing author, thank you for this gen of a book. I can't wait to read more.

Wow, this book was just as good as book 1. Piper has a lot going on again. Her relationship with Mariano is on a slippery slope, she's been asked to investigate a suicide, she has a new job, some unexpected news on the home front and gets into trouble as always.

But our intrepid investigator is smart and works through her issues and cases like a pro. You see growth in her as the series moves along.

Another great delivery by the author (the book) and the narrator (reading).

I listened to the audiobook version of The Secret Investigator of Astor Street written by Stephanie Morrill and narrated by the most excellent Megan Trout. It is the second book in the Piper Sail Mystery series. If you did not listen to or read the first book in the series, The Lost Girl of Astor Street, I highly recommend you do so to better understand what motivates our heroine, especially as it relates to her desire to be a private investigator. The series is set during the Prohibition Era in Chicago and yes, it involves the mafia happenings during that time period.

Piper Sail is an 18-year old high society girl who is from a well to do family and who is headstrong, stubborn and opinionated, while also being sweet, compassionate and loyal. In this story, Piper reluctantly investigates an apparent suicide upon a younger girl's instance that her brother did not do it and someone murdered him instead. I really enjoyed listening to Piper as she went through the evidence and how her investigation developed. Her relationship with Mariano, a young police detective, also progressed nicely; his support of Piper in her endeavors with his words of encouragement is truly wonderful. In summary, this audiobook is a admirable addition to the Piper Sail mystery series and I look forward to the next adventure that Piper investigates!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Stephanie Morrill for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for The Secret Investigator of Astor Street coming out August 5, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I received the first and second books at the same time. Unfortunately this book really didn’t work for me. Piper has a personality that some people enjoy. I thought she was very wishy washy and annoying. I really couldn’t get behind her actions for doing anything. It just didn’t feel like the time period. It felt too modern.

For a book aimed at the YA audience, I was more than pleasantly surprised.

Great characters who are believable and the world setting was superb.

This book builds on the first in the story: The Lost Girl of Astor Street. I like when writers continue a story like this.

Piper doesn't know what to do, now that she is done with high school. She accepts a job at the school she had attended. While there, a young girl asks her for help investigating her brother's death, as details did not seem to add up. Piper decides to help her. This book follows that journey, and her growth as a self-made private investigator. It was a nice listen.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

I am actually a bit devastated that this book has come to an end - I absolutely loved it. There was the perfect balance of mystery, a sweet romance, interesting characters and pacing and I managed to listen to both this and The Lost Girl of Astor Street both within about 3 days. All I can say to the author is - please write another book so I can delve back into the wonderful world of Piper and Mariano and co again! Also, the audiobook was wonderfully read to props to the narrator too.

Many thanks to NetGalley, HarperCollins Focus | Blink and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so delighted that I had this one ready to read the moment I finished book 1. It was wonderful to dive back into Piper's life and see how she was getting over all the things she went through in the last book. Piper is now graduated and even starting her first job, that too at her own school. Yet she is going through it – dealing with the PTSD of events from before, the grief of loss, changing family dynamics, imposter syndrome and last but not least, survivor's guilt. One of the best parts of this book was how grief was portrayed as raw as it really is and not glossed over with the mystery or the other things going on in the story.

The best part is watching her gain confidence in her own abilities and slowly pushing back at doubt and people trying to stop her. Lydia's sister brings Piper a mystery through her friend whose brother passed, and the death was ruled out as suicide, to which she disagrees. Piper takes on this case reluctantly and pushes through to get to the end. The best part is that we were kept guessing along with her as to the why and how of the whole thing almost until the very end, and for once I was a little surprised at the final ending – which will deem this book a success. The romance on the side felt very real and was the cherry on top.

The narrator in this book felt much more lived-in within the characters and was delightful to listen to.

⭐️:3.75
🌶️: 0

Thank you for NetGalley, Harper Collins Focus, Blink and the author Stephanie Morrill for sending me an ALC & ARC of this book.

After finishing the first book in this series, I immediately jumped into the second because I needed to know what happened next with Piper Sail. But as with the first book, this one took a while to really hit its stride. I honestly got a bit bored between 10% and 35% but pushed through because I had a long drive ahead of me and needed something to listen to. And I’m honestly glad I did.

I continue to enjoy Piper and her very modern way of thinking especially for 1924. Even though she gives off this aura of confidence, she still questions what her future holds and what she’s doing with her life. Her continued doubts of if she should investigate and insecurities about being perceived as a private investigator are so authentic to that time period. I do continue to want to strangle the men around her, namely Jeremiah in this adventure, who believe they know what’s best for her without ever thinking to ask her what she wants.

I do continue to love Mariano. He never once tries to tell her what she should or should not do. He listens to her, asks smart questions and gives her different perspectives to consider. He finds ways to show her he loves her by protecting her without being over the top.

Although the lack of communication around the state of their relationship does prove incredibly annoying. It hovers very close to the miscommunication trope that I wanted so badly to roll my eyes. And the excuses Piper makes for their relationship issues made me want to chuck my kindle a couple of times. But she’s young and this is her first relationship so I try to give some grace.

I would love to see this series continue. I love a smart woman with gumption who doesn’t care for babies or desire to follow in the path most expected of her. Especially now that she can no longer be considered a “secret” private investigator. I hope the author continues and the books are able to catch me and hold me from the start.

Piper was approached to look into the death of a schoolmate's brother that has been ruled as a suicide by the police. She hesitated but eventually decided to help another girl finding the truth.

I liked this second book better than the first. The characters have been established so the story feels more centered on the mystery than getting to know the cast. There are of course development in both Piper's home and love life outside of her investigations. I really enjoyed the dynamics between Piper and Mariano in this book with Mariano being supportive in Piper's effort while giving her room to develop her own detective skills. Some of the minor characters are also well written and their relationships with Piper often helps to push the plot forward, which is very nice to see.

The audiobook is well paced and the narrator did a nice job conveying various' character's emotions in the story.

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

I’m so thrilled I got my hands on an eARC of The Secret Investigator of Astor Street via NetGalley—thank you to the publisher and author for the early copy! And wow, did this book deliver.

Piper Sail is everything I love in an amateur sleuth: smart, brave, and determined to prove she’s more than just a society girl in 1920s Chicago. When a young woman asks her to investigate her brother’s suspicious "suicide," Piper plunges headlong into the dangerous world of mafia-run streets and corrupt authority—armed with nothing but her wits and a trusty notebook.

The appeal of this sequel goes beyond the mystery, although the twists kept me glued to the page. I was especially struck by how Morrill weaves Piper’s grief and healing—still raw from her friend Lydia’s death—into the investigation. It made the story emotionally grounded even in its wildest heist-like moments.

I also loved seeing Piper assert her independence and grow into her role as a detective—fiery, smart, and unafraid to push back against expectations. While I missed seeing more of her police detective boyfriend Mariano, their quiet strength and respect for each other added a nice layer to the romance without overshadowing the story.

Bottom line: If you love atmospheric historical mysteries with gutsy heroines, emotional truth, and clever sleuthing, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is a must-read. I binged it, fell in love, and can’t wait for what happens next in the Piper Sail series!