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O'Shaughnessy Investigations Inc. #3
O'SHAUGHNESSY INVESTIGATIONS, INC.: Leave Murder to the Professionals
*Author "I have never used AI in my writing." A.G. Russo
*Winner of the Silver Medal for Mystery Series from the 2025 Global Book Awards
The homefront, spring 1944, Brooklyn, New York is the neo-noir setting for the final installment of Maeve O'Shaughnessy and Vic Marino's journey since becoming partners in the O'Shaughnessy Investigations detective agency.
After being drawn into World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the United States wholeheartedly united to fight Hitler and Fascism overseas. No one could have foreseen the tragedies and sacrifices everyone would endure. From that date on, Americans dedicated themselves to victory with a shared purpose at home and abroad. Many paid the ultimate price for freedom. Those at home did everything they could to provide support and ensure victory while living lives they never expected.
In Book 1 Maeve, a secretary, was forced through circumstance to allow ex-cop Vic to help her save a failing detective agency her three brothers established but left her in charge of when they went to fight in the war. Besides knowing nothing about running such an agency, she was also guardian of her fifteen-year old brother. Vic brought his streetwise knowledge to support Maeve.
In Book 2 Maeve, a quick learner, and Vic, having worked the “cases nobody wanted” managed to survive but found themselves in a much darker place. They had to deal with mobsters and as FBI informants this time around. Maeve had to toughen up and learn hard lessons about the underbelly of city life and the criminals who ran it.
In Book 3 Maeve’s resolve is strained to the breaking point by demands from all sides. Though Vic supports her and does his best to protect her, she makes a difficult and dangerous decision to go against his advice. On one side, former first love, powerful Irish crime boss Lory, threatens her and those she cares about. On the other side, the FBI demands her help to stop him. The G-Men know she’s holding back information. She knows she can’t divulge all she knows or would face dire consequences. She has to walk a razor’s edge.
Americans are told that D-Day in June 1944 is a turning point in the War. This gives hope and solace to millions of Americans that the War will soon be over. But it becomes clear that the War is going to drag on. On the homefront, everyone feels the strain of ration books, limited food and goods, but worse, the coffins that come home. Telegrams and knocks at the door are dreaded by all as family, neighbors, and friends deal with tragic losses for themselves and others.
From bombings instigated by Nazi collaborators and sympathizers, to boxing, to murder in the setting of a brand new stage play, Maeve is thwarted. Every day it’s only bad news with no progress. When a new theatre is built in Brooklyn for the play, Maeve finds herself involved in another situation she knows nothing about. This becomes Maeve and Vic’s most challenging year. Her brother Jimmy is now a senior in high school. What if the War isn’t over by the time he graduates?
The “side issues” that Maeve and Vic faced in Book 1 and 2 in their earlier years together during the course of the War are addressed. Each book can be read separately, but together show the progression of a journey of two people who have been forced to deal with circumstances beyond their control and survive by their wits in a gritty, dangerous world. For Vic, that means acceptance of his past mistakes. For Maeve that means overcoming paralyzing fear and digging deep to find the strength she needs to protect herself and those she loves.
*Winner of the Silver Medal for Mystery Series from the 2025 Global Book Awards
The homefront, spring 1944, Brooklyn, New York is the neo-noir setting for the final installment of Maeve O'Shaughnessy and Vic Marino's journey since becoming partners in the O'Shaughnessy Investigations detective agency.
After being drawn into World War II with the attack on Pearl Harbor, December 7, 1941, the United States wholeheartedly united to fight Hitler and Fascism overseas. No one could have foreseen the tragedies and sacrifices everyone would endure. From that date on, Americans dedicated themselves to victory with a shared purpose at home and abroad. Many paid the ultimate price for freedom. Those at home did everything they could to provide support and ensure victory while living lives they never expected.
In Book 1 Maeve, a secretary, was forced through circumstance to allow ex-cop Vic to help her save a failing detective agency her three brothers established but left her in charge of when they went to fight in the war. Besides knowing nothing about running such an agency, she was also guardian of her fifteen-year old brother. Vic brought his streetwise knowledge to support Maeve.
In Book 2 Maeve, a quick learner, and Vic, having worked the “cases nobody wanted” managed to survive but found themselves in a much darker place. They had to deal with mobsters and as FBI informants this time around. Maeve had to toughen up and learn hard lessons about the underbelly of city life and the criminals who ran it.
In Book 3 Maeve’s resolve is strained to the breaking point by demands from all sides. Though Vic supports her and does his best to protect her, she makes a difficult and dangerous decision to go against his advice. On one side, former first love, powerful Irish crime boss Lory, threatens her and those she cares about. On the other side, the FBI demands her help to stop him. The G-Men know she’s holding back information. She knows she can’t divulge all she knows or would face dire consequences. She has to walk a razor’s edge.
Americans are told that D-Day in June 1944 is a turning point in the War. This gives hope and solace to millions of Americans that the War will soon be over. But it becomes clear that the War is going to drag on. On the homefront, everyone feels the strain of ration books, limited food and goods, but worse, the coffins that come home. Telegrams and knocks at the door are dreaded by all as family, neighbors, and friends deal with tragic losses for themselves and others.
From bombings instigated by Nazi collaborators and sympathizers, to boxing, to murder in the setting of a brand new stage play, Maeve is thwarted. Every day it’s only bad news with no progress. When a new theatre is built in Brooklyn for the play, Maeve finds herself involved in another situation she knows nothing about. This becomes Maeve and Vic’s most challenging year. Her brother Jimmy is now a senior in high school. What if the War isn’t over by the time he graduates?
The “side issues” that Maeve and Vic faced in Book 1 and 2 in their earlier years together during the course of the War are addressed. Each book can be read separately, but together show the progression of a journey of two people who have been forced to deal with circumstances beyond their control and survive by their wits in a gritty, dangerous world. For Vic, that means acceptance of his past mistakes. For Maeve that means overcoming paralyzing fear and digging deep to find the strength she needs to protect herself and those she loves.
342 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
October 7, 2025
I have always been interested in knowing more about World War II, for me it is so hard to read about all this hatred and everything they suffered in these terrible years, but in this case, it is a fiction book that sometimes feels like a historical one. Is a book with a lot of adventure and violence because of its context, I felt so immersed in this read that some nights I dreamt as if I was a soldier which was pretty confusing. I think it is a great story, full of intrigue which I love, is so well written that you would enjoy it from beginning to end and will give you a bit more context of this terrible war.
October 13, 2025
WW II mystery
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a good ending to the trilogy. The main characters were interesting people. I liked the period setting, it gave me a good sense of that time. There were a couple of twists that helped enhance this mystery.
A good read!
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a good ending to the trilogy. The main characters were interesting people. I liked the period setting, it gave me a good sense of that time. There were a couple of twists that helped enhance this mystery.
A good read!
September 29, 2025
Difficult decisions
Sometimes in life, a person faces situations where there are no easy decisions. There are moments when doing the right thing is not the most convenient or the most comfortable choice. But at the end of the day, a person must be able to look at themselves in the mirror without lowering their gaze. Choosing the right thing, even if it hurts, is a way to show respect for oneself. It is true that sometimes something is lost along the way, an opportunity, a person, or even peace of mind, but something much more valuable is gained, inner peace. That feeling of having acted with integrity cannot be bought or faked. It is a firm foundation on which a person can continue building. And in this uncertain world, that is worth more than any immediate reward.
Sometimes in life, a person faces situations where there are no easy decisions. There are moments when doing the right thing is not the most convenient or the most comfortable choice. But at the end of the day, a person must be able to look at themselves in the mirror without lowering their gaze. Choosing the right thing, even if it hurts, is a way to show respect for oneself. It is true that sometimes something is lost along the way, an opportunity, a person, or even peace of mind, but something much more valuable is gained, inner peace. That feeling of having acted with integrity cannot be bought or faked. It is a firm foundation on which a person can continue building. And in this uncertain world, that is worth more than any immediate reward.
November 14, 2025
Entertaining!
One of the greatest strengths of this book lies in the way the protagonist is portrayed: a strong and determined woman who evolves with each obstacle, resulting in impeccable character development. Throughout the story, the author balances action with emotion, without losing the human touch that makes the reader identify with the characters.
The narrative is clear, engaging, and highly visual. Each scene has just the right pace: there is action, but also moments of pause that allow us to understand the emotional complexity of the protagonists. The style has that film noir feel that makes you imagine those dark streets and peculiar situations without falling into clichés. In addition, the historical setting is very well done; you can see the research behind the details, from the dialogues to the descriptions of everyday life during the war.
This book combines intrigue, excitement, and depth. Not only is it entertaining, but it also shows human strength and vulnerability in extreme times. If you enjoy mystery stories with complex characters, rich historical settings, and a touch of moral drama, you will definitely like this book.
One of the greatest strengths of this book lies in the way the protagonist is portrayed: a strong and determined woman who evolves with each obstacle, resulting in impeccable character development. Throughout the story, the author balances action with emotion, without losing the human touch that makes the reader identify with the characters.
The narrative is clear, engaging, and highly visual. Each scene has just the right pace: there is action, but also moments of pause that allow us to understand the emotional complexity of the protagonists. The style has that film noir feel that makes you imagine those dark streets and peculiar situations without falling into clichés. In addition, the historical setting is very well done; you can see the research behind the details, from the dialogues to the descriptions of everyday life during the war.
This book combines intrigue, excitement, and depth. Not only is it entertaining, but it also shows human strength and vulnerability in extreme times. If you enjoy mystery stories with complex characters, rich historical settings, and a touch of moral drama, you will definitely like this book.
October 27, 2025
“Leave Murder to the Professionals” drops you into Brooklyn in wartime, where the streets feel tired and everyone is pretending they sleep fine. Maeve O’Shaughnessy and Vic Marino run a scrappy detective agency while their city hums with ration books, funeral telegrams, and the kind of rumors that curdle in the gut. The mood is smoky without the cigarette. It’s noir, sure, but not just the trench coat version—more like the ache you carry home after the movie.
I liked Maeve most when she’s steadying herself. She’s capable, sometimes prickly, and absolutely out of patience with men who mistake gentleness for weakness. Vic is the ballast; he grumbles and jokes and then walks into a dangerous room because someone has to. The push and pull between them feels lived-in, even when they’re just trading dry one-liners in a cold kitchen after everything goes sideways.
The plot moves like a city bus that keeps making unexpected stops, and somehow that worked for me. A quiet surveillance dinner at the Lila turns into carnage—one of those lean, efficient set pieces that made my shoulders tense. Four men slip out, a bomb goes off, and Maeve and Vic crawl through smoke and broken glass to find the informant already past saving. I’m still not sure how I feel about the choice to describe the scene in such blunt detail, but wow, it forces you to sit with the cost.
From there, the book shifts into a bruising tangle of feds, mobsters, and neighborhood loyalties. A thread I didn’t expect to love was the Skangers Only Tavern arc—on paper it sounds like a straight setup-and-sting, yet it becomes a small portrait of power and fear. Liam O’Byrne, who just wants to keep his bar above water, gets steamrolled by men with bigger pockets and colder eyes; the raid unspools fast, ugly, and efficient. I kind of loved how messy this got because the mess felt true.
What the book does best is the homefront texture. People are trying to live regular lives while the floor keeps tilting. You feel it in the way the restaurant is oddly empty on a wet weeknight, in the way everyone glances at the door, in those small, grim jokes that only make sense when you’re exhausted. The dialogue keeps things propulsive, and the pacing alternates between quiet dread and snap decisions. When the story slows down for a breath, it usually earns it.
I had a couple of tiny quibbles. Sometimes the feds speak like stock hardcases and I wanted a shade more nuance there. A few transitions are abrupt, as if scenes got trimmed a little too close. But those are fixable edges, not fatal cracks.
What lingered for me was Maeve’s stubborn care. She makes hard calls, sometimes the wrong ones, and refuses to turn away from the fallout. There’s a late glow of hope here—faint, yes, but real enough that I closed the book feeling weirdly grateful. Not for happy endings (this isn’t that kind of story), but for characters who keep trying to be decent when it would be easier to quit.
I was thinking four and a half stars, but I’m gonna make it 5 because the book made me watch the door for an hour after I finished, which is ridiculous, and also exactly what I wanted.
I liked Maeve most when she’s steadying herself. She’s capable, sometimes prickly, and absolutely out of patience with men who mistake gentleness for weakness. Vic is the ballast; he grumbles and jokes and then walks into a dangerous room because someone has to. The push and pull between them feels lived-in, even when they’re just trading dry one-liners in a cold kitchen after everything goes sideways.
The plot moves like a city bus that keeps making unexpected stops, and somehow that worked for me. A quiet surveillance dinner at the Lila turns into carnage—one of those lean, efficient set pieces that made my shoulders tense. Four men slip out, a bomb goes off, and Maeve and Vic crawl through smoke and broken glass to find the informant already past saving. I’m still not sure how I feel about the choice to describe the scene in such blunt detail, but wow, it forces you to sit with the cost.
From there, the book shifts into a bruising tangle of feds, mobsters, and neighborhood loyalties. A thread I didn’t expect to love was the Skangers Only Tavern arc—on paper it sounds like a straight setup-and-sting, yet it becomes a small portrait of power and fear. Liam O’Byrne, who just wants to keep his bar above water, gets steamrolled by men with bigger pockets and colder eyes; the raid unspools fast, ugly, and efficient. I kind of loved how messy this got because the mess felt true.
What the book does best is the homefront texture. People are trying to live regular lives while the floor keeps tilting. You feel it in the way the restaurant is oddly empty on a wet weeknight, in the way everyone glances at the door, in those small, grim jokes that only make sense when you’re exhausted. The dialogue keeps things propulsive, and the pacing alternates between quiet dread and snap decisions. When the story slows down for a breath, it usually earns it.
I had a couple of tiny quibbles. Sometimes the feds speak like stock hardcases and I wanted a shade more nuance there. A few transitions are abrupt, as if scenes got trimmed a little too close. But those are fixable edges, not fatal cracks.
What lingered for me was Maeve’s stubborn care. She makes hard calls, sometimes the wrong ones, and refuses to turn away from the fallout. There’s a late glow of hope here—faint, yes, but real enough that I closed the book feeling weirdly grateful. Not for happy endings (this isn’t that kind of story), but for characters who keep trying to be decent when it would be easier to quit.
I was thinking four and a half stars, but I’m gonna make it 5 because the book made me watch the door for an hour after I finished, which is ridiculous, and also exactly what I wanted.
October 15, 2025
A.G. Russo’s O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc. swept me into wartime Brooklyn in 1944, where the O’Shaughnessy Detective Agency tries to stay afloat as war, love, and corruption tighten their grip. The story follows Maeve O’Shaughnessy, a resilient woman running her family’s detective agency while her brothers fight overseas. She juggles heartbreak, danger, and loyalty as she faces mobsters, federal agents, and the heavy shadow of the Second World War. The book blends mystery, romance, and historical detail with an intimate look at ordinary people caught in extraordinary times. Author A.G. Russo paints the era vividly. The rationing, the fear, the faith that life might one day feel normal again.
Reading it felt like slipping into another time. Russo writes with a steady hand and a clear affection for her characters. Maeve is strong without being hardened, and I admired how she never loses her compassion even when the world around her turns brutal. The dialogue feels sharp and real; it’s the kind of talk you’d hear in a smoky Brooklyn diner. Some scenes hit hard, especially when Maeve faces choices that test her morals. The emotional weight sneaks up on you. One moment you’re caught in a clever bit of detective work, and the next you’re hit with the loneliness of a woman holding everything together while the world falls apart.
The number of side plots, mobsters, federal intrigue, family drama, sometimes pulls focus from Maeve’s heart, which is the story’s strongest pulse. Yet even when the plot meanders, the writing carries it. Russo’s world feels lived-in, and her affection for her cast gives the novel warmth that lingers. The prose isn’t flashy, and that’s part of its charm. It feels honest, unpretentious, like it’s being told over a cup of coffee on a gray Brooklyn morning.
When I finished, I sat for a while thinking about courage. The quiet kind that never makes headlines. Russo’s story isn’t just about solving crimes; it’s about surviving them, about staying decent when decency feels naïve. I’d recommend O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc. to readers who love classic mysteries, strong-willed heroines, and wartime stories grounded in everyday heroism. It’s a slow burn, but by the last page, it left me both moved and grateful for Maeve’s grit.
Reading it felt like slipping into another time. Russo writes with a steady hand and a clear affection for her characters. Maeve is strong without being hardened, and I admired how she never loses her compassion even when the world around her turns brutal. The dialogue feels sharp and real; it’s the kind of talk you’d hear in a smoky Brooklyn diner. Some scenes hit hard, especially when Maeve faces choices that test her morals. The emotional weight sneaks up on you. One moment you’re caught in a clever bit of detective work, and the next you’re hit with the loneliness of a woman holding everything together while the world falls apart.
The number of side plots, mobsters, federal intrigue, family drama, sometimes pulls focus from Maeve’s heart, which is the story’s strongest pulse. Yet even when the plot meanders, the writing carries it. Russo’s world feels lived-in, and her affection for her cast gives the novel warmth that lingers. The prose isn’t flashy, and that’s part of its charm. It feels honest, unpretentious, like it’s being told over a cup of coffee on a gray Brooklyn morning.
When I finished, I sat for a while thinking about courage. The quiet kind that never makes headlines. Russo’s story isn’t just about solving crimes; it’s about surviving them, about staying decent when decency feels naïve. I’d recommend O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc. to readers who love classic mysteries, strong-willed heroines, and wartime stories grounded in everyday heroism. It’s a slow burn, but by the last page, it left me both moved and grateful for Maeve’s grit.
September 19, 2025
‘If anyone deserves to be happy, it’s you’ – A terrific conclusion to a fine series!
Author A.G. Russo has now published twelve books - OUR WILD AND PRECIOUS LIVES, the short story collections OF DUST AND TIDES and OFF-RAMP TO THE VOID, OFFENBUNKER, ODETTE’S SONG, ONLY OUR DESTINY, ONCE UPON A MURDEROUS DELUSION, DIEGO THE SMELLY DOG, OCELLICON, and continues his tradition of opting for titles that begin with the letter ‘O’ with O’SHAUGHNESSY INVESTIGATIONS, INC, Part One - The Cases Nobody Wanted, Part Two Bangtails, Grifters, and a Liar’s Kiss, and now Leave Murder to the Professionals. Having read all of these works, the impression is that they each have a strong potential for adaptation for screenplays, so vivid are the characters and disposition of high suspense. The series provides a fine reflection of the impact of WW II on America at home – in crime, early women’s rights, and the manner in which everyone adjusted to the war – both emotionally and physically!
Russo’s ability to create historic atmosphere onto which stage he places his characters is obvious as the story opens: ‘The homefront, spring 1944, Brooklyn, New York. The final months of 1943 had been bruising ones for the O’Shaughnessy Detective Agency, and especially for Maeve O’Shaughnessy. Not only had she been over her head with the dangerous cases they had worked, but she personally had to accept that her “dream” of a new life with her GI boyfriend, Evan, was never going to be realized. It had been almost two and a half years since the attack on Pearl Harbor changed the life of every American…’
Characters from the initial novel return in fine form and new characters are added to enhance the drama. But towering over the cast is Maeve O’Shaughnessy - a solid, strong character - and Russo provides a significant ‘history character’ for the feminist movement (and all readers!) to embrace. Excellent historical fiction and mystery combine to make this a very successful fast paced final volume of this excellent series. Highly recommended!
Author A.G. Russo has now published twelve books - OUR WILD AND PRECIOUS LIVES, the short story collections OF DUST AND TIDES and OFF-RAMP TO THE VOID, OFFENBUNKER, ODETTE’S SONG, ONLY OUR DESTINY, ONCE UPON A MURDEROUS DELUSION, DIEGO THE SMELLY DOG, OCELLICON, and continues his tradition of opting for titles that begin with the letter ‘O’ with O’SHAUGHNESSY INVESTIGATIONS, INC, Part One - The Cases Nobody Wanted, Part Two Bangtails, Grifters, and a Liar’s Kiss, and now Leave Murder to the Professionals. Having read all of these works, the impression is that they each have a strong potential for adaptation for screenplays, so vivid are the characters and disposition of high suspense. The series provides a fine reflection of the impact of WW II on America at home – in crime, early women’s rights, and the manner in which everyone adjusted to the war – both emotionally and physically!
Russo’s ability to create historic atmosphere onto which stage he places his characters is obvious as the story opens: ‘The homefront, spring 1944, Brooklyn, New York. The final months of 1943 had been bruising ones for the O’Shaughnessy Detective Agency, and especially for Maeve O’Shaughnessy. Not only had she been over her head with the dangerous cases they had worked, but she personally had to accept that her “dream” of a new life with her GI boyfriend, Evan, was never going to be realized. It had been almost two and a half years since the attack on Pearl Harbor changed the life of every American…’
Characters from the initial novel return in fine form and new characters are added to enhance the drama. But towering over the cast is Maeve O’Shaughnessy - a solid, strong character - and Russo provides a significant ‘history character’ for the feminist movement (and all readers!) to embrace. Excellent historical fiction and mystery combine to make this a very successful fast paced final volume of this excellent series. Highly recommended!
November 4, 2025
I fell for Maeve all over again. She keeps choosing the hard thing, the thing that scrapes pride and still feels right in the end. Brooklyn in spring nineteen forty four is not romantic here. It is ration books, telegrams, cold kitchens, and a city that will not stop humming even as boys vanish across the ocean. Russo makes all that noise feel intimate. I could hear the clatter of plates at the Lila, see the smoke and broken glass after a blast, and then, very quietly, feel the way a person steadies herself because someone has to.
This final chapter leans into pressure. The FBI wants help. The mob wants silence. Lory is both memory and threat. Fletch is leaving again and Jimmy is not a kid anymore. There is a bar bleeding guns, a bomb that takes the air out of a room, and later a production that turns a new theater into a stage for something darker. It sounds busy, and it is, but the book keeps coming back to the pair at its center. Maeve and Vic bicker and bluff and then just get it done. I kind of loved how messy that got. People make bad calls. People protect the wrong secrets. People tell the truth too late. That felt honest.
If I have a quibble, it is that a few speeches tilt grand when the moment is already loud enough. Now and then the dialogue explains what the scene already showed me. But then a small human detail sneaks in and fixes it. A handkerchief with a shamrock. A priest’s tired blessing in a crowded station. The clink of a register before a robbery goes sideways. I kept pausing to breathe. Then reading on.
What I will remember is not the twist, though there are several, but the way duty and love keep colliding in a city that pretends it has room for both. The ending lands with earned hope and a sting. I am grateful I read it. Four and a half but I’ll round it up to five stars, for the kind of series closer that makes the first two books feel larger in hindsight.
This final chapter leans into pressure. The FBI wants help. The mob wants silence. Lory is both memory and threat. Fletch is leaving again and Jimmy is not a kid anymore. There is a bar bleeding guns, a bomb that takes the air out of a room, and later a production that turns a new theater into a stage for something darker. It sounds busy, and it is, but the book keeps coming back to the pair at its center. Maeve and Vic bicker and bluff and then just get it done. I kind of loved how messy that got. People make bad calls. People protect the wrong secrets. People tell the truth too late. That felt honest.
If I have a quibble, it is that a few speeches tilt grand when the moment is already loud enough. Now and then the dialogue explains what the scene already showed me. But then a small human detail sneaks in and fixes it. A handkerchief with a shamrock. A priest’s tired blessing in a crowded station. The clink of a register before a robbery goes sideways. I kept pausing to breathe. Then reading on.
What I will remember is not the twist, though there are several, but the way duty and love keep colliding in a city that pretends it has room for both. The ending lands with earned hope and a sting. I am grateful I read it. Four and a half but I’ll round it up to five stars, for the kind of series closer that makes the first two books feel larger in hindsight.
November 24, 2025
As the final installment of O’Shaughnessy’s Investigations, INC., by A.G. Russo, Leave Murder to the Professionals is a bitter/sweet novel. We have been following Mauve and her partner, Vic, as they have held the Private Investigation firm together while Mauve’s older brothers fight in WWII. Her youngest brother, Jimmy, is about to graduate from high school, and he is just itching to fight like everyone else. Mauve has to face the possibility of letting him go. But she wonders which is the biggest enemy, Hitler or her ex-boyfriend Lory, a known gangster. Thrown into all this, Mauve takes an investigation job that has her acting in a local play. She wonders if they are hiding things under their questionable superstitions.
A.G. Russo combines layers of intriguing characters and a complex plot that keeps circling around the conflict between Mauve and Lory, her ex-boyfriend. O’Shaughnessy’s Investigations, INC.: Leave Murder to the Professionals is a masterpiece of suspense, attractions, and uncertainty. I was spellbound as the pieces fell together. The ending was a classic, though I didn’t see it coming. I would highly recommend this series to those who love a good, organized crime thriller.
A.G. Russo combines layers of intriguing characters and a complex plot that keeps circling around the conflict between Mauve and Lory, her ex-boyfriend. O’Shaughnessy’s Investigations, INC.: Leave Murder to the Professionals is a masterpiece of suspense, attractions, and uncertainty. I was spellbound as the pieces fell together. The ending was a classic, though I didn’t see it coming. I would highly recommend this series to those who love a good, organized crime thriller.
January 7, 2026
Leave Murder to the Professionals is the 3rd book in a series, O'SHAUGHNESSY INVESTIGATIONS, INC. It is written by A.G. Russo. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but I do think it’s better to read them all to see the progression of how the character changes and develops. However, it’s clearly written that each book can be read as a standalone.
Leave Murder to the Professionals is a historical mystery book that has some sort of dark elements attached to it. It is about Maeve O’Shaughnessy and Vic Marino being dragged into issue after issue, and with so many different types of people. For example, being dragged by the FBI or with a mob boss who is tied to corrupt cops. I personally believe this gave the book more excitement.
There are a lot of elements of World War issues and mentions of Nazis. The tone of the book is overall tough, with some dark elements here and there. It focuses mostly on sacrifice, some moral grey zones, and trauma.
I recommend it if you like reading historical fiction, and especially if you like having a pretty strong and interesting female private investigator as the main character. I especially liked the fact that it was a female investigator.
Leave Murder to the Professionals is a historical mystery book that has some sort of dark elements attached to it. It is about Maeve O’Shaughnessy and Vic Marino being dragged into issue after issue, and with so many different types of people. For example, being dragged by the FBI or with a mob boss who is tied to corrupt cops. I personally believe this gave the book more excitement.
There are a lot of elements of World War issues and mentions of Nazis. The tone of the book is overall tough, with some dark elements here and there. It focuses mostly on sacrifice, some moral grey zones, and trauma.
I recommend it if you like reading historical fiction, and especially if you like having a pretty strong and interesting female private investigator as the main character. I especially liked the fact that it was a female investigator.
September 27, 2025
It's been so many years since the end of World War II in 1945 that sometimes we forget how different life was for the "Greatest Generation." Most of the communication was through radio, newsreels at the movies, and letters. Think of a world with no television, no internet, no podcasts, no cell phones. In Book 3 of this neo-noir series the journey of Maeve O'Shaughnessy and Vic Marino comes full circle. Thrown together by circumstance they managed to navigate the dark, dangerous, criminal underbelly of life in Brooklyn, New York, during the war years.
This is no cozy mystery. Violence and death are everywhere, even for those on the home front. Maeve, the naive secretary of Book 1 had to learn how to survive in a world she had no idea existed. Vic, the alcoholic, smart-mouth ex-cop had to adjust to a life he never expected. It wasn't easy.
Time period details are plentiful including what people ate, limited by ration books and supplies, and how they dressed as materials were limited by what was needed "for the boys." The language usage of 1940s vocabulary, including some amusing slang, shows that the research was thorough and provides authenticity for the time period that readers of historical fiction especially may appreciate. Excellent series. I'll miss Maeve and Vic.
This is no cozy mystery. Violence and death are everywhere, even for those on the home front. Maeve, the naive secretary of Book 1 had to learn how to survive in a world she had no idea existed. Vic, the alcoholic, smart-mouth ex-cop had to adjust to a life he never expected. It wasn't easy.
Time period details are plentiful including what people ate, limited by ration books and supplies, and how they dressed as materials were limited by what was needed "for the boys." The language usage of 1940s vocabulary, including some amusing slang, shows that the research was thorough and provides authenticity for the time period that readers of historical fiction especially may appreciate. Excellent series. I'll miss Maeve and Vic.
September 29, 2025
This is the third and concluding novel in the popular O’Shaughnessy Investigations, Inc series. It once again has the duo of former secretary Maeve and ex-cop Vic as its protagonists. In previous installments of the series, Vic helped Maeve run the detective agency that was started by her brothers before they went off to war. The two also became known for being willing to take the cases that nobody else wanted.
Now, in their last adventure, Maeve is under pressure from both the FBI and a former lover. She must make difficult decisions as the closing days of WWII approach. This is an excellent hard-boiled detective novel, but it also works well as historical fiction. There are memorable characters, strong dialogue, and a sense of grand adventure as the author once again immerses the reader in the grit and grime of daily 1940’s New York life.
Now, in their last adventure, Maeve is under pressure from both the FBI and a former lover. She must make difficult decisions as the closing days of WWII approach. This is an excellent hard-boiled detective novel, but it also works well as historical fiction. There are memorable characters, strong dialogue, and a sense of grand adventure as the author once again immerses the reader in the grit and grime of daily 1940’s New York life.
October 7, 2025
As a reader, I found this book to be a gripping, atmospheric finale to Maeve O’Shaughnessy and Vic Marino’s wartime journey. Maeve, now seasoned but still vulnerable, faces her most complex moral test yet, caught between the FBI, her criminal past, and her own heart. The book blends noir mystery with the emotional strain of life on the 1944 home front, making Brooklyn feel as tense and unpredictable as any battlefield. I loved how the story balances action (bombings, mob threats, espionage) with quieter moments of loyalty, loss, and resilience. The historical detail, the ration books, D-Day optimism, and wartime sacrifices gives the mystery real weight. This is about survival, integrity, and identity under pressure. Fans of classic detective fiction with a gritty wartime edge will find Maeve and Vic’s final case heartbreaking and satisfying.
November 15, 2025
I've really fallen down a rabbit hole of fiction revolving around World War II. Russo is masterful in developing a realistic setting. I felt like I was deep in the 40s, stuck alongside Maeve as she did everything she could to persist amid constant challenges and pressure from all sides.
I did read this book independently of the series and didn't have much of a problem. I could have captured more nuance in the relationships, but I found the plot good to stand on its own. The characters' relationships didn't feel lacking in any way, either. The characters still felt very real, and the writing let me immerse myself in Brooklyn alongside the cast.
This is an excellent piece of fiction, and one that definitely makes me want to go back and read the rest of the series. If you're a fan of mysteries, gritty settings, and very real-feeling characters, check this one out!
I did read this book independently of the series and didn't have much of a problem. I could have captured more nuance in the relationships, but I found the plot good to stand on its own. The characters' relationships didn't feel lacking in any way, either. The characters still felt very real, and the writing let me immerse myself in Brooklyn alongside the cast.
This is an excellent piece of fiction, and one that definitely makes me want to go back and read the rest of the series. If you're a fan of mysteries, gritty settings, and very real-feeling characters, check this one out!
November 16, 2025
First - this was the first book I read in the series, and it worked fine as a standalone, although I’m now curious about the events that unfolded in the previous ones! The characters and setting really come to life as you’re reading, and Russo doesn’t shy away from how dark and stressful life was during the war. You can practically feel Maeve’s nerves and determination flowing off the page as she does her best to keep things running, care for her brother who is now close to graduation, and walk a tightrope when it comes to those in her life. Vic was an interesting character, and I loved watching the interactions between him and Maeve. There are a few twists thrown in, so although the pacing isn’t completely even, it definitely keeps you on your toes. Highly recommend for historical fiction and mystery lovers!
January 18, 2026
Leave Murder to the Professionals by A.G. Russo is a well crafted mystery that blends intrigue, sharp dialogue, and a classic who done it vibe with a historical setting. . The overall plot revolves around a murder investigation that quickly proves to be more complex than it initially appears. This is the third installment O'shaughnessy series and it could be a stand alone although I think you would get the most from reading the first two. Russo does a strong job layering clues and red herring, keeping the reader engages as the story unfolds. The book is engaging, particularly for readers who appreciate traditional mystery structures with a medium pace that is steady. I would recommend this book to those who love a cozy mystery and classic crime and historical fiction.
October 18, 2025
If you're into gritty historical mysteries, Leave Murder to the Professionals is a real treat. Set in wartime Brooklyn, Russo’s latest in the O’Shaughnessy Investigations series has sharp dialogue, wonderful detail, and characters you’ll care about, especially Maeve, who juggles owning a detective agency with looking after her younger brother. The tension gathers speed: mob ties, moral ambiguity, and danger lurking where you least expect it. The period comes alive; the smells, the rationing, the fear of loss; and Russo doesn’t hedge on the emotional cost. I finished it wanting more from this team. A great third installment to this series. Highly recommended for mystery lovers.
November 13, 2025
Leave Murder to the Professionals by A.G. Russo is book three in the O'Shaughnessy Investigations series and continues Maeve’s story as she tries to stay sane during the war years, faces her past when an Irish crime kingpin reappears in her life, and is forced to decide who’s side she will take. The plot of book three might be a bit overwhelming if you haven’t read the first two books. The author’s style is detailed and, at times, exposition heavy, so I found the story dragged in parts. The book does a good job of recreating the historical era, but despite a lot of dramatic content, I found myself sometimes wishing that the book was shorter.
November 13, 2025
This book is totally my cup of tea.
I love stories that involve history and interesting developments with well-constructed characters that, if you didn't know better, you might think were real in one way or another. This book is precisely an example of that balance, as it drew me in so much that it took me back to my school days reading about World War II, which I am a fan of, and it introduces the story of this brave character who experiences thousands of dualities and whose courage, wisdom, and temperance are put to the test at every turn.
I loved it from beginning to end. What a well-constructed book! I think anyone would love it.
I love stories that involve history and interesting developments with well-constructed characters that, if you didn't know better, you might think were real in one way or another. This book is precisely an example of that balance, as it drew me in so much that it took me back to my school days reading about World War II, which I am a fan of, and it introduces the story of this brave character who experiences thousands of dualities and whose courage, wisdom, and temperance are put to the test at every turn.
I loved it from beginning to end. What a well-constructed book! I think anyone would love it.
February 26, 2026
Would benefit from a little editing
November 22, 2025
"War takes the men, and life expects the women to clean up after it."
Can you really leave murder to the professionals when your instincts and your heart say otherwise? That’s the moral tug-of-war that drives Leave Murder to the Professionals, A.G. Russo’s sharp and atmospheric historical mystery set against the tense backdrop of wartime Brooklyn. Russo’s latest entry in the O’Shaughnessy Investigations series gives us more than a whodunit, it’s a study in courage, loyalty, and survival when the lines between justice and duty start to blur.
At the story’s centre is Maeve O’Shaughnessy, who runs her brothers’ detective agency while they’re away fighting in World War II. Maeve is a heroine forged by heartbreak and grit, she’s lost love, stared down mobsters, and still shows up every morning to face the moral messes left behind by others. Alongside her loyal and wisecracking partner, Vic Marino, she finds herself entangled in a web of mob threats, Nazi spies, FBI manipulation, and wartime paranoia. When their seemingly simple cases spiral into violence and deceit, the title’s irony becomes clear: some crimes are far too personal to hand off to “the professionals.”
Russo also deserves praise for weaving real wartime anxiety, Nazis on the home front, corrupt cops, and desperate citizens into a detective narrative that never feels forced. The dialogue between Maeve and Vic is especially sharp, laced with humour and affection that gives the story warmth even in its darkest moments.
By the final act, when betrayal, patriotism, and personal duty collide, you can’t help but wonder: in a world at war, who gets to decide what justice really means?
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
Can you really leave murder to the professionals when your instincts and your heart say otherwise? That’s the moral tug-of-war that drives Leave Murder to the Professionals, A.G. Russo’s sharp and atmospheric historical mystery set against the tense backdrop of wartime Brooklyn. Russo’s latest entry in the O’Shaughnessy Investigations series gives us more than a whodunit, it’s a study in courage, loyalty, and survival when the lines between justice and duty start to blur.
At the story’s centre is Maeve O’Shaughnessy, who runs her brothers’ detective agency while they’re away fighting in World War II. Maeve is a heroine forged by heartbreak and grit, she’s lost love, stared down mobsters, and still shows up every morning to face the moral messes left behind by others. Alongside her loyal and wisecracking partner, Vic Marino, she finds herself entangled in a web of mob threats, Nazi spies, FBI manipulation, and wartime paranoia. When their seemingly simple cases spiral into violence and deceit, the title’s irony becomes clear: some crimes are far too personal to hand off to “the professionals.”
Russo also deserves praise for weaving real wartime anxiety, Nazis on the home front, corrupt cops, and desperate citizens into a detective narrative that never feels forced. The dialogue between Maeve and Vic is especially sharp, laced with humour and affection that gives the story warmth even in its darkest moments.
By the final act, when betrayal, patriotism, and personal duty collide, you can’t help but wonder: in a world at war, who gets to decide what justice really means?
You might like to wander through a few artistic journals — they’re full of sparks and surprises.
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