The first in a new series by Ashley Weaver, this time during WWII! I am a avid fan of her Amory Ames series and couldn't wait to read her new series starring Electra McDonnell. This series is slightly different, but still has the same tone and sass that Weaver brings to her other series. The main male character and (hopeful) romantic lead for Electra is a mysterious major running an intelligence operation. Weaver introduces the cast of characters slowly, but each one brings a set of skills that could prove useful and entertaining in future entries. I loved the slow-burn mystery and the reveal of the murderer was quite unexpected, making me long for more stories with this group. Kudos to Weaver for another satisfying historical mystery with lots of fun!!!

Set during the Second World War, Electra McDonnell is a young woman who’s part of a colorful and not altogether law abiding family. Her uncle is a safecracker and she’s learned the trade from him. When they’re both caught in the act, Ellie and her uncle are drafted into service for the military. They need to open a safe and swap some papers so that misinformation can be passed onto the Nazis. What a brilliant concept and a refreshingly different WWII novel. An absolutely fun read with a smart and witty protagonist. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Peculiar Combination is the first in a new historical mystery series by Ashley Weaver starring Electra (“Ellie”) McDonnell, a highly likeable heroine who is independent and forward thinking. Ellie and her family are known for their breaking and entering skills because they earn their living by stealing into the homes of London’s wealthy residents at night and cracking open their safes. When a job goes awry and Ellie and her uncle are caught, they find themselves recruited to join the war effort by helping a branch of the British government steal some important documents or risk going to jail. Filled with witty dialogue and genuinely entertaining characters, A Peculiar Combination is a fantastic read, and I am already looking forward to the next in the series.

This is book 1 in the Electra McDonnell series and I can't wait for book 2. Set in London during World War II, Electra and her uncle are caught trying to rob a safe in an empty house. It was a sting to force them to help the government rob a safe with stolen war plans. Major Ramsey and Electra find a dead body and an empty safe when they put the plan into action. They have to improvise and now more family is involved. A good story about a historic era that many readers today aren't familiar. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This was an entertaining historical mystery. The construct - a thief-with-a-hear-of-gold turned patriot/spy - was a fun and less common spin on the mass of World War II novels that have appeared in the past year. Weaver has done a lovely job creating a cast of characters that, if a bit stereotypical, are highly relatable and engaging. Her writing style is easy and engrossing, and she does an excellent job painting a scene for the reader to relax into.

There was a little more romance than I anticipated, but it wasn't overly heavy - I just don't know that it added a lot to the story beyond the seemingly-obligatory triangular tension common in so many "women's" books. Frankly, I think that element could easily have been left out and the tension based on the philosophical differences between the characters would have provided enough opportunities for conflict, misunderstanding, and an eventual coming-together - and that if it had been, this would likely find a broader audience. But that's just me...

All in all it was a fun book to read, and I'd pick up the next in the series.

A family of thieves turned government agents in Britain during WWII. (If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I really enjoy reading about that era). I appreciated the characters’ backstories, their critical task in the war effort, and all the mystery this book was shrouded in.

This is the first in a historical fiction mystery series and it was a very enjoyable start. I really am looking forward to seeing where this series will go.

A great option for those who enjoy espionage, murder, and romance!

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an e-ARC in return for my honest opinion.

Pub date: May 24

Most historical mysteries feature noble characters, good people who are solving crimes and maybe stretching the law a little to make sure justice is served. However, A Peculiar Combination features a family of thieves who definitely don't live on the straight and narrow. Electra, or Ellie, and her family are experienced thieves who know how to enter homes silently, open up safes, and take valuables that will be easy to pawn or sell to their contacts. She lives in an apartment behind her uncle Mick's home and helps him with his legal and illegal activities, especially now, as her cousins are away from home, fighting the Germans during World War II.

The book begins with Ellie and Mick completing a job that was just too easy, making Ellie uncomfortable. Sure enough, they are arrested as they leave the home and are recruited by the English military to help the government with a tricky situation involving German spies, sensitive documents that might be in a safe, and a group of wealthy pottery collectors that might be a front for a group of German sympathizers.

Major Ramsey essentially blackmails Ellie to begin with, threatening to send her and her uncle to prison if she doesn't help him, but soon they are volunteering to continue to help their country catch the spies and stop the information from falling into the wrong hands. Before long, other members of Ellie's family and friends are recruited to the cause, and Ellie finds she enjoys the company of the stiff and proper Major, even though she thinks they have nothing in common.

This book was wonderful. There are many, many mysteries and books about World War II, but this story still feels fresh and exciting. The characters are well written and complex and feel true to the time period of the story. There is more than one love interest for Ellie, which is fun. I look forward to the next Electra McDonnell mystery, and seeing if she dates either (or both) of her men!

Thanks to Netgalley for this advance copy!

When Electra and her uncle are caught red handed after breaking into a safe, their choice is help the British government agents break into a safe that contains stolen plans or go to prison. Finding a dead body and an open safe ended their required duty, but Electra wants to continue to help the major track down the traitors. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. This is the first book that I have read by this author and she won herself a new fan. This fabulous mystery set in London in WWII has interesting characters and twists and turns. With the major only giving information on a need to know basis, the story is told only through Electra's eyes. The different worlds and skills that Electra and the Major bring together help in their efforts to track down the traitors. I also like there is more to both Electra's and the Major's backstories that will be revealed through the series. There are also wonderful secondary characters - Uncle Mick, Nacy, Jakub, and Kimble. I love this mystery and can't wait until the next adventure.

1940 Rather than join the war effort Electra McDonnell becomes a thief. When caught she and her Uncle are recruited by the British Government via a Major Ramsey to steal blueprints from a safe. But while on their mission they discover a body inside the house. Is there a double agent in their midst?
The story is more a spy thriller than historical mystery, with some light romance. Though I did quite like the character of Ramsey. Overall an enjoyable story and a decent start to a new series
An ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An enjoyable, fast paced novel that has an interesting female lead character. this was an original and creative story and I look forward to future books

A Peculiar Combination is a smart, high-stakes London mystery and adventure at wartime. The fast-paced plot shows a unique side of WWII home front operations with an unlikely duo: a safecracking heroine and a military Major hero working to thwart potential spies. While their pairing just hints at the beginnings of attraction between them, these romantic sparks add another layer to the complicated backstory of Ellie’s character as this book sets up what is sure to be a new favorite WWII fiction series.

I like how competent Ellie is in her intelligence and profession, particularly in a detail-oriented way. Her banter with Major Ramsey is entertaining and smart, contrasting with his by-the-book tendencies and his own fierce loyalty. Through Ellie’s eyes, Ashley Weaver explores themes of human nature through motives, history, and emotion-driven decisions.

There are many aspects to love about this mystery of a story, including its portrayals of family and friendship (LOVED Felix!), the art to safecracking, and the ways of life at risk during this era. I am looking forward to the next book in this series — and especially hoping for the hints of vulnerability the Major displayed to lead to a deeper relationship with Ellie!

Thank you to Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. Ellie and her uncle were caught red handed trying to break into a safe in an abandoned home. The ones that caught her want to hire her to break into a safe to steal weapon plans that are being sent to the Germans. This is a great book and looking forward to the series of Ellie! #apeculiarcombination #ashleyweaver #may2021

Thanks to NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free copy of this book in return for my honest opinion.

Fans of Ashley Weavers “Armory Ames” series of mysteries are rejoicing at her newest heroine, Electra McDonnell, and for new readers this series should be a real treat. Having never read any of the Armory Ames book, I was unaware of the authors abilities with regard to plot, character development and plausible mystery resolution. Fear not! Ashley Weaver has done a great job in all aspects of this book.

We are introduced to Electra (who goes by the name Ellie) and the action begins on page 1, as she and her Uncle Mick are breaking into a house in order to open a safe and steal the items that were left there while the family was away. Yes, Ellie is a safecracker and thief, and as she and Uncle Mick are leaving the residence, during the London blackout, they are apprehended and taken to a non-police location. Who apprehends them? Why were they stopped? Are their lives in danger? All these thoughts go through Ellie and our minds. It is there that we meet Major Ramsey who gives Ellie and offer. Help open and safe and steal the contents, or be turned over to the police and go to jail. Ellie quickly decides to help the Major and the plot heats up.

Things don’t go as planned, and now Ellie is working for British Military Intelligence as she and Major try and discover what happened to the contents of the safe and how can they get them back and keep them from being placed in the hands of German spies. This in turn allows Weaver to introduce some additional characters, as well as mild romantic undertones and some truly comic scenes.

Before we know it Ellie is escorting Major Ramsey to a private function to view Chinese Porcelain and to scope out the 5 or 6 potential suspects who could have the secret items in their possession and are ready to betray their country since they feel there is little hope in stopping Hitler. But Ellie’s family and contacts now provide the Major with a most unlikely army of thieves and the story never falters. Totally believable, with fun and interesting characters and a definite inkling that there will be more espionage in store for Ramsey, Ellie and the most unlikely, and loveable, group of thieves that are all needed to do their part to help the British war effort.
This review was previously published at www.mysteryandsuspense.com

Ellie McDonnell is used to living on the wrong side of the law, but when attempting to break into a seemingly empty house one night Ellie and her Uncle end up collared. They are given a simple decision; Help the government break into the house or someone thought to be a Nazi sympathiser or go to Prison. As much as Ellie might resent being cajoled into the job, as well as her disdain for the person they will be working with, she know's one quick and easy job is better than Prison. Only when they get to the house instead of finding the papers they were looking for they find a dead body m, and Ellie quickly finds herself being dragged deeper into the conspiracy, but not everyone is who they seem & the spy could be closer to home than they think.

I loved this book, it was such a light and humorous read and the perfect palate cleanser after reading a lot of heavy and dark fantasy. Ellie was a fantastic POV to read from, she is a girl who could easily fit into the refined life of upper London, but also one I wouldn't want to take on in a fight. She is used to being revered and appreciated for her skill in the 'family business' so is slightly put out when the Major see's her as nothing more than a criminal. She is resilient and whip smart, as well as incredibly witty and self deprecating.

Though the book is told solely through Ellie's POV we do get introduced to a host of side characters, some of which I think will be 'main players' in the series to come, from Ellie's Uncle Mick, their housekeeper Nacy, Ellie's cousin Colm and childhood friend/potential sweetheart Felix, but my favourite by far was Major Ramsey. He starts off the book as an extremely rigid, by the book kind of fellow ( and tbh he kinds of ends in the same way) but through the story we get to see Ellie slowly breaking down walls he seems to have spent years building up. He first see's Ellie as simply a means to an end, but the more time they spend together, the more he see's how incredibly smart she is and how useful she could be to the war effort.

This was an incredibly fast paced read, and if I hadn't been buddy reading I think I could have easily polished it off in one sitting. Though there are plenty of action scenes, there is also a lot of introspection, something that wouldn't have worked as well had Ellie not been such a brilliant pov to read from. I got big Agent Carter style vibes from her, someone who doesn't want to be treated differently because she is a woman, as well as being unafraid to put herself into the path of danger. It also meant that even though the book was set in WWII, an obviously dark time in London's history, the author manages to bring a levity to the story and I didn't feel bogged down in the war like I have done in similar style books. That's not the say the war, and the realities of it aren't mentioned, just that through Ellie's eyes it doesn't seem all doomy and gloomy.

Now, there is a love triangle, and I'm not the biggest fan of them myself but this was written well. One because Ellie is incredibly strong and outspoken, so basically no man has any say in how she lives her life, but also because it didn't overshadow the plot. The romance in this book was minimal, there were some 'steamy' for the times moments, but most of it was focused on the case at hand. We do see Ellie comparing the two suitors in her head which make's for some entertaining and humorous reading because they couldn't be less alike, and I am definitely interested to see how it is dealt with in future books ( I know who I'm rooting for.)

The actual plot of the book was relatively tied up at the end, although there were plenty of unanswered questions that I hope will be brought up in book two. There are one or two plots twists that add flow to the story, but in general with the pace being as fast as it was, and with Ellie's pov being as light and humorous, I found this to be an incredibly easy read, one that I wholeheartedly enjoyed, and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for the next instalment.

Great start to a new series. The characters are well established. First person narrators are often hard to pull off but Weaver does this very well with a sound, quick witted and stubborn (especially for the time) female lead. Her back story is sure to play apart in the series, overall

The WWII Era is set-up very well.

I would like to see more high-stakes/obstacles for the characters in coming novels. Being this is a first in the series, I imagine it was more of a set-up. But for a spy series in WWII, I feel like it was missing a level of danger that comes with being in that situation.

I am definitely looking forward to the second book and hope it will pick up in that area.

Ashley Weaver's new book series stars Ellie (Electra) McDonnell and takes place during World War II in England. Ellie and her Uncle Mick are safe cracking thieves and are enlisted for their skills by Major Gabriel Ramsey of British Intelligence. Ellie uses her smarts and her thievery skills and impresses Major Ramsey into enlisting her help with more than safe cracking -- spying! It was a fun read and kept me up at night reading until I read the last word. I was left with delicious questions. Is there a romance brewing between Ellie and Gabriel? Or Felix? Will she find out if her mother murdered her father? Does Uncle Mick know more than he is sharing? Will Ellie give up thievery for spying? I can't wait to find out, maybe in the second book in the series? I hope so. Of course, Weaver will masterfully weave more mysteries and questions that will need to be answered. The Ellie McDonnell series is sure to become a favorite!

"The first in the Electra McDonnell series from Edgar-nominated author Ashley Weaver, set in England during World War II, A Peculiar Combination is a delightful mystery filled with spies, murder, romance, and the author's signature wit.

Electra McDonnell has always known that the way she and her family earn their living is slightly outside of the law. Breaking into the homes of the rich and picking the locks on their safes may not be condoned by British law enforcement, but World War II is in full swing, Ellie's cousins Colm and Toby are off fighting against Hitler, and Uncle Mick's more honorable business as a locksmith can't pay the bills any more.

So when Uncle Mick receives a tip about a safe full of jewels in the empty house of a wealthy family, he and Ellie can’t resist. All goes as planned - until the pair are caught redhanded. Ellie expects them to be taken straight to prison, but instead they are delivered to a large townhouse, where government official Major Ramsey is waiting with an offer: either Ellie agrees to help him break into a safe and retrieve blueprints that will be critical to the British war effort, before they can be delivered to a German spy, or he turns her over to the police.

Ellie doesn’t care for the Major's imperious manner, but she has no choice, and besides, she's eager to do her bit for king and country. She may be a thief, but she's no coward. When she and the Major break into the house in question, they find instead the purported German spy dead on the floor, the safe already open and empty. Soon, Ellie and Major Ramsey are forced to put aside their differences to unmask the double-agent, as they try to stop allied plans falling into German hands."

With so many mysteries set during the second World War one needs something, like wit, to single itself out!

If you're looking for a nice quick read that's clean, this one fits the bill. But remember, it's about World War II England and traitors and spies and crooks, etc. So if any of these things bother you, well, you know how to close a book, right?

I have gotten tired of reading too many books with angst or unlikable people and have begun craving a more optimistic view, even with tougher subjects. I also love books dealing with the homefront during WWII. Our characters here, even the broody ones, seem to be decent people. Of course this makes it harder to spot who is actually conspiring with the Nazis... Our MC, Ellie, is bright, stubborn, and has grown up in a family of men who moonlight as safecrackers. But the family has scruples and rules, and when the chance to actually help the country appears, they feel called to do so (albeit not at the beginning...). In this way, we begin our story containing definite <i>To Catch a Thief</i> vibes.

I'm hoping this is the first of a series about the exploits of our eventual band. It appears so, for two reasons. There is a larger story arc about Ellie's mother that pops up occasionally and is not finished. And, secondly, although there are romantic vibes here, the attractions remain, even though nothing is said. This aspect in the book reminded me of my young adult days (BEFORE "young adult lit") reading all sorts of romantic suspense works from Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, Phyllis Whitney, and others. Throughout the novel there are at least two men that seem possible contenders for our heroine's heart... but are they both honorable or does one have ulterior motives? Read on, dear reader...

Recommended for a nice change of pace from heavier reading!

I received an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and the publisher in order to write an honest review. Thanks!

Ashley Weaver has given us a very enjoyable historical espionage tale with just a hint of romance. Set in WWII London, Ellie McDonnell is persuaded to assist British intelligence after she and her uncle are caught cracking into a safe that is not theirs. Her country needs her particular set of skills. A Peculiar Combination is very well-written, has a nicely paced plot and excellent characterization. Ellie is a smart, witty young woman with a likable sense of humor; her relationship with her extended family is enviable, if non-traditional; and the evolution of her relationship with the stiff, businesslike major is fun, yet convincing. The story itself is maybe a bit Nancy Drew-ish as she does some independent, unauthorized investigating and the tale is all tied up neatly at the end. However, that did not distract from the pleasure of reading this nicely put together novel. Bring on more Electra and crew!

This is the first in a new series, Electra McDonnell #1, from Author Ashley Weaver who already has a very successful series, Amory Ames. This series is also set in the past, at the beginning of WWII to be precise.

Electra, or Ellie, and her Uncle Mick are safe crackers and are caught one night on a job gone wrong by the British law enforcement. They think their number is up, but then they are offered a way out. The government suspects someone of being a pro-German spy, and need his safe opened to verify this theory. If Ellie and Uncle Mick can open the safe and access the papers, then they will not be charged with the crime and sent to jail. They really have no choice and agree to the offer, but it doesn't go as planned when the suspect is found murdered. Now they must track down who the real culprit is. Ellie is intrigued now with the thought of helping her country in this preface to war and putting her particular skills to a more laudable use, so she continues to help Major Ramsey, and not just because he's so good looking! Meanwhile a childhood friend makes a reappearance in Ellie's life, and he seems to be interested in more than just friendship.

Romance takes a back seat however, as Ellie finds she has a knack for this spy business. She's able to think fast on her feet, show no fear, and get through any lock. Major Ramsey finds Ellie is a valuable help as he tries to determine who is going to provide the Germans with British war plans. There are plenty of twists and turns to make the story interesting and I can see a long future with these two and their war-time capers!

I found the character of Electra quite appealing, and there is light romantic tension between both her and Major Ramsey, and her and friend Frank. I thought the plot line moved along at a steady pace and kept me interested. I always enjoy the WWII era being portrayed in stories, and this book was no exception. I look forward to more in this series!

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Ashley Weaver for allowing me to read this ARC. I give it a 4.5 stars and I'm rounding up to 5.