The Case of the Missing Maid

Praise for The Case of the Missing Maid

“The first woman hired by a Chicago detective agency faces one daunting challenge after another in this excellent historical series launch from Osler…With lush historical detail, optimistic but plausible gender politics, and an unforgettable heroine, this series is primed for success.” —Publishers Weekly STARRED REVIEW

“Osler puts a queer 19th-century spin on a familiar tough-gal type.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Osler has created a likable heroine, a good mystery, and a solid LGBTQIA+ fiction entry.” —Library Journal

“The Case of the Missing Maid moves cleverly through myriad neighborhoods, clandestine drag events, and hidden gay bars. Harriet’s life is a tower of secrets. She grapples with her fear of being further ostracized, even fired, if she’s exposed as a lesbian. She must also frequently mask her intelligence so she won’t be resented by others. Moreover, Osler illustrates how controlling families, human trafficking, and corrupt cops are not just 21st-century concerns in this stellar novel.” —Shelf Awareness

“It’s magical how Osler transports us around Chicago, from the large Polish community to queer social spaces to the ritzy homes of Chicago’s elite. Harriet is a wonderful lead character, and Osler brilliantly combines his protagonist’s growth into adulthood and Chicago’s emergence as one of the nation’s largest cities. This book is asking to be the first in a series.” —firstCLUE Review

“As she gets closer to the truth of what happened to Wozniak, Morrow must depend on her wits and courage — as well as her newly minted shooting skills — to solve the case.” —Washington Post, “5 mystery novels to cozy up with this holiday season”

“Osler delivers an innovative, creative, and appealing mystery. For a thoroughly engaging and rewarding reading experience, schedule a few uninterrupted hours for The Case of the Missing Maid, a deftly plotted narrative chockful of mischievous characters and spectacular settings.” —Thomas Grant Bruso, The Press-Republican (Plattsburgh, NY)

“With his usual sensitivity and humor, Rob Osler has written a mystery with a lively pace, a fresh and engaging heroine, and finely tuned historical awareness. This book utterly charms. A thoroughly entertaining read!” —Karen Odden, Agatha, Lefty, and Anthony Award nominee and USA Today bestselling author of the Inspector Corrovan Mysteries

“Sharp, witty, and exuberant, The Case of the Missing Maid rattles along like Harriet Morrow’s trusty bicycle on the cobbles of 1890s Chicago, as she tackles her first job for the Prescott Detective Agency. With Osler’s trademark knockabout action scenes and some fascinating side lights on Queer history and the birth of the progressive era, this novel is an absolute treat.” —Catriona McPherson, multi-award-winning author of In Place of Fear and the Dandy Gilver Mysteries

“Harriet Morrow is an unusual heroine in an interesting era, Chicago of the 1890s. Working her first case as the first female detective with the Prescott Detective Agency, she peddles her trusty bicycle through one scrape after another, confronting prejudice, physical dangers, and her own secrets and doubts. Rob Osler brings vivid detail to Chicago’s Polish neighborhoods and its gay and lesbian underground. Like me, you’ll be rooting for Harriet from the first page to the last.” —Allison Montclair, author of the Sparks and Bainbridge mysteries

“In The Case of the Missing Maid, stalwart Harriet Morrow is the first woman detective at The Prescott Agency in 1890s Chicago, ready to pry at secrets even while living with a few of her own. Given one chance to prove herself, Harriet sets out in search of a servant missing from a grand household—but what she might uncover is a fulfilled queer life, free to discover joy, friendship, love, and her own true potential.” —Lori Rader-Day, award-winning author of Death at Greenway

“A delightful and progressive progressive-era mystery, filled to the brim with character and excitement. Colorful, clever and fantastically queer.” —Lev AC Rosen, award winning author of Lavender House