The Harvey Girl

by Dana Stabenow

From the award-winning author of the Kate Shugak Mysteries, a thrilling new detective series set during America's wild boom time and frontier expansion of the nineteenth century.

WELCOME TO THE GILDED AGE. WHERE NOT EVERYTHING GLITTERS.

1890: the Gilded Age, a period of financial success and political corruption. The United States is growing at a breathless rate, with six new states recently added to the Union.

With expansion comes an influx of crime. Outlaw gangs hold sway on the frontier and heists and robberies are commonplace. A lot of businesses shrug off these depredations as the cost of success. Those who don't hire the Pinkerton Detective Agency to get their money back.

The Pinkertons' newest operative is twenty-two-year-old Clare Wright. Highly educated, skilled with disguises, and handy enough in a fight, Clare's future in the agency seems bright. But when she's introduced to Fred Harvey, she finds herself thrown right into the heady mix of frontier life.

Harvey's Arizona hotel has been robbed and Clare is the perfect recruit to solve this mystery. Clare must infiltrate high society and win the confidence of killers like Butch Cassidy as she seeks the truth.

'Let me recommend Dana Stabenow' Diana Gabaldon

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, United States, Adult Fiction, Historical Mystery

272 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication February 24, 2026

About the author

Dana Stabenow was born in Anchorage and raised on 75-foot fish tender in the Gulf of Alaska. She knew there was a warmer, drier job out there somewhere.

Reviews

[Petra · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is the first in what appears to be a new series from Dana Stabenow. I’ve already read the entire Kate Shugak (20+books) set in Alaska.
This time, the book is set in the new Frontier towns of the Old West. Reading the notes at the end of the book, I was surprised to read just how many of these events, places and people were real - just jiggled around a bit for the book. I’d heard of several of the people and places but wasn’t aware that the Harvey Hotels, the Harvey Girls and the Pinkerton Detective Agency actually existed.
Although I chose this book because it was written by Dana Stabenow, I do have some issues with her writing.
What she does best is location and scene setting, followed by her inclusion of interesting historical facts. Next comes her storylines - which are sometimes quite far-fetched and rely heavily on the same set of dramatic situations. Although, that said, they’re usually engrossing for the most part.
My main issue with her books is that her characters aren’t generally engaging - particularly her lead characters. Plenty about what they do and how they look physically, but they’re never really deep or nuanced. And that’s such a shame as I’d love to be rooting for them, but there’s nothing really to give them anything but a basic personality (usually fortitude, attitude and courage, and that’s about it).
Interesting time and setting, but I’m not sure that I’d go back for another helping if this is going to be a new series.

[June Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought my first book by Dana Stabenow in Denali Park, Alaska. I loved it and still have that book, now autographed. Yes, I've met her. As such, I was prepared to love this one from the git go. So, you can imagine my surprise when, after the first chapter, I was rather lost. I actually pondered putting it aside, figuring it was just me too caught up in real life events to allow myself to be sucked in. Fortunately, I kept reading and was glad I did. While I'm not quite sold on it the way I was on that first book set in Alaska, this one in the Wild West of 1890 did eventually pull me in. I've always been a sucker for a western, bring on those cowboys, but Stabenow's usual wonderful job of setting the story in the gritty, frequently violent, rough and barely civilized mining town of Montana Roja and it's quirky cast of characters was well done. Seriously, I could picture that drunk sheriff ignoring lawlessness and the likes of a killer one day showing up at a dance the next and shyly asking heroine Clare Wright to dance, not to mention delight in well-known names like Bat Masterson and Mark Twain popping up.

As a history major, the historical aspects of the story were great fun. I'd heard of the Harvey Girls although I don't recall where. Reading Clare's daily routine as she worked undercover for the Pinkerton's to solve a murder made me wonder how she could stand up at the end of the day, let alone do any sleuthing. Those women didn't have it easy, that's for sure. Stabenow includes a Cast of Characters upfront, by the way, which I found helpful. I managed to get about halfway through before I finally had to satisfy my curiosity and skip ahead to the acknowledgements and Stabenow's notes on where the idea for the story came from and what was historically based and/or maybe tweaked just a bit. Sorry, Dana. I was impatient. I also took time to do a quick read up on the history of the Harvey Girls to refresh my memory. Worth your time if you're so inclined. Stabenow provides such a strong sense of the time and place that it makes it all the more real. (And, yes, there's a movie staring Judy Garland.)

So what's the mystery, you ask? Who killed the train conductor and what was he maybe or maybe not involved in? The murder is rather quick but, whoa, the murder itself is enough to remind you that you're reading about a lawless era when violence was often violent and quick. In addition, you'll get a great look at how train cars were hooked up, moved, and transferred from one train to the next while also being provided a mind picture of the setting the train travels through. I won't ruin the plot by saying much more but it was intriguing to see Clare working hard all day and dealing with the restrictions put on women of the era.

Bottom line, despite the slow-to-me start, I wound up enjoying this probably new series. Given my assumption Stabenow is setting us up for a continuing series, I was able to overlook the fact that end maybe wasn't tied up for us all nice and pretty, not to mention that this character driven reader chaffed at not knowing more of Clare's background until near the end. Thanks #BloomsburyUSA for giving me this early peek at not just a favorite author (and fellow Alaskan) but letting me hop a virtual time travel machine to drop into an era I've always found fascinating, the still not neat and pretty Wild West. I'll definitely be on the lookout for the next in the series.

[Annette · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was good and a lot did happen when Clare, a private detective working for the Pinkerton detective agency, was sent to investigate a string of train robberies and a connected murder in the Wild West of the 1890s posing as a Harvey girl and working in railroad magnate Harvey’s hotel and restaurant, Clare has to act as a waitress whilst looking in to the crimes.
I did like Clare- she was enterprising and brave, despite her young years and it was interesting seeing the Wild West through her eyes.
However there was something lacking and the book did not thrill me in the way it should. Maybe it was the myriad of characters, maybe it was the unsatisfactory ending- perhaps setting up for a follow up book but I didn’t find that “The Harvey Girl” captivated me. I had to force myself to pick it up and was strangely relieved when I finished it.
As I said, the idea behind the book was good and I did persevere and read to the end which meant it did have some positive features such a well researched historical setting . Sadly my conclusion was that it was just not the book for me but others might disagree as all opinions are subjective.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my advance copy.

[Darcy DecantingBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Gilded Age wild west mystery/historical fiction with a smart, skilled undercover FMC? Yes please!

Private detective Clare Wright has a mission to figure out who’s robbing trains in the 1890 southwest U.S. She goes undercover as a Harvey Girl, a waitress at the famed Harvey Hotel, and gets to her task. The frontier town is wild, to say the least, where no one blinks an eye at shootings in the street and all kinds of craziness is just another day.

I loved how Clare jumped right in, figured out how to blend in and look the part of her cover while always gathering information and looking for clues. And OF COURSE she thinks of everything the men have overlooked and starts narrowing down the field and putting some pieces together. Her confidence and toughness really struck me. The other characters were not particularly developed, but there were some interesting people in the mix. Overall, this was a fun story and I’m 100% on board for the next in the series.

I loved reading the bit at the end about the history of the Harvey Girls and more about the wild west in the 1890s—definitely worth it.

Thank you to Bloomsbury for my advance copy! All thoughts and opinions are mine.

[Aaron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this felt like stepping straight into the late 1800s. Dana Stabenow’s writing builds the frontier through the dust and noise of the mining boom, her careful detail grounding each scene in the rough edge of the times. You feel the grit of the mining town, a place where women are outnumbered and order never lasts long. The world feels authentic without turning romanticized.

Though a mystery drives the plot, it reads more like historical fiction than a traditional detective story. The case frames the story and gives the protagonist room to navigate her world. Stabenow shows the boundaries of her era but allows her main character to navigate them on her own terms. The depth of research makes it believable and true to its time.

Smooth pacing, quick chapters, and dialogue that rings period-true keep the story moving. It’s immersive and easy to sink into, with a strong sense of place. I’d recommend it to readers who like frontier settings with a touch of mystery and a dash of sleuthing.

Thanks to Bloomsbury USA | Head of Zeus and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Christie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having lived in Kansas, I was familiar with the Harvey Girls and even had the opportunity to visit the location in Florence, Kansas. Interested enough in the idea behind the concept, I read a book that detailed the history of the Harvey Girls. When I saw this book by Dana Stabenow, I was intrigued and thrilled to get a chance to read an advanced copy. The story chronicles, Clare, a Pinkerton detective that is sent in undercover as a Harvey Girl to try to solve the murders along the rural railroad route, The story is well written and I thought it was great that the main character was a woman detective. The descriptions of the landscape etc were well written. Overall, I enjoyed the book, however, the ending was not what I expected, it wasn’t really an ending at all. The reader is left hanging. Reading other reviews, I see this is a the first book in a series, so hopefully the murders identity will be resolved.

Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this book

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have not read the author's other series so this was my first book of hers. I've had the Pinkertons referenced in other series I've read but not read a book about one. It was interesting to learn about what the West was like while being settled and how goods were transported by train. I had not heard of the Harvey restaurants before, so that was something I then wanted to Google and learn more about. The character of Clare was intriguing and you always felt like there was a lot you didn't know about her history, some of which is revealed at the end. I would have enjoyed more information on her relationships with characters in the story whom she had worked with previously. Maybe there will be a Book #2 in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy.

[Holly Browning · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a decent historical mystery set in the burgeoning, lawless West. The book follows a young, female Pinkerton Agent on assignment in the New Mexico territory disguised as a Harvey Girl. Loved the descriptions of the time and place, a great setting all around. Enjoyed the historical aspects about the Harvey Hotels of the west, and the birth of the railroad. Characterization wasn't that great, as the main character never quite clicked with me. A few other characters seemed a bit contrived as well. The storyline got a little convoluted, however, if this is meant to be the first in a series it makes more sense. Not bad, but not super great. #theharveygirl #danastabenow #netgalley #goodreads

[Eve · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was loving this book – a feisty heroine employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency to solve a crime in 1890 New Mexico while posing as a Harvey Girl. The Harvey Girls were a fascinating anecdote to railroad history -- young women who went west to work as waitresses in Fred Harvey's restaurants and hotels built along the Santa Fe Railway's tracks. The author's depictions of the hard work and long hours the women endured in exchange for camaraderie and adventure was so interesting. But unfortunately, after enjoying Clare’s sleuthing amid a host of familiar 19th century names, the abrupt ending didn’t do it for me. Somewhere along the way I lost the thread of the story. A bit disappointing.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good 4-star read for me. The story grew on me as it picked up the pace as it went. I ended up enjoying the story more than I expected, so glad I stuck with it past the first few chapters. It’s very action-oriented (train robberies, murders and shootouts), but I did find myself wanting a bit more from the main character. I found that her emotion is missing, and some of her background about what makes her tick. We don't get any hints of that until near the end. Still, it’s an engaging historical read with a strong sense of place and a recommended adventure read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the E-Arc.

[Daria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Author Dana Stabenow does a great job of painting a picture of life in a frontier town in the New Mexico territory in 1890 - the characters, the lifestyle, the lawlessness and sporadic attempts at justice. Ms. Stabenow has created an appealing hero in Pinkerton detective Clare Wright, who goes undercover as a Harvey Girl to try to solve a series of train robberies and a murder. The ending to the book felt oddly unresolved, however, with several loose ends and suppositions. Perhaps a sequel is in the works? Thanks to NetGalley and Head of Zeus for the eARC.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Dana's other series this is the second book in this series I have read.
Not usually a fan of historical fiction but really enjoyed the book.
Likeable characters with a sense of fun and humour. Even better that the lead character is female when you don't expect one in the time setting.
I will look forward to the next book as the ending didn't quite tidy everything up for me but that's the sign of a good author to make you want to read the next book as soon as you finish the current one.

[Ingrid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clare, a Pinkerton detective, has gone to New Mexico, her first time in the west, to determine who is robbing trains. Disguised as a Harvey girl, she goes about her investigation. She meets many people and the author did a great job describing the scenery. Although an interesting pot, I found I didn’t connect to Clare at all. Also, there were so many names and places, I had a tough time keeping all the people straight, the cast of characters at the beginning of the novel was too great to keep referring to.

[MAB LongBeach · Rating 3 out of 5]

Better as historical fiction than as mystery. Clare is a Pinkerton agent in 1890. Sent to New Mexico to investigate the murder of a man during a train robbery, she goes undercover as a Harvey Girl in a lawless small town. It is a demanding role--and that's just the waitressing at the Harvey House--but she is an expert, and she perseveres. If there are sequels, I will read them.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Nancy McFarlane · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing mystery, a fabulous main character you will want to see more of and the history of Fred Harvey and the Harvey girls, which I was totally unfamiliar with, hooked me from the beginning. The vivid setting, the cast of characters and the dialogue made me feel like I had just stepped off the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe and into the gilded age of the wild west. A great start to a new series.

[The Library Lady · Rating 3 out of 5]

This might have gotten pushed to 4 stars from about 3.5 if the author was not Dana Stabenow, and I understand her need to branch out. But tbe Kate Shugak books are so damn good that I expect more from her than this provides. Here's hoping that she's not done with Kate yet.

It's also interesting that she doesn't mention the film starring Judy Garland, The Harvey Girls. I'm sure it's not that deeply researched, but it introduced me and many others to the Harvey story.

[Angelynn23 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first of this author and I did enjoy the quick mystery read , and the historical side of the book is also a great information.

With thanks to NetGalley and to the publisher Aria & Aries for the ARC.

[Shirley Freeman]

This was a fun Historical Fiction/Western/Detective story. Claire Wright (fictional) is an investigator with a Pinkerton agency in the 1890s. She trains to be a Harvey Girl (waitress) in the real Harveys restaurant chain which flourished in the west as railroads were being built/changing the country. Claire works hard as a waitress where she is also undercover as a detective trying to solve a murder (or two or three) related to some train robberies in New Mexico. I believe this is the first in a series of mysteries about Claire Wright. I liked her and look forward to meeting her again.

[Anne Szlachcic · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will start by saying I love everything this talented Author write , most particularly her Kate Shugak series
so this new series became my next must read .

Clare Wright is a young Pinkerton Agent whose new assignment takes her outside the big cities
into the wild west and the new railroads .
Someone is high jacking rail cars but in the latest incident a rail car employee has been brutally
murdered - was he an innocent man or was he involved in the crime ?
Clare is given training to be a Harvey girl - an employee of an speciality eating house
catering to the rail travellers . Only the owner knows who she really is and why she is there -
to use her position to listen in to the customers and use her wits to determine just who and
what is happening out here in in the wild west where even the Law is suspect .

This book sets the series up well for future books - although I thought her age (early 20s) was a little young
to be dealing with such powerful men in a lawless setting . But the character development
was good , even introducing well known characters such as Mark Twain into the storyline
with great success
I look forward to the next in the series and to see where it takes Clare in both her professional and personal life

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

[Beachcomber · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25 stars rounded down. Mystery set in the Wild West, this was a decent read and with a strong female lead character - my only slight issue was that due to pacing, you get one murder at the start (that kicks off Clare being sent to investigate), and then a lot of filler describing her work in the restaurant but not really much detecting, until another murder happens 2/3 of the way into the book… but it was interesting to read about the Harvey Houses and girls, and a slightly different setting.

I received a free ARC copy of this via NetGalley and the publishers in return for an unbiased review.