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Chicago May
Sixteen-year-old peasant girl, May Sharpe, steals from her abusive father, and flees Ireland, to chase her dream of a new life in America. Arriving penniless and friendless in 1919's America, May has to choose between honest poverty, or crime. Beautiful May is charmed by successful con-man, 'Society' Eddie. With her new lover's guidance, teenage May soon becomes the city's 'Queen of Crooks'. But Joe, a stubborn local cop, has fallen for the spirited May. He is determined to save her from herself, and having to spend her life in prison. In the midst of her glitzy life, he confronts May to make a decision; a decision which would threaten, not only her new-found fame and fortune, but her young life...
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2010
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Harry Duffin
7 books100 followersHARRY DUFFIN is an award-winning British writer, who has been Head of Development at UK independent, Cloud 9, since its foundation in 1994. Since that time he has been lead writer/script executive responsible for seven major television series, including “Swiss Family Robinson” starring Richard Thomas, and “Twist in the Tale” featuring William Shatner.
He is co-creator of the UK Channel Five teen series “The Tribe”. In its fifth series, numbering over 260 episodes, “The Tribe” has been sold world-wide.
Before joining Cloud 9, Harry worked extensively in British theatre and UK television for both the BBC and ITV, on flagship series like EASTENDERS and CORONATION STREET. While working on `The Street”, he won the Writers´Guild Award for Best TV serial.
In 2010 Harry published his first novel, CHICAGO MAY, and has since published JAIL TALES, amusing memoirs of his wife's 20 year career as a prison governor, and BIRTH OF THE MALL RATS; the first in a series of novels based on the cult teen TV series, THE TRIBE.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 18, 2022
First of all I want to thank the author for sending me his book in exchange for an honest review. I really enjoyed it! Thank you so much.
Chicago May is a fun book to read. The story is about May Sharpe who arrives in America in the 1920's. She fled from her home in Ireland to escape her abusive father. She has her dog Mick with her, her loyal companion.
When she arrives Henry helps her move past the cops so that they don't find out she is a criminal. Then she bumps into Eddie, who steals her money. A cop Joe saves her from Eddie. She lies to Joe and he puts her on a train. But after Joe is gone, she jumps off the train. Goes back to Eddie to get her purse back and (instead) he employs her.
He and Alice, who has worked with him for years, help her to learn the job. They scam rich people out of their money, and they all make a lot of it.
The story is in one part rather quickly paced. But a part of me experienced it as slow as well. I couldn't really connect fully with the characters. In the end I enjoyed Eddie's character the most. He is uncompromising and straight to the point. But his story line takes a brutal turn. Which made me hate him. A part of me felt like it almost seemed out of place for him. But well he did what he did. And it is unforgiveable.
May and Joe's story line was the least worked out for me. With May and Eddie I felt their connection and I rooted for them. May and Joe, they didn't really have a lot of chemistry.
But I did like Joe a lot for giving May a new dog. He is kind and sweet. But I just couldn't picture them as lovers at all.
The book is fun and nice and enjoyably written. But I did miss a bit of depth and excitement in the book. So 3 stars overall from me!
Chicago May is a fun book to read. The story is about May Sharpe who arrives in America in the 1920's. She fled from her home in Ireland to escape her abusive father. She has her dog Mick with her, her loyal companion.
When she arrives Henry helps her move past the cops so that they don't find out she is a criminal. Then she bumps into Eddie, who steals her money. A cop Joe saves her from Eddie. She lies to Joe and he puts her on a train. But after Joe is gone, she jumps off the train. Goes back to Eddie to get her purse back and (instead) he employs her.
He and Alice, who has worked with him for years, help her to learn the job. They scam rich people out of their money, and they all make a lot of it.
The story is in one part rather quickly paced. But a part of me experienced it as slow as well. I couldn't really connect fully with the characters. In the end I enjoyed Eddie's character the most. He is uncompromising and straight to the point. But his story line takes a brutal turn. Which made me hate him. A part of me felt like it almost seemed out of place for him. But well he did what he did. And it is unforgiveable.
May and Joe's story line was the least worked out for me. With May and Eddie I felt their connection and I rooted for them. May and Joe, they didn't really have a lot of chemistry.
But I did like Joe a lot for giving May a new dog. He is kind and sweet. But I just couldn't picture them as lovers at all.
The book is fun and nice and enjoyably written. But I did miss a bit of depth and excitement in the book. So 3 stars overall from me!
October 19, 2021
I thought this was a very interesting book , the storyline is one that I haven't read before which is what drew me too it in the first place .
We follow the journey of a 16year old Irish girl called May Sharpe, she has done something so brave and courageous that I don't think a lot of people would do , she managed to escape and flee from her abusive father . She runs away to America , with not a penny to her name, does she turn to a life of crime where everyday you live in fear of being caught or does she live a life of a honest poverty-stricken young girl?
The book is fast paced throughout, you really feel for May and for Joe (the local cop) , the way the author builds up the characters during the book makes you feel what they are feeling. You will them on , for May I willed her on to be the person she deserved and to turn away from crime. I would recommend this book
We follow the journey of a 16year old Irish girl called May Sharpe, she has done something so brave and courageous that I don't think a lot of people would do , she managed to escape and flee from her abusive father . She runs away to America , with not a penny to her name, does she turn to a life of crime where everyday you live in fear of being caught or does she live a life of a honest poverty-stricken young girl?
The book is fast paced throughout, you really feel for May and for Joe (the local cop) , the way the author builds up the characters during the book makes you feel what they are feeling. You will them on , for May I willed her on to be the person she deserved and to turn away from crime. I would recommend this book
October 20, 2021
This book is incredible. May just sixteen initially betrays her father but who wouldn’t. He wasn’t a very nice man anyway. But being just sixteen and making the bold decision to escape to get away from everything she knows in Ireland was an incredible move.
For me this was a brilliant new age to read entering New York in 1919 it gave me that feel of bugsy malone style. But being sixteen you have some huge life choices to make. Will May be good or bad or a combination of both.
The book has a bit of a love story built in as you dive into the story of May’s new life. The plot becomes so exciting you turn each page quickly and you don’t want to pause at all. You soon think what further choices will May make Eddie or Joe. The characters in this although you want to despise a few you can’t help but love them.
May’s journey becomes high speed compared to the life she left behind. She’s left with consequences that could have a damaging effect. However, will she get saved from the bad choices she continues to make. These are the questions that had me so sucked into this book.
I adored the ending. For me I haven’t had an ending leave me feeling this way for such a long time and the build up to it was brilliant.
For me this was a brilliant new age to read entering New York in 1919 it gave me that feel of bugsy malone style. But being sixteen you have some huge life choices to make. Will May be good or bad or a combination of both.
The book has a bit of a love story built in as you dive into the story of May’s new life. The plot becomes so exciting you turn each page quickly and you don’t want to pause at all. You soon think what further choices will May make Eddie or Joe. The characters in this although you want to despise a few you can’t help but love them.
May’s journey becomes high speed compared to the life she left behind. She’s left with consequences that could have a damaging effect. However, will she get saved from the bad choices she continues to make. These are the questions that had me so sucked into this book.
I adored the ending. For me I haven’t had an ending leave me feeling this way for such a long time and the build up to it was brilliant.
October 14, 2025
Could not put it down - fast paced and gripping tale of a young woman trying to make a life in America. Would make a fantastic film
December 2, 2021
3.5 stars
Chicago May was the nickname of Mary Anne Duignan, an Irish-born criminal who became notorious in several countries. I love reading about real-life female criminals and murderers, especially in the ‘roaring 20s’ so was intrigued to read a work of fiction based on her life.
Duffin has done a good job with the story. It’s fast-paced and interesting, with a love triangle that adds an extra dimension. It asks us to consider the path we might choose if we were faced with honest poverty, or ill-gotten wealth and how we deal with the consequences of our actions.
While May has fled from her home and enters a life of crime, her courage and spirit really shine through. It’s not easy to leave an abusive relationship and there are many character traits that are admirable. However, May is a bit too naïve for my liking; I would have liked a bit more grit – after all criminals aren’t really very nice! She may have been ‘unduly influenced’, but she was no innocent victim and I’d have expected her to be a bit more feisty.
That said, Chicago May is a well-written, plot-driven story that leaves you wanting to know more!
Chicago May was the nickname of Mary Anne Duignan, an Irish-born criminal who became notorious in several countries. I love reading about real-life female criminals and murderers, especially in the ‘roaring 20s’ so was intrigued to read a work of fiction based on her life.
Duffin has done a good job with the story. It’s fast-paced and interesting, with a love triangle that adds an extra dimension. It asks us to consider the path we might choose if we were faced with honest poverty, or ill-gotten wealth and how we deal with the consequences of our actions.
While May has fled from her home and enters a life of crime, her courage and spirit really shine through. It’s not easy to leave an abusive relationship and there are many character traits that are admirable. However, May is a bit too naïve for my liking; I would have liked a bit more grit – after all criminals aren’t really very nice! She may have been ‘unduly influenced’, but she was no innocent victim and I’d have expected her to be a bit more feisty.
That said, Chicago May is a well-written, plot-driven story that leaves you wanting to know more!
October 21, 2021
A good historical drama based very loosely on the true life story of Mary Anne Duignan an Irish born woman who became notorious for her criminal lifestyle and was dubbed ‘The Queen of Crooks’. Well written and moves at a reasonable pace I was engaged by the story and was keen to see how May’s life choices culminated.
Briefly, aged 16 May Sharpe has got passage on a ship to America, after escaping her brutal father in Ireland. On arriving in America, helped by a returning soldier, May meets the charming Eddie, a successful conman and end up heavily ensconced in his world and that of his girlfriend Alice. However, Joe, an honest cop, has his eye in her, in more way than one, and he is determined to rescue her from this life and arrest Eddie. But May is loving her new wealthy and extravagant lifestyle.
May is an engaging character with many facets, I was initially sorry for her and her sad and poor upbringing, but later you see a more scheming side to her nature which isn’t so pleasant. Joe seems blind to her faults. An easy and enjoyable read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Briefly, aged 16 May Sharpe has got passage on a ship to America, after escaping her brutal father in Ireland. On arriving in America, helped by a returning soldier, May meets the charming Eddie, a successful conman and end up heavily ensconced in his world and that of his girlfriend Alice. However, Joe, an honest cop, has his eye in her, in more way than one, and he is determined to rescue her from this life and arrest Eddie. But May is loving her new wealthy and extravagant lifestyle.
May is an engaging character with many facets, I was initially sorry for her and her sad and poor upbringing, but later you see a more scheming side to her nature which isn’t so pleasant. Joe seems blind to her faults. An easy and enjoyable read ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
October 21, 2021
Chicago May starts off with May in the courtroom. We don’t entirely know what she’s in for; but we’re sure that it’s because she needed to survive. That’s what this entire book is about —a young woman, with the odd stacked against her, who has done her best to escape her awful past, and has, for the most part been able to, not just because of her looks, but because of her sheer determination. She has some nerve because she knows that she has very little to lose.
I do think some things could have been done better; Joe made me really uncomfortable with his obsession with saving her throughout the book; the man could have really focused on his own life but she seemed to be his only hobby. He gave me very nice guy who feels entitled to the girl vibes.
It’s also important to note that this book is a take on the real life Chicago May. While this May only hints at the thrill of crime (it suits Duffin to have her be more kind and innocent) and is seduced by beautiful things, the real life May seems to have been utterly unrepentant in her desire to thrive.
I do think some things could have been done better; Joe made me really uncomfortable with his obsession with saving her throughout the book; the man could have really focused on his own life but she seemed to be his only hobby. He gave me very nice guy who feels entitled to the girl vibes.
It’s also important to note that this book is a take on the real life Chicago May. While this May only hints at the thrill of crime (it suits Duffin to have her be more kind and innocent) and is seduced by beautiful things, the real life May seems to have been utterly unrepentant in her desire to thrive.
January 26, 2014
Chicago May is the pacy, racy tale of young May Sharpe, running away from her abusive father in Ireland to a new life in America in 1919. The choice facing her on arrival is familiar: honest poverty, or crime. Young May is as sharp as a tack, and well-used to living on her wits, and she flourishes in the New York criminal world. But she's eventually faced by realities that make her rethink her choices. and her moral values. It's a real page-turner and we live every minute with May desperately hoping that things turn out against the odds in this dangerous twilight she's chosen to inhabit. It's apparently inspired by a true story, but Harry has honed his story-telling skills in screen writing for the illustrious - so I guess it's no surprise that this one is thoroughly satisfying!
May 20, 2012
"Chicago May" is a real page turner. A friend gave me the paperback and I started the first few pages and was immediately and completely hooked. Duffin takes you back to the "Great Gatsby" era of New York. Full of intrigue, tension, and a good deal of old-fashioned fun. I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews