No Game for a Dame

Maggie Sullivan Mystery, Book 1

By: M. Ruth Myers

Narrated by: Mary Ann Jacobs

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.

©2011 M. Ruth Myers (P)2015 M. Ruth Myers

Fun book.

This was a really fun book. I enjoyed the characters, the story, the mystery and the narration was very good. Mary Ann Jacobs did a great job of changing her voice so that different characters were easily distinguishable. Plus she read the book with dramatic flair. I would recommend this book.

Retro

Very retro feel, old time detective story. Nothing special, but a nice listen. If there were more in the series I'd listen to the next.

Well written, well read

I love the Maggie Sullivan mysteries, and was thrilled when I learned they were available as audiobooks. The narrator does an excellent job as Maggie's voice.

Great Book!

Any additional comments?

This is a great book; this is the first book in The Maggie Sullivan Mystery series and was written by M. Ruth Meyers and narrated by Mary Ann Jacobs. Maggie Sullivan is a private detective in the Depression-era and lives in Dayton, Ohio. A stranger threatens to bust her nose, the next thing she is hauled in on suspicion of his murder and cross-hairs of a local crime boss with connections at City Hall. She needs to find the killer and find out what really happened.

The narrator Mary Ann Jacobs, did a wonderful job, and was very easy to listen too. This is the first book that I have listened to by this narrator, and I am looking forward to listening to more books by her. She did a great job with the different characters and their voices.

This book has a great story; if you are looking for a great mystery with plenty of laugh out loud moments, then you need to get this book. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

A Review copy was provided to me in exchange for a fair and honest review. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

She’s Game! And what a Dame!

Detective Maggie Sullivan proves she’s smart and tough in style. Moxie, observation and the ability to negotiate favors are the hallmarks of every hard boiled detective, but Sullivan does it in heels!

A Perfect LISTEN: Pithy Mystery + Spot-On Voice

NO GAME FOR A DAME is both a good mystery and a good audio book, not an easy accomplishment. Successful audible tales must have fast-paced and vivid scenes and clearly-conveyed characters. The narrative voice must be smooth with a bit of inflection and dramatic variation, but not too much. In all these ways, NO GAME FOR A DAME excels.

Moreover, the novel's protagonist, aggressive and resourceful private investigator Maggie Sullivan, takes us on a romp through 1930s Dayton, Ohio. Maggie views the world and its residents with a steady, honest gaze; her perspective brings to life even peripheral characters. Stereotypes do not exist in Maggie's world.

What fun it is to immerse myself in a Maggie Sullivan mystery. I trust that many more will follow.

A good read. Effectively captured the era. I want

to see the romance develop with Connelly. The narrator was good just the right nuance for the current episode

A DEPRESSION ERA SLEUTH

Would you listen to No Game for a Dame again? Why?

Probably not. It was a cute story but predictable.

What other book might you compare No Game for a Dame to and why?

It put me in mind of Sue Grafton's Kinsey Milhone stories which are stuck in the 50's or 60's.

Which scene was your favorite?

I thought the scene where she was in her office consoling a distraught woman and opens her bottom drawer and pulls out a bottom of gin was funny - trying to be like the tough guys. It was so Mickey Spillane!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

No it was a nice sweet story.