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Parlor Games
A sweeping historical novel based on the true story of a beautiful con artist whose turn-of-the-century escapades take her—and her Pinkerton detective pursuer—around the world.
The novel opens in 1917 with our cunning protagonist, May Dugas, standing trial for extortion. As the trial unfolds, May tells her version of events.
In 1887, at the tender age of eighteen, May ventures to Chicago in hopes of earning enough money to support her family. Circumstances force her to take up residence at the city’s most infamous bordello, but May soon learns to employ her considerable feminine wiles to extract not only sidelong glances but also large sums of money from the men she encounters. Insinuating herself into Chicago’s high society, May lands a well-to-do fiancé—until Pinkerton Agency detective Reed Doherty intervenes and summarily foils the engagement.
Unflappable, May quickly rebounds, elevating seduction and social climbing to an art form as she travels the world, eventually marrying a wealthy Dutch Baron. Unfortunately, Reed Doherty is never far behind and continues to track May in a delicious cat-and-mouse game as the newly-minted Baroness’s misadventures take her from San Francisco to Shanghai to London and points in between.
For the most part, May manages to stay one step ahead of the law, waltzing and hoodwinking her way through the Gilded Age and into the twentieth century. But now it's 1917 and she's being sued for draining a friend's sizable inheritance—a charge she adamantly denies. As the story jumps back and forth between the ongoing trial and her devious but undeniably entertaining path to the courtroom the reader is left wondering what fate ultimately has in store for May Dugas.
Based on an extraordinary true story, Parlor Games spans nearly thirty years and May's saga coincides with some of the greatest events in history. This historical romp takes us from Queen Victoria's Jubilee to McKinley's assassination, from the Gilded Age’s opulence to the rise of the automobile. May's lifestyle was considered decadent even in an age of excess. She indulged every whim—in gowns, jewels, caviar, and champagne. Even her bulldog's collar was made of platinum and lined with glistening diamonds.
The Pinkertons labeled May Dugas "the most dangerous woman in the world” and considered her a crafty blackmailer and ruthless seductress. To many, though, she was the most glamorous woman to grace high society. Was the real May Dugas a coldhearted swindler or simply a resourceful provider for her poor family?
The novel opens in 1917 with our cunning protagonist, May Dugas, standing trial for extortion. As the trial unfolds, May tells her version of events.
In 1887, at the tender age of eighteen, May ventures to Chicago in hopes of earning enough money to support her family. Circumstances force her to take up residence at the city’s most infamous bordello, but May soon learns to employ her considerable feminine wiles to extract not only sidelong glances but also large sums of money from the men she encounters. Insinuating herself into Chicago’s high society, May lands a well-to-do fiancé—until Pinkerton Agency detective Reed Doherty intervenes and summarily foils the engagement.
Unflappable, May quickly rebounds, elevating seduction and social climbing to an art form as she travels the world, eventually marrying a wealthy Dutch Baron. Unfortunately, Reed Doherty is never far behind and continues to track May in a delicious cat-and-mouse game as the newly-minted Baroness’s misadventures take her from San Francisco to Shanghai to London and points in between.
For the most part, May manages to stay one step ahead of the law, waltzing and hoodwinking her way through the Gilded Age and into the twentieth century. But now it's 1917 and she's being sued for draining a friend's sizable inheritance—a charge she adamantly denies. As the story jumps back and forth between the ongoing trial and her devious but undeniably entertaining path to the courtroom the reader is left wondering what fate ultimately has in store for May Dugas.
Based on an extraordinary true story, Parlor Games spans nearly thirty years and May's saga coincides with some of the greatest events in history. This historical romp takes us from Queen Victoria's Jubilee to McKinley's assassination, from the Gilded Age’s opulence to the rise of the automobile. May's lifestyle was considered decadent even in an age of excess. She indulged every whim—in gowns, jewels, caviar, and champagne. Even her bulldog's collar was made of platinum and lined with glistening diamonds.
The Pinkertons labeled May Dugas "the most dangerous woman in the world” and considered her a crafty blackmailer and ruthless seductress. To many, though, she was the most glamorous woman to grace high society. Was the real May Dugas a coldhearted swindler or simply a resourceful provider for her poor family?
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 15, 2013
167 people are currently reading
6181 people want to read
About the author
Maryka Biaggio
11 books109 followersMaryka Biaggio, PhD, is a psychology professor turned novelist with a passion for history and the human spirit. After a successful academic career, she turned to writing historical fiction inspired by real people—figures whose lives illuminate the complexities of their time. Her debut novel, Parlor Games (Doubleday, 2013), was praised by New York Times bestselling author Daisy Goodwin as “a wildly entertaining and constantly surprising ride.” She has since published Eden Waits, The Point of Vanishing, The Model Spy, and Gun Girl and the Tall Guy. Her forthcoming novel, Margery and Me, will be published by Regal House in 2026 and has been hailed by distinguished author Valerie Martin as “a wry, lively, and wicked-good novel.”
She loves the challenge of starting with actual historical figures and dramatizing their lives—figuring out what motivated them to behave as they did, studying how cultural and historical context influenced them, and recreating their emotional world through dialogue and action. She prides herself on carefully researching the period, place, and people to provide readers with an immersive experience.
Her fiction has garnered numerous accolades, including the Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors’ Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, a Michigan Upper Peninsula Notable Book Award, and a Regional Arts and Culture Council grant. She served on the Board of the Historical Novel Society North America Conference from 2015 to 2025 and has mentored writers in the Association of Writers and Writing Program’s Writer-to-Writer Mentorship program since 2020.
An avid opera fan, she also enjoys gardening, art films, and, of course, great fiction. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at my website.
She loves the challenge of starting with actual historical figures and dramatizing their lives—figuring out what motivated them to behave as they did, studying how cultural and historical context influenced them, and recreating their emotional world through dialogue and action. She prides herself on carefully researching the period, place, and people to provide readers with an immersive experience.
Her fiction has garnered numerous accolades, including the Willamette Writers Award, Oregon Writers Colony Award, Historical Novel Society Review Editors’ Choice, La Belle Lettre Award, a Michigan Upper Peninsula Notable Book Award, and a Regional Arts and Culture Council grant. She served on the Board of the Historical Novel Society North America Conference from 2015 to 2025 and has mentored writers in the Association of Writers and Writing Program’s Writer-to-Writer Mentorship program since 2020.
An avid opera fan, she also enjoys gardening, art films, and, of course, great fiction. She lives in Portland, Oregon. Learn more at my website.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 328 reviews
October 25, 2015
Where I got the book: purchased from Amazon. Maryka is a friend.
I jumped on this novel, friend or no friend, because of the cover—a gorgeous piece of design—and the era. Plus, the promise of naughty goings-on in Chicago parlor houses, which were the better brothels.
Alas, the blurb is massively deceptive on that point. This is, in fact, biographical fiction covering thirty years in the life of May Dugas, who was a real person. She starts out as a girl from a very ordinary family in Menominee, in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Her amorous nature gets her into trouble that serves as her excuse for going to Chicago, and it’s while she’s trying to survive in the big city that her stint in a parlor house comes in, but it’s way too short. Which is a pity because the story of how May survives in Chicago and why she has to leave could easily fill a novel, and includes a scene that for me was the highlight of the book.
But in real life May got up to a whole lot more, and Parlor Games follows her career. The story of May’s life is framed by a court case in 1917, when May was sued by a former friend—but that doesn’t stop it from being episodic, as you’d expect in the case of an adventuress who periodically has to pick up and start again.
I couldn’t help liking May, and I loved the way she (since she’s telling the story) always slants it slightly so she’s in her best light, leaving the court case to cast doubt on the reliability of her narrative. If you believe May, nothing is entirely her fault—a very creditable character flaw, and one with which I’m well acquainted.
There were some lovely scenes and well-paced dialogue, and if you’re a fan of life-story fiction you’ll enjoy the changes of location and May’s ability to pull herself out of one situation after another. I prefer a novel with a stronger center, a definite source of conflict or desire, so for me this is a 3.5 star read for the quality of the writing and the clarity of the plotting.
I jumped on this novel, friend or no friend, because of the cover—a gorgeous piece of design—and the era. Plus, the promise of naughty goings-on in Chicago parlor houses, which were the better brothels.
Alas, the blurb is massively deceptive on that point. This is, in fact, biographical fiction covering thirty years in the life of May Dugas, who was a real person. She starts out as a girl from a very ordinary family in Menominee, in the upper peninsula of Michigan. Her amorous nature gets her into trouble that serves as her excuse for going to Chicago, and it’s while she’s trying to survive in the big city that her stint in a parlor house comes in, but it’s way too short. Which is a pity because the story of how May survives in Chicago and why she has to leave could easily fill a novel, and includes a scene that for me was the highlight of the book.
But in real life May got up to a whole lot more, and Parlor Games follows her career. The story of May’s life is framed by a court case in 1917, when May was sued by a former friend—but that doesn’t stop it from being episodic, as you’d expect in the case of an adventuress who periodically has to pick up and start again.
I couldn’t help liking May, and I loved the way she (since she’s telling the story) always slants it slightly so she’s in her best light, leaving the court case to cast doubt on the reliability of her narrative. If you believe May, nothing is entirely her fault—a very creditable character flaw, and one with which I’m well acquainted.
There were some lovely scenes and well-paced dialogue, and if you’re a fan of life-story fiction you’ll enjoy the changes of location and May’s ability to pull herself out of one situation after another. I prefer a novel with a stronger center, a definite source of conflict or desire, so for me this is a 3.5 star read for the quality of the writing and the clarity of the plotting.
January 8, 2013
The settings in Parlor Games were amazing. London, New York, Shanghai, etc., but the same Pinkerton Agency detective keeps tracking May down in these cities. How? It didn't seem reasonable to me. Maybe I can't imagine finding people in the years before the internet? May changed her name and moved frequently but Detective Doherty kept showing up at inopportune times. (Just in time to foil her plans!)
I wasn't able to connect with May. I would have liked to have understood her better, to hear her thoughts and justifications for her actions. I may have liked this book more if I had a clue about May's motives. Is she trying to help support her family by conning and conniving her way through life? That reason didn't hold up for me as she treats her family members shabbily at best.
Parlor Games did contain enjoyable sections. I was intrigued by the extortion trial. Those were my favorite parts of the book and the only place I felt I was learning a bit more about the characters. That was what I wanted more of. I loved the idea of this book because I love learning about history and real historical characters. Unfortunately this book fell flat for me.
Parlor Games was apparently inspired by the real life of May Dugas. I'm wondering if a nonfiction account would work better for me? Sadly, this book did not.
I wasn't able to connect with May. I would have liked to have understood her better, to hear her thoughts and justifications for her actions. I may have liked this book more if I had a clue about May's motives. Is she trying to help support her family by conning and conniving her way through life? That reason didn't hold up for me as she treats her family members shabbily at best.
Parlor Games did contain enjoyable sections. I was intrigued by the extortion trial. Those were my favorite parts of the book and the only place I felt I was learning a bit more about the characters. That was what I wanted more of. I loved the idea of this book because I love learning about history and real historical characters. Unfortunately this book fell flat for me.
Parlor Games was apparently inspired by the real life of May Dugas. I'm wondering if a nonfiction account would work better for me? Sadly, this book did not.
dnf
June 30, 2012This is extremely well-written and engaging. The narrative is first person, but you never feel as though you are missing out on anything. In a lot of cases, in first person narrative, the view is too restricted. Not so in this.
It goes from a trial (and we are left very much in suspense over what exactly is going on btw Frank and her and this trial) and the heroine's past misdeeds.
I lost interest halfway through, however, when I realized the woman is well, to put it bluntly, another whore. I don't find whores that interesting anymore. Simply read too many whore books. I was expecting more crime and excitement than selling her body and lying and trying to nab a rich husband.
So I am disappointed. The woman travels from Chicago to San Fran to China, sleeping with men, making them spend money on her, and trying to nab a rich one in marriage. I didn't grow to like her at all, and for me to sit down and enjoy a book, I have to somewhat like the heroine or at least sympathize with her. By the time I hit the halfway point, I didn't care what she did next or what man she slept with.
However, I liked the author's writing style/voice, and I would read more work by her in the future. I just didn't like this particular character.
It goes from a trial (and we are left very much in suspense over what exactly is going on btw Frank and her and this trial) and the heroine's past misdeeds.
I lost interest halfway through, however, when I realized the woman is well, to put it bluntly, another whore. I don't find whores that interesting anymore. Simply read too many whore books. I was expecting more crime and excitement than selling her body and lying and trying to nab a rich husband.
So I am disappointed. The woman travels from Chicago to San Fran to China, sleeping with men, making them spend money on her, and trying to nab a rich one in marriage. I didn't grow to like her at all, and for me to sit down and enjoy a book, I have to somewhat like the heroine or at least sympathize with her. By the time I hit the halfway point, I didn't care what she did next or what man she slept with.
However, I liked the author's writing style/voice, and I would read more work by her in the future. I just didn't like this particular character.
April 11, 2013
I won Parlor Games, a book by Maryka Biaggio, in a Goodreads giveaway. I started reading it as soon as I received it. The only reason it took me so long to finish it was because of life and how busy it can be. The book was very entertaining. Very good plot, very good writing and very good suspense. The book and its twists and turns kept me turning from one page to another eagerly waiting to see what would happen next. I also loved how so many details were given to the background and history of the late 1800s, early 1900s.
With that being said, I did not like May Dugas. While she was honest and straightforward to us, her “dear” readers, I did not like how she treated others in her life especially her family. She was very charming and engaging, but at the same time, she seemed to be a sociopath. She didn’t seem to care who she hurt along the way while focusing on the prize (having all the money in the world to live happily and comfortably).
May’s love for Johnny and Alonso did seem convincing, but at the same time, I don’t think she had the same feelings for them like a normal woman would have for a man. While May may not have tried to take them for all they had like she did with the other people she met, she did ultimately hurt them in the end. In short, May was a con-artist and needless to say, I don’t care for a person like that.
And, don’t even get me started on May’s “friend,” Frank Shaver. That woman made my skin crawl.
Also, I was very confused on how the Pinkerton detective, Reed Doherty, was able to keep finding May no matter where she was or what name she was going by. I can’t figure out how someone can be found back in the old days, long before the Internet was even invented. I just kept thinking, if a lowly woman like May Dugas could be found so easily, couldn’t they have found the identity of Jack the Ripper who killed in the late 1880s?
One more thing, I found the cover picture to be a little misleading. It showed a pair of women who looked like flappers in the Roaring Twenties, which took place after the book ended.
All in all, a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
With that being said, I did not like May Dugas. While she was honest and straightforward to us, her “dear” readers, I did not like how she treated others in her life especially her family. She was very charming and engaging, but at the same time, she seemed to be a sociopath. She didn’t seem to care who she hurt along the way while focusing on the prize (having all the money in the world to live happily and comfortably).
May’s love for Johnny and Alonso did seem convincing, but at the same time, I don’t think she had the same feelings for them like a normal woman would have for a man. While May may not have tried to take them for all they had like she did with the other people she met, she did ultimately hurt them in the end. In short, May was a con-artist and needless to say, I don’t care for a person like that.
And, don’t even get me started on May’s “friend,” Frank Shaver. That woman made my skin crawl.
Also, I was very confused on how the Pinkerton detective, Reed Doherty, was able to keep finding May no matter where she was or what name she was going by. I can’t figure out how someone can be found back in the old days, long before the Internet was even invented. I just kept thinking, if a lowly woman like May Dugas could be found so easily, couldn’t they have found the identity of Jack the Ripper who killed in the late 1880s?
One more thing, I found the cover picture to be a little misleading. It showed a pair of women who looked like flappers in the Roaring Twenties, which took place after the book ended.
All in all, a 3.5 out of 5 stars.
February 8, 2013
“Parlor Games” by Maryka Biaggio, published by Doubleday.
Category – Fiction/Literature
The reader may take this as fiction/literature surrounded by a true story, or a true story surrounded by fiction literature, regardless it is a fascinating book.
This is the story of May Dugasv, in the book May Dugas, a wily woman belonging to the 1900’s. Although little is know of May Dugasv, Maryka Biaggio takes what is known and weaves a tale of a con artist extraordinaire.
The story is told with the exploits of May interspersed with her trial for extortion.
May, as a teen, knew that she had high aspirations as she left her small town for Chicago. She expected to find a handsome and rich man, only to find herself, in desperation, a prostitute in a high end bordello. She uses her experience and savvy to forge a better life for herself.
May becomes involved with several men that can provide her with the riches and position she sorely sought. However, with each amorous affair she is foiled by Reed Dougherty of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. She is haunted by him as Jean Valjean was haunted by Javert in Les Miserables.
A wonderful story that will keep the reader wondering, until the very end, how and if May will extradite herself from her situation. A story of a very cunning woman that uses everyone to her advantage and makes them feel good about it. The book does contain some mild sexual content but it is mostly left up to the reader’s imagination.
Category – Fiction/Literature
The reader may take this as fiction/literature surrounded by a true story, or a true story surrounded by fiction literature, regardless it is a fascinating book.
This is the story of May Dugasv, in the book May Dugas, a wily woman belonging to the 1900’s. Although little is know of May Dugasv, Maryka Biaggio takes what is known and weaves a tale of a con artist extraordinaire.
The story is told with the exploits of May interspersed with her trial for extortion.
May, as a teen, knew that she had high aspirations as she left her small town for Chicago. She expected to find a handsome and rich man, only to find herself, in desperation, a prostitute in a high end bordello. She uses her experience and savvy to forge a better life for herself.
May becomes involved with several men that can provide her with the riches and position she sorely sought. However, with each amorous affair she is foiled by Reed Dougherty of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. She is haunted by him as Jean Valjean was haunted by Javert in Les Miserables.
A wonderful story that will keep the reader wondering, until the very end, how and if May will extradite herself from her situation. A story of a very cunning woman that uses everyone to her advantage and makes them feel good about it. The book does contain some mild sexual content but it is mostly left up to the reader’s imagination.
January 5, 2013
I was amazed at how much I enjoyed this book!
I got a message asking me if I would be interested in this book to review, as I also loved American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin (review here).
At 352 pages, I honestly thought that it would be a pretty quick read for me. However, the book was quite detailed, and I found myself completely pulled into the story of May, and all her little adventures - so it took me longer than expected, but it was worth every second!
The part I really enjoyed, was that while this book is a work of fiction, the story is based on a real person. I found this enthralling, and a nice little addition at the end of the story.
The book starts out with May asking you, the reader, to go through her story and determine if she did any wrong, and to form your own opinions based on a life of cirmcumstances and events. I found that this immediately pulled me into the tale and made me think more about the events on the pages, rather than devouring another book at rapid speed.
Mays' adventures span continents, and many many people. Chicago. New York. London. Hong Kong. Toyko. And others. So many destinations, and written with such detail it was quite easy to imagine you where there living it along with her, and seeing the sites.
It does span her life, but frequently brings you back to the trial she is in the midst of, where she is defendant against an old friend of hers, Frank Shaver. Some people find these little jolts of time hard to comprehend, but I found that in this book they made perfect sense and happened at approprate times, which not many authors manage. The only issue I had, was the charges against May that her friend bought for all the money. While discussed at length, from Franks point of view during the trial, nothing is said from May's point of view about those actual "events". In the story of her live, anything that involved Frank is skimmed over, and not discussed much from Mays' viewpoint, so it's kind of hard to be the Judge and Jury like she is asking. (Unless of course you assume she was doing to Frank what she did to countless men...well, then the answer is pretty obvious!).
I enjoyed it. I wouldn't call her a likeable heroine, but a very enjoyable book. One of few where you find you don't really "like" any of the characters, but you are still drawn in just the same, and completely satisfied when it is over. Happy, content, and thoughtfull on all that happened.
This is Maryka Biaggio's first work of ficton, but I do hope she writes more, and I would love to read them!
I got a message asking me if I would be interested in this book to review, as I also loved American Heiress by Daisy Goodwin (review here).
At 352 pages, I honestly thought that it would be a pretty quick read for me. However, the book was quite detailed, and I found myself completely pulled into the story of May, and all her little adventures - so it took me longer than expected, but it was worth every second!
The part I really enjoyed, was that while this book is a work of fiction, the story is based on a real person. I found this enthralling, and a nice little addition at the end of the story.
The book starts out with May asking you, the reader, to go through her story and determine if she did any wrong, and to form your own opinions based on a life of cirmcumstances and events. I found that this immediately pulled me into the tale and made me think more about the events on the pages, rather than devouring another book at rapid speed.
Mays' adventures span continents, and many many people. Chicago. New York. London. Hong Kong. Toyko. And others. So many destinations, and written with such detail it was quite easy to imagine you where there living it along with her, and seeing the sites.
It does span her life, but frequently brings you back to the trial she is in the midst of, where she is defendant against an old friend of hers, Frank Shaver. Some people find these little jolts of time hard to comprehend, but I found that in this book they made perfect sense and happened at approprate times, which not many authors manage. The only issue I had, was the charges against May that her friend bought for all the money. While discussed at length, from Franks point of view during the trial, nothing is said from May's point of view about those actual "events". In the story of her live, anything that involved Frank is skimmed over, and not discussed much from Mays' viewpoint, so it's kind of hard to be the Judge and Jury like she is asking. (Unless of course you assume she was doing to Frank what she did to countless men...well, then the answer is pretty obvious!).
I enjoyed it. I wouldn't call her a likeable heroine, but a very enjoyable book. One of few where you find you don't really "like" any of the characters, but you are still drawn in just the same, and completely satisfied when it is over. Happy, content, and thoughtfull on all that happened.
This is Maryka Biaggio's first work of ficton, but I do hope she writes more, and I would love to read them!
February 10, 2013
I'm not a fan of prostitution, con games, lying, Michigan or books that use the phrase "dear Reader,". This novel features all of that, yet our flawed heroine is so engaging, and so honest, despite her obvious manipulation, that I really enjoyed this book. It's a novelized version of a real life con artist May Dugas.
I don't want to give too much away, but it follows the journey of May, who moves to Chicago to have the child of her first boyfriend from Michigan and plans to give it up for adoption before she comes back to marry him. He gives her some funds, and she expects to be gone for 10 months or so. But on the train, May gets her period and -whoops!- since she's already on her way, she might as well stay. Well, her funds run out, and getting men to buy her dinner becomes more difficult. What can May do, esp since she has no interest in moving back to Michigan?
May innocently engages in prostitution, and uses men, sex and the appearance of wealth and comfort to travel all over the world (San Francisco, China, Japan, London, Cairo, New York). She meets men, falls in love, marries, and lives with a husband, and none of the men are the same!
This was my favorite sentence from the book:
All I ever wanted was a respectable and happy life. Yes, I admit it, I desired the ease that wealth brings, but not money simply for money's sake; money so that I might enjoy travel, fine dining and exotic sights in the company of someone I loved.
Fans of The Great Gatsby might also like this novel.
I don't want to give too much away, but it follows the journey of May, who moves to Chicago to have the child of her first boyfriend from Michigan and plans to give it up for adoption before she comes back to marry him. He gives her some funds, and she expects to be gone for 10 months or so. But on the train, May gets her period and -whoops!- since she's already on her way, she might as well stay. Well, her funds run out, and getting men to buy her dinner becomes more difficult. What can May do, esp since she has no interest in moving back to Michigan?
May innocently engages in prostitution, and uses men, sex and the appearance of wealth and comfort to travel all over the world (San Francisco, China, Japan, London, Cairo, New York). She meets men, falls in love, marries, and lives with a husband, and none of the men are the same!
This was my favorite sentence from the book:
All I ever wanted was a respectable and happy life. Yes, I admit it, I desired the ease that wealth brings, but not money simply for money's sake; money so that I might enjoy travel, fine dining and exotic sights in the company of someone I loved.
Fans of The Great Gatsby might also like this novel.
May 10, 2014
You have to love a book where a woman (in 1887) is hunted down all over the world by a Pinkerton detective.
It's based on a true story of turn-of-the-century con artist May Dugas, once dubbed America's "Most Dangerous Woman.”
It’s 1887, and eighteen-year-old May Dugas has ventured to Chicago in hopes of earning enough money to support her family. Yet when circumstances force her to take up residence at the city’s most infamous bordello, she chooses to use her feminine wiles to extract not only sidelong looks but also large sums of money from the men she encounters. Insinuating herself into high society, May lands a well-to-do fiancé—until, that is, a Pinkerton detective named Reed Doherty intervenes.
Reed has made it his mission to bring May to justice, and he pursues her across the world, from Shanghai to London and back, until he makes one last daring attempt to corner her.
The story switches between May on trial and the back story of what lead her there. I loved her moxy, I have to give her that. It was an amazing story of what stated out as a need for survival but tuned into the journey of a con artist and grifter.
It's based on a true story of turn-of-the-century con artist May Dugas, once dubbed America's "Most Dangerous Woman.”
It’s 1887, and eighteen-year-old May Dugas has ventured to Chicago in hopes of earning enough money to support her family. Yet when circumstances force her to take up residence at the city’s most infamous bordello, she chooses to use her feminine wiles to extract not only sidelong looks but also large sums of money from the men she encounters. Insinuating herself into high society, May lands a well-to-do fiancé—until, that is, a Pinkerton detective named Reed Doherty intervenes.
Reed has made it his mission to bring May to justice, and he pursues her across the world, from Shanghai to London and back, until he makes one last daring attempt to corner her.
The story switches between May on trial and the back story of what lead her there. I loved her moxy, I have to give her that. It was an amazing story of what stated out as a need for survival but tuned into the journey of a con artist and grifter.
March 6, 2013
Parlor Games, written in the first person voice of May Dugas, gives away the game with a neat device in the opening paragraph. May starts by trying to sweet-talk the reader. We know her "inner" character immediately--she's a con-artist. May moves through this book with her eye always on the main-chance; if she's smart enough to survive, why shouldn't she prosper at the same time. May is developed in terms of actions and I can't think of a better way to explore a sociopathic personality. The driving force of May Dugas' life is action/reaction, not inner reflection. She careens from one cliff-hanger to another--sometimes improving her financial or social status along the way.
May is quick witted, a quick study,has "gumption", and is determined not to live life as a poor person if better odds are within reach. Using her beauty (and the charm she picks up along the way) as a tool upon rich men, she repeatedly improves her odds. But, rich men are not without their own weapons; throughout the book, May is haunted by a Pinkerton detective, hired by rich men. The Pinkerton man often drives the crises in this book, which in turn drive the non-stop action.
Another interesting characteristic of this book is attention to period detail--architecture, clothing, luxury items, etc. May Dugas, the quick study, picks up on the details she needs to know to move in her preferred circles. She sees the surface details of the life of the rich and absorbs them almost by osmosis--that is her character development.
As a fan of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley series (and the TV series Dexter), I enjoyed May Dugas' story for the guilty pleasure of rooting for a charming and quick-witted criminal (though May omitted murder from her bag of tricks). What's amazing is that May was real and the major events in Parlor Games did happen. Using the major true events as a framework, the author has invented and fleshed out a convincingly engaging story of the in-between events that get May Dugas from major event A to major event B and so on.
This is a fast-paced and fun read telling of the roller coaster life of a genuine picaresque "heroine".
May is quick witted, a quick study,has "gumption", and is determined not to live life as a poor person if better odds are within reach. Using her beauty (and the charm she picks up along the way) as a tool upon rich men, she repeatedly improves her odds. But, rich men are not without their own weapons; throughout the book, May is haunted by a Pinkerton detective, hired by rich men. The Pinkerton man often drives the crises in this book, which in turn drive the non-stop action.
Another interesting characteristic of this book is attention to period detail--architecture, clothing, luxury items, etc. May Dugas, the quick study, picks up on the details she needs to know to move in her preferred circles. She sees the surface details of the life of the rich and absorbs them almost by osmosis--that is her character development.
As a fan of Patricia Highsmith's Ripley series (and the TV series Dexter), I enjoyed May Dugas' story for the guilty pleasure of rooting for a charming and quick-witted criminal (though May omitted murder from her bag of tricks). What's amazing is that May was real and the major events in Parlor Games did happen. Using the major true events as a framework, the author has invented and fleshed out a convincingly engaging story of the in-between events that get May Dugas from major event A to major event B and so on.
This is a fast-paced and fun read telling of the roller coaster life of a genuine picaresque "heroine".
January 29, 2021
WOW!! What an amazing read! I loved every minute of this book and I do wish Maryka Biaggio had more to offer. Parlor Games was just, well, it was YUMMY!! I started reading it and I couldn't get enough. When it ended, (and I HATED that it ended!) I searched Goodreads, Amazon, and every place imaginable to find something comparable. Biaggio has written a juicy fictional account based on the real May Dugas de Pallandt van Eerde, the Baroness, that was a page-turner. I couldn't wait to learn what May was up to next...and May was certainly up to A LOT. I have chosen to keep this review short and simple if only to prevent me from gushing an essay.
May Dugas is a young woman wanting more than her small Michigan town has to offer. May adores luxury and sets out to find those riches in Chicago. Why and how May gets to Chicago had me raising my eyebrow. Let's just say that May Dugas reminds me of that clever, conniving vixen, Scarlett O'Hara. May has a certain way of doing things and it is mostly for her own selfish gains. However, May's questionable ingenuity did not endear her less to me. She has her faults, one being a fugitive from justice, but I still wanted her to come out on top. After all, May wasn't completely heartless. When she loved, she loved deeply and she did have her generous moments. Regardless, May is a likable character and her escapades take her around the world and back again, traveling in style and hobnobbing with the very best, all the while being hunted by a relentless Pinkerton across three continents. As I said, May has a certain way of doing things and some of those things are quite questionable. Parlor Games is the perfect blend of love, intrigue, betrayal, extortion, blackmail, and adventure, and it has absolutely found its way to my "all-time favorites" shelf. I loved it!! Ten stars. Yes...TEN!
May Dugas is a young woman wanting more than her small Michigan town has to offer. May adores luxury and sets out to find those riches in Chicago. Why and how May gets to Chicago had me raising my eyebrow. Let's just say that May Dugas reminds me of that clever, conniving vixen, Scarlett O'Hara. May has a certain way of doing things and it is mostly for her own selfish gains. However, May's questionable ingenuity did not endear her less to me. She has her faults, one being a fugitive from justice, but I still wanted her to come out on top. After all, May wasn't completely heartless. When she loved, she loved deeply and she did have her generous moments. Regardless, May is a likable character and her escapades take her around the world and back again, traveling in style and hobnobbing with the very best, all the while being hunted by a relentless Pinkerton across three continents. As I said, May has a certain way of doing things and some of those things are quite questionable. Parlor Games is the perfect blend of love, intrigue, betrayal, extortion, blackmail, and adventure, and it has absolutely found its way to my "all-time favorites" shelf. I loved it!! Ten stars. Yes...TEN!
January 28, 2014
With Parlor Games Biaggio has followed in Daniel Defoe's footprints by giving us her own version of Moll Flanders. Her May Dugas, however, also comes with a liberal dose of Thackeray's Becky Sharp.
May leaves her small hometown to travel to Chicago. Supposedly to help support her family, but May is the epitome of an unreliable narrator. She really goes to Chicago to find the bright lights, big city glamor and adoration she craves. And the money. And jewels. Sex seems to be unimportant to her, a niggling responsibility she must get out of the way to get to the things she wants.
And so her adventures go. She moves from bordello to an apartment set up for her by a lover; when she's bored or the money isn't enough anymore or a Pinkerton detective (Reed Doherty) shows up promising to ruin her fun, she moves to a new city and finds another sugar daddy. Along the way she marries a short lived Dutch Baron and then takes off again, Reed Doherty still in pursuit.
The complications along the way have to do with the bad company she chooses, or her basically felonious nature, or both. That's for the reader to figure out. Because May's story is told while she's on trial for fraud and theft, there is a lot of evidence to consider, and all of it is well put together, entertaining, and inherently interesting as Meg herself.
Advance reader's copy from the publisher by way of netgalley.com
May leaves her small hometown to travel to Chicago. Supposedly to help support her family, but May is the epitome of an unreliable narrator. She really goes to Chicago to find the bright lights, big city glamor and adoration she craves. And the money. And jewels. Sex seems to be unimportant to her, a niggling responsibility she must get out of the way to get to the things she wants.
And so her adventures go. She moves from bordello to an apartment set up for her by a lover; when she's bored or the money isn't enough anymore or a Pinkerton detective (Reed Doherty) shows up promising to ruin her fun, she moves to a new city and finds another sugar daddy. Along the way she marries a short lived Dutch Baron and then takes off again, Reed Doherty still in pursuit.
The complications along the way have to do with the bad company she chooses, or her basically felonious nature, or both. That's for the reader to figure out. Because May's story is told while she's on trial for fraud and theft, there is a lot of evidence to consider, and all of it is well put together, entertaining, and inherently interesting as Meg herself.
Advance reader's copy from the publisher by way of netgalley.com
November 24, 2012
Review from brokenpenguins.com
Thank you to Doubleday for sending me an advanced reading copy of Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say about Maryka Biaggio’s Parlor Games? It’s fun, carefree and most importantly, it’s utterly scandalous. Parlor Games is a whirlwind memoir of May Dugas’ adventures around the world. Based on a true story, May Dugas is part con artist, part whore and mostly genius.
She befriends aristocratic men in exchange for money, diamonds and fancy trips around the world. Born in a small town to a poor family, it’s all May can do if she wants to see the world and live life like a baller. People get hurt but May mostly cares about May’s needs so when things get bad, May gets out.
And it’s mostly because of a certain Pinkerton Agency spy who repeatedly spoils May’s plans and outs her for being the conscience-free scam artist she really is. Talk about kill-joy.
Based at the turn of the 19th century, May starts the story off by telling you about how a woman named Frank is suing her. May isn’t the least bit remorseful and at the end of the day; there are no hard lessons learned here. But May’s charm and joie de vivre will have you forgetting her wrongs.
I highly recommend Parlour Games to those who enjoy Downton Abbey, The American Heiress and The Virgin Cure. There are moments of grief but it’s hard to believe someone like May Dugas would let anything stand in her way of having a whole lot of fun.
Thank you to Doubleday for sending me an advanced reading copy of Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio in exchange for an honest review.
What can I say about Maryka Biaggio’s Parlor Games? It’s fun, carefree and most importantly, it’s utterly scandalous. Parlor Games is a whirlwind memoir of May Dugas’ adventures around the world. Based on a true story, May Dugas is part con artist, part whore and mostly genius.
She befriends aristocratic men in exchange for money, diamonds and fancy trips around the world. Born in a small town to a poor family, it’s all May can do if she wants to see the world and live life like a baller. People get hurt but May mostly cares about May’s needs so when things get bad, May gets out.
And it’s mostly because of a certain Pinkerton Agency spy who repeatedly spoils May’s plans and outs her for being the conscience-free scam artist she really is. Talk about kill-joy.
Based at the turn of the 19th century, May starts the story off by telling you about how a woman named Frank is suing her. May isn’t the least bit remorseful and at the end of the day; there are no hard lessons learned here. But May’s charm and joie de vivre will have you forgetting her wrongs.
I highly recommend Parlour Games to those who enjoy Downton Abbey, The American Heiress and The Virgin Cure. There are moments of grief but it’s hard to believe someone like May Dugas would let anything stand in her way of having a whole lot of fun.
February 24, 2013
May Dugas is a woman trying to get by in a man's world by using the only asset she has, her sex appeal. She starts out as prostitute but moves up to the station of wife of a European Barron. Always one step away is Pinkerton detective Reed Dougherty waiting in the wings to mess up her plans. As May travels the world through the years she embarks upon adventure after adventure and always with new man (or woman) who can provide the wealth she desires. May is what we would call a grifter but since she is telling the story that word is not one that is used. May is an unreliable narrator who charms the reader as much as her cons. May would have you believe that she is merely a woman who has been unlucky in love. It would have been interesting to read the story through the marks point of view. As it is we do hear from one, Miss Frank Shaver who is suing the Baroness in a court of law. The recount of the trial is interspersed with May's globetrotting adventures.
I loved, loved, loved, this book. Once I started it I could not put it down. One of the blurb's for the book was written by Daisy Goodwin, author of The American Heiress another novel I really enjoyed. If you too are a fan of the heiress grab this right away. It's as luxurious as a box of Godiva chocolates with a glass of champagne.
I loved, loved, loved, this book. Once I started it I could not put it down. One of the blurb's for the book was written by Daisy Goodwin, author of The American Heiress another novel I really enjoyed. If you too are a fan of the heiress grab this right away. It's as luxurious as a box of Godiva chocolates with a glass of champagne.
February 15, 2020
Richly evocative, smoothly non-judgemental, and historically fascinating, Maryka Biaggio’s Parlor Games introduces readers to a time and place of need and resolution, where the rich are different and imitation is the sincerest form of success. The story begins with the protagonist on trial, and her narration offers to let the reader judge, while she tells how things came to this.
Soon the past is unveiling itself in chapters that flow smoothly between the two timelines of life and legal tribulation. Soon the reader is balancing between condemnation, humor, and hope. And the worlds of a changing century come to vivid life. Chicago, Shanghai, London, San Francisco… the almost successes of almost real love, and the almost failures of a Pinkerton’s devotion to duty… the Gilded Age, how delightfully gilded, is passing, and a woman who provides for her family waits for judgment on her judgment calls.
Parlor Games takes readers from bordello to cruise, crossing continents and causes, and inexorably drawing toward an unknown conclusion. Guilty, innocent (ah, never innocent she), cruel or kind… let the reader (or the courts) decide.
As an added enticement, story and characters are drawn from well-researched and richly-imagined history. A truly enjoyable and fascinating read.
Disclosure: A friend loaned me the book—she knew I’d enjoy it.
Soon the past is unveiling itself in chapters that flow smoothly between the two timelines of life and legal tribulation. Soon the reader is balancing between condemnation, humor, and hope. And the worlds of a changing century come to vivid life. Chicago, Shanghai, London, San Francisco… the almost successes of almost real love, and the almost failures of a Pinkerton’s devotion to duty… the Gilded Age, how delightfully gilded, is passing, and a woman who provides for her family waits for judgment on her judgment calls.
Parlor Games takes readers from bordello to cruise, crossing continents and causes, and inexorably drawing toward an unknown conclusion. Guilty, innocent (ah, never innocent she), cruel or kind… let the reader (or the courts) decide.
As an added enticement, story and characters are drawn from well-researched and richly-imagined history. A truly enjoyable and fascinating read.
Disclosure: A friend loaned me the book—she knew I’d enjoy it.
June 21, 2013
This is not my usual genre. I usually lean toward magic filled quests, princesses, dragons, etc, so I picked this book on a whim. With that being said, I really like it! at first i couldn't tell if i liked May Dugas very much but as it progressed I fell in love with her and all her conniving adventures (and misadventures). Just as I would find myself getting bored of the lack of one main quest (as I am used to) I would be sucked back in by some new turn of events!
My only note is that the ending fell just barely short of being perfectly satisfying. There was some awesome build up and tension at the end but the conclusion itself didn't quite manage to tie everything up in the perfect little bow that I expected. However, it is based on a real person so maybe the author was just being historically accurate.
My only note is that the ending fell just barely short of being perfectly satisfying. There was some awesome build up and tension at the end but the conclusion itself didn't quite manage to tie everything up in the perfect little bow that I expected. However, it is based on a real person so maybe the author was just being historically accurate.
August 3, 2014
I had seen this book floating around the internet. Yet, I never got around to checking it out. My sister actually got me this book. So I finally had a chance to check this book out. I have never heard of May Dugas. Yet I am drawn to these types of stories of strong women and this time period. When you mix these two elements with a really good writer, you get a lovely book like Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio.
I did not feel like May was ever a victim. In fact, I kind of thought of her as a cool hero. The guys she took advantage of I could not even feel sorry for as well. They either deserved it or if they thought they could rein May in, they were too gullible. The chase between May and Reed was entertaining. I would say they both were on equal playing fields when it came to who had the upper hand. I had a smile on my face for the ending of this story.
I did not feel like May was ever a victim. In fact, I kind of thought of her as a cool hero. The guys she took advantage of I could not even feel sorry for as well. They either deserved it or if they thought they could rein May in, they were too gullible. The chase between May and Reed was entertaining. I would say they both were on equal playing fields when it came to who had the upper hand. I had a smile on my face for the ending of this story.
January 13, 2016
Although touted as the most dangerous woman in the world, I couldn't help liking May Dugas. She was a fighter and had a lot of determination. Her adventures are memorable, and she manages to outwit the Pinkerton detective who always shows up at the worst possible times. Loved this story and highly recommend it to all.
September 27, 2013
I loved this book...one of my favs! I would highly recommend this book. I loved every page.
January 19, 2014
I received this book after I was contacted by Doubleday Publishing asking me if I would be interested in reading this book before it was fully published a year ago and I just got round to reading it.
It's a very well written book and I did enjoy reading it. I am only giving it a four star rating though as before reading the book, I read the synopsis on the back and she was portrayed as dangerous con artist so I thought it was going to be a really juicy read but I was quite disappointed that it wasn't as juicy as I thought and I don't feel she was a dangerous con artist. I felt she was more misunderstood and she just wanted to better her life but made a couple of bad choices such as entering a bordello and choice in companion very early on but that was when she was starting out. She was more of a victim.
When she got engaged to Dale and then Robby, both of whom she fell in love with and could offer her a better life, he only reason why she ended up leaving them with a large amount of money was due to the parents hiring a detective to find out her background, didn't like what they found out and bribed her to leave the men. She really had no choice it was either not take the money and be ruined and not ever have an opportunity to marry well but still have to leave or take the money and try to make a fresh start somewhere else.
Meeting Carlyle in China when her friend ran off, again she was a victim and was deceived by him and he gave her money for her discretion so his wife wouldn't find out about his affairs.
She then had a seemingly happy marriage to the Baron for many years and only got divorced because he felt she had abandoned him when she had written to him on lots of occasions saying she was helping both her family and his but yet he still insisted on a divorce. As far as it was written in the book there wasn't really any settlement on the divorce as he divorced her in holland on the basis of abandonment and didn't have to give her anything.
Then she got into a spot of bother with a man who gambled and had such a bad temper. He then attempted to sue her, she knew there was no winning against him so befriended him again to make him drop the suit out of desperation and then ran away to begin again, a fresh start.
With the whole trial with Frank going on as well, this was all very interesting but felt it was all so vague as to how it actually came to that situation. It referenced a friendship over years but there wasn't much elaboration on the friendship and all the trips the girls supposedly went on so I felt the inclusion of the trial between the ladies didn't flow well into the story neither did why May was actually back in Menominee at that particular time. It referenced it was because of the war but it felt there was a big chunk missing from the narrative to make this flow a little easier.
I know that the book is written from the point of view of May Duggas herself and that she would of course make herself to be the victim in everything but the book is written as more of a memoir of her life so why hold back as to what her motives actually were if she was meant to be this dangerous con artist? It just doesn't match the feel of the synopsis that you read on the back of the book it is almost like I was meant to read something completely different to what I have done.
To have made her more into a dangerous con artist there needed to have been more situations where she had done something a lot more scandalous and risky. I just don't really understand how she conned the Baron, Robby, Dale, Frank or any of the other men featured in the book for that matter. The only crime that was evident was when she stole blatantly from the coffee merchant but only on her friends bidding.
It's a great story, don't get me wrong but it doesn't say what it says on the tin.
It's a very well written book and I did enjoy reading it. I am only giving it a four star rating though as before reading the book, I read the synopsis on the back and she was portrayed as dangerous con artist so I thought it was going to be a really juicy read but I was quite disappointed that it wasn't as juicy as I thought and I don't feel she was a dangerous con artist. I felt she was more misunderstood and she just wanted to better her life but made a couple of bad choices such as entering a bordello and choice in companion very early on but that was when she was starting out. She was more of a victim.
When she got engaged to Dale and then Robby, both of whom she fell in love with and could offer her a better life, he only reason why she ended up leaving them with a large amount of money was due to the parents hiring a detective to find out her background, didn't like what they found out and bribed her to leave the men. She really had no choice it was either not take the money and be ruined and not ever have an opportunity to marry well but still have to leave or take the money and try to make a fresh start somewhere else.
Meeting Carlyle in China when her friend ran off, again she was a victim and was deceived by him and he gave her money for her discretion so his wife wouldn't find out about his affairs.
She then had a seemingly happy marriage to the Baron for many years and only got divorced because he felt she had abandoned him when she had written to him on lots of occasions saying she was helping both her family and his but yet he still insisted on a divorce. As far as it was written in the book there wasn't really any settlement on the divorce as he divorced her in holland on the basis of abandonment and didn't have to give her anything.
Then she got into a spot of bother with a man who gambled and had such a bad temper. He then attempted to sue her, she knew there was no winning against him so befriended him again to make him drop the suit out of desperation and then ran away to begin again, a fresh start.
With the whole trial with Frank going on as well, this was all very interesting but felt it was all so vague as to how it actually came to that situation. It referenced a friendship over years but there wasn't much elaboration on the friendship and all the trips the girls supposedly went on so I felt the inclusion of the trial between the ladies didn't flow well into the story neither did why May was actually back in Menominee at that particular time. It referenced it was because of the war but it felt there was a big chunk missing from the narrative to make this flow a little easier.
I know that the book is written from the point of view of May Duggas herself and that she would of course make herself to be the victim in everything but the book is written as more of a memoir of her life so why hold back as to what her motives actually were if she was meant to be this dangerous con artist? It just doesn't match the feel of the synopsis that you read on the back of the book it is almost like I was meant to read something completely different to what I have done.
To have made her more into a dangerous con artist there needed to have been more situations where she had done something a lot more scandalous and risky. I just don't really understand how she conned the Baron, Robby, Dale, Frank or any of the other men featured in the book for that matter. The only crime that was evident was when she stole blatantly from the coffee merchant but only on her friends bidding.
It's a great story, don't get me wrong but it doesn't say what it says on the tin.
February 19, 2013
Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio is a sweeping piece of historical fiction based on real-life adventuress, May Dugas aka the Baroness May de Vries (and various aliases). The story opens with May settling in for a trial accusing her of extortion--bilking her friend Miss Frank Gray Shaver out of her inheritance. Sandwiched in between scenes from the courtroom drama, May tells us the story of her life--all the adventures that led up to her appearance in court in January 1917.
May's father dies fairly early in her life and she decides to set out for Chicago in the hopes of earning enough money to support her family. But Chicago in the late 1800s is not welcoming to a young woman with no skills and she soon finds herself a courtesan in the city's most infamous bordello. Taking what she learns there, she uses her great beauty and feminine charms to encourage her gentlemen to bestow gifts upon her. It looks like her dreams are coming true when she makes friends with two young women from Chicago's high society and is introduced to a financially secure young man. She can already hear the wedding bells ringing when Reed Dougherty, a Pinkerton detective, spoils her nuptial plans. It won't be the last time that Dougherty pops up at the most inopportune moment.
From Chicago May works her way around the world to Portland and San Francisco to Shanghai and Holland to London and Hong Kong. She goes from the top of the world and the riches of her dreams while married to the Baron to moments of despair when Dougherty foils her plans. She goes through money like water and winds up mixed up in politics, insurance fraud, scandalous affairs, wartime speculations, and various legal proceedings. The Pinkerton Agency eventually dubs her the "most dangerous woman in the world"--accusing her of being a blackmailer and a heartless seducer of the wealthiest of men.
This is May's story--told in the first person as she goes on trial for extortion--and she asks the reader to be her judge. She asks us to believe that she is completely honest in her narration and for us to deliver judgment on what we read. Is she the cold hearted swindler who breaks hearts even as she empties bank accounts or have her actions been justified?
On the one hand, this is a fascinating look at the late 19th/early 20th centuries in America. Showing the reader what life was like for young women without money and without decent job prospects--not that I believe for a moment that May would have wanted to stick to a regular job if it had been available to her. I just can't see her working at the same job for years on end. That girl was born wanting money--and lots of it. Biaggo's writing style is spot on--May's voice is distinctive and draws the reader right in. I easily finished the book in two days (less when you consider that there was sleeping and chores and work that had to be attended to). But....I can't say that liked May. If the goal was to convince me that May's actions were justified over the course of her tale, then I'm afraid the mission failed. May strikes me as unscrupulous and out for herself with the final chapter forcefully driving that home. The only point where I really felt for her was when she lost her Johnny, but I'm still not convinced that her heart was nearly as broken as she would have us believe. Three stars for a solid tale, interesting historical detail, and terrific narration.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!
May's father dies fairly early in her life and she decides to set out for Chicago in the hopes of earning enough money to support her family. But Chicago in the late 1800s is not welcoming to a young woman with no skills and she soon finds herself a courtesan in the city's most infamous bordello. Taking what she learns there, she uses her great beauty and feminine charms to encourage her gentlemen to bestow gifts upon her. It looks like her dreams are coming true when she makes friends with two young women from Chicago's high society and is introduced to a financially secure young man. She can already hear the wedding bells ringing when Reed Dougherty, a Pinkerton detective, spoils her nuptial plans. It won't be the last time that Dougherty pops up at the most inopportune moment.
From Chicago May works her way around the world to Portland and San Francisco to Shanghai and Holland to London and Hong Kong. She goes from the top of the world and the riches of her dreams while married to the Baron to moments of despair when Dougherty foils her plans. She goes through money like water and winds up mixed up in politics, insurance fraud, scandalous affairs, wartime speculations, and various legal proceedings. The Pinkerton Agency eventually dubs her the "most dangerous woman in the world"--accusing her of being a blackmailer and a heartless seducer of the wealthiest of men.
This is May's story--told in the first person as she goes on trial for extortion--and she asks the reader to be her judge. She asks us to believe that she is completely honest in her narration and for us to deliver judgment on what we read. Is she the cold hearted swindler who breaks hearts even as she empties bank accounts or have her actions been justified?
On the one hand, this is a fascinating look at the late 19th/early 20th centuries in America. Showing the reader what life was like for young women without money and without decent job prospects--not that I believe for a moment that May would have wanted to stick to a regular job if it had been available to her. I just can't see her working at the same job for years on end. That girl was born wanting money--and lots of it. Biaggo's writing style is spot on--May's voice is distinctive and draws the reader right in. I easily finished the book in two days (less when you consider that there was sleeping and chores and work that had to be attended to). But....I can't say that liked May. If the goal was to convince me that May's actions were justified over the course of her tale, then I'm afraid the mission failed. May strikes me as unscrupulous and out for herself with the final chapter forcefully driving that home. The only point where I really felt for her was when she lost her Johnny, but I'm still not convinced that her heart was nearly as broken as she would have us believe. Three stars for a solid tale, interesting historical detail, and terrific narration.
This was first posted on my blog My Reader's Block. Please request permission before reposting. Thanks!
January 27, 2013
Parlor Games is a completely enjoyable read. I love historical fiction, and in this impressive first novel, Biaggio has clearly done her research and woven it into a fast-paced and spellbinding tale. The exquisite descriptions about the surroundings and fashions of the turn of the last century placed me squarely in that era.
I'd never heard of the main character, May Dugas, before reading this book. Apparently she was the subject of a Pinkerton investigation and a well-publicized trial. Biaggio takes you back-and-forth between her protagonist’s description of this trial and the events of this woman's very colorful life.
May is a woman who lives in a time when women were expected to marry and raise families. It is clear from the beginning that May wanted a more exciting life, she set out to get it, and indeed she did. And the story of how she did is fascinating, and most of all, fun to read.
The book quotes the Pinkerton Detective who pursued her through much of her life as referring to her as: "The most dangerous woman in the world". When I first read that, I expected she was going to be involved in in some type of criminal activity that would erode my sympathy for her. At the very least I thought I would feel something akin to my feelings about Bonnie of the notorious Bonnie and Clyde Barrow’s gang. However, May lived in a time when a woman was considered extremely dangerous, perhaps mostly because she was able to manipulate men into getting what she wanted. Ironically, at this very time, the male dominated world was destroying a global economy without repentance or reservation.
May certainly uses her feminine beauty and wiles to extort fortunes from men willing to fall into her orbit. But as a reader, she also captivated me, and I eagerly followed her unfolding life of drama, intrigue, and cunning. Although sometimes I wasn’t always sure whether I admired or disapproved of May, mostly I came to understand and sympathize with a powerful woman who used the resources that she had to succeed in a world that did not welcome strong women.
Often when I finish a work of historical fiction, I immediately want to know more about what the other facts of the case were and where the author embellished to fill out this compelling novel. In this regard, Parlor Games is no different. I am left with many questions about this woman's life and times, and I am very tempted to do some research on my own to learn more about her.
I'd never heard of the main character, May Dugas, before reading this book. Apparently she was the subject of a Pinkerton investigation and a well-publicized trial. Biaggio takes you back-and-forth between her protagonist’s description of this trial and the events of this woman's very colorful life.
May is a woman who lives in a time when women were expected to marry and raise families. It is clear from the beginning that May wanted a more exciting life, she set out to get it, and indeed she did. And the story of how she did is fascinating, and most of all, fun to read.
The book quotes the Pinkerton Detective who pursued her through much of her life as referring to her as: "The most dangerous woman in the world". When I first read that, I expected she was going to be involved in in some type of criminal activity that would erode my sympathy for her. At the very least I thought I would feel something akin to my feelings about Bonnie of the notorious Bonnie and Clyde Barrow’s gang. However, May lived in a time when a woman was considered extremely dangerous, perhaps mostly because she was able to manipulate men into getting what she wanted. Ironically, at this very time, the male dominated world was destroying a global economy without repentance or reservation.
May certainly uses her feminine beauty and wiles to extort fortunes from men willing to fall into her orbit. But as a reader, she also captivated me, and I eagerly followed her unfolding life of drama, intrigue, and cunning. Although sometimes I wasn’t always sure whether I admired or disapproved of May, mostly I came to understand and sympathize with a powerful woman who used the resources that she had to succeed in a world that did not welcome strong women.
Often when I finish a work of historical fiction, I immediately want to know more about what the other facts of the case were and where the author embellished to fill out this compelling novel. In this regard, Parlor Games is no different. I am left with many questions about this woman's life and times, and I am very tempted to do some research on my own to learn more about her.
November 23, 2018
There's only so much con artistry I can take before May stops being clever and charming and becomes a careless near-sociopath. She never learned, never became a better person, never once considered that maybe living off wealthy men and spending thousands of dollars on gems and clothes and frivolities wasn't a long-term viable way to live.
Also, she ends up in Tokyo at one point because of reasons, and so-casually mentions that due to her experience working in a bordello, she found it very easy to become a teahouse geisha--"applying the makeup and so forth". THAT'S NOT HOW BEING A GEISHA WORKS. IT'S NOT THE SAME THING AT ALL AS BEING A WORKING GIRL IN A BORDELLO. FIVE MINUTES OF WIKIPEDIA RESEARCH WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THIS.
Also, she ends up in Tokyo at one point because of reasons, and so-casually mentions that due to her experience working in a bordello, she found it very easy to become a teahouse geisha--"applying the makeup and so forth". THAT'S NOT HOW BEING A GEISHA WORKS. IT'S NOT THE SAME THING AT ALL AS BEING A WORKING GIRL IN A BORDELLO. FIVE MINUTES OF WIKIPEDIA RESEARCH WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU THIS.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2013
Maryka Biaggio has written a spell-binding story in Parlor Games. Once I picked it up, I could not put it down. I caught myself saying OMG under my breath a lot and I thought my eyebrows were going to stay permanently lifted to the top of my forehead. After I finished it, I had to find out more about this femme fatale. What I discovered is that truth really is often stranger than fiction, and there’s a lot of truth in this novel. Like historical fiction based on real lives? Then snap this one up!
- Popcorn Reads http://popcornreads.com/fiction/parlo...
- Popcorn Reads http://popcornreads.com/fiction/parlo...
January 17, 2013
I’m always interesting in how women navigated the world during times when they had no apparent power. When I saw Parlor Games, a debut novel by Maryka Biaggio, I was intrigued. Here was a woman on trial in 1917 for being a con woman. Was she or was there a double standard in place? I had to find out. If you like historical fiction or stories about women determined to not only survive but thrive when the odds are stacked against them then this one might be just what you’re looking for. Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=5285.
February 25, 2013
The real May Dugas will go down in history as a notorious con artist. But I think the fictional May Dugas in Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio will go down as a very misunderstood woman. She didn't steal from men, they liked giving her nice things. She didn't run from the law, she was just securing a higher status for herself in society. The Pinkerton detective chasing her has it all wrong!!
Read the rest of my review at http://www.asiturnthepages.blogspot.c...
Read the rest of my review at http://www.asiturnthepages.blogspot.c...
November 29, 2021
Parlor Games by Maryka Biaggio is a fictional account of a stunning, real-life con artist in the 1900s who was, at one point, dubbed the most dangerous woman in the world. The novel begins with May Dugas on trial and then flashes back in time to when she was eighteen and just venturing out to make something of herself in the world.
May herself tells the readers her adventurous tale as she debunks the intrigue surrounding her life and ultimately her trial. We follow May from her hometown in Michigan to one of the most infamous bordellos in Chicago to San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, London, and even South America, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her. As she seeks love and – of course – wealth and status across the world, she must dodge a ruthless Pinkerton Agency detective who is determined to expose her as the con artist and seductress she is.
This is, for sure, a fascinating story! However, it fell a bit flat to me. I felt as though the story was predictable as May bounced from city to city, fell in love, and left. Repeat. I found myself skimming the pages because nothing new was introduced. It was fast-paced, and yet, with all the action, I felt a little lost both geographically and with the introduction of many new characters. While I typically love courtroom scenes, May’s trial was dry, and it wrapped up abruptly. Maybe I missed it early on, but I wasn’t tracking why Detective Doherty was so obsessed with her either.
There was also an underlying lesbian arc that was muddled. I wonder if Biaggio was attempting to be coy and subtle and to leave her readers wondering what May’s true nature was. If so, it definitely worked… The way she dropped certain interactions in with no lead up, explanation, or fall out made me feel like I wasn’t sure if I was misunderstanding the whole thing or not. I would have preferred this to be more strongly developed or at least more clear.
Let me be frank: there was nothing wrong with this book! But, in the same way, there was nothing exceptional about it. It’s not the kind of book that would stand out in my mind as a “must-read.” For that reason, I only gave it 2.5 stars. The dazzling Gilded Age felt more dull to me, and the cunning seductress not altogether that dangerous… It turned out to not be my thing, but I can definitely see how it would appeal to other readers. It had some good humor, a solid plot, and the action kept rolling! For $3.00 at a book fair, it was absolutely some good Sunday afternoon entertainment!
May herself tells the readers her adventurous tale as she debunks the intrigue surrounding her life and ultimately her trial. We follow May from her hometown in Michigan to one of the most infamous bordellos in Chicago to San Francisco, Shanghai, Tokyo, London, and even South America, leaving a trail of broken hearts behind her. As she seeks love and – of course – wealth and status across the world, she must dodge a ruthless Pinkerton Agency detective who is determined to expose her as the con artist and seductress she is.
This is, for sure, a fascinating story! However, it fell a bit flat to me. I felt as though the story was predictable as May bounced from city to city, fell in love, and left. Repeat. I found myself skimming the pages because nothing new was introduced. It was fast-paced, and yet, with all the action, I felt a little lost both geographically and with the introduction of many new characters. While I typically love courtroom scenes, May’s trial was dry, and it wrapped up abruptly. Maybe I missed it early on, but I wasn’t tracking why Detective Doherty was so obsessed with her either.
There was also an underlying lesbian arc that was muddled. I wonder if Biaggio was attempting to be coy and subtle and to leave her readers wondering what May’s true nature was. If so, it definitely worked… The way she dropped certain interactions in with no lead up, explanation, or fall out made me feel like I wasn’t sure if I was misunderstanding the whole thing or not. I would have preferred this to be more strongly developed or at least more clear.
Let me be frank: there was nothing wrong with this book! But, in the same way, there was nothing exceptional about it. It’s not the kind of book that would stand out in my mind as a “must-read.” For that reason, I only gave it 2.5 stars. The dazzling Gilded Age felt more dull to me, and the cunning seductress not altogether that dangerous… It turned out to not be my thing, but I can definitely see how it would appeal to other readers. It had some good humor, a solid plot, and the action kept rolling! For $3.00 at a book fair, it was absolutely some good Sunday afternoon entertainment!
January 8, 2013
When I think of the most dangerous woman in America, the last person I think about is a wannabe socialite from Menominee, Michigan. But that is exactly what the Pinkerton Detective Agency dubbed our protagonist May Dugas.
This novel is deliciously entertaining. I really loved the cat and mouse game between May and Reed Doherty, the Pinkerton detective. Just when I had forgotten about him, he would pop up to foil May’s plan once again. I also loved reading May’s adventures. She was quite the world traveler. I loved her moxie and her opportunistic ways. She never gave up and did what she had to in order to have a better life. She was selfless in the way that these desires extended to her family as well. She wanted a better life for them. I think that is what I enjoyed the most about this novel. May wasn’t this cunning dangerous woman, she was resourceful.
Parlor Games has a wonderful cast of supporting characters. I especially loved the spunky Daisy and May’s husband, the respected Dutch Baron Rudolph de Vries. I love the stability the Baron offered May and Daisy was simply fantastic. Daisy is the one character that made me wish Parlor Games wasn’t written in first person. I would have loved to get inside Daisy’s head for a bit. Maybe Ms. Biaggio will take the foundation of Daisy and write another novel based on her. Yes, I would like that very much.
Ms. Biaggio is a gifted writer however there were times when the transition from scene to scene wasn’t smooth. Also, the thing that wasn’t clear to me was May’s friendship with Frank. Their first go-around was recounted thoroughly however their second attempt at a friendship was told through court testimony only. I felt a little cheated. I wanted to know May’s point of view and that lack of knowledge made it very difficult for me to side with her. The author added much vivid detail yet at times, glazed over the minor things that would have really pulled the story together, mainly what exactly happened with May and Frank.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel up until the end. I had rooted for May throughout Parlor Games but in the end, I was left shaking my head in wonder if she really was cunning and deceitful. Maybe that is the point. Once May stopped talking and weaving a web of lies, all that is left is fact and truth. And the truth is maybe the Pinkerton Detective Agency is right.
This novel is deliciously entertaining. I really loved the cat and mouse game between May and Reed Doherty, the Pinkerton detective. Just when I had forgotten about him, he would pop up to foil May’s plan once again. I also loved reading May’s adventures. She was quite the world traveler. I loved her moxie and her opportunistic ways. She never gave up and did what she had to in order to have a better life. She was selfless in the way that these desires extended to her family as well. She wanted a better life for them. I think that is what I enjoyed the most about this novel. May wasn’t this cunning dangerous woman, she was resourceful.
Parlor Games has a wonderful cast of supporting characters. I especially loved the spunky Daisy and May’s husband, the respected Dutch Baron Rudolph de Vries. I love the stability the Baron offered May and Daisy was simply fantastic. Daisy is the one character that made me wish Parlor Games wasn’t written in first person. I would have loved to get inside Daisy’s head for a bit. Maybe Ms. Biaggio will take the foundation of Daisy and write another novel based on her. Yes, I would like that very much.
Ms. Biaggio is a gifted writer however there were times when the transition from scene to scene wasn’t smooth. Also, the thing that wasn’t clear to me was May’s friendship with Frank. Their first go-around was recounted thoroughly however their second attempt at a friendship was told through court testimony only. I felt a little cheated. I wanted to know May’s point of view and that lack of knowledge made it very difficult for me to side with her. The author added much vivid detail yet at times, glazed over the minor things that would have really pulled the story together, mainly what exactly happened with May and Frank.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel up until the end. I had rooted for May throughout Parlor Games but in the end, I was left shaking my head in wonder if she really was cunning and deceitful. Maybe that is the point. Once May stopped talking and weaving a web of lies, all that is left is fact and truth. And the truth is maybe the Pinkerton Detective Agency is right.
November 20, 2017
Parlor Games is a fictionalized account of Mary Dugas, a female con artist from a small Michigan town. The story is told in first person by "The Most Dangerous Woman in the World" as she tells her version of the events leading up to her conviction. I loved the way Mary was able to take charge of her life at a time when women had very little power. What is not to like about Parlor Games? Love, intrigue, betrayal, extortion, blackmail and adventure! Fun read.
August 19, 2013
Read more of my reviews on my blog: http://fastpageturner.wordpress.com
Based on a true story, “Parlor Games” stole me heart from the very first page. The first person perspective provided an intimate view of the heroine at the center of “Parlor Games.” Whether calling herself May, Pauline, the Baroness, or any other name, May’s conniving character was completely engaging! The writing evoked an elegant quality which served to lure me into believing May was a refined woman of the early 1900′s rather than a calculating social climber seeking out her next victim. As with any book told in multiple time frames, I tend to prefer one story over the other. Here, I was more interested in May’s recount of her life’s struggles than in the trial where she was accused of defrauding a future friend, but both were interesting.
I wouldn’t normally have liked our heroine since her cunning nature is a bit unforgiving. But the author created a character who had just enough innocence to redeem her. May flits from one city to the next, with a “fly by the seat of your pants” attitude that inevitably lands her into compromising situations. Although her goal is to live off a rich man, ultimately she is taken advantage of almost as much as she takes advantage of others. The excitement of May’s life is enhanced with the constantly changing setting. Neither the reader, nor May, knows where she will end up next. Her travels through Chicago, New York, London, Mexico, and Hong Kong, help to portray the extravagant and ever-changing life May leads. What I liked most about the novel was that the story never slowed down. The quick plot changed every few pages, which made this a face paced story that was impossible not to love.
I enjoyed everything about this book and wish there were more like it! The novel would appeal most to women, but anyone would likely appreciate the strong writing and of course, the enchanting May.
Based on a true story, “Parlor Games” stole me heart from the very first page. The first person perspective provided an intimate view of the heroine at the center of “Parlor Games.” Whether calling herself May, Pauline, the Baroness, or any other name, May’s conniving character was completely engaging! The writing evoked an elegant quality which served to lure me into believing May was a refined woman of the early 1900′s rather than a calculating social climber seeking out her next victim. As with any book told in multiple time frames, I tend to prefer one story over the other. Here, I was more interested in May’s recount of her life’s struggles than in the trial where she was accused of defrauding a future friend, but both were interesting.
I wouldn’t normally have liked our heroine since her cunning nature is a bit unforgiving. But the author created a character who had just enough innocence to redeem her. May flits from one city to the next, with a “fly by the seat of your pants” attitude that inevitably lands her into compromising situations. Although her goal is to live off a rich man, ultimately she is taken advantage of almost as much as she takes advantage of others. The excitement of May’s life is enhanced with the constantly changing setting. Neither the reader, nor May, knows where she will end up next. Her travels through Chicago, New York, London, Mexico, and Hong Kong, help to portray the extravagant and ever-changing life May leads. What I liked most about the novel was that the story never slowed down. The quick plot changed every few pages, which made this a face paced story that was impossible not to love.
I enjoyed everything about this book and wish there were more like it! The novel would appeal most to women, but anyone would likely appreciate the strong writing and of course, the enchanting May.
August 12, 2014
Parlour Games is the gently-written story of a woman whose dedication to achieving what she wanted saw her either dance around or plough straight through any obstacle. The lilting language helped capture the era and Mary’s geographical and emotional travels were beautifully illustrated, enjoyable and compelling.
I was thoroughly immersed in Mary’s story as she travelled through the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. She created a path that promised either serious trouble or significant rewards and, as a result, accumulated successes, failures, joy and heartbreak.
The story showed how a person with restricted options, resolutely against earning money from prostitution, pursued every one of her choices with great dedication. All the scenes were handled without sensationalism and I particularly liked that Mary did not go to great lengths to justify or apologise for her actions. In a world where men usually inherited money, land and businesses and were afforded an education, a woman's options were very different.
So many books about women who do not toe society’s line, agonise in explaining some honourable, family-based, motive or a secret torment. This completely ignores the fact that women are not all driven by socially accepted values. Mary wanted a glittering life and she did all she could to get it given the social constraints of her time. I was impressed that Mary achieved so much and sincerely hope that most of the tales were from May Dugas actual life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was carried along with Mary/May's highs and lows from the comfort of 21st century Europe … and what a comfort that is! A great read.
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