Book Review: The Secret Investigator of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill
by The Book Pup on October 17, 2025
After high school graduation, Piper Sail isn’t quite sure what her future holds—until a possible murder case lands in her lap. Filled with both the glitz and glamor of high society and the dark mafia underbelly of 1920s Chicago, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is perfect for fans of Agatha Christie and Maureen Johnson.
Piper Sail knows what she wants: to become a detective. After all, she already solved the case of her missing best friend, and there’s no shortage of crime in 1920s Chicago. But for an eighteen-year-old society girl—even one who’s currently dating a police investigator—it simply isn’t done.
That is, until a girl asks her to dig into her brother’s recent death. The police ruled it a suicide, but she's convinced it was murder. And she wants Piper to help her prove it.
In this companion to The Lost Girl of Astor Street, Piper once again grabs her notebook and plunges into the underworld of mafia-controlled Chicago. But she’ll need all her wits and courage if she wants to become The Secret Investigator of Astor Street.
In 1920s Chicago, after solving the case of her missing best friend, Piper Sail gets another request: to investigate Clarence Dells' death.
Though framed as suicide, Clarence's sister turns to Piper, hiring her to solve the mystery behind the death of her brother. Piper, like always, takes matters into her own hands, determined to uncover the truth once again.
Armed with determination and her own investigative instincts, Piper delves into Clarence's past, uncovering secrets and hidden truths. With danger closing in and the mystery deepening, she must navigate a web of lies while trying to stay alive long enough to solve the case.
I picked up The Secrets of Astor Street looking for a good historical mystery, and overall, and it satisfied my need, with some caveats.
First, the good news: despite this being part of a series, it works beautifully as a standalone. I hadn't read any previous books and never felt lost or confused about what was happening. Morrill does an excellent job of providing context without info-dumping, which I really appreciated.
The historical details felt authentic without being overwhelming, and the speakeasy culture and social dynamics of the era added great flavor to the mystery. Piper is a solid protagonist - determined, intelligent, and willing to put herself at risk for answers. Her refusal to accept easy explanations felt genuine rather than stubborn for plot convenience.
The mystery itself was engaging and had many plot twists. I appreciated that the solution felt earned rather than pulled out of nowhere, and most of the major plot threads were tied up satisfactorily by the end. There were many suspects, many people lying, and it always keeps you trying to guess who did it.
However, I'd be lying if I said I was gripped the entire time. There were definite stretches in the middle where the pacing dragged and I found myself a bit bored. Some of the investigative scenes felt repetitive, and certain plot developments took longer to unfold than necessary.
Overall, this was a solid historical mystery that's perfect for fans of the genre, even if it didn't completely blow me away. The 1920s setting and determined protagonist make it worth reading, especially if you enjoy mysteries with historical flair.
You can find the book on Goodreads here!
Perfect for: Fans of 1920s historical fiction, mystery lovers who enjoy determined female sleuths, and readers looking for a standalone that happens to be part of a series
May your bookmark never fall out,