A .38, a nip of gin and sensational legs get Depression-era private investigator Maggie Sullivan out of most scrapes – until a stranger threatens to bust her nose, she’s hauled in on suspicion of his murder and she finds herself in the cross-hairs of a crime boss with connections at City Hall.Moving through streets where people line up at soup kitchens, Maggie draws information from sources … sources others overlook: The waitress at the dime store lunch counter where she has breakfast; a ragged newsboy; the other career girls at her rooming house.
Her digging gets her chloroformed and left in a ditch behind the wheel of her DeSoto. She makes her way to an upscale bordello and gets tea – and information – from the madam herself.
A gunman puts a bullet through Maggie’s hat. Her shutterbug pal on the evening paper warns her off. A new cop whose presence unsettles her thinks she’s crooked. Before she finds all the answers she needs, she faces a half-crazed man with a gun, and a far more lethal point-blank killer.
If you like Robert B. Parker’s hard boiled Spencer series and strong women sleuths, don’t miss this one-of-a-kind Ohio detective from a time in United States history when dames wore hats — but seldom a Smith & Wesson.
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I actually did not like this book, I did not care for the style of writing, I found it boring and slow. I did not finish it
I can’t wait for the next book in this series; highly entertaining, realistic and tense at times.
Fun books! I not only like the characters but I care what happens to them. Well written, entertaining, funny and overall just fun to read. Maggie is feisty and smart and has no fear… I want to be Maggie!
This is a fast paced action oriented mystery with multiple twists to make it very interesting. Maggie Sullivan is a complex character with many interesting facets …. someone whose moves are original and not the typical female investigator.
Female detective set in the 1940’s. A good read
Enjoyed the characters and the pace and the dialogue.
Very Entertaining. Pretty realistic. Look forward to reading more of Maggie Sullivan.
great reading for a 40’s novel
Loved this book!
Campy. I think I have to be in the right mood for it.
I throughly enjoyed this book! Maggie was a great character! She was always thinking, and some of her ideas were hilarious!! I definitely can’t wait to read more by this author!
Ruth Myers brings Dayton on the brink of WWII to life. Her characters are engaging and the plot is not predictable. I loved this book, and every one in the series.
cheesy
couldn’t get past the first 10 pages. seems unrealistic for a woman detective
What a trip back to 1930’s slang, fashion, life style with the main character living in a boardinghouse, curling her hair in pin curls, and referring to people as “pills.” It was like listening to an aged aunt!
Loved the characters and the timely setting. Fun noir read
What a great story! I couldn’t put it down. Action packed and nostalgic. I’ve already ordered the next book in the Maggie Sullivan mystery series!
This was really original in the era it takes place in. Loved our PI’s inventiveness.
Very strong main character
I liked it