by Emily Bain Murphy
publisher’s synopsis
Grace and Lillie are cousins and have been best friends since birth, despite Grace’s inferior social status. When Lillie invites Grace to the biggest event of the century—the legendary World’s Fair, also known as “The Ivory City”—Grace doesn’t hesitate.
Then: a murder. A young woman at the fair is brutally killed, and suspicion quickly falls on Grace’s cousin Oliver.
Grace has to help prove Oliver innocent before he is jailed and her beloved cousin’s family is ruined forever. And along the way, discover whether the city’s wealthy elite—not least of all Oliver’s handsome, irritable friend Theodore—aren’t quite who they first appeared to be.
Because a killer is still on the loose, and all the glitz, glamor, and magic of the Ivory City is about to become a lot more dangerous to behold.
I loved the setting of the World’s Fair. Murphy brings it to life, capturing the sense of wonder, magic, and anticipation while not shying away from exposing some of the fair’s sadder parts. It’s a wonderful backdrop for the story.
The plot is perfect for fans of amateur sleuth stories. There was one small plot element that might have been dropped at the end of the book, but it’s likely that I just missed how it connected to the mystery reveal. I read the entire book in three sittings, I think. =)
Theo and Grace’s banter was fantastic. I also loved the tight relationships between the cousins. Murphy did a nice job rounding out her cast of characters.
While The Ivory City is marketed as an adult book, I think it has crossover appeal to upper YA readers as well. I really enjoyed this one.
Cautions: seven instances of swearing; three instances of British swearing; brief mentions of drugs, overdoses, and addiction; moderate romance; three kisses; brief mentions of prostitutes; brief moderate violence
I received an eARC through NetGalley. The Ivory City releases in November 2025.
Hailey Huntington 
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