Ellie McDonnell, locksmith and safecracker, finds herself helping the government once again during the Blitz. Her contact Major Ramsey sends her to the northeast coast of England to help him investigate a possible ring of counterfeiters. Ellie is needed to get him into a building and a safe, and she also befriends the locals, hoping to learn who might be involved with the criminals.

This is the third entry in the series but can be read independently. The premise of a family of thieves doing their but to help the war effort is intriguing and Ellie is an appealing heroine. The last book made much of the romantic triangle between Ellie and Major Ramsey plus Felix, Ellie's childhood friend and possible suitor, but the mystery takes precedence over romance in this book and I enjoyed it much more.

Let your identity be a giant question mark.

Electra "Ellie" McDonnell does exactly that. She's transforming her current life into something quite different from what she's always known. It's 1940 and the British Military Intelligence spotted Ellie as key to their current operations. A former safe cracker, pickpocket artist, and small-time crime aficionado, Ellie has just the right skills to enhance their efforts in spying on the Germans.

Major Ramsey, cool, calm, and collected with a killer handsome face, has approached Ellie for further work with this military operation. Ellie has worked with them in the past two books prior to this one. Not to worry: Playing It Safe reads perfectly as a standalone with all the background info tucked in nicely.

Currently, London is being bombarded by the German Blitz. Ellie doesn't wish to leave her family, but Ramsey convinces her that she'll be back in no time and she's important to the war effort. Her destination is Sunderland, a port city that serves as a ship building center. Ellie will be known as Liz Donaldson who will be closing up her late aunt's house in this city. Ramsey informs her that there's speculation of a Nazi counterfeiting operation under way here.

The very first day Liz is shoved in front of an oncoming car. She's rescued just in time by a stranger. But this guy turns up dead the next day. And the body count keeps ratcheting up. Someone is hushing those voices permanently. Will Ellie be next?

Ashley Weaver writes a quick-witted, fast- paced novel here. She has a stellar way with bringing her characters to life and surrounding them with high tension during these war years. I've enjoyed the development of the character of Ellie who won't sit in a corner waiting for direction from Ramsey. She's got top-of-the-line analytical skills of her own. But she's met with the ingrained male resistance of the time period until she proves she's heads above many of these male officers and their approaches.......Just you wait and see.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Minotaur Books and to Ashley Weaver for the opportunity.

I am loving this series more & more with each book.

There were a few plot points here where you just have to suspend disbelief & go with it, (e.g. Ellie making fast friends with all the right suspects and being repeatedly left in situations that thanks to her special skill-set, she's perfectly situated to get out of) -- but I really enjoy the mysteries and Ellie's confidence and lock-picking/safe-cracking skills. I also am enjoying the slow build of the the romance between Ellie & Major Ramsey - they are great together!

This one ends on a little bit of a cliffhanger, and I'm curious how many books will be in the series.

Every time I hear about a new Ashley Weaver novel I try to make myself wait before picking it up because I know it will be over before I'm ready for the adventure to close and I'll have to wait what feels like an eternity for the next one. Unfortunately I seem to lack any self control when I see her name pop up on NetGalley and before I know it I'm nearing the dreaded words, "the end."

"Playing it Safe" did not disappoint and I am waiting with bated breath for the next installment to see what intrigue awaits for Electra!

This newest addition to the Electra McDonnell mystery series was a definite change of pace. I did miss familiar faces like Uncle Mick, Felix, and Nacy. That being said, it was interesting to see what Electra could do away from London and her family. It was also fun to watch her make new friends and contacts. I particularly enjoyed the way that birding and ornithology were brought into the story.

Some of the overarching storylines began to pick up in this book. I’m hoping we’ll start to get answers in book 4. Also, it looks like Electra may be dangerously close to resolving that love triangle between herself, Felix, and Major Ramsey.

Ellie McDonnell is tapped for a solo mission in Sunderland and is all too eager to demonstrate her value to Major Ramsey. She gets pulled into the case much quicker than the Major intended when a man falls dead at her feet in the street. Rushing to his aid, she finds a note clutched in his hand that she can't ignore, and she breaks into the man's room to investigate. In addition to the espionage activities in the north of England, Ellie gets surprising information about her mother and father. Can't wait for the next installment!

Thanks to St. Martin's Press for access to an ARC on NetGalley.

Ellie McDonnell belongs to a family of safecrackers and thieves. But when a job goes awry they are caught by Major Ramsey who now uses their skills to his advantage, helping him with clandestine missions for aBritish Intelligence on the home-front of WW2. Here, Ramsey sends Ellie undercover to a small village, but with little in the way of information regarding her mission. Almost immediately Ellie stumbles into a murder. Could it be tied in some way to a potential ring of counterfeiters?

This is the third book in the Electra McDonnell series, but the first that I’ve read. This is such a well-written and engaging novel that not reading the previous books in the series is no problem. But now I definitely must go back and read the previous books!
Weaver does an excellent job of transporting the reader back in time to Britain during World War II. The vivid detail makes it easy to imagine yourself walking the streets alongside the characters. And speaking of characters, with Electra McDonnell Weaver has created a fully developed, complex main protagonist. She is intelligent, resourceful, and independent, but she is also struggling with personal relationships, the situations she is placed in, and the limitations placed her as a woman.
Playing It Safe made for a fabulous introduction to the Electra McDonnell series. It’s a well-written mystery with a strong main character, a rich and detailed setting, an engaging plot, and some romance thrown in. As I said, I’ll be going back to read the other books, and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

4.5 stars rounded up. Ashley Weaver kicks everything up a notch with this story, and I loved it! Although I enjoy the colorful cast of friends and family members from the first two books, having Ellie and the Major go undercover together on a mission out of town let both of them really shine as characters. Lots of drama, suspense and romantic tension throughout, and an interesting mystery with surprising twists and turns.

Ellie is recruited by the Major to help on a mystery mission in Sunderland and given basically no information about what the investigation entails other than her cover story, train tickets and a book about birds. Within minutes of arriving at her destination, someone tries to push her in front of oncoming traffic but is saved by a stranger. Hours later, that same stranger ends up dead in the street in front of her B&B exhibiting signs of cyanide poisoning. Ellie puts her spy skills to work to start investigating the murder, including working her way into the group of locals that seem to be hiding secrets. The Major poses as Ellie's boyfriend/husband (depending on their audience) as they try to get to the bottom of the suspected espionage ring operating out of the town.

Without spoiling anything, there are some welcome developments in the love triangle (of sorts) between Ellie, Felix and the Major, which should make the next installment very interesting. We also get some further reveals about Ellie's parents and the mystery of her father's murder. I can't wait to read more in this series!

Thank you to Minotaur and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Ashley Weaver has the rare ability to make each successive book in a series just as captivating as the first. In Playing it Safe, Ellie is once again offered an assignment with Major Ramsey. But though far away from the bombs dropping on London, this case puts her in more peril than either of them anticipated. Grab your birding book and come along to Sunderland for a rather wild ride!

Usually, the hint of a love triangle would bother me. But somehow, it fits with the wartime setting. (And I know which man I hope is the best man in the end!)

You'll want to read this series in order, because though each title has its own puzzle, there's a deeper mystery that Ellie is trying to solve on a personal level throughout the series.

5 stars! Even though the love triangle is still triangling… but it might be starting to die.

This is probably my favourite instalment in the Electra McDonnell series, so far. The action takes us away from London for the first time and the story focuses more on Ellie and less on her family, compared to the previous books.

I had an amazing time with this. The possible relationship development made me squee! Plus, we got introduced to a new character, who is on the side of our spy team and I would very much like to see more of them in future books!

If you enjoyed the other books in the series, I can’t think of a reason why this one wouldn’t also be a hit for you!

It does end on the meanest cliffhanger of them all, though. And I’m quite grumpy about the fact that I have to wait for the next book.

Another winning novel from Ashley Weaver. Ellie is asked once again to use her skills in service to the British government. Sent to a seaside town though, she has no idea what the assignment is. Of course, she assumes that her lock picking and safe cracking skills will be needed. Mystery, intrigue and romance all rolled into one.

I absolutely loved this book! Ashley Weaver has done it again! The slow burn between Ellie and the Major has me desperately wanting more. The story is exciting and keeps the reader guessing what is going on. Ellie, Major, and Felix is the perfect love triangle because I really love all of the characters and want the best for all of them, I hate when the author plunges a character's personality to get the reader to go for the chosen guy, but Weaver makes you wanting all! I would recommend this to anyone looking for the perfect cozy mystery!!

One of the best new mystery series out there. Every volume delivers and this is no exception! It is the perfect blend of mystery and romance with so much great World Wat 2 detail. I am enjoying that there's an ongoing mystery over the dead mother which rewards faithful readers but its not too much detail that new readers are lost. And such a great spy mystery. So much detail that reveal a diverse homefront. As for the romance....it's pure torture but I'm so happy that readers are left hanging! I need more of this will they won't they story injected into my veins its so good. This is one of my number one romance mysteries to recommend.

Oh. My. Goodness. I was already a little obsessed with this series, and when I found out I was approved for an ARC to read this new installment early, I literally squealed. I am glad to report that it absolutely did NOT disappoint.

The mystery was intriguing, the new characters were interesting (even away from all the ones we'd met before other than Maj. Ramsey), the romance was PERFECT. (well, almost. no spoilers here.)

I wish they would turn these books into a television series. I would absolutely watch the heck out of it. Plus I seriously need to see live versions of Major Ramsey and Felix!

Ellie is really growing into her own as a spy from book-to-book, and I'm excited to see what she gets to do next! Waiting for the next book in this series is going to be so, so hard.

*I received a free advance copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review.*

London is under attack and danger has become its citizen’s bedfellow. Safecracker and thief Ellie McDonnell helps her country as recompense after a theft gone wrong. Her would-be jailer? Major Ramsey of British Intelligence and he plans to use her specialized skillset to end the war.

Her assignment- travel undercover to the port city of Sunderland and wait for further instructions- irritating man. Is it her fault she narrowly avoids death thanks to a chivalrous gentleman, only to witness his demise shortly after her arrival? And then there’s the puzzling note gripped in his lifeless hand.

The mystery begins.

A possible Nazi counterfeiting ring allowing spies to hide under their very eyes, an assassin who will stop at nothing to protect the German’s secret, and a building romance between Ellie and the Major makes this a thrilling page-turner.

I’m loving this series!

Best series ever!! Huge Thank You to NetGalley for the chance to read this book!! Not sure how I can survive waiting for the next one… I love each book in this series (that never happens). Excellent storytelling and fascinating characters!!

I don’t want to give any spoilers, but if you have read the previous two books in the series, you will love this one as well!

Electra and Gabriel continue to circle closer to each other as she takes on another mission for him, this time in the coastal town of Sunderland. This series continues to find its feet as it goes, and gets stronger with each book.

The third in the series, Playing It Safe continues to develop the relationship between Ellie McDonnell and her annoying boss (more or less) Major Ramsey. The mystery was interesting, featuring possible espionage and traitors in the early days of World War 2. Ellie is an excellent heroine - independent, resourceful, risk-taking but not stupidly so. Major Ramsey could be more forthcoming with details in the early days of Ellie's assignment; some of his refusal to explain seemed like a way to draw out the action. Overall an exciting adventure and satisfying addition to the series, best read in order to enjoy the character and relationship development.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books (St. Martin's Press) for the ARC.

I was recently perusing Netgalley and came across Playing It Safe, the third book in the Electra McDonald series. It was a read now, so I immediately downloaded and started reading. And I absolutely loved it!

Ellie is such a smart and entertaining character and I’ve appreciated seeing her grow with each book. I’ve also enjoyed her interactions with Major Ramsey. They’ve had chemistry since the beginning but with little action on it.

Well book 3 definitely stirs things up. Away from family and friends while on an assignment, the two have a chance to to learn about each other outside of “work”. Ummm..let’s just say there are some definite sparks!

Being a mystery series, of course there is a crime to solve. And for this outing quite a twisted one that I enjoyed puzzling through. This may be my favorite of the series. I’m just sad because I know I have awhile to wait for the next one.

Such a great series! I love that the main character Ellie isn’t your typical do-gooder. She takes her knowledge from her family’s life of petty crime to assist in war-related cases.

This was a particularly great addition to the series. There was so much mystery around the closed printing press, a small group of friends, a death by cyanide. These books toe the line between fantastic mystery and enthralling spy novel. I can’t wait for the next since each one seems to get even better. Can’t wait to see what comes of her research into her mother and father.

Thank you to #NetGalley, #StMartinsPress and #Minotaur Books for the advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.