The Secret Investigator of Astor Street
A Piper Sail Mystery
- Fiction
- Publisher: Blink (HarperCollins Focus)
- Published: 2025
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Publisher's Description
A 2026 LIBRARIAN FAVORITE, Children’s Book Council 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.
Endorsements (10)
“A secret investigator who not only finds the answer to a crime but finds herself in the process? Yes, please! Stephanie Morrill dishes up another heart-racing historical mystery that will leave you breathless. I can’t wait for Piper Sail’s next adventure!”
“Piper Sail is back! With sharp prose, rich atmosphere, and a heroine who’s as fearless as she is clever, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street delivers everything I crave in a historical mystery: smarts, style, and satisfying suspense. I would follow Piper anywhere—into speakeasies, smoky backrooms, or straight into danger. This is historical fiction at its most fun!”
“What a joy to be back in Piper’s world again! Stephanie Morrill is a master at pulling her readers out of their own world and back in time to the Roaring Twenties—the sights, the sounds, the smells, and, of course, the fashions. But above all into the life, hopes, doubts, and dreams of young Piper Sail, who just wants to be the best friend and person she can be. Even when her methods for doing so go against the norm. A beautifully written story, with plenty of mystery and just enough red herrings to keep the reader guessing. And, in my case, utterly captivated. I very much hope this isn’t the last we hear of Piper Sail. I can’t wait to read more of her story!”
“A delightful whodunit mystery that will have you flying through the pages and wishing the indomitable Piper Sail could be your best friend. I loved everything about The Secret Investigator of Astor Street, from the 1920s setting to the sweet romance and the suspenseful anticipation Stephanie Morrell expertly builds with every chapter. A highly recommended read for all ages!”
“The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is a sparkling blend of wit, danger, and vintage charm, sweeping readers into the glittering and gritty streets of 1920s Chicago. Stephanie Morrill delivers a heroine you’ll cheer for in Piper Sail—clever, bold, and unwilling to accept silence when truth is on the line. Smart, stylish, and full of heart, this book is a must-read for fans of mystery, jazz-age stories, and strong heroines.”
“In The Secret Investigator of Astor Street, Stephanie Morrill distills atmospheric prose, the nuances of grief, complex family drama, undiluted emotion, and the shadowed back-alleys of 1920s Chicago into an intoxicating YA mystery riddled with more twists than a speakeasy escape tunnel. If you’re in need of a private eye with moxie and heart, the secret investigator of Astor Street is on the case!”
“Piper Sail is back with a new case to solve in this supremely satisfying sequel! Morrill delivers another captivating and compelling mystery with a smart and gutsy heroine you’ll love rooting for, set against the glitzy backdrop of Chicago’s Roaring Twenties. Mafia, secrets, and societal expectations for young women clash, and one twist after another had me compulsively flipping pages long into the night!”
“Welcome back, Piper Sail! With the gumption of Enola Holmes and the savvy street smarts of Veronica Mars, Piper’s misadventures in mystery and romance are well set in a lively 1920s Chicago thanks to the winsome, humorous, and wholly captivating pen of Stephanie Morrill. I hadn’t realized how much I missed Piper, Mariano, and Sidekick until I stepped back into their world. With a delicate blend of light and darkness, vulnerability and wit, The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is rich in history and romance and destined to lure back Piper fans while delighting the uninitiated.”
“The fact that it took me so long to come up with the words to express how much I adore Piper Sail should say everything you need to know about this story. Mystery, intrigue, romance—what more could you want? The Secret Investigator of Astor Street is one you won’t want to miss.”
“Delightful! Captivating! Since the day I closed The Lost Girl of Astor Street, I have anxiously awaited its sequel, and Stephanie Morrill does not disappoint! disappoint! The Secret Investigator of Astor Street gives us more of spunky Piper Sail, who, through almost no fault of her own, finds herself once again scrutinizing mobsters and other unsavory characters populating 1920s Chicago as she seeks to uncover the truth behind a mysterious death. Morrill’s wit and style mark every page, and there are plenty of twists to keep readers guessing. I can’t wait to see what Piper Sail will get up to next.”
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