This Dame for Hire

By: Sandra Scoppettone

Narrated by: Laura Hicks

Meet Faye Quick, a sassy secretary who keeps the home fires burning by reluctantly becoming a private investigator after her boss and agency owner, Woody Mason, joins the army. True to her name, Faye catches on quickly and is especially adept at solving crimes - notably when she stumbles (quite literally) over the body of a murdered woman. This accidental discovery not only forces Faye to keep the doors of the agency open during wartime, it keeps them swinging.

©2005 Sandra Scoppettone (P)2018 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Better than expected!

Wasn't sure what to think of this one, but as I like almost anything set in historic NYC decided to give it a chance. At first, Faye's snappy patter overwhelmed me, but after a while I grew used to that. Secondary characters are quite well done; this is where the audio narration makes for a possibly better experience with this series. Characters are quite differentiated, with the narrator doing male voices well.


I didn't guess the killer, but then again I rarely do - perhaps I don't want to? The victim's father (Faye's client) was a bit over-the-top. Another minor quibble had to do with Faye's hinting at her family background back in Newark, just throw-away references without any real resolution for this reader. Speaking of Newark, her friend from high school, a rich girl with family money allowing her to live in Manhattan as a psychic, didn't quite work for me in that I don't think Anne would've attended a public school with Faye. Otherwise, I liked the psychic angle. Without giving anything away, there's one suspect who's pretty much dropped leaving his situation rather … unsettled.


The romantic angle is handled well, helped by the fact that he's likeable, in a low-key way. Faye's secretary, Birdie, comes ff as a bit flighty (dippy), though holding her own later in confronting Faye about feeling taken for granted. Woody, the agency owner, serves as a character in his own right though offscreen fighting overseas. She has a couple of What Would Woody Do? moments dealing with the case, along with worrying about his fate. The Final Solution is referenced, which Faye dismisses as too fantasticly bizzare to possibly be true. This at a time when lynchings were commonplace.


Sorry there are only two books, but looking forward to visiting with Faye and the recurring characters again. Especially recommended for those with an interest in life at home during the war, particularly 1940s New York.

Love this story. The narrator was good as well.

Love Sandra Scoppettone books. In the 90's I read all the Lauren Laurano detective books. I still have them. I even named my cat Kippy. This book reminded me of that great storytelling.

I Love Faye Quick

I really love the narrator’s performance. She does great voices and accents.

I also enjoy the story being set in New York in the ‘40s.