What do you think?
Rate this book
Dixie Flynn Mystery #2
Devil With A Gun
Dixie Flynn’s boss wants her to write a fluff story for Father’s Day.
Dixie doesn’t do fluff.
Investigating the origins of a cryptic classified ad, crime-beat journalist Dixie Flynn finds herself entering the seedy realm of a brutal Russian mobster. Before she knows it, Dixie’s simple missing-father story has turned into a violent battle of wills as she tries to help a woman escape a life and death struggle with the mob. For Dixie, the pen is mightier than the sword, but it’s going to take some handy work with a pistol if she wants this story to have a happy ending.
The riveting sequel to ANGEL WITH A BULLET, “a fast-paced combination of violence and sex” (Kirkus Reviews), DEVIL WITH A GUN leads Dixie Flynn to an incendiary confrontation with the most ruthless killers in San Francisco.
Praise:
"Action, violence, wall-to-wall sleaze―it's all in a day's work in ballsy Dixie's second outing...hard to put down."―Kirkus Reviews
"Chilling."―Publishers Weekly
"Dixie Flynn may be the most kick-ass heroine ever created. Kudos to M.C. Grant for giving us the ultimate 'girl power' thriller."―Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Girl
"This new tale offers a fun, ferocious, take-no-prisoners reporter who will not be stopped. A great suspense/thriller!"―Suspense Magazine
Dixie doesn’t do fluff.
Investigating the origins of a cryptic classified ad, crime-beat journalist Dixie Flynn finds herself entering the seedy realm of a brutal Russian mobster. Before she knows it, Dixie’s simple missing-father story has turned into a violent battle of wills as she tries to help a woman escape a life and death struggle with the mob. For Dixie, the pen is mightier than the sword, but it’s going to take some handy work with a pistol if she wants this story to have a happy ending.
The riveting sequel to ANGEL WITH A BULLET, “a fast-paced combination of violence and sex” (Kirkus Reviews), DEVIL WITH A GUN leads Dixie Flynn to an incendiary confrontation with the most ruthless killers in San Francisco.
Praise:
"Action, violence, wall-to-wall sleaze―it's all in a day's work in ballsy Dixie's second outing...hard to put down."―Kirkus Reviews
"Chilling."―Publishers Weekly
"Dixie Flynn may be the most kick-ass heroine ever created. Kudos to M.C. Grant for giving us the ultimate 'girl power' thriller."―Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of The Silent Girl
"This new tale offers a fun, ferocious, take-no-prisoners reporter who will not be stopped. A great suspense/thriller!"―Suspense Magazine
314 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2013
591 people are currently reading
338 people want to read
About the author
M.C. Grant
5 books14 followersPen name for author Grant McKenzie.
Grant McKenzie is the internationally-published author of seven edge-of-your-seat thrillers, plus a mystery trilogy set in San Francisco.
Under the pen name, M.C. Grant, he writes the Dixie Flynn series published by Midnight Ink that began with Angel With A Bullet, continued with Devil With A Gun, and became a Shamus Award finalist with Beauty With A Bomb
As a journalist, Grant has worked in virtually every area of the newspaper business from the late-night "Dead Body Beat" at a feisty daily tabloid to senior copy/design editor at two of Canada's largest broadsheets, plus Editor-in-Chief of Monday magazine. He resides in Victoria, B.C., where he works with people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Grant McKenzie is the internationally-published author of seven edge-of-your-seat thrillers, plus a mystery trilogy set in San Francisco.
Under the pen name, M.C. Grant, he writes the Dixie Flynn series published by Midnight Ink that began with Angel With A Bullet, continued with Devil With A Gun, and became a Shamus Award finalist with Beauty With A Bomb
As a journalist, Grant has worked in virtually every area of the newspaper business from the late-night "Dead Body Beat" at a feisty daily tabloid to senior copy/design editor at two of Canada's largest broadsheets, plus Editor-in-Chief of Monday magazine. He resides in Victoria, B.C., where he works with people experiencing homelessness and poverty.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
July 29, 2013
Feisty, humorous heroine who can cope with any situation. In the best VI Warshawski and Kinsey Millhone tradition, but she is a reporter rather than a PI. Thriller plot, serviceable enough, but the real interest to me lies in the characters. A San Francisco of eccentrics, misfits, yet big-hearted friends who find each other and create a family. Reminds me of Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City.
August 23, 2018
Great Story
Great momentum, easy to read. Dixie is reckless, caring, and jumps into action. Great supporting cast. Frightening plot with danger and action throughout. Can't wait to read the next one!
Great momentum, easy to read. Dixie is reckless, caring, and jumps into action. Great supporting cast. Frightening plot with danger and action throughout. Can't wait to read the next one!
May 26, 2013
What's not to love about Dixie Flynn? She is tough as nails, unafraid of anything (at least on the outside) and she is a newspaper reporter with a great assortment of friends, including a guy who owns a taxi company and a hitman. When Dixie takes on the Russian mafia, to try to help two sisters find out what happened to their long lost father, her wits, intelligence, courage and friends are all tested.
Dixie is the epitome of the tough heroine of female oriented mysteries. Very satisfying read!
Dixie is the epitome of the tough heroine of female oriented mysteries. Very satisfying read!
August 23, 2019
One of the things I like about Dixie is she can be quite feisty, but in this book she is bordering on reckless stupidity. In some ways I quite like the harder ‘kickass’ women she has become in this book, but I’m not sure it really suits her.
As for the actual story, I never felt comfortable with it. I know this is fiction, but it never felt realistic and the ending just didn’t work for me.
As for the actual story, I never felt comfortable with it. I know this is fiction, but it never felt realistic and the ending just didn’t work for me.
December 25, 2020
Devil With A Gun
What a great series with a great female character lead. I love Dixie and her spine of steel. She’s smart and quick on her feet. She’s funny and sarcastic. The writer has done a terrific job with this series. And the narrator does a fantastic job bringing it to life!
What a great series with a great female character lead. I love Dixie and her spine of steel. She’s smart and quick on her feet. She’s funny and sarcastic. The writer has done a terrific job with this series. And the narrator does a fantastic job bringing it to life!
December 17, 2020
Great book
Great book it will keep you thinking about it all the time and it will keep you posted by the best possible way it will end
Great book it will keep you thinking about it all the time and it will keep you posted by the best possible way it will end
August 27, 2014
San Francisco Journalist Dixie Flynn was assigned an easy Father's Day piece. When Dixie sees an ad from a woman hoping to find her missing father, Dixie goes into hot pursuit, leading into a lot of danger with the Russian mob.
Enjoyable read with tenacious Dixie and her quirky friend who share her apartment building. Turns out the story Dixie is after is no fluff piece, and she'll hit danger head on to write it. Dixie has a quirky sense of humor, as does her friends.
Enjoyable read with tenacious Dixie and her quirky friend who share her apartment building. Turns out the story Dixie is after is no fluff piece, and she'll hit danger head on to write it. Dixie has a quirky sense of humor, as does her friends.
August 9, 2016
Second book in the Dixie Flynn series and it's even better than the first.
This time, the intrepid muckraker has to write a father day's piece and Dixie always find an edge to her stories. This time it involves the Russian mafia and a missing dad. If you like your mysteries laced with humour and violence, get this trilogy of novels. I sure wish Grant would make it a series.
This time, the intrepid muckraker has to write a father day's piece and Dixie always find an edge to her stories. This time it involves the Russian mafia and a missing dad. If you like your mysteries laced with humour and violence, get this trilogy of novels. I sure wish Grant would make it a series.
November 9, 2020
This book is a true dichotomy. On one hand, it's well written, has good pacing, and really held my interest from the start. On the other hand, it's so, SO stupid.
Imagine if a thriller starred Liz Lemon and was written by Ryan Reynolds. Oh my god, the fucking quips in this book! Every conversation is just back and forth zingers, delivered from the worlds most interesting woman apparently.
Beautiful in a, "I don't even care to do my hair, maybe she's born with it" way, our main protagonist is the prom queen, head cheerleader, Captain America and Barbara Walters all rolled into one. She is endlessly cool and sassy. She is unshakeable, even in the face of staggering danger. She's always got the PERFECT retort; the one that brings the house down in uproarious laughter. She is a combat specialist; crack shot, expert marksman, hand to hand master, and knife wielding assassin. And oh my god does everyone just LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE her; her neighbors love her, her landlord loves her, her fellow tenants love her, the guy who runs the deli loves her, a local bookie loves her, the chief police detective loves her, her boss loves her, her coworker loves her, the hired muscle of the man she's trying to bring down loves her, some random dude she never met loves her, some old reporter she meets one time loves her, the head dispatcher at the taxi company loves her, a former contract killer that she did a story on once loves her......am I missing anyone? And when I say "loves her," I mean it in a "commits several felonies/things that would get you fired/puts up with all manner of inconvenience/COMMITS LITERAL MURDER" way. The neighbors can't stay mad at her as she gets into a gun fight that sends a bullet into their apartment. Half of these people risk their lives and/or livelihoods to get her information. The police detective risks his job, reputation and life to help her; allowing her into crime scenes, covering up her MURDERS, buying her a gun. The former contract killer commits SEVERAL murders to keep her safe. In return, these people get ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOTHING, except the privilege of continuing to be her friend, in their completely one way relationship. She has an ARMY of supporters; following her every move, like her own private battalion of Batmans, making sure that NO harm comes to her, despite her putting herself in non stop danger.
In one scene, a car rolls up to her in broad day light, on the street in front of her job (a job she is NEVER at, btw. And when she IS there, she is trading one liners with her boss, because she's his star employee...anyway) The car rolls down the window, and a hired goon gives old Dixie the "bang your dead" hand gesture, to intimidate her. Suddenly, a shot rings out and the goons finger is blown off of his hand. (Dixie later winds up stabbing this goon to death, after winning a fist fight with this man that is literally three times her size.) Apparently, one of her guardian angels was camping out on the rooftops with a sniper rifle, just waiting for someone to make the mistake of even being MEAN to our queen of queens.
WRITING wise; although the book IS well written, there are numerous typos, and name mixups that throw the whole story out of whack. (Writing "Bailey" when she was talking to "Roxanne," that sort of thing,) and there was this INCREDIBLY cringey thing the author kept including, called "Dixie's Tips," which were these pointlessly stupid, fourth wall asides that were meant to be funny, but had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the story, and were another example of the authors belief that she was the funniest girl at the ball. An example, from this, a murder mystery thriller:
"Dixie's Tips #14, If the furniture makes you nervous, chances are you can't afford the menu. To avoid embarrassment, head to the washroom and climb out the window. To avoid snags, first tuck your skirt into your underwear. If spotted in the alley, pretend you're a superhero crime fighter with lousy fashion sense."
HILARIOUS, RIGHT?! Aren't you just in stitches right now?! Oh man....that Dixie.....no wonder she's adored; I mean....that's so quirky and funny!
*Groan*
I gave up hope for this book a little over halfway through, and it played out exactly how you would think it would; with Dixie facing zero repercussions for her murderous, ill advised actions. In fact, "covered in someone else's blood," she goes home, goes to her neighbors apartment, and because she's the Dos Equus woman of this universe, gets a rare Cuban cigar to smoke and some brandy to drink, alone, just because of how great she is, as she has a conversation with her murdering, Mob bodyguard.
I started the book with high hopes and it just crashed and burned throughout.
Imagine if a thriller starred Liz Lemon and was written by Ryan Reynolds. Oh my god, the fucking quips in this book! Every conversation is just back and forth zingers, delivered from the worlds most interesting woman apparently.
Beautiful in a, "I don't even care to do my hair, maybe she's born with it" way, our main protagonist is the prom queen, head cheerleader, Captain America and Barbara Walters all rolled into one. She is endlessly cool and sassy. She is unshakeable, even in the face of staggering danger. She's always got the PERFECT retort; the one that brings the house down in uproarious laughter. She is a combat specialist; crack shot, expert marksman, hand to hand master, and knife wielding assassin. And oh my god does everyone just LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE her; her neighbors love her, her landlord loves her, her fellow tenants love her, the guy who runs the deli loves her, a local bookie loves her, the chief police detective loves her, her boss loves her, her coworker loves her, the hired muscle of the man she's trying to bring down loves her, some random dude she never met loves her, some old reporter she meets one time loves her, the head dispatcher at the taxi company loves her, a former contract killer that she did a story on once loves her......am I missing anyone? And when I say "loves her," I mean it in a "commits several felonies/things that would get you fired/puts up with all manner of inconvenience/COMMITS LITERAL MURDER" way. The neighbors can't stay mad at her as she gets into a gun fight that sends a bullet into their apartment. Half of these people risk their lives and/or livelihoods to get her information. The police detective risks his job, reputation and life to help her; allowing her into crime scenes, covering up her MURDERS, buying her a gun. The former contract killer commits SEVERAL murders to keep her safe. In return, these people get ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOTHING, except the privilege of continuing to be her friend, in their completely one way relationship. She has an ARMY of supporters; following her every move, like her own private battalion of Batmans, making sure that NO harm comes to her, despite her putting herself in non stop danger.
In one scene, a car rolls up to her in broad day light, on the street in front of her job (a job she is NEVER at, btw. And when she IS there, she is trading one liners with her boss, because she's his star employee...anyway) The car rolls down the window, and a hired goon gives old Dixie the "bang your dead" hand gesture, to intimidate her. Suddenly, a shot rings out and the goons finger is blown off of his hand. (Dixie later winds up stabbing this goon to death, after winning a fist fight with this man that is literally three times her size.) Apparently, one of her guardian angels was camping out on the rooftops with a sniper rifle, just waiting for someone to make the mistake of even being MEAN to our queen of queens.
WRITING wise; although the book IS well written, there are numerous typos, and name mixups that throw the whole story out of whack. (Writing "Bailey" when she was talking to "Roxanne," that sort of thing,) and there was this INCREDIBLY cringey thing the author kept including, called "Dixie's Tips," which were these pointlessly stupid, fourth wall asides that were meant to be funny, but had ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the story, and were another example of the authors belief that she was the funniest girl at the ball. An example, from this, a murder mystery thriller:
"Dixie's Tips #14, If the furniture makes you nervous, chances are you can't afford the menu. To avoid embarrassment, head to the washroom and climb out the window. To avoid snags, first tuck your skirt into your underwear. If spotted in the alley, pretend you're a superhero crime fighter with lousy fashion sense."
HILARIOUS, RIGHT?! Aren't you just in stitches right now?! Oh man....that Dixie.....no wonder she's adored; I mean....that's so quirky and funny!
*Groan*
I gave up hope for this book a little over halfway through, and it played out exactly how you would think it would; with Dixie facing zero repercussions for her murderous, ill advised actions. In fact, "covered in someone else's blood," she goes home, goes to her neighbors apartment, and because she's the Dos Equus woman of this universe, gets a rare Cuban cigar to smoke and some brandy to drink, alone, just because of how great she is, as she has a conversation with her murdering, Mob bodyguard.
I started the book with high hopes and it just crashed and burned throughout.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2019
Pinch
Another great storyline, a follow on from Angel with a gun. I've become familiar with all the names. Dixie Flynn would give the Charlie's Angels a run for the money. A brilliant mystery. I did not like the swearing
Another brilliant mystery and follow on from Angel with a gun. I'm now so familiar with all the names of main character, I like how they have normal lives. Dixie has reliable friends and is always protected. I do not like the swearing, seems much more in this book. I'm still looking forward to reading the next book.
Another great storyline, a follow on from Angel with a gun. I've become familiar with all the names. Dixie Flynn would give the Charlie's Angels a run for the money. A brilliant mystery. I did not like the swearing
Another brilliant mystery and follow on from Angel with a gun. I'm now so familiar with all the names of main character, I like how they have normal lives. Dixie has reliable friends and is always protected. I do not like the swearing, seems much more in this book. I'm still looking forward to reading the next book.
September 18, 2017
If you like strong and ballsy females that like to get to the bottom of things, wile being snarky and quick with her wit, this story is for you.
Its fast and slow, we learn so much about characters that are rich with depth and feelings that are only touched on, some lovable and others hard and cold. not everything done is right but not everything is wrong. lots of action a little romance and a lot of fun.
Worth a read if you are looking for a new cozy mystery series.
Its fast and slow, we learn so much about characters that are rich with depth and feelings that are only touched on, some lovable and others hard and cold. not everything done is right but not everything is wrong. lots of action a little romance and a lot of fun.
Worth a read if you are looking for a new cozy mystery series.
April 13, 2024
Fun and Exciting Read
Dixie is a reporter who gets way too far into the danger zone. A bit farther than believable, but it’s fiction, after all. A fun read with great, larger than life characters. Can’t wait to read number three.
I was a bit disturbed by some bad editing: “manifesto” when “manifest” was meant. Used “Joe” when Pinch is meant. Obvious errors that jerked me out of the story.
Dixie is a reporter who gets way too far into the danger zone. A bit farther than believable, but it’s fiction, after all. A fun read with great, larger than life characters. Can’t wait to read number three.
I was a bit disturbed by some bad editing: “manifesto” when “manifest” was meant. Used “Joe” when Pinch is meant. Obvious errors that jerked me out of the story.
Read
April 9, 2025Dixie Flynn, great name she should be in a TV series with a name like that. The story is good enough as well with some really colourful characters to help her in her quest to find a missing father in time for father's day. She takes on the local crime boss and fights for the underdog (dirtily) but is thwarted at the end by her own associate, a leopard can't change it's shorts apparently.
July 13, 2018
Drop With A Gun (2)
This is a really good action adventure. Dixie is a quick witted reporter with a quick retort that usually gets her in trouble. The story is no different in that it's all action and really moves right along.
This is a really good action adventure. Dixie is a quick witted reporter with a quick retort that usually gets her in trouble. The story is no different in that it's all action and really moves right along.
July 14, 2018
Gutsy, likable characters
No cheesy humor here: Dixie is a tough heroine with a sharp wit. The author has managed an engaging story that keeps moving and enough surprises to keep the pages flying.
No cheesy humor here: Dixie is a tough heroine with a sharp wit. The author has managed an engaging story that keeps moving and enough surprises to keep the pages flying.
September 11, 2017
Fun and fast read. Great characters.
September 21, 2017
Fantastic!
Really loved this story. Dixie and her cast of misfits once again become tangled up in one of her news stories.
Really loved this story. Dixie and her cast of misfits once again become tangled up in one of her news stories.
July 12, 2018
Not realistic whatsoever. Very bad storyline writing. Just glad I managed to try this for free
July 16, 2018
Great read
I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of details and it kept you wanting to read more! The main character is a true bad ass!!
I really enjoyed this book. There were a lot of details and it kept you wanting to read more! The main character is a true bad ass!!
July 26, 2018
Good
this book is one that shows how evil the Russian moffa is and how evil people enjoy murdering incent people.
this book is one that shows how evil the Russian moffa is and how evil people enjoy murdering incent people.
August 2, 2018
Fast paced, good story with lots of action.
August 11, 2018
Fun, feisty, and completely tongue in cheek. I like this character.
August 17, 2018
Good mystery
This was a fast moving tale of murder and mayhem. It had its fair share of intrigue and gore. Good read.
This was a fast moving tale of murder and mayhem. It had its fair share of intrigue and gore. Good read.
September 3, 2018
I loved it. It was great fun without being soppy. The heroine is wonderful and I never got bored. I will read more Dixie adventures
September 5, 2018
Interesting story line
I enjoyed the twists, turns, and descriptive writing of each situation. Helped to bring it to life. Dixie is a bad ads.
I enjoyed the twists, turns, and descriptive writing of each situation. Helped to bring it to life. Dixie is a bad ads.
October 12, 2018
Really enjoyed this story!
February 12, 2019
Grant's voice is pitch perfect -- just the right amount of snark and journalistic authority, woven into a great story.
October 26, 2019
Dixie Flynn what a character, full of spunk and heart of gold. I was looking for a fun read and ND Grant delivered.
January 10, 2014
Totally unrealistic suspense novel about a young journalist (Dixie) in SF who investigates various crimes. In this novel, she is trying to find a missing father who had once worked for a major crime boss, and is also sought by him. While she is unbelievably equipped to fend off major gangsters (and frequently rescued by incongruous heroes in completely unrealistic scenarios), it's a fun novel with a cheeky and somewhat crude sense of humor. Dixie's partners in crime solving include a midget stamp collector, a bookie and a retired killer and, of course, a police detective.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews