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M. Ruth Myers
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No Game for a Dame (Maggie Sullivan Mysteries Book 1) Kindle Edition

by M. Ruth Myers (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 4,638 ratings
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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 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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  1. Book 1 of 10
    Maggie Sullivan Mysteries
  2. Print length
    280 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    October 28, 2011
  5. File size
    4.5 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  9. See all details
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Maggie Sullivan Mysteries Book 1 - Book 10
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Bundle price: Kindle price
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Maggie Sullivan is my new favorite female private eye." -- NY Times bestselling author Debbi Mack

About the Author

M. Ruth Myers received a Shamus Award from Private Eye Writers of America for the third book in her Maggie Sullivan series, which features a gin-sipping, gam flashing woman P.I. in 1940s Dayton, Ohio.  She is the author of more than a dozen books in several genres.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0061063ZE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tuesday House (October 28, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 28, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 4.5 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 280 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 4,638 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
M. Ruth Myers

M. Ruth Myers

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At age three author M. Ruth Myers blamed the misdeeds she was accused of on her invisible friend PapPap, who lived in a mayonnaise jar. Clearly Ruth herself was guilty only of running with a bad crowd.

Today she pleads guilty to being the Shamus Award winning author of the Maggie Sullivan mystery series as well as numerous other novels. You could say she’s a lifelong fibber who discovered her niche at an early age. Her books have been translated into seven languages, taught in a college course in Japan and optioned for film. Her romantic suspense novel A Touch of Magic was condensed in Good Housekeeping.

A native of Missouri, Ruth grew up in Wyoming. After earning a journalism degree from the University of Missouri, she wrote for daily papers in Michigan and Ohio. She has also worked in public relations, association management and as a ventriloquist. She’s happiest, however, when she’s killing people in the privacy of her study. Her husband and cat give her sideways glances and twitch from time to time.

When not involved in criminal acts, Ruth reads, plays the concertina (usually Irish tunes) and bakes.

PapPap is serving hard time as an editorial assistant.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4,638 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers enjoyed the book. They found the plot interesting and suspenseful, with unique twists. The characters were likable and well-developed. The writing style was smooth and easy to read, with little profanity. Readers appreciated the historical setting and intelligent characters.

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EnjoymentStory qualityCharacter developmentWriting qualityEraIntelligencePaceStrength of female lead
574 customers mention "Enjoyment"567 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging with descriptive writing and suspenseful storytelling. The book provides a pleasant few hours of reading in the midst of presidential events. While some reviewers mention too many side characters, most praise the well-written mystery novel.

"...a good command of the English language, and it is so enjoyable reading grammatically correct and descriptive writing...." Read more

"...But overall its a fun read that kept me interested, and has a good procedural feel of someone going through the job stage by stage using assets and..." Read more

"...doesn't include sex, violence or bad language, yet it is a very well written novel that focuses on the mystery at hand and solving it without..." Read more

"...I like the author's style of making it read like the old noir mysteries. She catches the feel of the thirties and forties detective novels...." Read more

393 customers mention "Story quality"369 positive24 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story with its suspenseful plot and intriguing twists. They find the story fast-paced with compelling action and a fun take on the hard-boiled detective genre. The setting in Depression-era Dayton, OH, offers an interesting premise.

"...hilarious sarcasm, good character development, and a complex plot with a surprise ending...." Read more

"This is a hard boiled detective novel set in the late 30s with a twist: the detective is a woman...." Read more

"...that time period and presented the characters as well developed and believable. The book kept me engaged and offered a bit of a surprise at the end...." Read more

"...She catches the feel of the thirties and forties detective novels. It's a relatively clean read with very little profanity." Read more

245 customers mention "Character development"230 positive15 negative

Customers enjoy the character development. They find the detective likable, smart, and tough. The book introduces the cast and period well.

"...lot like detective movies from 1930-50: fast-paced, colorful and quirky characters, humorous dialogs filled with hilarious sarcasm, good character..." Read more

"...Maggie is a likable detective, unlike many of the most famous ones...." Read more

"...bits of historical details from that time period and presented the characters as well developed and believable...." Read more

"...The book was peopled with walk-on characters who were filled in just enough not to be cardboard cut-outs while not becoming distractions, either...." Read more

217 customers mention "Writing quality"197 positive20 negative

Customers enjoy the writing style. They find it smooth and enjoyable to read, with a good command of the English language. The book has a relatively clean narrative with very little profanity. The author paints vivid pictures with words, making great use of the vernacular of the era. Overall, readers appreciate the well-crafted story with a fast pace and a clean reading experience.

"...The author has a good command of the English language, and it is so enjoyable reading grammatically correct and descriptive writing...." Read more

"...The author didn't waste time irritating readers with the feminist view of limitations on women at that time...." Read more

"...It's a relatively clean read with very little profanity." Read more

"...the level of historical detail seamlessly incorporated into a smoothly written tale...." Read more

159 customers mention "Era"156 positive3 negative

Customers enjoy the historical setting of the 1930s. They find the period interesting, with interesting details from that time period. The story is fast-paced and sets the scene well, allowing readers to visualize it. Readers appreciate the 1930s feel to the story, complete with jargon and costume.

"...which also combines two genres just like this one: historical fiction and a murder mystery...." Read more

"...She included interesting bits of historical details from that time period and presented the characters as well developed and believable...." Read more

"...The author's attention to period detail and actual historical events in Dayton, Ohio during the Depression, where this series is set...." Read more

"...The story is fast moving, and sets the scene of the era so one can visualize it ...." Read more

113 customers mention "Intelligence"113 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the intelligent heroine with great deductive reasoning skills. They find the book detailed and engaging, with a well-developed concept. The heroine is described as smart, clever, and resourceful.

"...Also the feisty, resourceful, quick-witted, and street-smart heroine is so much fun to read about...." Read more

"...Maggie is a strong, but not masculine, woman with great deductive reasoning skills...." Read more

"...To my delight, Maggie Sullivan really is a smart and feisty woman living at a time when that wasn't necessarily a plus...." Read more

"...It is an interesting concept, though the writer would have to strike a delicate balance between keeping the story plausible for that time and also..." Read more

103 customers mention "Pace"82 positive21 negative

Customers enjoy the book's fast pace. They find the story engaging with a quick-witted and resourceful protagonist. The book is described as a light read, though there are some violent scenes.

"...style in this book is a lot like detective movies from 1930-50: fast-paced, colorful and quirky characters, humorous dialogs filled with hilarious..." Read more

"...I found the book entertaining, fast paced and well plotted...." Read more

"...It is well-paced and well-constructed. Dialogue is era-appropriate and snappy...." Read more

"...Maggie Sullivan is a Private Detective in the 1930s. She's smart and quick and good at what she does...." Read more

94 customers mention "Strength of female lead"94 positive0 negative

Customers find the female lead strong and able to handle difficult situations. They appreciate her courage and resilience. The book is well-written and gripping from start to finish.

"...Also the feisty, resourceful, quick-witted, and street-smart heroine is so much fun to read about...." Read more

"...The daughter of a cop, she's got skills and is tough, but still a woman and relies on slightly different skills to do her job and survive than a guy..." Read more

"...To my delight, Maggie Sullivan really is a smart and feisty woman living at a time when that wasn't necessarily a plus...." Read more

"I was so happy to read a very well written novel about a smart gutsy woman in the late 1930s. This was excellent reading!..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Karsiyaka
    5.0 out of 5 stars Maggie Sullivan Mysteries #1
    Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I received this free eBook through Freebooksy in exchange for a fair review.

    The first book in the Maggie Sullivan Mystery Series has an independent and strong female character as the heroine and reminds me of Mary Hadley Mysteries, which also combines two genres just like this one: historical fiction and a murder mystery. While the first series take place in Dayton, Ohio right after the Great Depression, the other one in Brooklyn, New York at the end of the nineteenth century. The writing style in this book is a lot like detective movies from 1930-50: fast-paced, colorful and quirky characters, humorous dialogs filled with hilarious sarcasm, good character development, and a complex plot with a surprise ending. Also the feisty, resourceful, quick-witted, and street-smart heroine is so much fun to read about. The author has a good command of the English language, and it is so enjoyable reading grammatically correct and descriptive writing. It is a good and entertaining escape reading about what life was like almost hundred years ago in Dayton, Ohio. I added this author and series on my reading list.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Christopher Taylor
    4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable detective fiction with a Twist
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is a hard boiled detective novel set in the late 30s with a twist: the detective is a woman. The daughter of a cop, she's got skills and is tough, but still a woman and relies on slightly different skills to do her job and survive than a guy might.

    Maggie Sullivan is hired to check on a businessman's son and presumed heir to see if he's in trouble; the young man has been acting strangely as of late. From this the case goes in different directions and the bodies start to hit the floor.

    Maggie is a likable detective, unlike many of the most famous ones. She's tough and ready with a snarky line, but is a decent sort of person and she's unentangled with romance as a good detective ought to be (although the story suggests future romance).

    There are a couple of minor bothers. Some of the slang isn't period accurate ("tony" to describe wealthy and upper class, strictly British at this time), The case is a bit tepid, and the author ends several chapters with foreshadowing lines along the "I would learn soon that was not the case" which is annoying and pointless in my opinion.

    But overall its a fun read that kept me interested, and has a good procedural feel of someone going through the job stage by stage using assets and gaining information. Myers plays up the female PI in a non-complaint way; she shows the strengths a woman can bring by who she can contact and what she can do that a man wouldn't be able to instead of harping on how awful the world is to women.

    I'm looking forward to more in this series.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Joyce927
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book from pre-WWII era
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    I thoroughly enjoyed this book featuring a female private investigator in the period before WWII. The author didn't waste time irritating readers with the feminist view of limitations on women at that time. Of course it was noted that women were expected to be wives & mothers and certainly not private investigators, but she just continued using her deductive skills to figure out why the nephew of her client had been acting strangely the past few weeks. She included interesting bits of historical details from that time period and presented the characters as well developed and believable. The book kept me engaged and offered a bit of a surprise at the end. I'm certainly anxious to read the next book about Maggie Sullivan and her friends on the police force of Daton, OH. This book offered a definite conclusion, but is one that makes the reader want to continue with the series. Maggie is a strong, but not masculine, woman with great deductive reasoning skills. This book doesn't include sex, violence or bad language, yet it is a very well written novel that focuses on the mystery at hand and solving it without dragging in superfluous issues or details. This was my first book by this author, but I am definitely interested in reading more. I highly recommend this book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • kat
    3.0 out of 5 stars more like a 3 1/2
    Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    I would have even given it a four star, but it bogged down for so long in the middle, I had to force myself to keep reading. Maybe it was because I read mainly at night before bed, but it took me forever to finish. It picked up toward the end and went more quickly. I think if the middle of the book were tightened up and fewer characters were thrown into the mix it would be a much better read. I like the author's style of making it read like the old noir mysteries. She catches the feel of the thirties and forties detective novels. It's a relatively clean read with very little profanity.
    7 people found this helpful
    Helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • ozzieinfrance
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in France on March 1, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    If you enjoy crime stories and appreciate the 1930s and 40s gangster world and fast-talking PI's, then this one will be right up your alley. Fast-moving, great dialogue. Highly recommended.
    Report
  • Albert199X
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good product
    Reviewed in India on May 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Yes the book is verry gooooodddd
    Report
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Smart and a Little Sassy
    Reviewed in Canada on April 10, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    No Game for a Dame is a refreshing take on a traditional gumshoe detective novel. Maggie is smart and a little sassy. She's gutsy, tough and (dare I say it) sensitive. The story was well-plotted and fun. I look forward to the next.Maggie Sullivan.
    Report
  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great read
    Reviewed in Australia on January 11, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Entertaining & well written. This one was free but is now one of the few ebook authors I've read who I'll happily pay to read more of as both storyline & presentation are professional.
    Report
  • Katja Rieger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Depression area comes to life
    Reviewed in Germany on December 25, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    Maggie has a lot of spunk and has chosen to not be the typical girl from the office pool, but a private investigator. The author paints a picture of people, who got rich fast and not always by honest means. And she describes the everyday people, the newspaper seller boy with cardboard in his shoes, the negroe girls, who clean the buildings, the girl from a farm, who found a job as a cigarette seller ... I thoroughly enjoyed reading this, bought the next one straight away and now am hoping for the next one coming out soon.
    Report

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