With Jack the Ripper vibes, a sprinkling of Gatsby, helpful spirits, and women’s rights all rolled into one, Maggie is back in the latest installment of the White Crow Series by Kalynn Applewhite. The story once again follows Maggie Ward as she solves mysteries by using her ability to communicate with the dead. Set in Upper East Side Manhattan during the early 1900s when spiritualism was popular and the women's suffrage movement was in full swing, Piercing the Veil tackles important feminist themes as well as taking the reader on a rollercoaster ride full of suspense and intrigue.

As Jonathan and Camila plan their wedding something sinister lurks in the shadows of New York City. When women start turning up dead, Maggie makes it her business to solve the mystery with the help of her psychic abilities. Hunting a killer turns out to be a bit more than she bargained for but with the help of a new ally, they just might find the murderer before her whole world comes crashing down.

I was so excited to have all the old characters back again in this novel. Since the characters are so relatable and their interactions with each other are so real, it was like meeting up with old friends. We are also introduced to Maggie and Jonathan’s parents in this novel, which proved to be rather interesting to say the least. Maggie’s character develops even more in this novel as she becomes more independent and more confident in her abilities. Her selflessness and determination make her a wonderful role model for all women. Maggie’s ability to stand her ground is very powerful and I can’t wait to see her strength develop in further novels.

The writing itself is easy and flawless, allowing the reader to sit back and enjoy. Mind you, I didn’t do much sitting back as I was on the edge of my seat for most of the novel. Applewhite has the ability to hold your interest throughout the entire story with multiple elements of danger and concern being thrown at you from all angles. Needless to say, there is never a dull moment when Maggie Ward is around. On top of all that, Applewhite gives the most amazing descriptions of the surroundings so that you feel transported directly into the story, seeing everything through the characters’ eyes and feeling their raw emotions.

Piercing the Veil was such a fun and exciting read, I could not put it down. Applewhite has done a stellar job at creating a new Sherlock Holmes/Nancy Drew type character and her choice of time periods for this delightful series couldn’t be more interesting. This novel is a true gem and I highly recommend you read it. You won’t be disappointed. ( )