Allison Montclair has created original, complex, and thoroughly fascinating characters in Sparks and Bainbridge.

I have read and enjoyed the entire series but these last 2 books (The Unkept Woman and The Lady from Burma) have been amazing. I haven’t been able to put them down. The mysteries are so good and the developments in the personal lives of Iris and Gwen are riveting.

In The Lady from Burma, the prologue is such a great red herring. While reading the book, I could think of at least three different scenarios that could explain the identities of the two characters plotting their scheme involving The Right Sort Marriage Bureau.

You could read this as a stand alone but you will want to read all these books for the deep dive into their lives. Getting more details about Iris’s government work during the war and Gwen struggling to regain control over her life have been the overarching threads in this series. In book 5, Gwen goes to court to get her freedom and finances back under her control and shed the antiquated lunatic label applied to her after the loss of her husband and subsequent confinement to a mental hospital. It’s her first step to getting custody of her son back and it is emotional and fraught with tension.

The supporting characters are fully drawn as well. Placing this series in London, right after WWII, showcases the great change and upheaval that event brought to London and the world.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this advance reader copy via Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press, in return for an honest review. While this fifth book in the series can be read as a stand-alone, I recommend reading the preceding books to fully understand the backstories that are further developed in this book. This is a great book about two women offering a matchmaking service in post-war London while combating misogyny, seeking employment opportunities for their firm and, oh, the dead bodies that appear!
The two women are supportive, particularly in this book that addresses a mental health issue and it's legal ramifications. The mysteries are always around their matchmaking business and that allows for great scope in the various situations to be resolved.

Loved, loved, loved this one, the fifth installment of the Sparks & Bainbridge series. A mysterious murder made to look like suicide, Gwendolyn's continuing legal problems, and mysterious moth men. Well, entomologists, anyway, and cooks shaped like moths after a very exciting lecture!

Montclair continues to develop her characters, letting them grow along with their confidence in their match-making and murder-solving prowess. On top of that, the dialog is witty, sharp, and laced with literary allusions, which adds up to a read that you can feel good about because you actually got those literary allusions. A lot of fun, a lot of heart, and a wholly satisfying read.

This was another exciting installment of the Sparks and Bainbridge series. We got some more background to both main characters' pasts and resolution for some of the issues that have come up in the past few books. The solutions to the mysteries were clever, but not so well orchestrated as to feel overdone or implausible. My favorite part of these books is always the relationship between the two main characters and the way they support and understand each other despite differences.

The marriage bureau side of things was entertaining, as always, and an excellent way to convey the times. Of course, I don't know what post-war London truly was like, but this feels like an accurate rendition of it without being overly dramatic or heavy handed with the historical details. I also appreciate the way this book approaches mental health and captures so well how women often are not given autonomy or authority over their own lives and being. Can't wait for the next book!

This is the fifth in the Sparks and Bainbridge series but the first that I have read. I definitely need to go back and get the back stories of these ladies. Just enough mystery to keep you engaged and characters with enough depth that you want to know more about them, this is an excellent cozy mystery. I highly recommend it.
#TheLadyFromBurma#NetGalley#StMartinsPress

The Lady From Burma is the fifth book in this mystery series. I was intrigued by the premise in the first book - in post World War 2 England, two women start a marriage bureau and end up solving a mystery. I have enjoyed the series ever since. In this installment, there are actually two mysteries that end up being somewhat combined. Also, some things in the main character’s lives get resolved. Because of this, it’s probably better to have read the previous books in the series rather than just to start with this one. There is a little more action in this series than a typical cozy mystery. I enjoy the strength and feistiness of the two female lead characters, and their slight unconventionality.

Note: I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley.

Montclair’s period mystery was complex and satisfying. I loved the characters in this series and would willingly follow them on all their adventures.

Our heroines are smart, fearless ( seemingly a requisite in light historical mysteries), alluring ( another genre staple), but very good company all around.
Netgalley provided me a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for a candid review.

This is a great series, Thank you so much St Martins for sending me a widget for an advanced copy. Can hardly wait for the next book.👏👏📖📖

The Lady from Burma is the 5th book in the Sparks and Bainbridge Mystery series. Allison Montclair has created another fun and fantastic plot centered around our two matchmakers-turned-amateur detectives. The characters of Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge are so vividly drawn that they jump off the page and into their escapades.

**It is necessary to read this series in order!**

In this installment, we are finally getting to Gwen's lunacy hearing that we have been building to for the first four books. Iris is still trying to figure out her future with Archie, the leader of a gang or a "spiv", as she chases murder leads and runs into an old flame. Then there's our faithful Sally, friend to our main characters and in love with Gwen. This book's quest involves insects, lawyers, and more than one dead body.

I highly recommend this fun series, especially to those who enjoy whip-smart women leads, like the Lady Sherlock series by Sherry Thomas.

The deep and growing friendship between Gwen Bainbridge and Iris Sparks continues to drive this series, which just keeps getting better with every outing. In "The Lady from Burma," things get very personal for Gwen and Iris must provide vital support. Conspiracy finds its way not only into the Right Start Marriage Bureau, but also into Gwen's ongoing legal battles to be declared sane and regain custody of her son. This book has it all: assumed identities, theft, coverups, romance, and a thrilling denouement. I love two things about this series in particular: the wonderful, often humorous dialogue, and the fact that all of the characters, primary and secondary, are continuously growing and changing.

"The Lady from Burma" was an enjoyable addition to the series. I was initially somewhat disappointed in the choice of murder victims. I thought I would have to content myself with the other subplots, especially Gwen's efforts to gain her freedom from the lunacy court and the odious Mr. Parsons. However, the author turned the story in a somewhat surprising manner and tied things together quite nicely. I enjoyed some of the new characters, especially Constable Quinton and Effie Seagrim (Moth Girl). It will be interesting to see what adventures Sparks and Bainbridge get up to next.

Wow! I had read this series before but this book just pulled me in. The murder plot kept me guessing until the end and the teaser at the beginning made it all more interesting. I loved how the focus was more on Gwen and was glad to see her life moving forward.. It's about time The blend of marriage bureau and corporate bord room was great.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book.

I was gifted an ARC of this book through NetGalley.

A fun, cozy mystery that doesn't require you to read the books before, THE LADY FROM BURMA follows Sparks & Bainbridge on their fifth murder mystery in post-WWII London.

I loved this book. It was so creatively written with fun dialogue, laugh out loud moments, and a compelling mystery that leaves you from the first few chapters.

Montclair delivers yet again with this latest Sparks & Bainbridge mystery! Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge are still running The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, and are still stumbling onto mysteries that need to be solved. This time a client shows up with a strange request: for them to find a match for her husband. What follows is a complicated web of lies and clues that threatens to undo all the dynamic duo have worked so hard to regain after World War II.

I absolutely adore this series for three main reasons: (1) the strong, intelligent women, especially Sparks and Bainbridge; (2) the cleverest of dialogue--sharp, witty, and always perfection; and (3) the positive mental health rep. I love the real and nuanced relationships, and I had my fingers crossed the whole time as I waited to find out if Gwen would or wouldn't be able to take the next step in getting her life back. These are two clever women who know how to get things done. I already can't wait for the next book! I highly recommend starting the series at the beginning, as the character development is part of the series' long game and so many things mean so much more if you've read the other books. That said, this book could be read and understood without that backstory.

I thank the author, St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur and NetGalley for the opportunity to enjoy this ARC.

The Sparks & Bainbridge series has caught my fancy. This installment made me happy, especially after a recent run of books that were disappointing. It’s a good way to start the new year.

The plot was satisfying, the historical period is depicted well, and the characters continue to develop. I learned about the Lunacy Laws, which were absolutely horrifying. Ms. Montclair keeps us guessing about the intricate details of the fraud and murder case. Even though one culprit is easy to pinpoint, the trail kept leading us in new directions.

I’ve been thinking about how a long running series can be successful. In this case, we are learning more about the main characters in each volume, hearing more of their thought process. They got through WWII,, and are positive about their future even while carrying the wounds of their different experiences. The friendship between Iris and Gwen continues to develop, and I love their snappy dialogue as well as their deep affection for one another. Gwen continues to grow and stand up for herself, in both good and bad ways, but she is learning. Iris is more self-confident and is becoming a bit more open to deeper relationships.

Another way in which Ms. Montclair builds the series is her introduction of new characters. I like the old friends like Sally and Archie, and I hope that some of the new gentlemen can return in future stories. Even Harold is starting to grow on me!

I’m giving this one 5 stars for its entertainment value and the happy return of old friends.

I'm running out of ways to say that this is a phenomenal series! Montclair pulls it off again here with the perfect balance of banter, friendship, intrigue, and historical detail. I wish it would be turned into a series on Masterpiece. And the real cherry on top is its nuanced and empathetic look at mental health struggles without dodging the fact that the time period (post WWII Britain) is not known for such an approach. Are there some missteps here and there, like Gwen comparing her own situation to that of a terminally ill woman? Yes. Are some of the set-ups and especially the third act shenanigans far-fetched? Yes. But none of that ultimately comes close to keeping down this stylish, emotionally realistic caper.

I have actually never read a historical fiction novel, let alone one that had aspects of mystery to it but I wanted to try something new and I'm very glad I did! The Lady from Burma had me interested from the prologue to the end. The characters are interesting and still keep just enough mystery to drive the story. The mystery and plot are well thought out. The only thing that was interesting was the sudden POV changes mid chapter; I've never read a book like that but I think it was an interesting decision. For me, this made it play out like a tv show in my head and I liked that. There were minor grammatical issues but I'm sure those will be fixed in the final rounds of editing. Other than that, I think this is a great book for first time historical fiction and mystery readers such as myself.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC!
4.5-5 out of 5
I hope that you are reading this because you love the Sparks and Bainbridge books - if so, you will not be disappointed. I think that this series improves with every instalment.
I would recommend starting with earlier books in the series as I find that there's a lot of character history that you want to know.
The two partners in a matchmaking business in post WW1 London, Iris and Gwen, are good friends, and struggling to be taken seriously as independent professionals. Gwen is also burdened with a legal caretaker as she was sent to an asylum after her husband's death in the war. She is fighting to gain control of her assets and her right to raise her son. Iris is coming to terms with her own post-traumatic issues from the war as well.
This book
Yes, there is also a murder mystery involving a client, and there's a new police constable who may be of interest to Iris (who currently has a gangster boyfriend).
The author infuses the book with lots of small details that make it easy to see the characters - in court, at the office, out looking for clues...the portrayal of the early 20s is very vivid.
I loved this book, I have wavered at a 4.5 because I found the ending a bit abrupt - I'm sure this means that there will be a new book soon!

This is the fifth installment in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series. This series is one that can be read as stand-alone – or in order.

Sparks & Bainbridge are matchmakers, yet they can’t quite figure out their personal lives. Each of them is dealing with some traumas that make it difficult for them to pair off. In this installment, a client is dying and looking for a suitable replacement, so her widow is left with love.

I enjoyed the mental health aspect of this book. It highlights how mental health was treated in the past, and it allowed me to reflect on how far we have come. The character development was well done, and if you have read the previous installments, you will appreciate the nuances mentioned. The atmosphere was done well, and it made you feel like you were right there with them in post-war London.

If you’re looking for an atmospheric mystery, then check this one out July 25th! Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, @stmartinspress, the author, and @netgalley for a copy of this e-ARC in exchange for this honest review

Matchmakers and murder, what more could you want? This was the fifth in a series of early 20th century mysteries. I enjoyed it! I found the focus on mental health very interesting.