An Unconventional Path with Rob Osler

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Edith/Maddie writing from a chilly north of Boston.

But my heart is warmed by the prospect of a new book by Rob Osler! I love his two Hayden and Friends mysteries and his award-winning short stories, but the premise of his new historical Harriet Morrow Investigates series delights me even more. How much do you love the cover of The Case of the Missing Maid?

The book will be out December 24, and you can bet my copy is preordered from the local independent bookstore.

Check out this starred review! “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

Take it away, Rob.

I couldn’t have possibly planned it (better).

“Sorry, your project is not the right fit for our list.” That phrase is triggering for any author who has ever queried agents or had an agent submit their novel to publishers. Here are two others: “Don’t write to a trend because by the time your book comes out the market will have moved on” and “Write what you know.” Hold those wise words in your head while you consider the wisdom of my decision to write a lesbian, bicycle-riding detective in America’s Progressive Era (1890 to 1920). If you’re curious how my new series “Harriet Morrow Investigates” happened, read on. You’ll discover its path to publication was as unconventional as Harriet herself.

The very beginning.

I was raised in Boise, Idaho (don’t worry, I’m not going back that far) and return annually to visit. Boise has a superb greenbelt that follows the river through town. About ten years ago, I came across a plaque at the southeast end of the trail for a long-gone historical site: the Natatorium, a palace-like indoor swimming pavilion. I thought, “That’s a setting for a murder mystery!” So I wrote Murder at the Nat. I queried agents. I got multiple requests for full manuscripts and eventually signed with a leading New York agency. After ten months of slow back and forth, my agent unexpectedly left the agency, and I was dropped as a client.

The next beginning.

Scarred, I changed course. I wrote a contemporary, zany amateur sleuth novel. I titled it Devil’s Chew Toy and called it a “Quozy Mystery.” That book was a finalist for last year’s Anthony, Agatha, Lefty, and Macavity awards for best debut. Naturally, I thought, “Now I’ll return to that historical mystery set in Boise!”

The mushy middle.

I dusted off Murder at the Nat. I revised. I queried agents. Randomly, I happened upon an agent’s social post that mentioned the need for more diversity in crime fiction. I leaped. “I have one!” She replied, “Send it.” Months passed before I got a response. It came with notes. Lots of notes. I revised and resubmitted. The cycle continued. More than a year after first sending the novel, I was offered representation. Fun fact: my now agent was among those who, seven years earlier, had requested a full of the original Murder at the Nat and eventually passed.

Get to Writing, Writer!

After more polishing, my agent sent Murder at the Nat to potential publishers. Right away, we heard from one editor, “I liked it, but other readers thought . . .” Those thoughts included shifting the novel’s setting to Chicago (from where Harriet set out for Boise) and the year (rewinding ten years to Harriet’s first day as the Prescott Detective Agency’s first and only woman operative). “This is an opportunity!” My agent said, “You’ve been given a roadmap! Get to writing! Give me a tight outline and four polished chapters.” Fast forward three months, and page one of The Case of the Missing Maid, set in 1898 Chicago, begins with Harriet Morrow, wearing a bowler hat and men’s shoes, arriving for her first day of work for Theodore Prescott. Three weeks later, I got the call from my agent. “Three book deal.”

A new historical series, present tense.

The Case of the Missing Maid arrives Dec. 24th. The Case of the Murdered Muckraker awaits copy edits. Book three, The Case of the Swindled Suffragist, is peering up on a screen behind this one, demanding my attention.

Readers: Can you name a historical mystery with a main character, time, and place unlike any other you’ve read? What is something you accomplished by not giving up but which came about in a roundabout way?

I’m excited to share that my publisher, Kensington, is featuring THE CASE OF THE MISSING MAID in a Goodreads giveaway. 100 lucky winners will receive a copy. Enter here now through Dec 10th.

Professional Headshot by S72 Business Prrtraits

Rob Osler writes traditional mysteries. His new series, Harriet Morrow Investigates, launches with THE CASE OF THE MISSING MAID, which features a woman detective solving crimes in Chicago in America’s Progressive Era. Rob’s work has been a finalist for the 2024 Edgar Award (MISS DIRECTION, EQMM), 2023 Anthony, Agatha, Lefty, and Macavity Awards (DEVIL’S CHEW TOY), and a winner of the 2022 Mystery Writers of America Robert L Fish Award (ANALOGUE, EQMM).After living in Boise, Chicago, and Seattle, Rob resides in California with his husband and a tall gray cat.

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Published by Edith Maxwell

Agatha Award -winning author Edith Maxwell writes the historical Quaker Midwife Mysteries (Beyond the Page) and short crime fiction. As Maddie Day she writes the Dot and Amelia Mysteries, the Country Store Mysteries series, the Cozy Capers Book Group Mysteries, and the Cece Barton Mysteries (all from Kensington Publishing). She lives north of Boston in an antique house with her beau and cat Martin, where she writes, gardens, cooks, and wastes time on Facebook.

19 Thoughts

    1. Thanks, Dru Ann. I appreciate you and your support! All the best and looking forward to seeing you next year as the conference go’round commences.

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  2. Having lived in Boise many years ago, I remember the Natatorium. It was the first time I ever heard that word and simply had to see. By then it was really just an outdoor pool, but what fun it was! Thanks for the memory jogger! Your new series sounds like great fun. I look forward to reading it. Congrats on the upcoming release.

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    1. Thanks, Liz! I hope readers enjoy it as much as I did writing it. It’s great fun to compare and contrast the issues the “Progressives” (of that era) confronted compared to today. Spoiler alert: much the same! Cheers, Rob

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  4. Congratulations on the upcoming release of THE CASE OF THE MISSING MAID! Most definitely entered the Goodreads contest with fingers crossed. It’s also on my TBR list and can’t wait for the opportunity to dive in reading.

    Persistence definitely paid off for you and so proud it did. For me the series that portrays a historical mystery with a main character, time, and place unlike any other I’ve read, it would be the QUAKER MIDWIFE MYSTERY Series written by Maddie Day (aka Edith Maxwell). Not only do I love her accuracy to details of that time, but she shows how a woman could stand out from the crowd, do things that make others turn their heads, and still remain a woman capable of love and dreams.

    I think the one not giving up was hubby. He had always wanted to live in the country, but had been unable to persuade me. I was a city girl through and through. Then within a short span of time there was a house down the street that had the door rammed on a drug raid, there was a murder within 2 blocks of us and 2 blocks the other direction a man was caught selling book leg liquor. After each event he would plead his case on country living. When he found the perfect property that was close to town advantages while living in the country, he finally convinced me. We moved and I have to admit, it was the BEST decision ever. Once over that hurdle, he kept saying we ought to move some place else. We had been tied to where we were since being married due to my parents living there. They had no one else to help them. At their passing, he started strongly on moving. I resisted because we had a home. After a trip to a place we loved to vacation in and on the way home, I made the statement – Won’t it be nice if we didn’t have to go home because we were already there. Hubby actually pulled off the road and we discussed it “again”, but this time with my mind open. Long story short, we went home put our property up for sale and begun searching for property else where. It all fell into place as if destined to happen. House sold on 2nd day, we found the perfect property and fabulous builder that had an immediate opening. As our house went up, I was standing on the property thinking – We sold our house, but we are building our HOME! Now that truly has been the best decision ever! What did we accomplish? Living in a place we have always loved, building the home of our dreams with no thought of resale, and me finding out that change can be a very good thing. 🙂
    2clowns at arkansas dot net

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    1. Hi Kay, Maddie Day is an excellent choice! (though, there are no wrong picks :). Your story about building a home is a doozy. Married myself, (we’ve been together 25 years!) the conversations and negotiations that go into big, life-altering decisions, really resonates. So glad you found you forever place. Thanks for sharing that story! All the best, Rob

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    1. I swear, it’s seems more common that things work out (or not) because of factors beyond our control. I didn’t even mention the bit about trying to sell that first iteration of the book myself, getting a deal, getting a super strange edit, pulling the deal, and thinking I was for certain sunk! Lesson: All you can do is try, follow your gut, and hope for the best! Speaking of, Best to You, Mark!

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    1. Hi Sherry! Thanks for the well wishes. So true. I believe the vast majority of traditionally published authors have similar tales of rejection, frustration, and resilience. But if you love it, you keep on keeping on! Best to you! –Rob

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  7. Welcome to the Wickeds, Rob and congratulations on the coming release of The Case of the Missing Maid. My story is very like yours. Got a powerful, New York agent for my first mystery. Didn’t sell and it ended up being published a dozen years later.

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    1. Way to hang in, Barbara. The topic of “resilience and long paths to publishing” would make for a great conference panel discussion. All the best, Rob

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    2. Thanks, Barbara. And kudos to you for hanging in there! “The long path to publishing” would make for an interesting conference panel discusssion. All the best to you, Rob.

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  8. Rob, Your round-about path to publication is so inspiring! As a fan, I’m delighted you’ve landed in this perfect place! We all benefit from your persistence and talent.

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    1. Thanks, Delia. That’s kind of you to say. Keeping at it is the only thing we authors can control–as I’m sure you can relate! BTW, really really enjoyed TROUBLE IN QUEENSTOWN. I enjoyed the audiobook while driving up and down the great state of CA 🙂

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  9. Rob, so good to see you here! We met in Chicago at the Midwest Mystery Conference. And I’m a fan so looking forward to the first Harriet Morrow book and its Chicago setting! A historical mystery series that always amazes me is Ellis Peters’ Brother Cadfael series. I feel like I’m always getting a glimpse into life in the Middle Ages. Congratulations on the upcoming release.

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