Welcome to my website!
I'm Maureen Hughes, author of The Countess and the Mob and Sins of the South

About the Author
Maureen Hughes served as bodyguard for Countess Marajen Stevick Chinigo in the late 1980s. She is the author of An Angry Fire Still Burns and shares her time between properties in Illinois and Nevada.

About my latest books:

Sins of the South: Big Secrets in a Small Town

SINS OF THE SOUTH exposes the mafia connection in small communities. The death of a swanky nightclub owner in southern Illinois in 1956 is ruled a suicide by local law enforcement and some state investigators...Why? Why, at the inquest, was the medical examiner who performed the autopsy not permitted to testify? Why were only certain witnesses allowed to testify? When three bullets were fired...how can it be suicide?

The Countess and the Mob: The untold story of Marajen Stevick Chinigo and Mafia lord Johnny Rosselli

Hughes did not see the Countess again until a few years later at a local art museum. Intrigued by the impeccably dressed woman who strolled through the crowd like a queen, Hughes vowed to find out all she could about the mysterious Countess. As Hughes shares the fascinating story she uncovered after conducting three years of research and in-depth conversations with friends of the Countess, she unveils a time period where mobsters, presidents, celebrities, and countesses all mingled among dark, captivating secrets. Hughes reveals details about the famous figures the Countess hobnobbed with like Frank Sinatra, Joan Crawford, and Lucky Luciano, her marriage to Johnny Rosselli, and her eventual entanglements with the Mafia.

The Countess and the Mob paints a compelling portrait of the kaleidoscopic shapes and colors that made up the extraordinary and unforgettable life of Countess Marajen Stevick Chinigo.

River of Shame

James Earl Ray was tried and convicted for the murder of Martin Luther King Jr. Born in Quincy, Illinois, Ray is portrayed here as a drifter, a would-be criminal, and a man used to doing others’ dirty work.

The book also points to Ted Crowley, described as the “Godfather of Quincy,” as a figure with ties to organized crime and to people who wanted King removed. In this account, Crowley’s relationship with Ray is presented as a possible cover for sending him to Memphis.

River of Shame asks a central question: Was James Earl Ray a patsy for the real killer of Martin Luther King Jr.? It presents a perspective on the assassination that the author argues was overlooked by television news and other media outlets.

The Skin Game: Taken From A True Story

Celebrated criminal investigator Maureen Hughes hits the bricks with a chilling new book. The Skin Game is historical fiction, a powerful story that will keep you wondering 'who did it' to the final page.

Chicago private detective Samantha O'Malley is hired to solve a new murder similar to two others that occurred on Michigan Ave., but Samantha sees something more sinister about them. To complicated matters, she has to deal with Chicago's police chief, who wants her out of the picture...altogether! She finds herself in grave danger as she gets closer to the truth. If she fails to solve the murders, her reputation will be ruined. As if that is not enough to deal with, Andy Courson, the man she loves, waits for her to decide her priorities. Is her career more important than a furture with him? The Skin Game is a pulsating thriller that hits from all sides.