Loved the first book in the series and A Royal Affair was just as entertaining for me .The characters the atmosphere add in humor and a mystery.Pefect book to sit back forget the world problems and enjoy,#netgalley#Aroyalaffair

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this arc.


I loved seeing Iris and Gwen again. They are obviously people with vastly different life experiences. Iris is educated, freewheeling, dangerous, outspoken, and owns her sexuality. Gwen is aristocratic, quiet, well mannered, and slightly naive in the face of the situations in which they find themselves. But they're both learning from each other and at times envy each other. Gwen now thinks about pursuing an education or at least just learning how to do research and keeps reminding Iris that she promised to instruct Gwen in fighting tactics. Iris admits to some jealousy at how easy a life debutant Gwen had before the war along with all the social connections she maintains and upper class knowledge she has. I also adore the relationship between Gwen and her son Ronnie although sometimes Ronnie seems a little too perfect for a six year old.


It's nice to see them use their specialized knowledge and skills to try to sort through the intricacies of what is going on then hack their way out of the thickets springing up around them. But these very intricacies and thickets are what didn't work for me.


The plot ends up wandering around with odd twists and bizarre "where did that come from" moments. There are also a ton of characters and I often found myself stopping and muttering "who is this person again?" and needing to think for a moment to remember. The banter sometimes feels more clever than realistic and at times I just wanted a scene to move on as it bogged down. The final denouement was an exercise in exposition and over-the-topness and it had me shaking my head in disbelief. There is just no way it could ever have been pulled off. By the time the dust had settled, I honestly still didn't know half of what had happened.


This is a series to be read for the historical tidbits, the joy of watching two women making a business venture succeed, and seeing them learn from each other. The mystery plot, on the other hand, never wowed me or won me over. C

A Royal Affair is a fun second encounter with Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau. They are both a matchmaking service and unofficial private I’s. The relationship between Iris and Gwen and their support systems is fun to witness. The banter is rich but not in a way that overshadows the plot. We are also able to see how the after effects of WWII on both the personal lives of women and society at large.

If you like historical fiction with strong female leads, a bit of mystery and great banter, this is worth checking out!


Thank you St Martin Press Ana Net Galley for the ARC of this book.

Outstanding 1946 Britain Whodunit
This wonderful story takes place in 1946 London. Two women whom the war left broken are running a matchmaking service. This is written with that witty repartee common to the 1930s and 1940s. One can imagine Carole Lombard playing one of the roles. It is written very well with a great plot with clues for the reader to find. It is all so obvious at the big reveal, but I had no clue. I have read the first book in the series and it is also outstanding. I think it would be best to read the series in order to get full enjoyment. You could read them in any order and still enjoy the series. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley. This is my honest opinion and review.

I could not get into this book! I wanted to like it because it is about the royals and I love royal books but it was dragging for me right from the beginning. I wonder if it is because, as I later found out, it is the second book in a series so I was missing that background information about the main characters that was probably covered in the first book. It has great potential for me but didn't follow through.

I really enjoyed the first book in this series and this number two is just as strong. This is actually a female buddy series, and it is very intelligent and entertaining.

We are in post World War II London and our main characters Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge run a matrimonial service, trying to matchmake good romantic pairings. The agency takes up less space than the mystery in this book.

Neither woman came through the war unscathed. Gwen is a war widow with a young son. She is forced to live with her frosty and aristocratic in-laws due to a breakdown she suffered after her husband died. She is trying to bite her tongue and regain full custody of her little boy. Iris was an intelligence operative and has a useful and dangerous set of skills. She doesn't want to go back to that life, but occasionally gets sucked in. Both have their demons.

They are approached by Gwen's cousin, a sort of lady in waiting to the Queen. There is a rumor that the young Princess Elizabeth will soon be betrothed to Prince Philip, but a blackmail letter to the royals suggests there is a secret in Philip's family that could scuttle the engagement. Iris and Gwen are supposed to find the letters, trace down the rumor, and do it all discreetly.

This was a great read -- strong female characters, snappy dialogue, a lot of built in humor and real feeling personalities. I recommend these books and can't wait to see what they get up to next. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Allison Montclair’s second novel in the series starring Sparks and Bainbridge is a winner. The series is set in the aftermath of World War II. Bainbridge is a war widow, and Sparks is a veteran of Special Operations. The two have teamed up to form a marriage bureau, but bodies keep falling into their paths. The pair have unique talents that make them specially qualified to hunt down killers, and untangle mysteries. Their interplay is fun, and the subplots are almost equally charming. I particularly look forward to reading more about Bainbridge’s son Ronnie, and his narwhal adventures!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I admit I almost put this aside when it became apparent that Iris Sparks and Celia Bainbridge were going to step aside from their marriage bureau in order to "vet" Prince Phillip before his possible engagement to Princess Elizabeth. Yes, that Prince Phlllip. That would have been a HUGE mistake. This was a romp, a treat, which let both Iris and Celia shine. AND, it had a nicely twisty mystery for them to solve involving the Greek monarchy and Princess Alice. Those who missed the first book will be fine with this as a standalone because Montclair explains their circumtances- that Celia spent time in a mental health facility when her wealthy, titled husband was killed at war and that Iris, a Cambridge grad, served in the SOE. They might come from different circumstances but they make a bang up team. Celia uses her connections and so does Iris to get answers. There's a big heart here too in Celia's love for her son and Iris's affection for Sally (and Celia). No spoilers but as we all know, Phillip and Elizabeth have been married for a very long time. Keep your eye on the ball and you might recognize the clue. I very much enjoyed this- love the characters (also Archie, who btw, would be better served if Montclair dropped the Cockney for him), loved the story, and generally had a good time. And they do make a match. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A fun read that will be appreciated by fans of historical mysteries and "The Crown".

Miss Iris Sparks (Cambridge grad and serial fiancée) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (former debutante, widow, related to the Royals) opened The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, in 1946. They hit it off at the wedding of George and Emily Bascombe, where Gwen was the “match-maker,” for the seemingly mismatched couple and Iris, at the behest of the bride, quietly investigated the potential groom. Iris and Gwen were the fairy godmothers for the newlyweds…and what a felicitous encounter, as it resulted in their matchmaking business.

The two women have connections up the wazoo. Iris Sparks was an integral part of the war machine, although she refuses to discuss her service. Very hush hush. Gwen lost her much-loved husband to battle: her despair was so overwhelming that she was institutionalized for four months in a sanitorium. She and her six-year-old son Ronnie live with her titled in-laws, an unpleasant situation since Lord and Lady Bainbridge have custody of her son.

Miss Hardiman, a new client, tells Iris in her booming voice how much she envies her.

“Me? Why me?”



“You still have purpose,” said Miss Hardiman. “You’re in charge here.”



“I am only in charge of myself,” said Sparks. “Mrs. Bainbridge and I are equal partners and have no other employees. I’m hardly a mover and a shaker.”



“But you run your own show, with no ridiculous men to boss you about,” said Miss Hardiman. “That seems like paradise, in a way.”

What Miss Hardiman says has resonance: in the aftermath of the war, many women who had been vital cogs in the war machine, lost their jobs and their purpose.

Gwen arrives, dangling keys to an office down the hall once occupied by ‘Cooper and Lyons, Chartered Public Accountants.’ The women enter the long-abandoned office and are awestruck by the two “massive matched mahogany desks” in front of each window. Gwen is in alt.

She knelt reverentially in front of one of the desks to examine the logos on the drawers.



“Harrods,” she breathed. “Partners’ desks from Harrods, Iris. I could positively swoon!”

It’s clearly time to expand the business. Perhaps they’ll even hire a “secretary slash receptionist slash clerk,” although they’ll need to double their income to expand. No rest for the weary or the wicked. They have two potential clients scheduled, Miss Oona Travis and Miss Catherine Prescott, so it’s rather inconvenient when Gwen’s cousin Patience, Lady Matheson, arrives unexpectedly. Gwen makes the introduction.

“She’s not exactly a lady-in-waiting—”



“Oh, heaven forbid!” said Lady Matheson, giving an exaggerated shudder.



“But she works for the Queen in some capacity.”



“Do you?” said Iris. “I’ve always found the phrase ‘in some capacity’ both wonderfully vague and intentionally concealing.”

Lady Matheson tells the women that she is their eleven-thirty client and their twelve o’clock as well before asking them to “close and lock your door, if you don’t mind.” There goes the ten pounds they would have earned. Lady Matheson has investigated them thoroughly and wants to engage their services—not to find her a husband (she has one) but something else. She demands absolute confidentiality, at which Iris demurs, pointing out that when they solved a murder a few months back, the police insisted on cooperation. Iris and Patience go back and forth fruitlessly, until Gwen speaks up.

“This involves the Queen in some way, doesn’t it?” she asked quietly.



“Miss Sparks, do I have your word?” asked Lady Matheson. “I am asking on behalf of Queen and country.”



“I served the King during the war,” said Iris. “I suppose I ought to extend the courtesy to his missus. You have my word, under the condition that the moment things turn sour, it is no longer binding upon me.



“Done,” said Lady Matheson. “And I anticipate that all of this legal-ish verbiage will turn out to be quite unnecessary. Now, to the matter. We would like the two of you to vet someone, much as you did with George Bascombe.”

Iris wonders why someone at the Palace can’t do this seemingly easy task, but Lady Matheson says its “a matter of particular delicacy.” Neither she nor the Queen wants internal gossip or, heaven forfend, for the Press to get wind. No doubt clever readers will guess the subject of discreet inquiries. Gwen certainly does: “Patience,” said Gwen. “Are you asking us to vet Prince Philip?” Yes indeed: “a blackmail note has arrived, alluding to some potentially damaging information about said prince.” Gwen and Iris agree to the assignment, understanding the weight of responsibility that now weighs on their shoulders. They will be operating without a safety net and the future Queen of England’s happiness is in their hands. Iris is initially shocked at Lady Matheson, surprised that the Queen “would have someone like her, but it makes sense.”

“They all need someone to clean up their messes behind the scenes, even if they’re wearing white gloves while they’re doing it.”

The Right Sort Marriage Bureau proprietors have agreed to undertake just that: a behind the scenes operation, while wearing gloves. Fortunately, Gwen and Iris are up to the task plus they need the money if they are to achieve their goal of siting behind matching partners’ desks. Their circle of friends and associates is wide and varied, ranging from aristocratic gentlemen, a NQOCD (not quite our class, dear) gangster, and invisible civil servants high up in the corridors of power. The repartee is fast and amusing, as when Gwen and Iris discuss the gentlemen who “swarmed” Gwen at a party.

“The Grenadiers attempted to try me on,” said Gwen. “The first seemed MTF. The second was definitely NST.”



“What on earth are you on about?” asked Sally.



“Deb code,” explained Iris, snickering. “MTF means Must Touch Flesh, and NST means Not Safe in Taxis.”

There’s even a sprinkling of royalty, both foreign and domestic, to grace the pages.

A Royal Affair: A Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery is so enjoyable readers will undoubtedly race to buy The Right Sort of Man, the first Sparks Bainbridge mystery, as soon as they finish it. Allison Montclair has created two fascinating characters in Iris and Gwen: they are captivating, drawing us effortlessly into their lives, both personal and professional. I look forward to their next adventure in the turbulent world of post-war England.

Having enjoyed the first book in the series, The Right Sort of Man, a great deal, I looked forward to A Royal Affair with a great deal of anticipation. I am so happy to say that this second book met and exceeded all my expectations. Isn't it great when that happens?

Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge are two excellent characters. They both bring completely different skill sets to the table. Gwen is widowed, with a young son who is in the custody of his rich, titled grandparents. Gwen loved her husband with all her being, and when he was killed, she fell to pieces and spent some time in a sanatarium. Her mother-in-law is never going to let her forget this or willingly give up control of her grandson. Gwen is determined to prove that she's capable of raising her son. She brings knowledge of the upper classes (and all that entails) along with her intelligence and finely tuned intuition to the partnership with Iris Sparks.

Iris Sparks is a Cambridge graduate whose past is shrouded in all sorts of things, not least the Official Secrets Act. She's out of the spy business, but she brings that bag of tricks, her quick intelligence, and sense of humor to The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. The women have become fast friends-- almost sisters. Gwen is the perfect choice to help Iris with her PTSD, and Iris knows how to deal with Gwen's grief. Their repartee is one of the joys of A Royal Affair. It's light, it's witty, it's quick, and the pages turn faster and faster.

With a finely crafted, intricate plot that reminded me of "The Sting" from time to time, one thing was obvious: Sparks' past in the spy business was going to be an integral part of the story. That made me worry. You see, I don't really like spy stories. What I prefer are characters who are out of the business yet able to use their skillsets for straightforward, honest good, not some shadowy, convoluted outcome with neither heart nor morals. I was so relieved at how Montclair dealt with all the spy shenanigans!

In fact, I was enchanted by the entire book. If you're in the mood for something light and witty, something that has some meat on its bones, some solid historical research, and a tightly woven plot...something that's Pure-D Fun to read, pick up a copy of A Royal Affair. Better yet, begin at the beginning with The Right Sort of Man (even though A Royal Affair stands alone well). You really shouldn't miss an opportunity to spend time with Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge.

Now begins the hard slog of waiting for book three.

In 1946, Post-War London, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge are finding that their risk-taking is paying off and their fledgling business, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, is beginning to take off. In fact, they could use a secretary and a bigger office, but they don't yet have enough capital for the expansion. So, when a well-connected cousin of Gwen's arrives with an intriguing and lucrative task, they're happy to hear her out.

Gwen's cousin, Lady Matheson, is mysterious and tight-lipped about the "capacity" in which she serves the Queen and she needs someone vetted, discreetly. The young Princess Elizabeth hopes to marry a Greek prince and a blackmail note has just been sent to her threatening the revelation of damaging information about that very prince. The Crown needs the prince investigated but without asking questions that could ignite gossip, so Gwen and Iris are quietly enlisted. With a short timeline before the prince's likely proposal, these two must uncover any secrets buried in the prince's past if they have any hope of expanding their business, and ensuring the good of the realm, of course.

It is exceedingly rare that I read anything other than romance, however, I was intrigued by this author's debut and wound up loving it, so I'm keen to follow her work now. This book had a slightly different feel than its predecessor, but was just as enjoyable and very well-written. I definitely don't have enough knowledge of this period of history to get everything I was supposed to get out of this book, but that just makes me want to read up and learn more. Gwen and Iris are a fantastic duo and probably one of the best female teams I've ever come across. Their banter is top notch, delightful to read, and I loved that they were always at least one step ahead of the other players in this mystery. This book had me alternately laughing and tearing up and I adored the mystery with its many facets. U need to go back and reread now so I can get everything I missed the first time around. This was an excellent follow-up and I can't wait to see what Gwen and Iris get up to next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

No sophomore slump for Allison Montclair. She knocked it out of the park. I love the quick and witty dialog between Sparks and Bainbridge. The pacing is perfect, as is the description of the time period. It feels like you are there. The mystery kept my attention. There's some over the top humor, but with the combination of wit and pacing, it works well. Highly recommend.

One of my favorite genres is an historical fiction mystery with female leads, and it is even better around if the novel takes place around World War II. A Royal Affair is the sophomore mystery for Allison Montclair, coming on the heels of The Right Sort of Man. Our detectives, Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge have established The Right Sort of Marriage Bureau to help the lovelorn of post-war London find a spouse, with their commission payable upon marriage. While this may be their intent, murder seems to regularly factor into business, and solving crimes seems to be what these ladies are most successful at accomplishing. In A Royal Affair, the agency is employed to dig up some dirt on Queen to be Elizabeth’s intended, Phillip. There is a rumor that Phillip is not the legitimate son of Alice and her Greek husband Christo, but rather of Christo’s brother Andrea, with whom Alice allegedly enjoyed a long love affair. Mixed into the mystery are the challenges of our detective’s personal lives for a little more spice and intrigue.
If you like this genre of mystery, or perhaps are a fan of the Maisie Dobbs novels by Jacqueline Winspear or the Maggie Hope Mysteries by Susan Elia MacNeal, you will want to give this series a try from book 1. My one challenge in reading was that I had to pay very close attention to character names, and found myself flipping back to be sure I had the right person. And that is quite doable for this Agatha Christie-esque read.

Sparks and Bainbridge make a dynamic pair and in A Royal Affair they are drawn into something more than their usual arranged marriage business, Someone from the Palace wants them to investigate if Prince Phillip of Greece is suitable marriage material for Princess Elizabeth.. A blackmail note has arrived implying there is damaging information in his background, Sparks and Bainbridge use their avenues of information - Sparks, her contacts in Intelligence, and Bainbridge, her contacts in society, to get to the bottom of the rumors. This series is so enjoyable and I can hardly wait until the next book is published.

This was a quick but silly read for me. Characters were put in ludicrous situations and, since I'm not a follower of the British monarchy, most of the names/characters meant little or nothing to me. Just wasn't my cup of English tea!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC to read and review.

I really love this series. Tremendously evocative of its period and featuring two very distinct, but fascinating and likable protagonists. This installment was particularly Interesting, featuring the British (and Greek) royal families as it did. Already looking forward to the next installment

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC copy for my review.

I was very excited to receive this ARC of the second title by Allison Montclair.  It was an enjoyable read with elements of mystery, intrigue and humor.

The characters:  Gwen Bainbridge and Iris Sparks.  Gwen was widowed in the war and it took her a bit of time to find her way again.  Iris worked in a secret job during the war.


Their current work:  They run an agency that introduces people to one another; it's a matrimonial bureau.


Their contacts:  Gwen can be in touch with the aristocracy while Iris has many war and university contacts.


This case:  To be involved in vetting a certain Greek prince who would like to marry Princess Elizabeth.


Overall, this is a light read.  It is perfectly fine as a standalone though readers may well want to read the first in the series as well. This book will be enjoyed by those who like historical mysteries, the time period and female protagonists.


Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this read in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review!
4.5/5
I enjoyed this mystery- most books involving the British Royal Family in the first half of the twentieth century are focused on either of the World Wars. However, this is a refreshing change, and is looking at the post-war period when the young Princess Elizabeth is engaged to marry a somewhat unknown Greek prince. It isn't your standard cozy mystery, there are quite a few twists and turns, and you have to work to keep up with them. It is worth it though, and it is one of the most intelligent mysteries I've read in several years!

If you are a fan of The Marriage Bureau by Penrose Halson, that looked at the post-war matchmaking service that helped men and women find suitable partners, you will enjoy A Royal Affair!

This was a fun historical mystery. I especially enjoyed reading about all the clients who visit The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. I also loved the humor and witty banter between the main characters, Gwen and Iris. They are interesting characters that I want to learn more about.

The mystery itself is very complex and in the middle I got a little lost in all the details and different parties in play. However, it all gets brilliantly wrapped up by Gwen and Iris in a stunning Agatha Christie-style ending!

This is a very minor point, but one thing that threw me was at times the narrator refers to the same characters as different names, e.g. Gwen or Mrs. Bainbridge, even though they are the same character. It is understandable that this would happen as part of dialogue, but I didn't really expect it from the narrator. This isn't critical to the story, but noticeable.

This is the second in a series and I hadn’t read the first book, but this could be a stand-alone book. I didn’t feel like I missed anything crucial. I do plan to check out the first book, The Right Sort of Man, to get the backstory on Gwen and Iris.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery with its glimpse into the lives of the royal family, especially Prince Phillip. I got some Maisie Dobbs vibes from this book, so if you are a Maisie fan, definitely check out this series. 4/5 stars.

After reading the first book in this new historical mystery series last year at about this same time, I was eager to read the next installment and see how well the next mystery satisfied.

I remembered really enjoying the relationship between the two main characters, Iris and Gwen. I thought they were funny and paired well together so I was eager to see how that translated in this latest mystery.

The other thing that I thought sounded so much fun was this book was that this time the mystery was to include members of the royal family.

Summary
More goes wrong than could be imagined when Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are unexpectedly engaged to dig into the past of a suitor of a royal princess in Allison Montclair’s delightful second novel, A Royal Affair.

In London 1946, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau is just beginning to take off and the proprietors, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, are in need of a bigger office and a secretary to handle the growing demand. Unfortunately, they don’t yet have the necessary means. So when a woman arrives—a cousin of Gwen’s—with an interesting and quite remunerative proposition, they two of them are all ears.

The cousin, one Lady Matheson, works for the Queen in “some capacity” and is in need of some discreet investigation. It seems that the Princess Elizabeth has developed feelings for a dashing Greek prince and a blackmail note has arrived, alluding to some potentially damaging information about said prince. Wanting to keep this out of the palace gossip circles, but also needing to find out what skeletons might lurk in the prince’s closet, the palace has quietly turned to Gwen and Iris. Without causing a stir, the two of them must now find out what secrets lurk in the prince’s past, before his engagement to the future Queen of England is announced. And there’s more at stake than the future of the Empire —there is their potential new office that lies in the balance. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This latest mystery started off really strong. There was a lot of same humor and quirks from the main characters that I recalled loving in the first book. There was also the pull of the royal price vetting and the history of Prince Phillip and his family which I didn’t know too much about so that made it even more fun.

But then as the mystery started to get more complex, I noticed that the humor tapered off which was a little disappointing but perhaps necessary considering, though I would have liked some of the hallmark humor to hold fast through the book.

With the mystery itself, there were quite a few people involved and a bunch of different people that could have had motives and I thought that added a lot of twists and suspicions. I think it will keep readers guessing and trying to figure everything out all the way until the end.

As this is the second book in the series, I suggest going back and reading the first book. While it might not be wholly necessary, I think it will help orientate the readers with the characters and their lives, meaning specifically Iris and Gwen. Seeing as how it’s only the one book prior to this one, I would recommend reading book one first and then trying this one out.

I love the post war feel of this book and I think the author does a great job capturing that time period and adding some fun historical facts to a great mystery. This is an exciting new mystery series and I am looking forward to more books from her!

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: July 28th 2020 by Minotaur Books (first published June 9th 2020)
ISBN 1250178398 (ISBN13: 9781250178398)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: historical mystery