The Lost Girl of Astor Street by Stephanie Morrill

The Story

Chicago, 1924. Sixteen-year-old Piper Sail lives on glittering Astor Street, a world of privilege framed by prohibition parties, jazz clubs, and strict social rules. But her gilded world fractures when her best friend, Lydia, disappears without a trace.

The police insist Lydia ran away. Piper knows better.

Determined to uncover the truth, Piper launches her own investigation — one that leads her from elegant neighbourhoods to the city’s darkest corners. Along the way she grapples with troubling clues, dangerous people, and secrets that reach far closer to home than she ever imagined.

With the reluctant help of a handsome young detective, Piper pieces together a trail of lies, heartache, and surprising revelations. But the more she learns, the more she realises that bringing Lydia home will require courage she never knew she possessed.

Stephanie Morrill crafts an atmospheric, emotionally rich mystery that blends the glamour and grit of the 1920s with a compelling coming-of-age story.

Themes

Friendship and loyalty
Piper’s relentless determination to find Lydia underscores the depth of their bond.

Coming of age
Piper confronts privilege, independence, and the complexities of a world she once took for granted.

Secrets and deception
Glamour masks danger as Piper uncovers truths hidden beneath Chicago’s glittering surface.

Courage and identity
The investigation forces Piper to discover her own strength — and the cost of seeking justice.

About the Author

Stephanie Morrill is a bestselling author of YA fiction known for her heartfelt characters, engaging mysteries, and rich historical settings. Her work blends emotional depth with gripping narrative, inviting readers to explore courage, friendship, and personal growth through immersive storytelling.

Why You Will Love This Book

• A captivating YA historical mystery with strong emotional stakes
• Vivid 1920s Chicago setting full of atmosphere, glamour, and danger
• A determined, relatable heroine who grows through adversity
• Ideal for fans of historical fiction, character-driven mysteries, and thoughtful YA novels
• A compelling blend of suspense, heart, and coming-of-age insight

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Keywords

Stephanie Morrill, The Lost Girl of Astor Street, YA historical mystery novel, 1920s Chicago fiction, missing girl story, atmospheric young adult mystery, flapper-era suspense, character-driven YA historical, glamorous jazz-age mystery

Publisher’s Synopsis:

When her best friend vanishes without so much as a good-bye, eighteen-year-old Piper Sail takes on the role of amateur sleuth in an attempt to solve the mystery of Lydia’s disappearance. Given that Piper’s tendency has always been to butt heads with high-society’s expectations of her, it’s no surprise that she doesn’t give a second thought to searching for answers to Lydia’s abduction from their privileged neighborhood.

As Piper discovers that those answers might stem from the corruption strangling 1924 Chicago–and quite possibly lead back to the doors of her affluent neighborhood–she must decide how deep she’s willing to dig, how much she should reveal, and if she’s willing to risk her life of privilege for the sake of the truth.

Perfect for fans of Libba Bray and Anna Godbersen, Stephanie Morrill’s atmospheric jazz-age mystery will take readers from the glitzy homes of the elite to the dark underbelly of 1920s Chicago.