THE LOST GIRL OF ASTOR STREET, by Stephanie Morrill, Blink, Aug. 5, 2025, Paperback, $10.99 (young adult)
When a young rich girl goes missing, her best friend decides to take up the investigation on her own in The Lost Girl of Astor Street, by Stephanie Morrill.
To most people, Piper Sail looks like a rich girl with little potential, but she surprises everyone, including herself, when she starts investigating her best friend’s disappearance.
Lydia has vanished. Lydia, who’s never broken any rules, except falling in love with the wrong boy. Lydia, who’s been Piper’s best friend since they were children. Lydia, who never even said goodbye.
Convinced the police are looking in all the wrong places, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail begins her own investigation into Lydia’s disappearance. With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper searches for answers in the dark underbelly of 1924 Chicago. Did Lydia get abducted by one of the city’s most notorious gangsters? Or does the trail lead back to their own affluent neighborhood?
Piper must decide if she’s willing to risk her life to find out the truth. —Synopsis provided by Blink
The Lost Girl of Astor Street is the first book in Stephanie Morrill’s Piper Sail Mysteries. The second book in the series, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street, was also released in paperback on Aug. 5.
Set in Chicago during Prohibition, The Lost Girl of Astor Street has a real Agatha Christie vibe while appealing to young adults in particular.
At the center of the story is Piper, a smart, popular daughter of one of the most sought-after defense attorneys in the city. As clever as she is, Piper isn’t without her faults, often getting into scrapes and needing a little backup.
Morrill’s got a knack for scene-building, dropping readers straight into the Jazz Age. Her descriptions of clothes, food and music are spot on.
The Lost Girl of Astor Street offers up lots of twists with some humorous asides here and there. Piper is a vibrant character that carries the novel, but Morrill’s supporting characters are strong, as well.
Morrill’s novel is a fast-moving mystery with a great cinematic feel.
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