I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Will look for more from this author, since this was the first book I read from here. Was a little bit surprised on the ending, but glad it ended well.

Thanks to NetGally for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a FABULOUSLY fun book. Ellie is a gal I admire, through grit, determination, cleverness and determination. I love that she doesn't simper over the men who pay her attention. She's determined to make a better life for herself, get through the war, and survive. I really enjoyed the partnership that developed between her and the Major. She was gutsy and she didn't back down from a challenge. There was a great blend of her rough and soft sides and learning about her past makes me all the more impatient to see more of this series! I loved all the characters and can't wait for the next installment.

(The following review will run on CriminalElement.com the week of publication.)

Like they always say: desperate times call for desperate measures.

Electra McDonnell and her Uncle Mick know it’s not exactly the fair thing, cracking the safes of folks who have left London to escape the threat of bombing from the Luftwaffe. But with the Second World War raging, the McDonnells’ legitimate business as locksmiths is struggling, and the pair have been forced to rely on their less legal hobby to make ends meet.

Their light-fingered larceny comes to a rather dramatic end, however, when Electra and Uncle Mick are snagged by shadowy men just after emptying a safe of sparkly jewelry. But to Electra’s surprise, they haven’t been apprehended by the police — and their captors have an intriguing proposition for them.


“What sort of proposition?” I asked.
“An exchange of favors,” he said. “If you choose to help me, this matter will be forgotten, and you and your uncle will go free.”
As much as I hated to admit it, he had my interest now. I waited for him to continue.
“There is, in this city, a gentleman in possession of several papers that we have need of. Those papers are being held in a safe.”
I realized then what he was telling me, and everything began to make sense. If I hadn’t been awake so long, my nerves all in a jangle from sitting alone in this cold room, I might have worked it out sooner.
He needed a safecracker.
Suddenly, the absurdity of it all hit me. I couldn’t help but laugh.
…He took a slip of paper and a pen from his pocket and scrawled something on the paper before sliding it across the desk toward me. His handwriting was like his personality: bold yet precise.
“Ring this number tomorrow afternoon, and I’ll tell you where you might meet me to discuss the details.”
“This is rather cloak-and-dagger stuff, isn’t it?” I asked sarcastically.
“I’m afraid the enemy’s moved beyond cloaks and daggers to swastikas and tanks, Miss McDonnell. We’re just trying to keep up.”


Upright military man Major Ramsey clearly looks down on Electra and her family for their criminal background, and just as clearly dislikes that he’s forced to collaborate with them for the good of the war effort.

But, as they say, these are indeed desperate times.

As for Electra, she hardly enjoys being bossed around be a supercilious soldier, no matter how handsome he might be. She has plenty of reasons to resent authority and any group dedicated to law and order. But for all of her long-held anger and resentment, she still cares about her country. Her beloved cousins Colm and Toby are away doing their part, the one working on airplanes for the RAF and the other currently MIA following Dunkirk, and she hardly wants to see Nazis marching down Piccadilly.


I sighed. “You think we should do it, then.”
“I don’t see that there’s much choice,” Uncle Mick said. “He’s got us dead to rights. It’s in with them or to prison we go.”
“Yes, but…”
“Think of Colm and Toby,” he said gently. “They’ll need someone to come home to.”
He was right. Prison had taken enough from our family.
“Besides, Ellie.” Now he placed his hand over mine. “It’ll do us good to do our part. We’ll all have to if we want to win this war. We’ve our own outlook on the matter of law and order, but this is something different altogether.”
I nodded, knowing it was true. In all honesty, I had been feeling rather helpless where the war was concerned. There are only so many gardens a woman can plant and socks she can knit for soldiers before she begins to feel useless as she watches the men march off to battle. This was my turn to do something that could matter, that would make a significant difference.
I drew in a deep breath. “All right. Then we’ll do it.”


Electra knows her new job will be a dangerous one, maneuvering around Nazi sympathizers, spies, and brutal men who will kill for classified information. But as it turns out, her criminal background makes her a natural for espionage work, as she dons a fake name and accompanies Major Ramsey from murder scenes to swanky parties, using all of her skills and pluck to secure secret plans and flush out traitors.

Ashley Weaver has already proven herself in the historical mystery genre with her Amory Ames novels, a slightly sharper pastiche of Nick and Nora Charles. With A Peculiar Combination, she launches a brand new series that shows she’s got quite the flair for espionage tales, too.

There are hundreds — thousands — of WWII mysteries out there, and some readers may be hitting the over-saturation point by now. But A Peculiar Combination is absolutely one worth picking up, thanks in large part to its solid heroine, Electra. Ellie is a compelling narrator with a tragic background that is sure to lend itself to exciting developments in future installments, and her sizzling dynamic with Major Ramsey adds a little heat to the chilly spy scenes.

(Speaking of, Ramsey sure is a stone cold babe, emphasis on the cold — at least for now. I’m sure Electra will thaw him in no time. When handled with finesse, the “opposites attracting” trope can be a delicious one, and Weaver is already thoroughly spicing and seasoning this particular pairing. Very much looking forward to seeing how she develops them in the future.)

I, for one, always love a well-done criminal-doing-good story, and this one’s a real corker. Watching Electra indulge her talent for pickpocketing to secure a clue and think fast in the face of capture is great fun. This is a lady who can keep her wits about her in a crisis and make the men around her shut up and take notice.


“But if you hadn’t been in a strop,” I went on, “I would have had time to tell you that I had a very good reason for talking to Matthew Winthrop.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I was watching him from across the room, and I saw one of the waiters pass him a note. He read it surreptitiously and put it in the pocket of his jacket.”
He let out an irritated breath. “And you’re just telling me this now.”
“You didn’t give me much of a chance before,” I retorted.
“And that’s why you decided to approach him,” he said, his voice having lost the conciliatory tone of a moment ago. “What? Did you suppose that if you talked with him for a while, took an interest in his poetry, that he would take the note out and show it to you?”
He really was an insufferable prig at times.
“No,” I replied, holding up the folded piece of paper that had been clutched in my left hand throughout all of this. “I thought I could take it from his pocket.”


Weaver lays a solid framework in this series debut, dropping plenty of enticing details that will no doubt pay off big in the next book(s). We’re quickly drawn into Electra’s world and colorful family, and are left wanting more: about her parents, about Major Ramsey’s background, about what the next mission will bring and how Ellie and Ramsey will, no doubt, pull closer to one another. This particular adventure is wrapped up nicely, but readers will certainly find themselves longing for the next chapter, sooner rather than later.

It’s still the early days of the war in A Peculiar Combination, with the bombing of London and the full horrors of the conflict on the horizon, and Weaver is sure to pack in plenty of thrilling story around the upcoming significant events. Considering how evocatively she describes the changes the war has already brought to England, it will be very interesting to see how she covers even more dramatic societal shifts and emotional upheaval with this promising, very enjoyable series.

theft, espionage, London, romance, family-dynamics, family, WW2, murder, historical-fiction****

Perhaps it takes a thief to catch a --spy?
Ellie usually works the safes and locks with her uncle but gets blackmailed by a supercilious army major apparently working in espionage. They get along like flint and steel but he needs her peculiar skills to plant false documents to out another agent and give false information to the Germans. There's a murder or two and some interesting adventures complete with suspense. Nice start to a new series!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley.

"A Peculiar Combination" by Ashley Weaver is the first of the Electra McDonnell historical fiction mystery series. This riveting novel is set during the second world war and introduces a fiery mixture of romance, adventure, and thriller. Despite the time period, Weaver offers a light-hearted read about how a motley crew can come together to protect their country.

Ellie McDonnell comes from a family with a less than savory reputation for being on the wrong side of the law. When Ellie and her Uncle's activities of hacking into safe's catch up with them, they are drafted into helping the military. A mission to hack a safe and swap some papers to send misinformation to the Nazis ends up going awry. Time is ticking down, the stakes are rising, and Ellie must do what she can to see this mission a success if she wants her country and its people to have a future.

Having a top-secret military mission dependent on the crafty abilities of criminals made this story highly enjoyable. Paired with Ellie's feisty attitude and her inability to back down from challenges (especially gendered ones) and Major Ramsey's determination to seek out and bring justice to those with ill will, sparks a fascinating, action-packed tale full of thrills and murder.

"A Peculiar Combination" is a novel fans of historical fiction don't want to miss! Already, the Electra McDonnell series is bound to a hit and well-enjoyed by many. Watch out for the upcoming series and the first novel on its expected publication date of May 11th, 2021.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press (Minotaur Books) for providing a free e-arc of this novel in exchange for an honest review!

I think that I could've liked this book more if I was more into the story (obviously) and the relationship between Ellie and Major Ramsey (I wasn't). I mean, I know that there was tension and whatever, but I just felt like it wasn't needed. Ellie is clearly a strong independent woman and I really loved that about her, but I would have loved to have seen her just go completely rogue and make it happen because she wanted it to happen, not because she was blackmailed and convinced to make it happen. I get it, and I appreciate the approach to the character and the storyline, but I just don't think this book was for me. I have a tough time with historical fiction and I find myself wanting more of the action and less of the history (which I know, makes no sense). Anyway, I would totally suggest this book to some of my students who love historical fiction, but I couldn't recommend it because I liked it, because I didn't... not really. It's all good though. Books are hard to write and I know for sure that there is an audience for Electra McDonnell... indeed there is.

🔓🔓🔓 (three stars as rated in locks picked by deft hands and finely honed skills)

I was given a free review copy of this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Electra McDonnell does her best to avoid attention —as a career thief and a lock-pick, her livelihood depends on it. It's not the ideal profession, but with World War II raging around her and most of her family off fighting the Germans, Electra is left with few other options. While following a tip about an unguarded safe in the heart of London, Electra and her Uncle Mick are caught in the act by the authorities. Electra is given a choice; aid the British war effort on one mission as a lock-pick or rot indefinitely in jail for her crimes. Electra may be a thief, but she's also loyal to crown and country. After all, it's just one mission...

"The constant goodbyes were the one part of war I knew I could never get used to."

Ashley Weaver is a real favorite of mine. I love her Amory Ames series. This one fell a bit flat for me, however. I was invested in Electra herself, but the story was rather convoluted. Also, there was so very little relationship development. The interactions between romantic partners is what I so loved about her Amory Ames books. I realize that this is a different series but... I guess I was just missing that bit. Hopefully we shall see things progress in book two? All in all, this was a quick and easy cozy mystery and if that's what you're looking for then you'd probably be keen on the twists and turns Weaver maps out in A Peculiar Combination.

✨ Rep in this book: n/a

✨ Content warnings for this book: themes of war and battle, kidnapping, murder, blood, death of a family member

A Peculiar Combination is a bit of a peculiar book. It really took me several chapters to really get into the story and feel like I had a handle on the characters. I really thought about not finishing it, but after reading several positive reviews I decided to keep going, and I am glad that I did. Once I really kind of figured Ellie out I began to enjoy her and root for her. The way she and her uncle were pulled into espionage slightly against their will was intriguing and fun. I really enjoyed the burgeoning, and very reluctant, relationship between Ellie and Major Ramsey.
This was a light, quick, easy read (after getting through the first few chapters) and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cozy period mystery. I would definitely read the next installment.

I know many early reviewers were big fans of Ashley Weaver’s previous series, the Amory Ames novels. I have not read any of Weaver’s other works, but can say that I am definitely a new fan after reading A Peculiar Combination! Weaver gives us a heroine to root for in the form of Electra “Ellie” McDonnell. She’s no wartime damsel in distress, instead she spends her days breaking into the safes of wealthy London families with her Uncle Mick. When a heist goes wrong, she’s given a choice: help the British government break into a safe containing sensitive information or be turned over to the police. The story is full of spies and murder like all good mysteries, but also gives you some humor and romance. This was a very enjoyable read and I'd recommend you pick up a copy to see if Ellie is able to keep the information from being turned over to the Germans!

What it really boils down to for me is: will I grab Electra McDonnell #2 whenever it comes out? Absolutely! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC.

A promising series opener with a unique heroine and an exciting WWII London setting. I will definitely be on the lookout for the next mystery featuring Elektra.

*Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

A Peculiar Combination
--An Electra McDonnell Novel.
By Ashley Weaver

Set in England during World War II, this riveting mystery novel is a fine delight for your eyes. This is a story about a strong woman, raised by men, who knows exactly how to carry herself in and about in the dangerous situations she gets entangled in. Ellie, the narrator of the story, we find out, was born in prison and was raised by her Uncle and two male cousins. She goes on to have one interesting spy adventure that has the accompaniment of romance and deep emotions. I found the writing at the end of the book to parallel thoughts that many of us encountering during this time of COVID.
“Would life ever go back to normal, the way it had once been? I supposed that it wouldn’t. It couldn’t. None of us could be what we had once been.” I can’t wait to read another one of Ashley Weaver’s novels.

This is the first time I've read something by Ashley Weaver. And this is the first in a new series. I enjoyed this book so much that I will likely seek out her other series while I'm waiting for the next installment in this one.

First, can I just say I ❤️ this cover!?!! And it’s always such a thrill when a favorite author (Amory Ames mysteries) starts a new series! So excited!

This one is set in 1940 London (WWII). Electra (Ellie) McDonnell and her beloved uncle are caught robbing a house and forced to assist in a clandestine government German spy ring investigation. She works for the stoic, by-the-book Major Ramsey, and there are a whole colorful cast of secondary characters that I fell in love with. But Electra is the true star here...a bright, beautiful, complex young woman with lots of wonderful moxie. Oh, and if you like love triangles, this one seems to be setting up a good one.

This initial story was so well-written and fleshed out that I felt instantly at home here...like I had been reading this series for ages. I’m looking forward to (hopefully) many adventures ahead!

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #Minotaur for providing me the early ARC for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This was very disappointing. What could have been an interesting, hard-edged mystery/spy thriller was enveloped and smothered by a cozy/improbable romance cocoon.. The lead character, a bright young thief enlisted to steal for the government during World War II becomes nothing more than a cliched, standard cozy romance perky character with a quirky background. The story takes forever to set up and the writing is pedestrian.

It's 1940 in wartime England. Ellie & her Uncle Mick are part-time thieves. They get caught one night breaking into a safe. But instead of going to jail, they're consigned into helping the British secret service (ie. spies). Unfortunately, on their first assignment, a dead body is found instead of the contents of the target. So of course, off they go to investigate as well as try to complete their mission.

I wouldn't consider this classified as a historical mystery but more of a spy/thriller with a mystery subplot. It wasn't as pressing as that of the spy conspiracy. It also has a twist in that the protagonist & her family are technically criminals. I liked that twist on the usual characters. There was some action as well.
The characters were likable. Even though it's against the law, you root for Ellie.
Major Ramsey is a formal/stuffed shirt/serious character. As this is labelled the first book in a series, I'm curious if he'll lighten up a bit as his character develops. there was good chemistry between the characters. I really liked Uncle Mick. While he's a cliche, he's charming none the less.


While the story moved slowly, the last few chapters were suspense filled. There were also a few surprises.

Overall, this was a good story that included elements of mystery, light romance, some humor & spies set against the background of a WWII London historical. It kept me interested because of the characters. It was a good start to a new series and I'll read the next one.

This is the first book that I've read by this author and I loved it. The premise of thieves working with government agents to uncover a Nazi spy ring is intriguing. The characters were well-drawn and the plot suspenseful. I'm looking forward to the second in this unusual series.

I started this book almost against my will. I love the Amory Ames series, and this seemed like it was going to be as different as could be (which is more or less true). But I received an ARC from NetGalley and I felt duty-bound to read and review it.

To my (very pleasant) surprise, I absolutely loved “A Peculiar Combination.” I have found it extremely difficult to concentrate on books during the last year- I literally cannot remember the last time I enjoyed a book as much as I did this one. That in itself was a gift, but the book is also very witty and well-researched.

The setting (1940 London) feels authentic without being overly grim, and the story is well-paced and believable. The characters are well-written and interesting, with hints of intriguing back stories.

I decided on four stars for this book fairly early on, since I felt it was a bit predictable. Alas, most of my predictions turned out to be incorrect- in ways both good and bad. My main problem with the book- and the reason I’m still giving it four stars- is that it has set us up for a potentially tedious “love triangle” subplot. (I have nothing against a well-done love triangle, IF it gets wrapped up in good time.) The romantic tension that had been building very satisfactorily between the main characters for most of the book seemed like it was finally going to come to SOMETHING, and then it just...didn’t.

While the ending was disappointing in that sense, I’m very much looking forward to the next book in the series.

Random note- including some sort of illustration of the inner workings of a safe might be helpful to many readers.

A Peculiar Combination by Ashley Weaver begins a new series for the author. I have followed her post WWI Amory Ames series from the first and have looked forward to each new addition.
This new series is every bit as intriguing.
The heroine is very unusual as is the pretext of the story. Dealing with German sympathizers and spies in England in 1940, the story shows what some seemingly non heroic citizens stepped up for their country.
I loved this book. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review

This is a fun, suspenseful first book in a new series taking place in WW2 England. Ellie McDonnell was raised by her uncle alongside two male cousins after the deaths of her parents. Uncle Mick is a locksmith who can also pick locks and crack safes and does so when the legitimate business isn't paying the bills. Ellie has learned his skills and helps on the jobs while her cousins are serving their country in the military. One fateful night they are caught and are given the choice of helping crack a safe for King and country or going to jail. Ellie and Uncle Mick choose to work with a stiff-necked Army major and his intelligence crew. This peculiar combination of patriots and thieves works against a Nazi spy ring, though never smoothly. I can't wait for the next installment!

This quick read hits several markers for me. The strong-willed protagonist struggles with right and wrong, her youthful inexperience and her mature womanhood, and the potential love of two distinctly different men. What choices will she make? Thief or spy? Help her family or her country? Take yourself back in time to war ravaged London in the 1940's. What lengths would you go to to survive? As an opening volume of a new British mystery series, I think the author has made a great start. My thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy.