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Dorothy Gentleman #2
Nobody's Baby
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.
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.
4 pages, Audible Audio
First published March 10, 2026
114 people are currently reading
7962 people want to read
About the author
Olivia Waite
18 books1,292 followersOlivia Waite writes queer historical romance, science fiction, and fantasy. She is the romance fiction columnist for the New York Times Book Review.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 341 reviews
March 11, 2026
ARC provided by TOR - thank you so much
mini review to come soon, but i enjoyed this... just not as much as the 1st!
Murder by Memory ★★★★
January 19, 2026
I am begging to be put on this ship please someone
March 23, 2026
[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.
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.
March 26, 2026
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
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
March 13, 2026
i love how befuddled everyone was by the existence of an infant
January 6, 2026
Great follow up !! Love the world & Ms. Gentleman
March 22, 2026
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!
I hope Olivia Waite writes more books in this cozy, sci-fi world, I will definitely be reading anything about Miss. Dorthy Gentleman!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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:
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.
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.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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
Thank you MacMillan Audio and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
October 18, 2025
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!
Thanks to Netgalley for the e-arc!
January 22, 2026
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
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
January 14, 2026
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!
*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!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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!
January 3, 2026
The perfect blend of sweet, cozy, and hopeful we all need to start the year off right.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
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.
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.
March 18, 2026
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 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.
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 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.
January 17, 2026
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.
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.
Read
October 15, 2025This 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.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
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.
March 22, 2026
just a quick little treat, but I'd have 100 more
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A delightful sequel! The characters continue to delight, as do the mystery and the worldbuilding. I particularly loved seeing Ruthie lose his heart to the baby. (Full review to come.)
October 1, 2025
Another delightful bitesized scifi mystery. I could read so many books in this series, and I hope we get many more.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I didn't like this one as much as the first one. The stakes weren't as high and this fell more than a little flat for me.
March 20, 2026
Second book in an ongoing series of novellas and one of my anticipated new books for this year. In Nobody's Baby, generation ship detective Dorothy Gentleman must contend with a new mystery: a newborn baby left on her nephew's doorstep on a spaceship where nobody is allowed to reproduce.
The Dorothy Gentleman books feel very much like they're being narrated by one of Bertie Wooster's domineering, no-nonsense aunts. Although Dorothy is currently in her twenties due to a mishap with her body's resurrection, she has the force and personality of a much older and more experienced woman. Still, while I love the character voice, the short length of a novella doesn't give the mystery much room to breathe. When combined with Dorothy's competence, the plot feels more like going through a checklist of interviewing witnesses and analyzing door entry logs than a mystery. There's not much room for twists or red herrings with a mere hundred pages when the POV character is always right. I like the narration style a lot, but I'm very picky about my mystery plots, and I would have preferred something more complex. Still, even if the series is a bit fluffy and insubstantial, I'll probably read the next novella.
The Dorothy Gentleman books feel very much like they're being narrated by one of Bertie Wooster's domineering, no-nonsense aunts. Although Dorothy is currently in her twenties due to a mishap with her body's resurrection, she has the force and personality of a much older and more experienced woman. Still, while I love the character voice, the short length of a novella doesn't give the mystery much room to breathe. When combined with Dorothy's competence, the plot feels more like going through a checklist of interviewing witnesses and analyzing door entry logs than a mystery. There's not much room for twists or red herrings with a mere hundred pages when the POV character is always right. I like the narration style a lot, but I'm very picky about my mystery plots, and I would have preferred something more complex. Still, even if the series is a bit fluffy and insubstantial, I'll probably read the next novella.
Want to read
June 20, 2025So much fun was the first installment of our lady detective in space.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Olivia Waite returns us to the HMS Fairweather, and to the antics of Dorothy Gentleman and her favorite (and only) nephew, Ruthie. This time, a baby that shouldn't exist appears, and it's up to Dorothy to find out the who, the when, and most importantly, the how.
I felt like Waite really leans into the cozy aspect of this novella, and a little less so into the mystery aspect. I will say that this novella features less of a mystery to solve, and more of a search for a legal loophole. As a result, this felt a little low-stakes to me, so while the humor and coziness was entertaining and the characters were pleasant to revisit, I did feel that substance and plot in this were a little lacking and the pacing a tad abrupt.
Sadly, after this addition, I probably won't continue reading this series. Thankfully, I do think that folks who enjoyed the vibes of Murder by Memory perhaps more than I did (I liked it, but wasn't wowed), will still seek out this sequel.
I felt like Waite really leans into the cozy aspect of this novella, and a little less so into the mystery aspect. I will say that this novella features less of a mystery to solve, and more of a search for a legal loophole. As a result, this felt a little low-stakes to me, so while the humor and coziness was entertaining and the characters were pleasant to revisit, I did feel that substance and plot in this were a little lacking and the pacing a tad abrupt.
Sadly, after this addition, I probably won't continue reading this series. Thankfully, I do think that folks who enjoyed the vibes of Murder by Memory perhaps more than I did (I liked it, but wasn't wowed), will still seek out this sequel.
October 25, 2025
I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.
I’ve really enjoyed Olivia Waite’s historical romances, but the Dorothy Gentleman series truly shines in her catalogue. I really love how well paced the novella is and the nuanced relationships shown. I love Dorothy and Ruthie’s relationship, and I am so curious about John and Violet and really hope there’s going to be more books because the world and set up are all so fascinating. This was a fascinating mystery because it seems it’s just about where the baby came from, but it gets more complicated as things come to light. I especially love how centrally this is a story of chosen family and parenthood as a choice and how it isn’t for everyone, at every point. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for more of Dorothy’s adventures.
I’ve really enjoyed Olivia Waite’s historical romances, but the Dorothy Gentleman series truly shines in her catalogue. I really love how well paced the novella is and the nuanced relationships shown. I love Dorothy and Ruthie’s relationship, and I am so curious about John and Violet and really hope there’s going to be more books because the world and set up are all so fascinating. This was a fascinating mystery because it seems it’s just about where the baby came from, but it gets more complicated as things come to light. I especially love how centrally this is a story of chosen family and parenthood as a choice and how it isn’t for everyone, at every point. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and cannot wait for more of Dorothy’s adventures.
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May 26, 2025can't wait for more dorothy!
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March 5, 2026This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was happy to see we would get more of the detective Dorothy Gentlemen in her series. The setting is a sentient space ship headed to a new faraway planet. There are rules to make sure the inhabitants stay alive until they reach the destination which is hundreds of years of travel. There is lots of interesting space technology. The plots though are mysteries and Dorothy is a ship detective.
Again we have the characters of the ship "Fairy" and her nephew, Ruthie, who does coding for the ship. Ruthie is asking some odd questions and eventually Dorothy goes to his home where he and his husband, John, have a crying baby. Dorothy is familiar with baby care because of when Ruthie was one but it has been several centuries. The basics are a help, though.
But since babies are not permitted with their limited supplies, how did one get created? Dorothy has to figure out who the parents are and how this happened. Since the parents are not caring for the child, who will care for him?
Dorothy is smart and compassionate. She is kind to the parents and the child. Dorothy's own possible relationship is riding in the background. We mostly learn about the rules about people and more about Ruthie and John.
I was thrilled to have another mystery. These are shorter in length which is also easy to read. I hope for more adventures in this series.
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
I was happy to see we would get more of the detective Dorothy Gentlemen in her series. The setting is a sentient space ship headed to a new faraway planet. There are rules to make sure the inhabitants stay alive until they reach the destination which is hundreds of years of travel. There is lots of interesting space technology. The plots though are mysteries and Dorothy is a ship detective.
Again we have the characters of the ship "Fairy" and her nephew, Ruthie, who does coding for the ship. Ruthie is asking some odd questions and eventually Dorothy goes to his home where he and his husband, John, have a crying baby. Dorothy is familiar with baby care because of when Ruthie was one but it has been several centuries. The basics are a help, though.
But since babies are not permitted with their limited supplies, how did one get created? Dorothy has to figure out who the parents are and how this happened. Since the parents are not caring for the child, who will care for him?
Dorothy is smart and compassionate. She is kind to the parents and the child. Dorothy's own possible relationship is riding in the background. We mostly learn about the rules about people and more about Ruthie and John.
I was thrilled to have another mystery. These are shorter in length which is also easy to read. I hope for more adventures in this series.
March 10, 2026
I had so much fun with it! It's a great sci-fi murder mystery romp, and I highly recommend it if that sounds like your cup of tea. (Bonus: it's a novella, and fast-paced, so you can easily read it in a day.) I liked this sequel even more than the first book, which I greatly enjoyed when I read it last year. The characters—about half of whom we met in book one—have some room to grow here, since we know the basics about the society. The plot is also relatively straightforward: in a society where fertility was put on pause, how did someone conceive and have a baby? It of course gets more complicated than that, with additional questions (like "who put the baby on your doorstep?" and "who tried to kidnap the baby?") popping up, but it's still an easy to understand plot up until the end. The denouement is still mostly easy to understand, but there are a few twists that throw a wrench or two into the works along the way.
This sequel is one of the wonderful ones that takes the great idea started by book one and builds upon it to create something even more fun. I hope this series keeps going for a while, because I would love to see what else our very-long-lived friends get up to on their way to find a new planet to call home.
This sequel is one of the wonderful ones that takes the great idea started by book one and builds upon it to create something even more fun. I hope this series keeps going for a while, because I would love to see what else our very-long-lived friends get up to on their way to find a new planet to call home.
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