Chicago May is a novel that is inspired by a true story. A historical drama that I found myself so interested in. The fact of the true story behind it did pique my interest, and who doesn’t love a 1920s American story?
Fleeing an abusive father in Ireland, peasant-girl, May Sharpe chases her dream of a new glamorous life.
Arriving penniless in 1919’s America, beautiful May is charmed by successful con-man, Eddie. With her new lover’s guidance, teenage May becomes the city’s ‘Queen of Crooks’.
Joe, a tenacious local cop, has fallen for the beautiful, feisty May and is determined to save her from herself. In the midst of her glitzy life, he urges May to make a decision; a decision which would threaten, not only her new-found fame and fortune, but, her young life…
I found this a well-paced and well written book. I loved the premise of the book and am always up for a historical read. I happen to be quite the history geek and tend to get all caught up in anything like this. I really did get caught up; I loved getting to know the characters.
May is a brave young woman who travels so far away from home during an age where travelling so far was an epic journey. The fact she had to decide which direction to go in upon her arrival in this foreign land already puts her in a position she had never experienced before. A fiesty girl who rises to become the ‘Queen Of Crooks’.
Harry Duffin is a skilled writer, and it shows with the depth of his character development. He builds them up to a point that you feel you know them, and if they bleed, you bleed (figuratively anyway). I was willing May in and hoping she would do the right thing as the story unfolded.
The sense of place is clear, too. The roaring twenties of New York are crammed with the great old-fashioned type of fun that was everywhere then, as well as the tension that came with the times.
Brilliant story with strong and developed characters that keep you turning the pages until you get the last one. I really think the cover of the book is so eye-catching, too. A story I recommend for anyone who loves a bit of historical fiction with great characters and a strong sense of place.
Thanks to ZooLoo’s Book Tours and Harry Duffin for the gifted copy of the book.
Author Bio
I am an award-winning British screenwriter, who was on the first writing team of the BBC’s EASTENDERS, and won the Writers’ Guild Award for Best TV serial for CORONATION STREET. I was Head of Development at Cloud 9 Screen Entertainment Group, producing seven major television series, including ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ starring Richard ‘John Boy’ Thomas, and ‘Twist in the Tale’, featuring William Shatner. I was co-creator of the UK Channel Five teen-cult drama series ‘THE TRIBE’, which ran for five series.
I have written two novels, CHICAGO MAY and BIRTH OF THE MALL RATS [an intro to the TV series THE TRIBE].
CHICAGO MAY is the first book of a two-part series.
Follow him at
Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4674467.Harry_Duffin
Amazon
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Harry-Duffin/e/B005KR3E74?ref_=dbs_p_pbk_r00_abau_000000
Website
Buy Links
Amazon UK
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicago-May-1-Harry-Duffin/dp/0473572583
Amazon US
https://www.amazon.com/Chicago-May-Harry-Duffin-ebook/dp/B093MLY9K3/
sharonbeyondthebooks.uk 
Thank you so much for sharing your review on the tour today lovely xx
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