The Orchid Hour by Nancy Bilyeau: A Book Review

The Orchid Hour

Author: Nancy Bilyeau

Genre: Historical Fiction, Mystery & Suspense

Publisher: Lume Books Historical Fiction

Release Date: 2023

Pages: 320

Source: Netgalley/ Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Synopsis: 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?

My Review: After WWI, Zia de Luca’s husband dies. This forces Zia and her son to live with her in-laws. Zia quickly receives a job at a local library. One day, a patron is murdered in front of the library. The police believe that Zia was the murderer. Zia learns that the patron’s murder is connected to a speakeasy named The Orchid Hour. In order to clear her name, Zia works at the speakeasy to find the murderer. Could Zia manage to clear her name and find justice?

I could not get into Zia’s character. I felt like she was a typical Mary Sue. She was also a passive protagonist. She did not do much to move the plot further. It just fell into her lap. There were also a few choices she made that I did not agree with. There were some traits that I liked about her. I liked that she has a talent for nurturing plants. As a fan of opera, I loved that she loves opera too. Therefore, she was likable in that aspect. Still, I wish she was developed further because I really wanted to get invested in her story.

Overall, this novel is about secrets, justice, and crime. I thought that the characters were thinly drawn and one-dimensional. I also could not relate to them. I found the mystery to be underwhelming. I also thought the book was very slow-paced. Nevertheless, I did like the setting of the Prohibition era. I also thought the author’s writing style was very exquisite and alluring! It was filled with vivid imagery. I recommend The Orchid Hour for fans of Becoming Bonnie, Murder Knocks Twice, and Dead Dead Girls!

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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