Murderer or independent woman? Murder at a construction site draws Ohio private investigator Maggie Sullivan into a case that makes cops mistrust her and friends doubt her. The suspect, Rachel Minsky, is Maggie’s closest friend – and all signs point to Rachel’s guilt. Rachel ignores the rules society imposes on women. That independence, in 1942, as well as her success in business, has made her … business, has made her enemies. Yet the dead man also had an unsavory secret or two, starting with his missing mistress. Who was the murderer’s real target? And what is Rachel hiding from the only person who can save her?
The city Maggie scours for clues to the real killer has been altered by America’s recent entry into World War II. Shortages of men and material have created new motives for murder. Unsupervised children roam the streets at night while their mothers work in defense plants. Strangers outnumber familiar faces at Maggie’s favorite pub.
As the case and Maggie’s relationship with policeman Mick Connelly heat up, Maggie finds herself caught in currents that threaten to drown her.
more
Fascinating fun read and look into the world of Dayton Ohio during WWII. Especially interesting take on how women were looking at their widening options. Truly delightful characters.
Maggie’s friend, Rachel, runs her own construction company and is accused of murder when her competitor is found killed at her work site. Maggie thinks it looks funny, so she works with the police to find the real killer. In the course of the investigation, Maggie and Rachel are kidnapped and have to save themselves. This is an action-packed mystery with good suspects and a great female sleuth. I love this series.
Good look at life in the US during World War II.
The Maggie Sullivan books are always an entertaining read. The characters and plot lines are well developed, and I enjoy the historical aspect of the setting in WWll. Maggie is spunky, realistic, and trying to make a living as a private eye, a job not usually held by women during that time period of hard-boiled detectives.
I love Maggie, & I appreciate the historical accuracy of the setting.
I love this series, unique look at women’s lives during the early WWII years. The book has a authentic feel to it.
A good read. The main character Maggie Sullivan is very well done. A fun summer, beach read.
I love this series of books! Such a strong heroine especially for the time period.
Love this series!
This is the third book I have read in this series. The characters are very well done and I’ve come to feel like I know them. I’m a big fan of the Nero Wolfe series and this is very similar. The plot is well thought out and provides some surprises. I will be readying the other books in the series.
The “Dame” books deal with the 1940s, a time that is interesting to me. The main character is a strong independent woman. Great fun to get the sense of time and place.
I love these books!! Maggie is so smart and quick on her feet! She’s trying to keep a good friend out of prison for murder all while looking out for her favorite paper boy. The twists and turns in this book keep you on the edge of your seat! I can’t wait to read the next book!! The only thing I didn’t like was how she ended things with Connelly. I hope to see them reunite later! These books are some of favorites!!
I love these books about Maggie Sullivan. Great read if you like reading about wartime 1940’s. Very entertaining.
This is the second book of the Maggie Sullivan series that I have read. I enjoy this detective from the 1940’s as a clever character who is street smart and intellectual. The plots are original.
I appreciate that although there is murder and mayhem, the story line is not gory. I have recommended this series to my Christian friends.
Good dialog!
I have now read two of these books and will read more. The setting is Dayton, OH, a city I don’t know. I found myself searching for more about Dayton, especially The Arcade which is almost a character in itself. I discovered a stunningly beautiful old building that fell into ruin and has been largely restored. Books that send me searching for further information about nature or places always rank up in my estimation. The historical setting pre-WWII provides a background where women were little valued, and Maggie Sullivan’s character challenges that view in ways that remind us how lucky we are to live in a post-liberation era.
If you love kinsey Milhone, I can pretty much guarantee that you will love Maggie Sullivan, an equally independent young woman earning a living as a private eye under even more difficult circumstances: it’s 1939.
The setting, Dayton, Ohio, is much more interesting than you think. The period details are impeccable, the plots nicely complicated, the writing first-rate, and the characters genuine, engaging, and nuanced.
All five (so far) books in this series are of equally high quality. I now count M. Ruth Myers among my very favorite mystery writers and Maggie Sullivan as one of my very favorite detectives.
Read and enjoyed every one of the Maggie Sullivan series books!
Didn’t read very much because there was no plot or characters I cared about.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, as I have every book by M. Ruth Myers.