Editorial Reviews - A South Shore Mystery Series

Murder on Oak Street by I. M. Foster is a historical fiction murder mystery that is deeply intertwined with historical details set in New York at the turn of the 20th century. The beginning of the book pulls the readers into a murder quickly. While readers may assume the plot lies in this murder, it is actually just the beginning. Readers will quickly be thrown into an even bigger mystery that layers investigations within investigations in a very creatively written way. In Murder on Oak Street, Dr. Daniel O’Halleran works as a physician for the coroner helping to determine the cause of death and investigate murder mysteries but his services are rarely appreciated and often passed over by the coroner. After being left at the altar, Daniel feels like it is time to leave the city and beings working as the coroner on Long Island. The slower pace of life and the reduction of stress appeal to Daniel but he has no idea what he is in for when he arrives on Long Island. When a murder occurs, Daniel is immediately put on the case and he soon realizes that it seems to be connected to a case that he has worked on years before that left him unsettled and that he was not able to solve. With new determination, he sets out to solve both cases in a tale that is sure to leave readers on the edge of their unable to put their books down until the last line.

“Footsteps thumped from above. The clink of metal caused him to open his eyes. A bloody knife lay inches from his fingers. The mysterious man knelt beside him, still chuckling.”

The characters in Murder on Oak Street are very well-written and developed. Foster did an incredible job creating characters that were reflective of the time period of the setting. They were believable as characters and Foster did a great job maintaining character personalities and characteristics. She also gives the characters features such as accents and specific dialogue styles that allow readers to become even more immersed in the historical setting of the story. 

“He’d made it a point to visit the library every Tuesday and Thursday during his lunch hour for the past month, hoping to summon the courage to ask the pretty librarian if she would consent to having dinner with him. So when Dr. Tennyson had proposed he look into the death of her stepbrother’s father, it seemed like fate had intervened”

The setting of New York in the early 1900s is well-done and well-developed by the author. Foster creates appropriate details that create a believable and historically accurate setting. Foster achieves this through detailed descriptions. It is clear from these details that Foster has done an extensive amount of research to ensure that readers can vividly conjure pictures of New York and Long Island. Foster creatively paints vivid pictures that allow readers to become engaged in the story. It is easy to become immersed in the historical setting that Foster has expertly and accurately developed. 

“He took a deep breath of the summer air, fragrant with lilacs and the crisp scent of the sea, a sure sign rain was on the way. A colony of seagulls squawked overhead, confirming his suspicions, but not even the threat of a summer storm could dampen his spirits.”

In addition to clearly researching the setting and history of that time period, it is also clear that Foster put effort into researching the investigation process that police and coroners would have used in the early 1900s. Investigations during that time period look far different than the investigations of today. She describes the process by which these cases are investigated in a way that is believable and seems to be historically accurate. The details of the crimes are believable for the time period as well. 

“The words had no sooner left his lips than a harsh scream echoed down the staircase. For a moment, everyone just sat, glancing at one another, but then they all went running toward the stairs.”

Foster is an excellent writer. Her writing is detailed and easy to read. The beginning of the book is a bit slow and difficult to get into but if readers persist, they will be rewarded with a well-written “whodunit” mystery in a detailed historical setting. It is quite enjoyable to read even with the slower sections. Once the reader gets into the story, it is nearly impossible to put Murder on Oak Street.

“Some believed he was guilty, though of those, few thought he’d been in his right mind at the time. ”

Murder on Oak Street is clearly intended for those who enjoy historical fiction. Those with an affinity for turn-of-the-century American history, particularly urban history, will enjoy this story. Even if a reader is not a historical fiction aficionado, those with an interest in murder mysteries will also find it to be an enjoyable read. Fans of writers such as Agatha Christie will find that Foster’s story and writing style will be right on target for their tastes. Murder on Oak Street does come in at over eight hundred pages which be a deterrent for more casual readers. 

“Daniel hissed a curse. He should have followed his gut and come to question the man last night. Why hadn’t he remembered it sooner?”

Foster’s ability to weave mysteries within mysteries while also maintaining a well-developed historical setting and characters makes her book a joy to read. These elements combine richly in Murder on Oak Street, and while it starts slow, the book picks up and leaves readers enraptured in the mysteries and thrills of unsolved murders in early 1900s New York. Historical fiction and mystery readers will find Murder on Oak Street to be one of their favorite books.

“Murder on Oak Street” receives 4.5 stars from The Historical Fiction Company

Jilted at the altar, Daniel O’Halleran accepts a job that combines his two passions: medicine and criminal investigation. He moves to Patchogue, Long Island, where Kathleen Brissedon, the daughter of a wealthy resident, asks him to look into an unsolved murder for her desolate stepbrother. The case is one that has haunted Daniel for two years; he did the autopsy and was frustrated because the New York City police gave the crime only a cursory examination.

Before Daniel has a chance to delve into the mystery, a new murder occurs. On a hot summer night in 1904, someone slits Thomas Brissedon’s throat. With the help of a local police sergeant, as well as an uncle who works for New York’s police department, Daniel learns the victim collected secrets and was willing to use anyone, including his own children, to get what he wanted. Daniel discovers there is a connection between the two murders, but how and why must wait until he figures out who killed Thomas. Was it the angry stepson? The callous, drunken son with gambling debts? The guttersnipe wooing Kathleen? The cousin in love with the maid, whom Thomas fired? The wife whose husband has what Thomas wanted? The partner he ruined? Or is Kathleen the murderess?

While it takes one third of the book to introduce the characters and set the stage for the murder, once Thomas succumbs, the pace quickens and it becomes an intriguing who-dun-it. This first book in the South Shore Mystery series interweaves murder, mayhem, and romance with well-drawn characters rife with foibles and a vile, despicable villain. Foster, a historian and librarian, brings the Edwardian period and bygone Patchogue to life, and readers will look forward to Daniel’s next mystery as well as his developing relationship with Kathleen.

Historic Novel Society - Cindy Vallar

Friday, August 19, 1904 – 7:45 a.m.

Colin Brissedon hurried down the street, trying to make some order out of the mess of waves that covered his head. Why had he stopped at that salon on the way home last night? Because you’re a complete and total rounder, that’s why. Hadn’t Mr. Brice cautioned him about coming in with another hangover?

He could still hear the man bellowing about the firm’s reputation, warning him that if he came in looking like something the cat dragged in once more, he was finished, degree from Columbia 

or not. That was just a week ago, and now he’d done it again. Well, maybe not to that extent, but another night like last night and he was sure to be sliding down that slope once more, right back into the cesspit he’d so recently crawled out of. 

The story opens with Colin Brissedon, a man who has just received threats from his now-murdered boss, making him a figure of suspicion. This sets the stage for a mystery that is both complex and captivating. The novel's opening hook draws the reader right into the main conflict of the narrative. Foster makes a calculated decision in selecting the opening scene, building suspense and mystery from the first. This strong start guarantees that the reader will be captivated and anxious to learn the truth right away. 

The plot is interesting, creating a complicated web of mystery and mistrust that leaves the reader wondering. Foster skillfully adds turns and turns to "Murder on West Main" that not only progresses the story but also adds to the mystery, making it a novel that is hard to put down.

I. M. Foster's "Mystery on West Main: A South Shore Mystery" is an intriguing addition to the mystery genre that deftly blends tension, character depth, and an engrossing plot. This book demonstrates Foster's skill at writing a narrative that grips readers from start to finish in addition to offering an intriguing mystery. 

Mr. Brice sat in his expensive leather desk chair, facing the window. The shade was pulled halfway down, though it didn’t matter much since the window faced north, and only weak sunlight shone down the alley at this hour of the morning. Still, it was enough for her to see his watery green eyes were devoid of all life. She was tempted to close them, but if she’d learned anything from Daniel, it was not to alter anything at a crime scene. 

She tore her eyes away from the victim’s and shivered. Aside from those in a coffin, she’d never seen a dead man before, and she hoped to never see one again. Even after her father had been killed, when she’d searched his room in an attempt to exonerate her stepbrother, his body had been covered with a sheet. She was thankful now that she had not seen him that way. 

Who doesn’t love a good, old-fashioned whodunit? This story brings us that, blending with great historical settings of the early 1900s. It follows all the best patterns and tropes for the genre and brings all the suspense and energy you’d expect from a great historical sleuth mystery. 

The book is professionally formatted and edited, making for a comfortable read. The careful editing demonstrates attention to detail, which makes the plot flow naturally. The way that paragraphs and chapters are organized improves the narrative's rhythm and makes the book easier to read overall. Pacing is so important in a mystery and this story does it perfectly, building up each moment as you go along. 

Foster is a master at developing characters; the cast is well-rounded and has many facets. Particularly well-written characters include Kathleen, who is driven to clear her brother's name, and Daniel O'Halleran, the coroner's assistant with a sharp intuition. Their goals, anxieties, and development during the inquiry are shown in a realistic and nuanced manner, piquing the reader's curiosity, and fostering empathy.

“Well, yes. I reckon you’ll just have to interrogate her and find out.” The sergeant was grinning again, his eyes sparkling with humor, and Daniel knew the man could see right through him. 

Daniel let out a long sigh and leaned back in the chair. “I’ll admit I’m attracted to the woman, but…” He rubbed his forehead. 

“I know. You both have some… issues… to deal with. Don’t take too long, though, Doc. She must be at least twenty-two or so already. She’ll be too old to wed before you know it.” Daniel frowned, and the sergeant chuckled. “I heard what that little whelp had to say, fool that he is. Word is his folks want him to marry Jenny Rydel, for the same reason old Brice was being wed to Becky Cavanaugh, I reckon. Their parents want them to wed to a bit of money and off their hands. Anyone even suggests I marry my daughter off before she finds the love of her life, and I’ll send them from here to Canarsie.”

Through the well-written dialogue, we also have the opportunity to learn more about the characters, the plot, and the timeline that they are all living in. Every plot point and character development advance the plot and keeps the narrative cohesive. Foster skillfully oversees the story's several threads, making sure that everything fits together logically and cohesively. The book's immersive quality is increased by this attention to continuity.

There is a clear progression from the inciting incident to the resolution in this well-written tale arc, which is so incredibly important in a mystery. Foster expertly controls the building suspense and the mystery as it develops, creating a dramatic and gratifying climax. The human journeys provide a fitting complement to the investigation's arc, giving the narrative more depth and impact.

The book's striking descriptions, captivating dialogue, and deliberate pacing all attest to Foster's skill as a writer. The story is improved by the prose's clear sense of place and mood, which is both evocative and approachable. Foster exhibits a good grasp of the art of striking a balance between action and detail to make the story both exciting and deep.

In a genre where clichés are typically overdone, "Murder on West Main" sticks out for its originality. Foster gives the mystery genre a new angle by fusing conventional ingredients with creative twists. This made it a very refreshing read. A coroner's assistant serves as a protagonist, and the South Shore hamlet location provides fresh perspectives on the murder case.

The conclusion of "Murder on West Main" is both rewarding and thought-provoking. Foster expertly brings everything together, offering a satisfying conclusion that is consistent with the tone of the book and credible.

"Murder on West Main" has everything a historical mystery lover could want, including a gripping story, well-developed characters, and a satisfying resolution to the mystery. 

 “Murder on West Main” by I. M . Foster receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” award of excellence from The Historical Fiction Company