Dr. Daniel Timothy Adams O’Halleran is visiting Ascroft, eh? to tell us about Murder on Oak Street, the first novel in the South Shore mystery series.

Welcome, Dr. O’Halleran. Let’s get started, shall we?

Tell us about the novel that you live inside. Is it part of a series? If so, please tell us about the series too.    

My name is Dr. Daniel Timothy Adams O’Halleran, and I was a coroner’s physician for the City of New York in early 1904. I say was because circumstances at the beginning of the novel left me with a desire to start anew. As such, I have relocated to Patchogue, New York, a village on eastern Long Island. Mother is concerned she shall never see me again, but she is being overly dramatic. The Long Island Railroad can bring me home in a little over an hour and a half. On a busy morning, that is less time than it used to take me to travel from our Brooklyn home to Manhattan, and far more pleasant.

The novel starts by recounting how my move came about, but needless to say, when an opportunity presented itself, I packed up and headed for Long Island and what turned out to be the perfect opportunity. While I am a physician, my true passion is solving crimes, and in my new position, I am able to do both. I now work with a local doctor, who also happens to be a county coroner. This not only affords me the chance to attend the living, but to help the deceased as well by bringing their murderers to justice. And there are murders. So far, the series consists of three books, with the promise of more.

Does the writer control what happens in the story or do you get a say too?

Daniel: She does try, but she made the mistake of writing me as a charming chap, so I do often get my way. Of course, that does mean she occasionally finds herself in conflict with the norms of the period, especially when it comes to my relationship with a certain young lady.

Kathleen: Nonsense. Times are changing. Of course, some old biddies still lift their eyebrows at the slightest sign of a woman’s independence, but most people are much more relaxed, particularly when it comes to affairs of the heart.

How did you evolve as the main character?

I can’t be sure. I woke up one morning, and there I was, a coroner’s physician for the City of New York. Of course, as I’ve noted, that didn’t end well, so I was off to Long Island to assist the local doctor in his practice, as well as in his position as a county coroner. Well, that’s not exactly true. The author does weave my backstory into the narrative here and there, so I do have a memory of that.

I was born the child of an innocent Irish maid and her cad of an employer. Of course, he wanted nothing to do with me, so we lived with Mama’s brother until she passed away when I was six. I still miss her terribly, but she saw to it that I would be taken care of. As a police officer, it wasn’t practical for Uncle Timothy to continue to take care of a small child, but Mama made sure he knew what to do.

I was incredibly sad the day we left Leonard Street and headed for Park Slope, not wanting to leave the only family I’d ever known. I think this made me humble in later life and extremely grateful for all I have. But back to how I became the man I am at the start of the story. Though it pained him terribly, Uncle Timothy brought me to the home of my “father’s” sister, hoping to secure me a position as the groom’s apprentice. They were quite well off, you see.

I know what you’re thinking. Why bring me into back to such a cruel family? Because it was actually quite the opposite, and Mama knew that. Sarah Adams was quite the opposite of her wicked brother. She and her husband took me in, not as an apprentice to the groom as my mama had hoped, but as their own son. So you see, I’ve been quite fortunate. They made sure I had a wonderful education and learned how to be a proper gentleman, instilling me with confidence and kindness, though deep down I still foster a few insecurities, much to my parents’ dismay. But all in all, I’m quite content with my lot in life.

I would have loved to be a police offcer like Uncle Timothy, but Father was wise enough to insist I pursue medicine, which he knew I loved, and even found a way for me to not only practice medicine but to follow my dream as well. Assistant coroner, with a medical practice on the side, is the perfect position for me.

Do you have any other characters you like sharing the story with? If so, why are you partial to them?

Daniel: Of course, there’s the head coroner, my boss, of course, though he’s frequently out calling on patients. He is the local physician as well, remember. And then, there is Sergeant Owens, from the local constabulary. But most of all, I enjoy sharing my theories with Miss Kathleen Brissedon, who I find incredibly attractive. She has a keen mind and a sharp eye. Don’t tell her I said that though, or she’ll expect to be taken along to every crime scene, and that just wouldn’t be proper, now would it?

Kathleen: Oh, poppycock. I’m not made of pudding, and you have to admit, I am quite helpful. Besides, if you don’t allow it, I’m sure I can find a way to examine it on my own. Yes, yes, I know it will upset you, but you will get over it eventually.

Daniel: As far as my personal history, I’m very careful about who I share that with. I’m not ashamed of my mama, but I don’t want people to think badly of her. None of what happened was her fault. My “father” took what he wanted and dared her to say a word about it. Uncle Timothy created a story to protect her reputation, saying my father had been a police officer killed in the line of duty, which his friends on the force all supported. At any rate, I tell few people exactly what happened. My family knows, of course, but Mother says it is my story to tell if and when I wish too. And my brothers and sister no better to defy and edict put forth by Sarah Adams.

Little by little, I will share things with others, once I am sure they are not the type to place the blame on my mama. For now, though, they are few and far between.

What’s the place like where you find yourself in this story?

It’s a lovely seaside community, quite built up and bustling for the country. It sits on the Great South Bay; and as such, is a popular vacation destination for city folk, especially the cyclists who make a habit of riding their bicycles out of a weekend. Those not as adventurous, can take the Long Island Railroad, as the village has its own stop just a block or two from town. There are plenty of lovely hotels and cottages for those who wish to linger a few days to enjoy the seaside or explore the numerous shops that line Main Street and Ocean Avenue. We even have our own department store. Life is far more peaceful than the city, but definitely not boring. I love looking out across the bay at sunset, listening to the roar of waves upon the shore. It puts things in perspective.

Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers about you and the book?

Much to my surprise, murder keeps rearing its ugly head, even in this lovely village, and as assistant coroner, it is my job to discover who is behind it. So far, I’ve only been here six months, and there have already been three murders. The first occurred on Oak Street, where I met Kathleen, so even that had a silver lining. Another took place on West Main, and the third on West Lake. Of course, they just happen to be the titles of the three books in the series that have been released so far. Don’t tell anyone, but I’ve heard the author is contemplating another death, on Medford Avenue this time, for late this year. I suppose, I’d best prepare for it.

Thank you for answering my questions, Dr. Halleran, and good luck to you and your author, I. M. Foster, with Murder on Oak Street, the first book in the South Shore mystery series.

Readers can learn more about Dr. Halleran and his author, I. M. Foster by visiting the author’s Facebook, and Threads pages. You can also follow her on Twitter/X.

The novel is available online at  Amazon

About I. M. Foster: I. M. Foster is the pen name author Inez Foster uses to write her South Shore Mystery series, set on Edwardian Long Island. Inez also writes historical romances under the pseudonym Andrea Matthews, and has so far published two series in that genre: the Thunder on the Moor series, a time-travel romance set on the 16th century Anglo-Scottish Borders, and the Cross of Ciaran series, which follows the adventures of a fifth century Celt who finds himself in love with a twentieth-century archaeologist.

Inez is a historian and librarian, who loves to read and write and search around for her roots, genealogically speaking. She has a BA in History and an MLS in Library Science and enjoys the research almost as much as she does writing the story. In fact, many of her ideas come to her while doing casual research or digging into her family history. Inez is a member of the Long Island Romance Writers, the Historical Novel Society, and Sisters in Crime.