The Orchid Hour
The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau, published by Lume Books Limited on August 8, 2023, is a historical mystery set in New York City during 1923. This edition spans 338 pages and is presented in English. The narrative follows Zia De Luca, a woman grappling with the aftermath of her husband’s death in The Great War. As she navigates life in Little Italy and works at the public library, Zia becomes embroiled in a murder investigation that leads her to a secret speakeasy known as The Orchid Hour.
Readers will find a richly detailed exploration of Zia’s journey as she seeks to uncover the truth behind the murders that threaten her life. The story delves into the vibrant world of 1920s New York, highlighting themes of mystery and the quest for justice. As Zia partners with a cousin to navigate the hidden dangers of the speakeasy scene, she confronts a cast of characters driven by ambition and power. This edition invites readers to experience the allure and intrigue of a bygone era while following Zia’s transformation in her pursuit of answers.
Official synopsis Publisher
Featured in Town and Country’s ‘Must-Read Books of Summer 2023’.
There is a certain hour, in the dead of night, when the orchid’s scent can put you under a spell…
“From the family shops of Little Italy to the bright lights of Dreamland, Nancy Bilyeau takes you on a glittering tour of a bygone New York… ” – Mariah Fredericks, author of The Lindbergh Nanny
“Historical mystery fans will find this irresistible.” – Publishers Weekly
Nancy Bilyeau, author of The Blue, returns with a tantalizing novel about one woman caught up in a secret nightclub that one can only reach through a certain florist on a cobblestone street.
New York City, 1923. Zia De Luca’s life is about to be shattered.
Having lost her husband to The Great War, she lives with her in-laws in Little Italy and works at the public library.
But when a quiet poetry-lover is murdered outside the library, the police investigation focuses on Zia.
After a second tragedy strikes even closer to home, Zia learns that both crimes are connected to a new speakeasy in Greenwich Village called The Orchid Hour.
When the police investigation stalls, Zia decides to find her own answers. A cousin with whom she has a special bond serves as a guide to the shadow realm of The Orchid Hour, a world filled with enticements Zia has shunned up to now.
She must contend with a group of players determined to find wealth and power in New York on their own terms. In this heady atmosphere, Zia begins to wonder if she too could rewrite her life’s rules.
As she’s pulled in deeper and deeper, will Zia be able to bring the killers to justice before they learn her secret?
PRAISE FOR NANCY BILYEAU:
“Nancy Bilyeau’s passion for history infuses her books.” – Alison Weir, the biggest selling female historian in the UK
“Nancy Bilyeau has created a beautifully layered and utterly seductive tale… and, at its living, tender heart, a strong-willed and magnetic heroine.” – Emilya Naymark, author of Behind the Lie, finalist for the 2023 Sue Grafton Award
“Nancy Bilyeau’s loving recreation of Jazz Age New York hums with authenticity… Her heroine, underdog Italian immigrant Zia, is irresistible…” – Carole Buggé, author of the Ian Hamilton mystery series and Edgar nominated Cleopatra’s Dagger
“With a heroine you can’t help rooting for, a fascinating cast of characters, and a tense, high-stakes mystery at its heart, this is a book you can’t stop reading.” – Olivia Hawker, bestselling author of One for the Blackbird, One for the Crow
“The Orchid Hour… reeks with the smell of lasagna in Little Italy, the smell of cheap gin in a 1920s speakeasy, and most importantly and most delicately with the scent of orchids at midnight… her best by far, and she’d already set a high bar.” – Timothy Miller, author of The Strange Case of Eliza Doolittle
“Nancy Bilyeau has become my go-to author for brilliantly written historical suspense… Read it and be seduced.” – Kris Waldherr, author of Unnatural Creatures and The Lost History of Dreams
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