Those Detective ladies!—Rip roaring adventure once again!

I’m on tenterhooks the whole time I read an Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge novel. The ‘Lady from Burma’ was no exception.
A client whose suffering from cancer seeks the help of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Mrs. Adela Remagen wants to make a booking for her husband for use after her death. But apparently she now seems to have suicided out of London in Epping Forest, Essex County.
Meanwhile Gwen has being invited to a Bainbridge board meeting as an observer and seems to be running afoul of her lunacy guardian.
Gwen’s courtcase to remove the lunacy clause doesn’t go according to plan.
And that’s just the beginning. I can say no more without revealing too much.
Suffice to say there’s a great deal of dirty work coming at the ladies from more than one direction
A page turner indeed!

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

I absolutely loved this book. This series just gets better and better. Both Iris and Gwen really shone in this book and the way they handled their business despite so many people trying to take them down had me so invested in their stories. They also have the best banter. I enjoyed how this book focused so much on Gwen's fight for freedom and how even in her darkest moments she had loving family and Iris there to help her continue to be strong and fight. The way the mysteries started and unraveled thanks to The Right Sort, under the guise of simple match making was so well executed and what makes this series even more intriguing. I was shocked by so many twists and by so much of the danger Iris and Gwen faced, and how almost seamlessly they dodged those twists and persevered against the odds. These brilliant women are some of my very favorite fictional amateur detectives. I already cannot wait for more!

It's probably only fair to admit right up front that this is one of my favorite series thanks to the twisty clever mysteries and even more to to Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge, two very different women who have bonded to run their marriage bureau and solve crimes in post WWII London. Whew. Gwen, a widow, is officially a "lunatic" thanks to a suicide attempt after her beloved Nathan was killed- but she's about to gain her legal freedom and take her rightful place on the board of his family's firm. Not so fast. At the same time, the Marriage Bureau is approached by a dying woman who wants them to find her husband, a bug expert, a new wife when she dies and- wow- at almost the same time- by a young women who loves moths, having studied them at Oxford. Sparks has always liked beetles (I know) and makes good use of her connections when..no spoilers. Gwen makes a spectactularly bad decision that lands her in hot water but with the help of Iris, her household staff, her father in law, and her friends, manages to save the day. Iris and Gwen both struggle a bit with their romantic (or not) interests. This is more Gwen's story than Iris but never count Iris out. I'm not sure that this would be as enjoyable as a standalone because the personal stories (especially of Gwen) have been building but the mystery is so twistily good and it doesn't require prior knowledge of the characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Great read.

Well written and entertaining as historical fiction. Excellent character development, with an A+ for two very strong female protagonists. But, with half of the book to read before the central crime occurs and the subsequent investigation often taking a backseat to other storylines, this is definitely a slow burn as a mystery.

For me this was an entertaining but not always engaging read.



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“The Lady from Burma” (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #5) by Allison Montclair ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Historical Mystery. Location: London, England. Time: Post-WWII. NOTE: Unfortunately, the Court of Lunacy and being labeled a lunatic by the court were real things. The language is appropriate to the times.

THE SERIES: In post-war London, two partners start The Right Sort Marriage Bureau in the heart of Mayfair. Quick-witted and impulsive Miss Iris Sparks is a woman with a secret past in British intelligence. Sensitive, intuitive Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a war widow with a young son, is entangled in a rigid aristocratic family. Most of their clients want to restart lives in a changed world, but somehow mystery and murder finds its way to The Right Sort.

THIS BOOK: Murder once again finds Iris and Gwen:
*Dying of cancer, Mrs. Adele Remagen seeks their help to find the next wife for her entomologist husband. When she's found dead in Epping Forest, it appears to be suicide. Sparks and Bainbridge don’t believe it.
Meanwhile, Miss Effie Seagrim, entomologist, shows up at The Right Sort seeking a husband. Coincidence?
*Gwen tries to regain legal control of her life from Mr Parsons, the conservator who manages her assets in his own interests-and she rashly and loudly complains about that. When he’s found dead, she is a prime suspect.
Meanwhile, Miss Forsberg’s father is trying to marry her off a.s.a.p.- and she agrees. But Sparks and Bainbridge think something’s fishy.

Author Montclair’s characters are complex, strong women, full of heart even through the challenges of a lunacy trial. (“To think that a man who wears a wig that length and a costume 2 centuries out of date in public gets to be the one who decides whether I’m sane or not!” said Gwen) Her writing style is clever and witty: “…a ready-to-wear suit that had become more apprehensive than ready over time.”

The characters are unforgettable and charming, the plot and subplots are substantial and fun, the historical details are fascinating-it’s a perfectly lovely book to read and it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️ Thank you to Minotaur Books, Allison Montclair, and NetGalley for this early ecopy. Publishes 7/25/2023.

I am not sure "The Lady From Burma" is REALLY what the story is about, but it was a fun read. There is some love, murder, and intrigue so it makes for a read. I think I'd really enjoy this as a vacation read - something you need to focus on, but not too much. I haven't read any of the other books from this series, but I do not believe you need to, as there is enough context to understand the main characters. I enjoyed it!

This is the first book I've read in this series, so I possibly missed a bit of the backstory, but I was still able to really enjoy this book.

Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge run "The Right Sort Marriage Bureau" - a matchmaking agency in London - just after the end of WWII. One day, a woman, "The Lady from Burma", walks in and makes an unusual request. As Iris and Gwen fight their own personal battles of life and love, they also must help their clients and uncover a murderer. Of course, all their lives are intertwined in unexpected ways and interesting characters turn up many times!!

I really enjoyed reading this cozy mystery. The plot moved quickly and I was able to start to get to know the characters (would have been easier if I had been familiar with them from previous books, but ok nonetheless).

I would definitely read another book in this series!!

No graphic violence or sex/mild language.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book. #sponsored

Alison Montclair has written another wonderful Sparks and Bainbridge book!

This time, the ladies are finding a match for a man who will soon be widowed, paid for by his wife (who is dying of cancer). Gwen is anxiously awaiting her hearing to be declared sane and able to take over her own financial affairs and gain custody of her son. And both ladies are trying to figure out their love lives.

What I love about these books are how they illuminate the struggles women faced (or face) in controlling their own futures. The writing is crisp and full of humor, but also compassion for the conditions of the poor, the criminally insane and women.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book!

Gwen and Iris are so great. Loved this mystery. It all started when a lady who used to live in Burma came in to find a new wife for her husband. It was such an unexpected request, and the ladies were reluctant to fulfill the request until Gwen spoke with her privately. In the meantime, Gwen's lunacy hearing is coming up and she has been asked to sit in on a board meeting in anticipation of her being released by the court. Nothing is turning out the way she thought it would go and matters go from bad to worse. When the lady from Burma ends up dead in a forest, Gwen is sure she did not commit suicide and there is one policeman who agrees with her. As Gwen is trying to prove that she is sane, Iris is busy trying to find the person who killed the lady from Burma. When the two things come together, Gwen and Iris have to come up with a plan to solve both problems. Are they linked?

I absolutely LOVE this series. It’s witty and well-crafted. I rushed through the first four books in the series in two days of my summer break and then settled in with this entry. The two heroines/detectives are quite unlikely. Iris Sparks spent WWII working intelligence for the British. She was also trained in all sorts of spycraft and self-defense. She’s tough and damaged. And she’s dating a prominent gangster. Her partner is Mrs. Gwn Bainbridge, the aristocratic widow of a wealthy scion of a munitions and mineral company who died during the war. Gwen lost it when she found out her husband had died and tried to kill herself. She was confined to an institution for the crazy for half a year and lost her rights to be guardian for her adorable six-year old son and to control her inheritance from her husband which includes a 40% stake in the family business. She’s been struggling through all the earlier books to regain control over her life.

Meanwhile, Iris and Gwen have teamed up to operate a marriage bureau to help lonely people in 1946 Britain to find spouses. It is a very unlikely business, but somehow it keeps leading the pair to be involved in solving murders. That’s not the best occupation for someone trying to convince a misogynist court system that she is not a lunatic.

Add in obvious shenanigans by the cretinous lawyer who has been assigned to control her financial stake in the company and two murders and you have a fascinating and fun mystery.

The side characters are fun and interesting. The setting is well-done as we see the difficulties that the British people are facing a year after the end of the war as the economy is still uncertain with shortages and rationing.

I stayed up late reading this and couldn’t put it down. Now I’m sad that I’ll have to wait for the next entry into this series. I recommend starting with the first book in the series so that you get to know the other characters and the back-stories for the two main characters. You won’t regret it.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

July has been almost too delicious for words. First was the long awaited return of Sujata Massey’s Perveen Mistry series; and then, just as eagerly anticipated (by me) is the new book in Allison Montclair’s Sparks and Bainbridge series. Five books in, fans of the series know that Gwen Bainbridge and Iris Sparks run The Right Sort marriage bureau in postwar London. Iris did undercover work during the war; Gwen lost her husband, fell apart, and was literally declared a lunatic by her husband’s family, who have custody of her child and have put the portion of the family company she’s inherited from her husband under the control of the lunacy court. It looks like, in book five, that the form of purdah Gwen finds herself in is about to be lifted. Her lawyer is hopeful and so is Gwen.

Meanwhile, she and Iris have been approached by a woman from Burma (hence the title) who has waited out the war for her husband to return from the Burma jungles. When he comes home, however, she finds she has cancer, and she’s at The Right Sort to make sure he’ll be looked after when she’s gone. This has Gwen in tears and the practical Iris arranging financial details. Gwen is certain she’s talked the woman out of suicide, but it’s not long before the woman’s body is discovered, an apparent suicide. This is a mystery novel, however, and it is far more likely, of course, to be murder.

Montclair delivers on so many fronts. First of all there’s a complex plot; there’s a distinctive setting; there’s an unusual occupation for the main characters; and finally, and perhaps most importantly, there are the characters themselves - believable, complicated human beings with opinions, emotions, intellect, curiosity – they are indelible. Iris and Gwen have different backgrounds, but they complement each other. While both have romances at different stages, the central relationship in the books is their friendship.

In this book, Gwen is having a hard time awaiting her hearing. If it goes well, she will again have full custody of her son, and will be able to set up her own household. The man appointed to her case by the lunacy court seems to have a vague hostility toward her, which naturally makes her nervous. This arc has run through all the books to date and it’s brought to an excellent conclusion in this novel. I won’t spoil it and give away which way the courts decide.

Surrounding it is a complex plot involving beetles, finances, and thwarted and uncertain romances for both Iris and Gwen. The different threads of the novel – beginning at the Right Sort with the lady from Burma of the title – all tie up but it’s far from clear how they are related. Oh, did I mention, these books are also page turners? This is the kind of read where you’re super irritated to be interrupted for any reason. This is one of the strongest entries in this wonderful series, which is saying a lot. And stay tuned for the beetles.

This book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. I have not read any of the other books in the series.
Setting is post WWII London.
Lady Gwendolyn Bainbridge and Miss Iris Sparks are interesting characters.
Witty dialogue and humor that took a little bit to get used to. Funny and entertaining read.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read this book.

Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge face enough criticism in founding their own business, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, despite matchmaking being a more traditionally female pursuit. Trying to solve the murder of a unique client while keeping Gwendolyn out of the hospital for the criminally insane for the rest of her life puts just a bit more pressure on both women. The author does a great job of helping these women learn to grow in their power and confidence as they search for clues without causing more problems in the process. This is the fifth book in a series, and I had no trouble catching up with the characters’ backstories to the extent needed to enjoy this book

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books, Netgalley, and the author Allison Montclair for early access to this solid mystery.

Allison Montclair's Sparks and Bainbridge series gets a sparkling new addition with The Lady from Burma. Gwen Bainbridge is finally getting her day in court. Declared a lunatic after a failed suicide attempt after the war death of her husband, she has traveled a long, hard path to recovery and self-determination. Her marriage bureau, run with partner Iris Sparks, is thriving, as is her son, living with her in the home of her in-laws. When a new client with an unusual request shows up on their doorstep, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau is ready.

The relationships of the business's clients are interesting, but the heart of this book are the lives of Sparks and Bainbridge and their struggles to come back from their personal war experiences.

I think this series benefits from being read in order, and recommend starting with "The Right Sort of Man".

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

The Lady From Burma, by Allison Montclair

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book.

This is the fifth in the series of the cozy mysteries encountered by the proprietors of “The Right Sort Marriage Bureau,” set up after WWII by two young women. It can be read as a “stand alone” book, and is the first I’ve read in the series, but I will be reading the others.

Iris Sparks, petite and dark-haired, in her 20’s, and Gwen Bainbridge, tall and blonde and with a six-year-old son, suffered a great deal during the War, and still continue to have emotional wounds. Yet their animated, breezy interactions belie that, and give a snappiness to the novel, even as they struggle to come to terms with loss, grief, and uncertainty. Their marriage bureau is an effort to bring some happiness into the post-war world, even if their own love relationships are complicated.

Somehow, in their contacts with clients, Iris and Gwen have become involved in several murder cases. “The Lady from Burma,” their latest, involves both domestic and legal issues, with engaging characters and twists and turns in the plot.

Occasionally, physical descriptions or events are put almost too strongly: For example, Gwen’s propensity for tears and emotional outbursts can make the story seem less believable. Despite this there are serious issues raised: the perception and treatment of women and their roles; changing norms in post-war Britain; mental health; and personal commitments to family, friends, and lovers.

I look forward to learning more about them in the earlier books, and hope the series will continue.

The Lady from Burma is the fifth in the phenomenal Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series. Set in post-WWII London it is chock full of wry wit, humour, intelligent and well-developed characters and fascinating plots. The writing is gorgeous, engrossing and whip smart. We learn enough of the characters to get to know them but are not told everything which keeps the dangling carrot just out of reach. What a pleasure to peel back the layers in each book! I didn't think it possible but this book is even more beguiling than the previous ones in the series.

Two friends are matchmaking partners in The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Miss Iris Sparks was in British Intelligence and has a mysterious past and rather shady boyfriend. Mrs. Gwen Bainbridge is a war widow with a son and was condemned to an asylum but has now been free for a time. However, she is still considered a lunatic by some and must face court to prove her sanity. Though from different backgrounds, both ladies strive to find happiness for others...and are no strangers to death. Good thing as that skillset comes in very handy when dealing with murder and the police. A lady from Burma has a very unusual request, to find her husband a new wife as she has terminal cancer. When her dead body is found, Gwen becomes one of the top suspects. Not only is there murder and courtroom drama but the ladies also get entangled in romantic (and other) pickles. Thankfully Police Constable Hugh Quinton is on their side. Not everyone is as loyal.

Historical Fiction readers seeking a strikingly original read, add this to the top of your list. No clichés in sight. I love that the ladies are truly clever and enterprising with a lot of oomph. This is no ordinary Historical Fiction/Mystery! The pace is deliciously slow and the stars are the characters even more so than the mysteries. They have their challenges and secret sorrows as well as dazzling moments.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an early digital copy of this fabulous, fabulous novel! I am terribly curious to discover what the author has in store in the sixth book.

"The Lady from Burma" is a mystery set in 1946 in London. It's the fifth book in the series. It probably shouldn't be the first book you read in the series (like it was for me) because it focused a lot on Gwen's legal troubles and Iris' love life. The actual murder investigation didn't start until about halfway through, and the author gave the readers a strong hint at the very beginning about what's going on (the motive for murder). It didn't really feel like a mystery to me but more like a historical drama. Historical details were woven into the story to create a distinct sense of the time and place.

Iris was observant, smart, and came up with good, logical leads to follow up on regarding possible suspects. Gwen's the more intuitive partner, and she can also quickly spot when things don't match up and need looking into. But she's her own worst enemy. She acted on her insights in ways that weren't rational and only made things worse for her. I don't know if this is her typical behavior, but I have a hard time accepting her as an amateur detective even after she figured out critical clues. Gwen just seemed so easily overwhelmed and guided by her emotions even when she knew her actions weren't wise.

There was some bad language. There was sex (as Iris enjoys having sex even if she--a match maker--isn't looking for love) but no actual sex scenes. Overall, I'd recommend this as a historical but not so much as a mystery.

Couldn't get into it because the language is a bit old-school and Agatha Christie-ish, which i personally don't like

Another enjoyable title in this series. So many red herrings-a cast of characters-and lots of lost people who are slowly finding themselves none of the most enjoyable series of this time period.

An entertaining, witty and well paced historical story. The Lady From Burma is the fifth book in a mystery series. In post World War 2 England, two women start a marriage bureau and end up solving a mystery. I haven't invested in this series, as this is my first novel by this author. Having said that, I will be going back to the others and read them as well.