Pat O'Malley Mysteries Take Fans On A Real Trip

Pat O'Malley, the dashing Irish detective who fell into danger investigating the death of his old friend Edgar Allan Poe, is giving his quickly growing fanbase a more exotic turn of events.

Jim Musgrave refers to the O'Malley series as mini-mysteries, short enough to read anywhere. The inspiration seems to come from Poe himself who said, "If any literary work is too long to be read at one sitting, we must be content to dispense with the immensely important effect derivable from unity of impression-for, if two sittings be required, the affairs of the world interfere, and everything like totality is at once destroyed."

Musgrave's gift is in weaving into the lines a subliminal moment of rapture when the world simply drops away and we disappear into the story.

Disappearance At Mount Sinai, the second O'Malley adventure, weaves kidnapping, anti-Semitism, and the Mazikeen - half angel and half human creatures from Jewish folklore.

Jane The Grabber, the third O'Malley Mystery, is about Hester Jane Haskins, the infamous malevolent brothel owner in late 19th century New York City. Here Musgrave grabs thousands of new fans by slyly moving into the supernatural realms of the steampunk genre. This daring move, rare in a series, may prove sensible. Steampunk has had such a boost in the ranks of its followers that activities and conventions are constantly taking place worldwide.

Tucson, Arizona resident Khurt Khave has followed the O'Malley Mysteries and thinks the genre morphing is a good idea. "Oh, yes, definitely! Interest in the subgenre is at its highest peak so far. And even if that subsides in time, its basis grew out of literary greats such as H.G. Wells and Jules Verne. There will always be new readers discovering it." Khave is the mainstage director of Wild Wild West Steampunk Con 2014.

Yes, there is more. Musgrave has created an app which he describes as helping the reader keep the 1860s in their pocket. Poe also had interests in scientific developments of his time.

Even in the months besides October, Poe is still a mainstay motif among the moody, heavy black eyeliner set. Performer Sarah Black is one half of the gothic cabaret duo Valentine Wolfe, one of the more popular artists in the steampunk culture. She and partner Braxton Ballew are also fans of Musgrave's series. "I think that having the historical aspect evolve to a steampunk aspect helps people get involved. People are interested in steampunk culture because of this DIY aesthetic, so yeah, there will be a lot of interest." Valentine Wolfe's latest album, Once Upon A Midnight, is strongly influenced by Poe.

Forevermore is now on audiobook and read by Shandon Loring. Musgrave's website is the box Pandora wishes she had opened. Jim Musgrave was a semi-finalist the Black Lawrence Press 2012 Chapbook Awards and a Bram Stoker Award Finalist. He has also published three novels and two collections of short stories at CIC Publications. He and his wife, Ellen, live in San Diego.

Follow Jim Musgrave on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and online at http://contempinstruct.com/Forevermore.