The Electra McDonnell books are pure delight. They're full of suspense and intrigue, espionage, romance, and enough period detail to make a history lover's heart sing. Weaver's talented pen results in a story that moves fast while warming the heart. Her take on WWII London is spot on and I can't wait to read more books in this series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was the most action-packed novel in the series. Electra has had grown to be a capable agent and detective. The mystery was very suspenseful! It was full of twists and turns and high stakes! Thus, this was the best novel so far in the series!

Electra "Ellie" McDonnell was once a safe-cracking thief. Now, while London is constantly on edge with Germany's WWII Blitz, Ellie agrees to use her skills to help her country. She's given an assignment by British Intelligence and, under an assumed name, travels to the port city of Sunderland to wait for further orders. Before she can even get her orders, a man falls dead at her feet, a note clutch in his fist. Ellie is confident that this is going to play into her mission.

The British Intelligence agent that Ellie is to work with is Major Ramsey and he's been keeping the mission quite secret, even from his primary, undercover agent, Ellie. Now the two of them would be working together and rushing to uncover a new, deadly enemy before they become the next victims. They'll also be trying to uncover who's behind a Nazi counterfeiting ring - a scheme which, if successful, could be even more devastating than the bombing blitz.

Once again I've stepped late into a series. This is book number three in the Ellie McDonnell series, and for the most part, the story is well contained into this book. The mission, the sudden change in direction, the need to think and react quickly ... all of this is handled well and makes for a very nice historical fiction mystery.

But the character of Ellie, for whom the series is named, is missing some detail.

I really wanted to know more about Ellie, why she has the skills she does, and why the decision to become a better citizen. I recognize that the war has a great deal to do with the latter, but is there more to it? I can't help but wonder if some of this vital information about who Ellie is is revealed in one or both of the previous books.

Knowing more about Ellie would definitely have moved this book up a notch for me because I really didn't know if what she was doing was really outside her comfort zone, or if more of this was in her skill set.

I recognize that this is a tricky area - you don't want to bore the readers who've read the earlier books with repeat information, but a little refresher character history would be good.
Looking for a good book? Playing it Safe by Ashley Weaver was an enjoyable, though not particularly memorable, read.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

Ashley Weaver entangles Electra McDonnell in another spy adventure in World War II Britain in Playing it Safe.
Major Ramsey sends her undercover to port Sunderland to help him find the traitors who provide false documents to spies. Bodies start dropping, Her cover is an interest in birding; her skill is safecracking. Great action mystery.

I loved this book! I love every book in this series. They are page turners you don't want to put down.

Each installment of this series gets better and better. I could do without the love triangle and is the reason I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars. I am team Major Ramsey all the way. Ellie is sent to Sunderland during the height of the war on an undercover assignment. When she arrives a man falls dead in the street and she knows this has to be connected to her assignment in some way. Ellie and the Major team up to solve the mystery of the man's death and attempt to uncover a Nazi undercover operation. Excellent writing and storytelling. Excellent character development. Can't wait for the next book in this series.

Playing It Safe is book 3 in the Electra McDonnell series. Continuing the tale of a "former" safecracker who now works for the good guides in WW2 Britain.
Besides the spunky heroine, dashing hero, spies, Germans, and the London Blitz you also have the "boy next door" comfortable friend who might be more. But Felix seems to have his own secrets and even in book three the reader isn't yet quite sure what they are.

I love the secrets and the mystery. Electra is spunky but does have trouble waiting for full instructions from the Major who hired her. Which tends to complicate the particular case they are on as well as developing feelings they have for each other.

I grabbed this one as soon as I could from Netgalley. I cannot wait for book four.

My new favorite heroine. All three books in the series have been worth staying up late to finish the book. Looking forward to the next installment.

Another great book from Ashley Weaver! Loved this WWII mystery with a touch of romance. Can't wait to read Locked in Pursuit, or anything else Weaver writes!

‘As the Blitz continues to ravage London, Ellie McDonnell—formerly a safecracking thief, but currently determined to stay on the straight and narrow to help her country—is approached by British Intelligence officer Major Ramsey with a new assignment. She is to travel under an assumed identity to the port city of Sunderland and there await further instructions. In his usual infuriating way, the Major has left her task as vague and mysterious as possible.


Ellie, ever-ready to aid her country, heads north, her safecracking tools in tow. But before she can rendezvous with the major, she witnesses an unnatural death. A man falls dead in the street in front of her, with a note clutched in his hand. Ellie’s instincts tell her that the man’s death is connected in some way to her mission.


Soon, Ellie and the major are locked in a battle of wits and a race against time with an unknown and deadly adversary, and a case that leads them to a possible Nazi counterfeiting operation. With bombs dropping on the city and a would-be assassin shadowing their every move, it will take all of Ellie’s resourcefulness and Major Ramsey’s fortitude to unmask the spymaster and avert disastrous consequences—for England and for their own lives.
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4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 stars.


Playing It Safe by Ashey Weaver is the third installment in the Electra McDonnell seriesand is a historical mystery set in England during World War II.


Up top, I’ll get my critique out of the way- I do think this is the least subtle Ellie has ever been on a job so far and I’m honestly surprised she didn’t encounter more danger than she did. She’s an amateur sleuth, yes. But her family is a bunch of safe-breakers that operate in the shadows. Their whole thing is picking all the locks to get into a job and back out of it and never leaving a trace to indicate they were there. But her bumbling did make for an interesting story, mainly because it upped the stakes as the story progressed as more and more people became suspicious of this visiting stranger.


There is a healthy dose of danger and adventure in this one and that’s what I look for in these types of books, so therefore I’m on board! This one has just enough danger, without feeling cheesy or overdone… although maybe a bit of it was a tad cliché. I’m not too good for some tropiness and cliché, I enjoyed it. There’s some progress made with the Major, as well as the mystery with Electra’s mother. I’ll be interested to see where the next book takes both of those plotlines.


I recommend reading this series in order, but it’s not crucial to do so. However I do think you should at least read Book 1 first to have a clearer picture of Electra’s family and how they came to the attention of the Major and his work. Looking forward to the next in the series.
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I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books for sharing an eARC of Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver with me. This is my honest review.

I love the punniness (I know it may not be a word) of the title of this book. It is the third in a series and, those who already know the books, know that safes are part of them. Readers of the first two books will be delighted with this new entry. Those just coming to the series will, I think, quickly make their way to the backlist.

Spend time with Electra/Ellie in WWII Britain under the shadow of the Blitz. Ellie is a woman of many talents, of which safe cracking is a big one. That said, she is trying to stay on the side of law and order as the story opens. Will she be able to do so as the Major of the Intelligence Department gives her new directives?

In this exciting story, readers will find counterfeiters, spies, murder and loads of excitement. It is a page turning ride for readers and highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this title. All opinions are my own.

I thank Ashley Weaver, Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this novel and provide an unbiased review.

This segment in the story of Ellie McDonnell was, I think, playing it safe. The cozy wartime espionage story put Ellie on a road trip and set up further contrast between her childhood male friend and her handsome upperclass military superior.

Elements of the story are enjoyable, the historical accuracy level seems high. The characters for me have run out of steam. The break-ins and close calls are becoming set pieces. The drip-drip of clues about her parents’ situation can’t keep up any sort of excitement. The cliffhanger bomb at the end sets up the next story but I think that I am done.

Enjoyable at 3 stars.

Electra McDonnell has a new assignment from British Intelligence Major Ramsay. Her unique skills are needed in the countryside. Having survived the Blitz in London, time in the country sounds good, but Electra is keener to once again work a case with the major. With this assignment, she's to travel undercover and hopefully, they will uncover a German spy ring.

Amazon affiliate links are used on this site. A free book was provided for an honest review.

Playing It Safe by Ashley Weaver is book three in the Electra McDonnell mystery series. I have read the previous two books, but you can start with this one as Electra and Major Ramsay travel outside of London and many of the regular characters do not make an appearance in this book. Actually, this might be a good one to read first as you really get to know Electra and Major Ramsay.

I've been a little ambivalent about the series but I really enjoyed this book. I think I enjoyed it more because it did focus so much on Electra and Ramsay.

The mystery was really good too. British Intelligent doesn't know much about who is involved, but they know that a publisher's printing press is being used by Germans or German-sympathizers.

For readers who like a little romance in their cozy mysteries, there are definitely a few sparks flying. But of course, they are too professional to act upon any feelings they might have for each other.

Overall, this was a really great read. If you enjoy historical cozy mysteries, then this is definitely a book to pick up.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Monday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2023/07/playing-it-safe-by-ashley-weaver-review.html

This is the 3rd in a World War II mystery series starring Electra McDonnel. Ellie was born in Holloway prison where her mother was jailed for her father's murder, and has been drafted into intelligence work by Major Ramsey.

After she establishes herself in a lodging house in Sunderland, a port city, as Elizabeth Donaldson, she witnesses a suspicious death.

When the Major shows up, it becomes a race against time to stop a counterfeiting operation creating identities for German spies.

I have arrived at my last Electra McDonnell WWII-spy-thriller-mystery-romance and all I can say is: there better be a book #4…because, woo-ee!!, what an ending, satisfying in many ways and anticipating so much. Thank you, Ashley Weaver. I think. *drums fingers* wondering when the next book will be out…

Book #3 sees our intrepid Miss Electra “Ellie” McDonnell reunited with the handsome, still-waters-run-deep, stony-exterior-hides-fires-beneath Major Gabriel Ramsey on another mission to ferret out German spies. In this case, Ellie and Ramsey find themselves in Sunderland, German bombs going off, rife with traitors and spies. Ellie is out of her London element, family, and away from love-triangle-love-interest Felix Lacy (I’m staunchly Team Ramsey, btw). The publisher’s blurb will fill in the details:

As the Blitz continues to ravage London, Ellie McDonnell—formerly a safecracking thief, but currently determined to stay on the straight and narrow to help her country—is approached by British Intelligence officer Major Ramsey with a new assignment. She is to travel under an assumed identity to the port city of Sunderland and there await further instructions. In his usual infuriating way, the Major has left her task as vague and mysterious as possible.

Ellie, ever-ready to aid her country, heads north, her safecracking tools in tow. But before she can rendezvous with the major, she witnesses an unnatural death. A man falls dead in the street in front of her, with a note clutched in his hand. Ellie’s instincts tell her that the man’s death is connected in some way to her mission.

Soon, Ellie and the major are locked in a battle of wits and a race against time with an unknown and deadly adversary, and a case that leads them to a possible Nazi counterfeiting operation. With bombs dropping on the city and a would-be assassin shadowing their every move, it will take all of Ellie’s resourcefulness and Major Ramsey’s fortitude to unmask the spymaster and avert disastrous consequences—for England and for their own lives.

By the time a reader reaches book #3 in a series, it’s not an HEA, it’s a marriage and it’ll either be in trouble, or happy as a lark. Either there will be a split, or the commitment will grow deeper. In my case, with Weaver’s series, I’m invested, I’m curious, and I’m waiting book #4. A review then becomes not only a praising of the present volume, but a recommendation to read the series because the journey is great, even when volumes rise or fall in the details. I think #2 may be my favourite plot-wise, but romance-wise, #3 has my heart. Because Major Ramsey and Ellie have to, once again, pose as a romancing couple, and, once again, their pesky feelings and attraction make things all too easy…and too difficult. And here’s the reason I will continue to read the series:

“It would be… ill-advised to pursue anything along personal lines,” he said. “Not to mention unethical. I am, for all intents and purposes, your superior officer, and my behavior was an unpardonable breach.” “I understand,” I said, wanting to cut him off before he went on listing excuses. “It should not have happened.” I shrugged, trying to maintain an air of nonchalance. “It was only a kiss. If we were a little attracted to each other, perhaps that kiss…doused the spark, so to speak.” “That is not, as a general rule, how it works,” he said in a low voice. I forced myself to look up at him and managed a tight smile. “Well, it will have to work this time, won’t it?”

Playing It Safe has intrigue and mystery, a great setting, with miles of deserted, albeit barb-wired shoreline, coastal birds, a manor that may or may not be involved in German spying and a counterfeiting ring, which Ramsey and Ellie have to enter in the dead of night and break into the vault. But it’s in the characterization that I’ve learned to love the series.

Major Ramsey is handsome, honorable, dedicated, super-human in his resolve and strength (except when it comes to Ellie, which is delicious), but he is an unchanging character. He’s lovely. However, I love what Weaver does with Ellie: brought up to skirt the law, break it, benignly, by jewel-thieving, Ellie’s involvement with Major Ramsey and their pursuit of German spies for their country changes her. She doesn’t reject who she is, where she comes from, and her loyalty and love for her family is unwavering, but she does love the sense of right and purpose working with Gabriel Ramsey gives her.

We can see how she will often muse that she doesn’t know what might come next for her, she can only focus on the war and what she must do to play her part in it. But she also knows, in occasional musings, she cannot return to who she was before: she enjoys having purpose. (Of course, her search for answers about her mother brings on further revelations, but it is the present that is changing her, not the past.) For now, another wonderful addition to what has become an anticipated series for me. With Miss Austen, we say the latest Electra McDonnell offers “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Ashley Weaver’s Playing It Safe is published by Minotaur Books. It was released in early May of 2023. I received an e-ARC from Minotaur Books, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review. This does not impede the free expression of my opinion.

Major Ramsey is back and it means a new job for Electra (Ellie) McDonnell, part locksmith/part recovering burglar. She's off to stay in a boarding house in Sunderland with basically no information about her assignment other than being sent with a copy of a birding book for no obvious reason. Early on, just as she's getting to meet some people in the neighborhood a man who helped her near the train station is hit by a car and killed. The coincidence seems to be too much and Ellie starts to snoop. Again, this is a spy novel that rolls out with information little by little and there's not a lot to be shared without spoilers galore. But it is an entertaining story with new characters from Sunderland and, of course, Major Ramsey. So, this is a WWII spy novel with engaging characters, a good plot and it was a fast, entertaining read. We see less of Ellie's family this time and I look forward to their return.

I may not have mentioned it in earlier reviews, but the reason Ellie was raised by her uncle was because her mother died in prison after being convicted of killing her father. She has some reason to believe her mother was innocent and has been getting help here and there throughout the series in her effort to find out more about this. It looks like this might be shaping up to be the next entry in the series. Definitely a good series. Enjoy!

This series just gets better and better and I loved this installment. The romantic chemistry in this one was icing on the cake. The ending was amazing and i look forward to book 4.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing mewith a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

London is still in the Blitz, so Ellie McDonnell jumps at the chance Major Ramsey offers of undercover work for King and Country. She is to travel to the coastal town of Sunderland and wait for further instructions. Which she does, but almost immediately, odd and dangerous things begin happening, and naturally, Ellie being Ellie, she starts investigating on her own, in her undercover personna of course. Even when Major Ramsey comes on the scene, things get pretty dicey, and the two really are dealing with spies and saving King and Country in this very exciting entry in the series.
Can't tell very much about it as it is very twisty and don't want to give any away, but this one is about relationships as well as undercover spy work and how very very hard those two go together. Friendships, romance, what is real and what isn't. And the sacrifice required and given. While much of this series is lighthearted, this is no cozy. Very exciting, surprising amount of emotional content, good character development. Really excellent series. Highly recommended.

Thank you Minotaur and NetGalley for the eARC of Playing It Safe! All opinions in this review are my own.

I don't know how she does it, but Ashley Weaver has managed to make each book in the Electra McDonnell series better than the last!

In Playing It Safe, Electra is tasked with another mission from Major Ramsey, and this time it is in Sunderland. When Electra leaves her family in London during the Blitz, she has very little information regarding her role in their latest adventure. All she knows is her new identity and to wait for the major to contact her. When trouble finds Electra first, she must use all that she has learned to protect her country and her own life.

I love this series and it makes it even better that I share it with Sito. She was so excited to learn that I had an early copy of the book, so much so that she learned to use a Kindle to read it! Sito read Playing It Safe over the course of a few days and said she couldn't put it down! It is not an exaggeration that she has been talking about this one for months and keeps asking when the next one is coming out!

While it did take me longer to get to, Playing It Safe did not disappoint! In addition to the mysteries Electra must solve, the question of will she pick Felix or Major Ramsey grows even more (even though I know who I want her to choose)! The larger story arc of Electra discovering more about her parents also helps to really tie the series together. After this ending, I am impatiently waiting for the fourth book in the series!

In her third adventure helping Major Ramsay break into places where they shouldn't be, Electra McDonnell, thief turned spybuster, gets the chance to get out on her own a bit. Uncle Mick, Felix and the rest of the crew are left to their own devices, and Ellie goes to help the Major investigate a mysterious publishing house in Sunderland. Leaving Ellie to her own devices is never a great idea though, and the bodies begin to pile up.

I'm a fan of Ashley Weaver's Electra McDonnell character. Weaver has built enough of a backstory over the two books that we want to know more about what has made her who she is. We don't get a ton of that in this book, but surprisingly, Ellie is able to draw more out of her opposite number, the dashing Major Ramsay, and its his backstory that we get a little more of this time.

There's a good story here, but I didn't find the plot as compelling as in the first two books. It felt a bit as though the point of this book was to move the Ellie/Ramsay plot forward, as well as give us another small piece in Ellie's history.

Thanks to Minotaur books and NetGalley for the e-arc.