Reviewed by Viga Boland for Readers' Favorite

In O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc.: The Cases Nobody Wanted by A.G. Russo, we meet a pretty young woman, Maeve, who has been saddled with the onerous task of running a newly established detective agency left in her hands by her three brothers now fighting overseas in WW2. But there are a couple of problems: Maeve has no experience or interest in being a private detective; she can barely feed herself and her 15-year-old brother, Jimmy. Enter ex-cop, Vic Marino. To Maeve’s chagrin and confusion, he insists on helping her out especially when a bereaved mother begs for their help in finding her beautiful daughter’s murderer. Maeve’s reluctant but wise decision to let Vic into her and Jimmy’s lives sends all three of them down a rocky, twisted road of discovery which surprises both them and the readers of this absorbing story.

The complex plot of this mystery murder, the first of three in this series, rivets readers. It’s excellent! But it’s the sensitive depiction of the characters, the setting, and the WW2 timeframe that captures and holds our imaginations. I’ve always believed a good novel both entertains and enlightens, and O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc. does both. It presents an accurate and touching look at the lives of jobless Americans struggling to survive at home while their male siblings fight overseas. It casts a dark light on police corruption and ethnic prejudice. Simultaneously, through characters like Vic, it applauds those who have sensitivity and care enough about others to put their needs above our own. Thank you, A.G. Russo, for broadening my knowledge and touching my heart in such an entertaining way. I can’t wait to read your next neo-noir story in this series.