The Case of the Missing Maid

 The Case of the Missing Maid is an interesting book written by Robert Osler.  This was an unusual mystery novel.  In 1898 Harriet Morrow is looking for new employment.  She is a young woman of twenty living with her school age brother.  Her parents are both dead.  She is leaving the bookkeeping job she had and applying to work for a detective agency as a female operative.  She is hired by the Prescott Detective Agency on a trial basis.  Dressed in a skirt with men's shoes and a bowler hat, she rides a bicycle as she searches for a missing maid.  This is her first assignment and she is determined to show her prowess at finding the maid.  

This is an entertaining book with some interesting character traits for the protagonist, Harriet.  At a time in history when being different was not looked on favorably, Harriet dresses different, and wants a more exciting job than most women are able to obtain.

She travels in new circles as she looks for the missing maid and learns some things about herself she was not sure of,  She also overcomes some of her naivety, and finds other people who are feeling similarly.

This mystery was a fun novel to read and I liked the way the author brought in other lifestyles that were not truly accepted in the early 19th century.