The Last Note of Warning

In New York City during Prohibition, Vivian Kelly is a dressmaker’s delivery person by day. By night, she serves drinks at a speakeasy. While delivering dresses to a wealthy customer, she discovers the body of the homeowner. She calls for help, but since she was found with the body, Vivian is the prime suspect. The police threaten her with prison but give her a week to find the real killer. Vivian uses the meager influence she has to investigate but soon uncovers rampant corruption throughout the circles of the upper echelon. She also discovers that an old flame may have some connection to the case, suggesting an unexpected personal connection. Schellman’s third installment in her “Nightingale” mystery series (following The Last Drop of Hemlock) is a story about rich vs. poor, powerful vs. powerless, and the meaning of family. Narrator Sarah Young offers a strong performance, capturing the era’s spirit of revelry and offering period-appropriate voices and accents.