Judy Garland portrayed one of the legendary Harvey Girls in her 1945 film The Harvey Girls. You might not remember the movie, but you'd probably recognize the hit song from the film: On the Atchinson, Topeka and Santa Fe. Harvey Houses were famous for providing train passengers on the western railways with delicious meals served at a reasonable price in under thirty minutes while their train was refueled. They were also famous for the young, attractive and wholesome young women who served those meals. Dana Stabenow has set her latest mystery series in one of those very railroad stops in Harvey Girl (#1,361).
Fred Harvey is having troubles with his supply chain for his restaurants. Trains are being held up and the cars containing his supplies are targeted. They are separated from the rest of the train and vanish. The logical place to come in the 1890s for help is the Pinkerton Detective Agency in Chicago.
The Pinkerton brothers send their best agent undercover to ferret out the problem. Clare Wright has the distinct advantage of being able to pose as a Harvey Girl herself, living on site and observing the goings on. It doesn't take too long before Clare develops her theories about who is behind the thefts and why, but she doesn't gain her knowledge without considerable risk to herself. In the meantime, her real job isn't half as exhausting as what the Harvey Girls themselves are willing to do to earn money for themselves and their families in an options-limited world.
I wonder where Clare Wright will pop up next? I'll be looking forward to her next job.
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