Nobody's Baby

Dorothy Gentleman #2

by Olivia Waite

Becky Chambers meets Miss Marple in the second entry of this cozy sci-fi mystery series, helmed by a formidable no-nonsense auntie of a detective

Welcome to the HMS Fairweather, Her Majesty's most luxurious interstellar passenger liner! Room and board are included, new bodies are graciously provided upon request, and should you desire a rest between lifetimes, your mind shall be most carefully preserved in glass in the Library, shielded from every danger.

A wild baby appears! Dorothy Gentleman, ship detective, is put to the test once again when an infant is mysteriously left on her nephew's doorstep. Fertility is supposed to be on pause during the Fairweather’s journey across the stars—but humans have a way of breaking any rule you set them. Who produced this child, and why did they then abandon him? And as her nephew and his partner get more and more attached, how can Dorothy prevent her colleague and rival detective, Leloup, a stickler for law and order, from classifying the baby as a stowaway or a piece of luggage?

Told through Dorothy’s delightfully shrewd POV, this novella series is an ode to the cozy mystery taken to the stars with a fresh new sci-fi take. Perfect for fans of the plot-twisty narratives of Dorothy Sayers and Ann Leckie, this well-paced story will leave readers captivated and hungry for the next installment.

At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Genres: Mystery, Science Fiction, Audiobook, Novella, Fiction, LGBT, Mystery Thriller

136 pages, Hardcover

First published March 10, 2026

About the author

Olivia Waite writes queer historical romance, science fiction, and fantasy. She is the romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review.

Reviews

[Melanie (meltotheany) · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC provided by TOR - thank you so much

Murder by Memory ★★★★

this second installment in this delightful scifi mystery series was another success for me. while i might not have enjoyed this one as much, i still had such a good time exploring this space ship that contains libraries of memories, essentially allowing the residents to live forever, alongside dorthy. this time we are investigating the appearance of a new baby, which is extra concerning considering procreating is not allowed on this space ship.

a lot of good themes are explored within so few pages, from self identity to temporary group immortality, with thought provoking messages about fertility and parenthood. and again, all wrapped up in a very cozy package. i really hope tor publishes many more of these, but i am personally begging for more yarn store yearning.

trigger + content warnings: stroke, medical talk, talk of horrors of child birth, attempted kidnapping, talk of memory loss, talk of loss of partner, grief

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[Zoë · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am begging to be put on this ship please someone

[Ruxandra Grrr · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Now]:
I really love this series and this was a satisfying sequel! In a world that sometimes seems to hate babies (god, people are weird, like don't have babies, that's fine, but also, don't hate them?? Is that controversial to say?), it was absolutely sweet to see topics like parenthood and care and responsibility (and co-dependency) explored in such a fresh way and in every layer of the narrative! The solving of the case was so thematically good, I got teary-eyed.

Olivia Waite is super clever in finding new wrinkles to examine through this sort-of immortality conceit! Though it makes me think what will happen when this ship gets to its destination: will people suddenly be okay with dying?? Who knows. She is also clever in how it deals with a line that's important to me: the fact that Dorothy Gentleman is a cop, basically, so how do you deal with that - not doing copaganda, not forgetting that... ACAB, being aware that bureaucracies are also bastards? Having a foil like Violet (sexy suspect from the previous book), who constantly questions the need for paperwork, the laws and the police, actually, is super nice and refreshing.

Can't wait for the next one!

[Then]:
Ummmm, yes please, gimme more of these wacky scifi Dorothy Gentleman what-even-is-death-and-life-anymore mysteries IN SPACE.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Follows in the same style as the first and we get to spend time with all our favorite characters again! Not as complex (plot & themes) as the first one but sequels are hard! I enjoyed this & am looking forward to the next. Hoping the quality of book 3 takes a step forward instead of another step back.

[♥Milica♥ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my fifth scifi book this month, and it won't be my last. There's just something about reading scifi in March specifically that appeals to me.

So, I've been waiting for Nobody's Baby for over a year, but it feels longer. I tried to savour it, because who knows when we'll be getting the next one, but I couldn't help myself and finished it in no time at all (once again).

The audiobook was excellent, and such a fast listen. The mystery wasn't quite as good this time, but I still really enjoyed it, it was funny in all the right places, and I can't wait for book three!!!

3.5

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love how befuddled everyone was by the existence of an infant

[Sunny Lu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great follow up !! Love the world & Ms. Gentleman

[Emma Griffioen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nobody's Baby was a great sequel to Murder by Memory! I grew even more fond of the characters from book #1, and really enjoyed the adorable new mystery.

I hope Olivia Waite writes more books in this cozy, sci-fi world, I will definitely be reading anything about Miss. Dorthy Gentleman!

[Raquel Flockhart · Rating 3 out of 5]

1. Murder by Memory ★★

“One stitch each, every stitch a second, a single moment in time frozen in fiber. To give to an infant—because time was the real gift, passed from one generation to the next.”

I have to admit I hadn’t planned on continuing this cozy sci-fi mystery series after the first novella didn’t quite click with me. But I saw this second installment available on Everand while looking for a short audiobook, and remembering how much I’d enjoyed the narrator in the first one, I decided to read it. And I’m glad I did, because I enjoyed it even more than its predecessor. Nobody’s Baby follows Detective Gentleman trying to solve a new mystery aboard the interstellar ocean liner, this time with the sudden appearance on Dorothy’s nephew’s doorstep of the first baby born on the HMS Fairweather, since procreation is strictly prohibited. The culprit’s identity wasn’t a surprise, but I enjoyed exploring new parts of the ship, seeing Dorothy’s interactions with other characters, and getting a glimpse of the detectives’ work area. A fun sequel to what is now a series that I’ll probably continue.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

First off, it's worth noting that while this is the second novella in the Dorothy Gentleman series, it could easily be read as a stand-alone — which isn't too surprising, given the serialized nature of detective fiction. However, since the first one, Murder by Memory, was so good, I'd recommend reading both in order anyway.

The opening of this novella could be used to teach a class on exposition and hooking the reader. Here's the opening sentence:

The note from Ruthie arrived at breakfast with no preamble, flashing on the glowing face of my pocketwatch: At what age do human children grow teeth?

In this single sentence, we've set the scene — someone sitting at a breakfast table — told a great deal about the setting through the pocketwatch phrase — this is a world where a character might carry a pocketwatch, but one that glows and can convey instantaneous messages. At the same time, it also sets a great hook for the reader — why exactly is Ruthie asking this very specific question about human children growing teeth?

From here begins the latest adventure of our narrator, ship's detective Dorothy Gentleman, who discovers her nephew has had a mysterious baby delivered to his doorstep, aboard a generational spaceship where, allegedly, nobody can become pregnant. The only drawback of this setup was its lack of a singular focal point, as most detective yarns center around a dead body and only ask whodunit?, whereas this case leads to branching questions about the child's parentage, the circumstances of the birth, and the legal and ethical ramifications of who and how will a child that shouldn't exist be cared for, even occasionally brushing up on the philosophical.

While that may have made this story meander a touch more than expected, for as much as a tightly written novella can meander, it also gave it added depth to the protagonist, the supporting cast, and the list of characters suspected of hiding the pregnancy and resulting child, and to the Fairweather itself.

I've become quite attached to Dorothy, her nephew Ruthie, and the rest of the inhabitants of the Fairweather, and hope to read many, many more stories in this universe. I only hope that Olivia Waite is as excited to keep on writing them.

Full disclosure: I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review.

[gracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very fun, quick read. I found this to be an equally enjoyable sequel to Murder by Memory and have grown even fonder of the characters, Dorothy most especially! I can't wait to read more from this world and author.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ughhhh everything about this was perfect and filled my heart with joy and warmth. Dorothy Gentleman I will follow you to the end of the galaxy.

Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody’s Baby by Olivia Waite is the second book in the Dorothy Gentleman cozy science fiction mystery series. It offers a new case for the detective, provides more growth for the other occupants within the HMS Fairweather and continues the slow burn sapphic romance that was briefly hinted at in the previous novella.

Detective Dorothy Gentleman is presented with a unique conundrum when a five-month-old human baby is found outside her nephew and his husband’s door, despite the fact that fertility is on hold as the ship continues its spacefaring journey to its destination.

I enjoyed the previous novella in the series-Murder By Memory-and while you can listen to Nobody’s Baby for the story, listening to the first novella helps to establish the characters and setting.

The narration by Blair Baker remains excellent, Dorothy continues to be engaging while still possessing slightly dry humor. I prefer her voices for the novella’s female characters slightly more than the male characters, though they did not detract from my overall enjoyment.

Dorothy remains a shrewd and meticulous detective and it was interesting following along as she put the pieces together surrounding the baby’s paternity and birth. Aboard a space ship where physical death isn’t permanent, the reactions of the other crew members to a new baby is a mix of uncertainty, joy and jealousy. It was also wonderful to see more of Dorothy’s nephew Ruthie and the enigmatic Violet St. Owen.

The utilization of technology to preserve, share memories and recreate bodies offers unique perspectives regarding life and death. It also provides new ethical questions as to where personhood would fall when creation is outside of the established means.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for providing this audiobook. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord Peter Whimsey’s adventures in space. Only queerer, gentler, and full of heart. I do love when everyone is a darling.

I did not read the first book in the series yet, but was provided this advanced listening copy through LIBRO Fm.
Rest assured I have already bought the first.

I received an advanced copy of the audiobook through Libro.FM and Pop Fiction Bookstore, an independent and woman-owned bookstore in Omaha. Order books (e/audio/print) online from Pop Fiction or your local bookstore at Libro.Fm and Bookshop.org

[Elentarri · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

A cozy, feel-good mystery novella exploring parenthood and responsibility on an interstellar passenger liner, when a baby gets found on a door-step. The creation of new babies is forbidden until the destination planet is reached - and enforced via technology. This story makes for an interesting examination of what to do with the baby and how to treat him in the future - as a person or a piece of luggage. Charming.​

3 April 2026

[CJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one a bit more than Murder by Memory. With the worldbuilding already established by the first book, Waite focuses more on the narrative and characters, making for a more neatly written and engaging story overall. Bonus points for cuteness, queerness and coziness.

[Elizabeth McFarland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely loving these novellas! The cozy mystery and sci-fi combo is everything I didn't know I needed. I was so excited to dive into the second Dorothy Gentleman installment! I actually think this one might be even better than the first.

This one was an interesting mystery around the origin of a baby left on Dorothy's nephew's doorstep. It's a great case with a bunch of fun side characters. I loved this story and I'm intrigued by their centuries long journey through space.

I'm really hoping this delightful series of short mysteries never ends!

My review is for the audiobook narrated by Blair Baker. It was very well performed and a quick listen.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for this complimentary copy!

[Kaia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fun novella in this series. I hope that Olivia Waite keeps writing them!

[Pallavi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars
Nobody’s Baby is such a cozy, slightly weird sci-fi mystery. The whole premise is wild: on a spaceship where no one is supposed to have kids, a literal baby just shows up one day.

Dorothy Gentleman, the ship’s no-nonsense detective, has to figure out where the baby came from and who would abandon it. What I loved is how the mystery isn’t just “who did it” but also all the moral and legal chaos around the baby even existing. Like, people are seriously debating whether the baby counts as a passenger or basically luggage, which is both funny and kind of unsettling.

The idea of a spacecraft like “Fairweather” where people live for centuries and upload their memories into new bodies, is super cool and unique. Dorothy is such a great main character who is sharp, practical, but quietly caring underneath all that logic. Really liked the found-family vibes, especially with her nephew and his husband getting attached to the baby.

The mystery itself is a bit on the lighter side, so it’s more about characters and ideas than big twists. A warm, clever, enjoyable read.

Happy Reading!!

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

The 52 Book Club : Three-syllable word in the title

I can confidently say I'll keep reading these books as long as the author cares to keep writing them. They're quick, cozy, interesting reads in a queer-normative society with some really cool technology bouncing around-- tech that has twice now been the source of much consternation and the mysteries Ms. Gentleman gets called out to solve. It's a really fun twist on the "older lady solves murders" genre and I'm frankly obsessed with Dot and her Woosteresque nephew.

[Trio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well this was a clever and creative "whodunnit"! I've never read Olivia Waite before, and I'll definitely look for the first book in their Dorothy Gentleman series. I read Nobody's Baby as a standalone with no problems.

The funny idea of a sci-fi cruise across the stars, where nobody is allowed to conceive a child, has all kinds of implications, and Olivia Waite explores them with a sense of humor which was a pleasure.

The audio version of Nobody's Baby is nicely performed by Blair Baker.

an audiobook version of Nobody's Baby was provided by Macmillan Audio, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

would this hit quite as hard if I didn’t have a brand-new nephew in my life, adorable and beloved in equal measure? I mean, probably, tbh

[dobbs the dog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received from NetGalley, thanks!

*happy sigh...*

I really love this series of far future space mysteries. And you can tell that Waite is really enjoying what she's writing, because they are just so good.

So, Dorothy Gentleman is on a spaceship on its way to a new planet, which they will reach in approximately 1000 years. So, being a spaceship with limited space, the bodies that folks are in have been modified to not create babies, because there simply isn't space for any additional passengers. So, what happens when a baby mysteriously shows up on the ship???

I won't say too much, because this is a short little book, but I really loved some of the discussions around equality and rules/laws and who gets to apply which laws at which points to which people. I also got rather misty-eyed when Dorothy was thinking about handmade baby items and what they represent and why they're important.

I absolutely cannot wait for the next book I this series!

[anna b · Rating 5 out of 5]

oh this was even better than the first one! do I care about the mysteries being unraveled in these novellas? absolutely not. but the setting is fun, the stakes are low, and the characters (John! Ruthie!! DOROTHY!!!) are so so lovely. completely adored the interactions our main trio has throughout this story. I'll take about 10 more of these, thanks!

[Rian *fire and books* · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect blend of sweet, cozy, and hopeful we all need to start the year off right.

[Tammy - Books, Bones & Buffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The nitty-gritty: An intriguing mystery, tangled interpersonal relationships and a fascinating futuristic world make this sweet, humorous story a must read.

I’m enjoying this series so much! Nobody’s Baby is the second book in the Dorothy Gentleman series, revolving around a generation ship on the way to colonize a new planet and focusing on various ship board mysteries. Dorothy Gentleman is one of the detectives on the ship, and the plot in this book focuses on a surprise baby who appears one day on someone’s doorstep. The story is full of wry humor and feel good moments, and if you’re looking for a low stakes mystery, this is the perfect bite-sized story.

The generation ship Fairweather has a crew roster that never changes. During its centuries-long journey, each passenger has a memory book that can be uploaded to a new body when they die. And there’s a very strict policy that getting pregnant and giving birth during the trip isn’t allowed, for several very good reasons. So it comes as a shock when detective Dorothy Gentleman is summoned to her nephew Ruthie’s apartment one day, only to discover that someone has left a baby on his doorstep. A real, flesh and blood baby!

Now Dorothy must follow the clues to identify the parents, as well as navigate Planetary Law versus Ship’s Law. The baby’s presence raises all sorts of questions, moral and legal, and Dorothy has quite a few threads to untangle.

Once again, Olivia Waite brings a fresh spin to the sci-fi mystery genre with her fascinating world. I’m not sure if this is considered alternate history or not, but you can tell from the characters’ clothing on the cover that it appears to be Victorian or Regency era, but set in space. The characters also have a formal, genteel air about them, and I quite like this idea, especially since it’s paired with futuristic tech, like the retromat, which can reproduce anything, and the memory books, which store everyone’s memories and personalities, to be uploaded into new bodies when necessary.

The mystery itself is rather low key but still interesting. A baby on the ship where babies aren’t allowed or even possible (I’m a little unclear about this, but I’m assuming something was done medically to everyone on board to prevent pregnancy) is an intriguing set-up. Not only that, but the characters become quite emotional about little Peregrine, especially Ruthie, who has formed an intense bond with him and wants to petition for guardianship. Dorothy, who has never had children but fondly remembers caring for Ruthie as a baby, seems to be a natural at getting Peregrine to stop crying. The baby brings out the best in every person he interacts with—except for one, who is more or less the villain of the story—which made the story even more cozy.

Part of the mystery involves tech called a “skimmer,” which is a contraption worn on the head that extracts your memories and projects them onto a large screen. In lieu of watching movies for entertainment, the passengers aboard the Fairweather watch “flickers,” memories created by “projectionists.” I loved this idea, which makes sense because all of the media from our time has been lost, so entertainment has taken on very different forms in this future. The book is full of cool, futuristic ideas like this.

In addition to plenty of humor and sweet moments, like the budding romance between Dorothy and a woman named Violet who runs a yarn shop, Waite touches on some philosophical topics like the fact that no one aboard the ship will ever return to Earth, so they have all had a bunch of “lasts” that exist only in memories (and clearly the idea of memories is a theme that will probably carry throughout the series). There are some debates over the baby and how to categorize him. For example, should he be considered a ship’s passenger and be allowed to store his memories in a book? Or should he be listed as a citizen of the new planet they are heading towards? There are pros and cons to both, and I liked the way these discussions among the characters turned out. I think these books are perfectly balanced with elements that will appeal to all sorts of readers.

Of course there is a happy ending, and Dorothy’s wise, calm manner helps her solve the mystery of baby Peregrine. I cannot wait to read the next installment of this well written series.

Big thanks to the publisher for providing a review copy.

[Leanna Streeter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this series, and this second installment was just as good as the first. Cozy mystery in space is quickly becoming one of my favorite things, and Olivia Waite is doing it so beautifully.

The world of the Fairweather continues to completely fascinate me. A massive generational spaceship, carefully structured rules, preserved minds, modified bodies, and an entire society built to survive a thousand-year journey through space, the world-building is genuinely immaculate. Every time I step back onto this ship, it feels fully realized, thoughtful, and alive.

This time, Dorothy Gentleman is faced with an impossible mystery: a baby appears on a ship where pregnancy is supposed to be impossible. What unfolds is part mystery, part social and ethical exploration, and part deeply cozy, heartfelt story. I loved how the book leaned into questions of law, equality, responsibility, and humanity, all while still delivering a compelling, gentle mystery.

And Dorothy… I am completely obsessed with her. She’s sharp, compassionate, no-nonsense, and endlessly endearing. I love following her perspective, and I really enjoyed the way her relationship with her nephew added emotional depth and warmth to the story.

Warm, clever, and quietly emotional, this novella once again proves how special this series is. I already cannot wait for whatever comes next. Give me a hundred more Dorothy Gentleman stories, please!! I listened to the audio and I think the narrator really does a fabulous job. She brings Dorthy to life!! I highly recommend the audiobook. Thanks to Tor Publishing for the gifted ARC. Thanks to Macmillan audio for the ALC.

[M. Stevenson]

This was such a fun bite-sized mystery! I really love Olivia Waite's world in this series and how this one expanded it with some very cool and thought-provoking technology. I would happily read more of these!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Tor and Netgalley for the e-arc. this was an absolute delight! I usually don't read mysteries because I am too impatient to wait for the answers, which is why mystery novellas are the perfect solution. Throw in sci-fi and queerness and it's even sweeter. This was so much fun and I really hope there are more Dorothy Gentleman mysteries to com.

[Cait · Rating 3 out of 5]

perfectly fine way to pass the time, but, beyond the clever title, I don't think I'll find much about this one particularly memorable. oh well! I'll still read #3, and happily (EVEN THOUGH GOOD GOD I JUST READ THE BLURB, WHICH IS ALREADY UP, AND IT SOUNDS NIGHTMARISH).