Book Blurb:
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…
'Historical mystery fans will find this irresistible.' Publishers Weekly Starred Review
"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
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?
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/fzWz6
Author Bio:
If you tell Nancy Bilyeau that reading one of her historical novels of suspense is like strapping yourself into a time machine, you'll make her a happy woman. She loves crafting immersive historical stories, whether it's Jazz Age New York City in "The Orchid Hour," the 18th-century European porcelain workshops and art galleries in "The Blue" or "The Fugitive Colours," or Henry VIII's tumultuous England in "The Crown," "The Chalice," and "The Tapestry."
A magazine editor who has worked on the staffs of "Rolling Stone" and "Entertainment Weekly," Nancy drew on her journalism experience to research "The Orchid Hour," which includes real-life figures such as Lucky Luciano, Arnold Rothstein, and Lous Buchalter. While working as deputy editor of the nonprofit Center on Media, Crime and Justice in New York City, Nancy covered organized crime as well as cybercrime and terrorism.
For her Genevieve Planche novels--"The Blue" and "The Fugitive Colours"--she drew on her own heritage to create her Huguenot heroine. Nancy is a direct descendant of Pierre Billiou, a French Huguenot who immigrated to what was then New Amsterdam (later New York City) in 1661. Nancy's ancestor, Isaac, was born on the boat crossing the Atlantic. Pierre's stone house still stands and is the third oldest house in New York State.
Nancy's mind is always in past centuries but she currently lives with her husband and two children in upstate New York. Her quest to cook the perfectly flavored cassoulet is ongoing.
Editorial Review:
Newcomers have rarely understood that New York was a glittering metropolis, but is was hard, like the diamonds studding the cane of a Wall Street banker.
In the luminous world of Nancy Bilyeau's "The Orchid Hour," we traverse the realm of Prohibition-era New York City, replete with its glitz and shadowed by its grit. This novel, a masterful testament to the literary prowess of its creator, is indeed no exception in her ever-expanding oeuvre.
At the outset, this story beguiles the reader by the notion that this narrative would follow the trajectory of a widowed librarian, a woman ostensibly simple, whose familial obligations served as her life's lodestar. A character seemingly poised for domesticity, one might say. Yet, the tapestry of this tale unfolds into something far more intricate—a remarkable metamorphosis that illuminates the profound capacity of a woman to transcend her circumstances and become an unlikely heroine.
Our central figure is Audenzia, affectionately known as Zia, a woman ensconced within the societal confines of the "ordine della famiglia." This code, stringent in its decrees, dictates the course of existence for a young Italian widow. Zia, a veteran of the Great War's ravages, shares her life with her son and her in-laws in the labyrinthine streets of Little Italy. It is in the library—a sanctuary of knowledge—that she forms a connection with Mr. Watkins, a man of quiet demeanour and intellectual pursuits.
“It's unusual,” said Roberto, rubbing his chin. “Americans, they prefer simple stories with everything on the surface, like children's tales. Or the men want to leer at a line of dancing girls. We Italians love plays and novels and pictures that are difficult, ones that we can debate all night. No one is more challenging than Luigi Pirandello. For him, there is one truth and then another truth beneath that one, and then even that truth can be false.”
However, the quiescence of the library is rent asunder when a shocking murder befalls Mr. Watkins just beyond its threshold. Zia, bewildered and beleaguered, is summoned for police questioning. And then, tragically, calamity strikes even closer to home, when another death befalls a member of her family. It is then that one of the police detectives offers a cryptic revelation—a revelation that links both crimes to a nascent speakeasy in Greenwich Village, known as The Orchid Hour.
Frustrated by the inert pace of the official investigation, Zia undertakes an audacious journey of her own. Learning that her cousin Salvatore, colloquially known as Sal, is intertwined with the operations of The Orchid Hour, she beseeches him to assist her in securing employment at the establishment. Her aptitude for orchids, a horticultural expertise acquired through the years, impresses the club's manager, the enigmatic Hollywood actor David La Costa. Thus, Zia embarks on her clandestine mission, charged with tending to the rare orchids that embellish the speakeasy.
Yet, the world of undercover subterfuge is fraught with peril, where the distinctions between virtue and vice blur, and powerful and menacing figures loom. The query that looms over the narrative, threading suspense throughout its pages, is whether Zia can unearth the truth about the murders before her secret is uncovered by those who would do her harm.
Lieutenant Frank Hudgins had worked enough crimes to know that assumptions often change from what cops believe at the beginning of a murder investigation. As facts are established, everything shifts. A seeming crime of passion turns into a murder for gain. A mysterious death is revealed to be a sad suicide. Rarely did everything change as drastically as with the police department's investigation of the murder of New York Deputy Mayor Miles G. Watkins.
As the narrative unfolds, Zia's character evolves from a simple librarian into a formidable heroine. A metamorphosis so intricately crafted by Bilyeau that it is a testament to her capacity to render multi-dimensional characters. The essence of the narrative is her journey, one that traverses the murkier corridors of existence, where she finds the latitude to embrace her inner strength and to act upon the verity that her life is hers to live, on her own terms.
The allure of "The Orchid Hour" does not merely reside in the evocative journey of its heroine, but also in the vibrant tapestry of Jazz Age New York that it meticulously unfurls. Bilyeau's narrative craftsmanship is unmistakable as she captures the luminosity of the era alongside the bleakness of its underworld. A decade when Prohibition gave rise to bootleggers and organized crime, it serves as a dynamic backdrop to this tale.
A striking element of Bilyeau's narrative is the deft fusion of historical figures and her own fictional creations. Within these pages, one finds the likes of David La Costa, Zia, and the de Luca family, all nestled seamlessly within the historical panorama of the period. The interplay between the real and the imagined lends depth and richness to the story, creating a confluence that captivates the reader.
"The Orchid Hour" is more than a conventional page-turner; it is a literary tour de force, brimming with tension, intrigue, danger, romance, and murder. The author, with consummate skill, has imbued every page with layers of narrative, creating a tapestry that ensnares the reader's imagination. It is a rich tapestry, woven with threads of storytelling that coalesce into a resplendent narrative whole.
If, perchance, you are already an admirer of Nancy Bilyeau's literary catalogue, you will readily concur that "The Orchid Hour" is a compulsory addition to your reading repertoire. It serves as a magnum opus of historical fiction, a testament to the author's talent for transporting her readers to bygone epochs, ensnaring them in a world replete with vibrant characters and enigmatic mysteries. Bilyeau's storytelling prowess shines brilliantly in this offering, earning its rightful place in the pantheon of her literary accomplishments.
All in all, "The Orchid Hour" is a literary sojourn into Prohibition-era New York City, replete with its beguiling characters, historical precision, and masterful storytelling. Nancy Bilyeau's latest work is a testament to her unwavering dedication to historical authenticity and her unmatched capacity to infuse life into bygone eras. This narrative beckons to readers who are enamoured with historical fiction, offering an immersive and captivating journey that transcends time and place.
In the realm of "The Orchid Hour," Nancy Bilyeau has created a tale that endures—a timeless narrative of transformation and resolute action against the backdrop of the Jazz Age. In her vivid prose, readers discover a heroine who defies convention and a narrative that ensnares the senses. For those who cherish the written word, this book is nothing short of a literary gem, to be cherished and revisited in perpetuity.
*****
“The Orchid Hour” by Nancy Bilyeau receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence by The Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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