Its 1940 and private investigator Maggie Sullivan is hired to look into a possible jewellery theft at a hotel. Then a body is found in a trash can near the hotel, and what happened to the man that disappeared from the hotel? Is there any connection with all the migrants from the European war that arrive at the hotel.
An enjoyable read. ( )

IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER

Each book in M. Ruth Myers’ series featuring Maggie Sullivan, a lady private detective just gets better and better.

In Shamus in a Skirt, Maggie is hired by a strange couple of former theater performers who now run an upscale and very discreet hotel. The hotel caters to the wealthy and powerful, but someone is breaking into the hotel safe — or are they? When a young cleaning lady is found dead in the alley behind the hotel, Maggie must learn if certain murder is connected to possible thievery.

Even more here: https://benjaminlclark.com/2016/09/26/book-review-shamus-in-a-skirt-by-m-ruth-my... ( )

In 1940, Maggie Sullivan earned enough as a private investigator to keep her afloat, but, at times, just barely. So when a short, nervy guy blew into her office, offering her twice her usual going rate plus expenses if she would take his case immediately, she had to decide whether to take him up on the offer or refuse because he was rather obnoxious and rude. They soon came to terms but Maggie said she would need more information before accepting.
The man and his wife owned a small, classy hotel in Dayton, Ohio. It catered to the wealthy and celebrities who sought luxury and privacy. His problem: Jewelry that had been stored in the office safe had disappeared, then reappeared. In addition, one of the night cleaning crew members had been murdered outside the building. He was worried if word got out, his clientele would stop coming.
He convinced Maggie to live at the hotel (all expenses paid), even though it was way out of her league. She figured out a way to blend in without arising suspicion, and learn more about the guests.
Using her skills, she realized there was more than one murder involved and more than one strange theft. Her job became trying to figure out the motive as well as apprehend the perpetrator(s).
The Nazis and the beginnings of World War I, especially in Poland but now reaching England, have an important role in this story.
This is the fourth book in a series. SHAMUS IN A SKIRT has its share of unexpected twists.. M. Ruth Myers writes in a realistic, smooth, snappy style that is appropriate for the period. Changes in society are noted, e.g., women beginning to wear trousers. At the bottom of the Depression, “Ab hadn’t been the only one who thought it was wrong to give work to a woman when so any men with families couldn’t get a job.”
There are some references to previous books in the series but they may entice readers to read them while not distracting from this story.
Myers includes many of her witty observations: “On his arm was a nondescript woman enhanced by money.” ‘[The suitcases] looked about as high as where my garter belt clipped to my stockings.” “Ideas pinged around me fast and sharp as shots at a firing range.”
My main complaint is that there are too many unnecessarily short chapters. I would hope attentions spans can continue beyond six pages. Considering the classics (Dickens, Austin, Poe, Christie, etc.) whose chapters could easily go on for more than thirty pages, these chapter lengths are a very sad indictment of our generation. I always drop one star in my rating because of this.
Except for that, which doesn’t really interfere with the flow of the story, SHAMUS IN A SKIRT is a enjoyable, thought provoking read. ( )