I have thoroughly enjoyed the previous books in this series and was thrilled to receive this ARC. The first 1/3 or so of the novel was a little slow going for me; I felt like it was doing a lot of rehashing from other novels in the series without moving this plot along. But things picked up! Shifting the action to Lisbon was a fun development and most of the plot lines are wrapped up satisfactorily for a series conclusion. I will miss Ellie and the full cast of characters that have been so well written over this series!

The final book in a series usually has a lot of build up and anticipation as it not only has to tie up all loose ends, both practical and personal, and end the story arcs in a realistic but satisfying way, but it also has to be a good enough read to live up to all the previous books in the series. The fifth McDonnell book lives up to the challenge. The new setting of Lisbon makes for a change and helps us see a new side of the protagonist.

I won't go into detail to avoid spoilers, but the resolution to many of the problems and conflicts along the way was well done and tied everything up neatly before the series ended (but not so neatly as to be overly predictable and not worth reading, luckily).

I would definitely recommend reading this series in order as the relationships and some of the conflicts are established book by book so you would miss out on a lot of background knowledge otherwise.

I loved every second of this book! It was the perfect ending to the series. At the end of book four there are still a lot of unanswered questions, but I felt that Weaver did an excellent job in tying up all the loose ends in a way that felt satisfying and realistic.

A thoroughly satisfying conclusion to a delightful series. I loved the CASABLANCA vibes of the setting, and the payoff of Ramsey and Ellie's will-they-won't-they romance was well worth the wait.

The final volume of the Ellie McDonnell series ends the way fans have been wanting! This is the second series of Weaver’s I have read ravenously. Amory Ames was her first series and I was very sad to see the end of the series just like I am sad to say good by the Ellie and Ramsey but they deserve their HEA.
This has all the action and ups and downs of the classic spy movie plus the romantic ending fans hoped for. Can’t wait to read the next series by Ashley Weaver.

This was fun! I had been in a reading slump, and this book series helped me get out of it. They were engaging, cozy reads with a little bit of a spy thriller thrown in. I am almost always here for a story of a criminal using their nefarious skills for good! Most of the character growth for Ellie and the Major happens in this novel. I would have liked a little more development there, but it didn't stop me from cheering them on. We do get a bit more from Ellie as she considers what living on the right side of the law would mean for her.

This book does feel a little rushed as all the threads are brought to resolution, and maybe things are resolved too neatly for real life, but I'm okay with that in this kind of novel. If you're looking for an easy-to-read, engaging WWII mystery series, check this one out.

Content guide: No on-page swearing or spice. There are some fade-to-black, consensual romance scenes. Non-graphic action violence occurs.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

⭐️ 5♾️/5. The final installment of Electra McDonald’s adventures was honestly my favorite one out of all 5! It had the most action, the greatest amount of character development, so much excitement, and a happy ending!

With exciting points like:

🩵 Traveling to Portugal to help POWs escape occupied France

🩵 Marriage of convenience

🩵 Resolution of the series’ love triangle

🩵 Mystery around every corner

This is a cozy mystery/action series I will be recommending to everyone! Thank you so much to Ashley Weaver, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for this advanced ARC. This was one of my most-anticipated reads of 2025 so it was such an honor to read it early! I will never stop talking about this series 😍

I do have to admit that this was my first book in the series, but I was no less totally enthralled by the book. The author does a great job catching you up throughout the book so I didn’t feel lost in the story line. I am happy that I started with the last book because it sounds like too much a wait to watch Electra and Ramsey’s ending. I don’t like slow burns and so just reading the last book is perfect for me LOL!

This story is a page turner from the first page to the last. My favorite books are those that I don’t know the beginning from the end. I read it in 2 days, which for this busy mom of 4 that is FAST! There were so many twists and turns and it kept me hooked. The adventure and the romance was perfectly mixed together.

I was truly transported to 1941 Lisbon and now I want to go there on my next vacation. Such a cool piece of history weaved throughout the book with this neutral city in the War.

Another gauge I have when reviewing a book is if I think about the characters post reading and yes I can say I am still thinking about these characters. Others may call this a book hangover.

**This is a closed door romance, but I would put it at 18+ due to a few of the scenes but I definitely view things like this through the eyes of a mom and when I would feel comfortable with my daughter reading the kissing/violence scenes.

Thank you Minotaur Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5, rounded up

I loved this series, and I'm sad that it's over - I was so excited when my request to get the ARC was approved. That said, if you haven't read the other books in the series, I wouldn't recommend starting with this book, as the history of the characters and events will make more sense if you read them in order.

This was a fitting end to Electra's story. She finally gets to find out what happened to her missing cousin Toby, has closure on the lingering mystery surrounding her father's death, and resolves her feelings for Ramsey. I did feel it started out a bit too slowly, as the reader is waiting to see how all these disparate elements will come together, and it seemed to be taking too long, but rest assured, the ending paid off. There's a bit less straight up mystery here and a bit more of an intelligence operation/rescue, but that was fine by me. Electra travels to exotic Lisbon for this one, and the change of scenery is exciting both for her and for the reader.

I still can't quite put my finger on why I like this series so much more than others of its ilk, but I definitely do. Now that Electra's story has concluded, I'm hoping that Ashley Weaver continues her mystery writing with another series, as I've really enjoyed both her efforts so far. I look forward to seeing what she'll do next.

Thanks to Ashley Weaver, Netgalley, and Minutaur books for this Digital ARC.

A fitting end to a fantastic series... what a ride! We find Electra back for another adventure trying to find her cousin Toby, missing since the Battle of Dunkirk. After the way book 3 ended... we know working with Major Ramsey again will have some serious tension. Don't miss this series, but start with book one! You won't regret it.

Thanks Ashley Weaver for a wonderful series! So sad to see Electra go.

A fantastic conclusion to a fantastic series. Former thief and safecracker turned espionage agent Electra McDonnell is brought back in for one last mission, even after Major Ramsey fired her after their last mission. She’s needed on a covert mission to Lisbon, hoping to find her cousin who’s believed to have escaped from Nazi imprisonment. How can she say no, despite being furious with Major Ramsey and heartbroken by his rejection.

I really enjoyed the spy elements of this adventure, got very attached to all the characters, and loved the way mysteries, tensions and storylines from the very beginning of the series were wrapped up. I did sort of predict the bad guy in Lisbon (it was a wee bit telegraphed?), but was shocked by the reveal of who was behind the overarching mystery of Electra’s parents.

I was so very thrilled to get an advanced copy of One Final Turn from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. I was not looking forward to waiting until June 2025, but wasn’t super hopeful since I haven’t done ARC reviews for NetGalley since 2018 😬.

While I am thrilled that I received an advance copy of this book to read, I am sad that Electra's WWII adventures have come to an end. The characters in this entire series are well developed, the mythology aspect adds interest, the plot lines are intriguing, the mystery of Electra's back story is compelling, and the added romance was a pleasing addition. Although Electra's adventures are over, the end of this series is very satisfying. I hope Ashley Weaver begins another series soon and gives us a character as fascinating as Electra and a plot that is as equally engaging! I highly recommend this novel and the entire series to anyone who enjoys a strong female protagonist in historical fiction. My sincere thanks to the author and Minotaur publishing for offering me an ARC of this novel.

I discovered the Electra McDonnell a few weeks ago and have devoured all the books since, so I was thrilled to get my hands on the ARC of the last in the series, One Final Turn.

Though I'm sad to have reached the end of Ellie's story, One Final Turn is a very satisfying conclusion to the series, deftly wrapping up many threads that have carried through all the books, including Ellie and Ramsey's slowburn romance, the fate of her cousin Toby, and the mystery of her parents. I also adored the Lisbon setting!

My only note for improvement is that I would have preferred if each book was maybe 50 pages longer, with slightly more complex mysteries, but my enjoyment of the characters, relationships, and settings outweighs that. Highly recommended to fans of the series!

Book Title: One Final Turn
Author: Ashley Weaver
Series: Electra McDonnel #5
Publisher: Saint Martin’s Press-Minotaur Books
Genre: Historical Fiction -Mystery
Pub Date: June 3, 2025
My Rating: 4 + Stars
Pages 304


The end of " Locked in Pursuit" (Book 4) left us faithful readers anxious for this story as Major Ramsey and Ellie ending their relationship, and not on the best of terms.

Ellie McDonnell’s cousin Toby is a prisoner of war and has been missing since the Battle of Dunkirk. Ellie is sadden and about to lose hope of seeing him again until Major Gabriel Ramsey, the British military intelligence officer she had been working closely with over the past few months, shared the news he’d intercepted.

Although Ellie’s primary goal is to find her cousin, Ramsey is very much on her mind as we know he ended their work and personal relationship.
Story starts a bit slow as we share Ellie’s reflections on her past.
I have read all the stories in this series and had forgotten the original story so loved the reminder.

Back to finding Toby~ Ellie meets with undercover operatives to track down where Toby might be hiding from the Nazis and whether they are too late to safely recover him, all the while fighting her feelings for Ramsey as well as dealing with the nasty war around her!

As the title indicates Yes! This is the last in this series. I enjoyed the ride. I hope this means Ms. Weaver will have another Amory Ames Mystery out next!

About the author~ Ashley Weaver is not only an outstanding author but also an elementary and middle school librarian.

Want to thank NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press- Minotaur Books for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for June 3, 2025.

What a satisfying conclusion to the fabulous Electra McDonnell series! Now I want to read the whole series again, start to finish.

I loved seeing how Ellie matured--in her attitude towards her work and her relationships with those around her. There were moments I couldn't help but cry (I love my cousins, just like Ellie). And there were some satisfying scenes I'd been waiting the whole series for! But I was especially glad to finally get to the end of the series-long mystery about Ellie's parents--definitely an unexpected turn or two along the way.

Beware that this title is a bit more "spicy" than the others but everything is kept behind closed doors.

I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of this book through Netgalley, but all opinions in this review are my own.

I loved this book, which was a satisfying end to the series (except for the part where I don't actually want the series to end!) Ellie heads to neutral Portugal, buzzing with refugees and spies from both sides of the war, with the hopes of not only finding her cousin Toby, but also gathering valuable information about the Allied escape line that he's rumoured to be using to flee to safety after his imprisonment by the Nazis. Ellie's not officially working with Ramsey in this one, since he severed both personal and professional ties with her at the end of the previous book, but his Portugal-based colleague Archie Blandings (who we met in the previous book) has gone over Ramsey's head to request her for the job. Ramsey comes to Portugal too, though, and they have to find a way to work together despite the awkwardness.

I thought this book wrapped up most of the storylines from the series quite nicely (although I would have liked a bit more detail about some of them!), the character interaction was really enjoyable, and the romance plot was excellently done and thoroughly satisfying. I did think the first chapter felt incongruously out of place with the others - it was full of somewhat clunky exposition that seemed to assume the reader hadn't read any of the previous books in the series and needed everything spelled out to them (rather than having the information sprinkled in more skillfully, as it was in the previous books in the series). Once that part was over, though, the story picked up considerably and I was riveted throughout the rest of the book. (It almost feels like much of that chapter was added on after the fact, and in my opinion it really didn't need to be, and makes for an unfortunately slow start to an otherwise excellent book.)

I really enjoyed how real and vivid wartime Portugal felt through Ellie's eyes. In fact, this book has made me really want to travel to Portugal myself for the food alone, let alone the sights, even though I'm sure many things have changed since the 1940s.

Some of the finer details of the plot setup might not hold up under real scrutiny, but because the characters and the story are so engaging, I was able to decide that some of the minor characters in the story were simply a bit incompetent and just move on and enjoy the book. Ellie, Ramsey, Archie, and all the other characters were a delight, and although I enjoyed the book thoroughly, I'm very sorry to say goodbye to them!

The final book in this series is not to be missed. Start with book 1 though - you won't regret it. Historical mystery at its best as Ellie travels to Lisbon hoping to find her cousin after rumors surface saying he has escaped the Germans.

Wonderful ending to a great series! I have really enjoyed the whole series. I've read other series featuring intrepid women during WWII (a very popular theme these days?) but Electra McDonnell has been the most fun, and her relationship with Major Ramsey the most interesting. I was glad for the change of scenery in this book - now I want to travel to Lisbon! - and thought it injected some new and interesting flavors to the story, along with the inclusion of new(ish) and memorable characters. The end of the book seemed slightly rushed and I was sorry to see it end so soon and to have to say goodbye to these characters I've come to know and love. Looking forward to a new series from this author, I hope....

My thanks to the publisher for providing an ARC via netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Minotaur and St Martin's Press for my advance electronic copy. My opinions are my own.

We catch up with Ellie McDonnell just after the events of the previous book in the series: she has learned that her cousin Toby--who is like a brother to her--has escaped from a German prisoner of war camp and will shortly reach Lisbon. Captain Archie Blandings has approached her to help him find Toby and his compatriots and bring them home, and in so doing save the secret path through which other escapees are making it through to Portugal. She's excited about leaving the country for the first time but complications quickly ensue, not the least of which are her still-strong feelings for Major Ramsey, her former handler who dismissed her from her job and from his life just as she realized that she loved him. Lisbon is a hotbed of intrigue, spycraft, and desperation, and Ellie and her colleagues start to feel the pressure of loss, of war, and of the fear of only finding the POWs too late.

Weaver had a lot to wrap up in this one! I LOVED One Final Turn: there was intelligence, historical details, and a slowwww burn, in a really good way. I'm sorry to see the series ending, especially as I enjoyed this one more than the last one. This book had everything: good sexual tension, good action scenes, an interesting setting and plot, and good suspense spy-wise. Lisbon had a very different war than London did--both due to its political position and its geographic one--and that served as an interesting contrast in the series. We see how important family is to Ellie, but also how important doing the right thing is also. A lot happened to her and Ramsey over the short period covered by the series, and I would have loved to see what happened next. It's hard when characters finally start acting how I felt they should, just when I have to say goodbye.

I wish I could rate this one 6 stars!!! It's always bittersweet reading the last book in a series, but it was everything I hoped for and more! As always, there was a good amount of intrigue, but it was the romance that really set this one apart! The ending was so heartwarming, and I loved every moment. All of the plot lines were tied up nicely, but it's still so sad to say goodbye to these amazing characters. I can't wait for Ms. Weaver's next book!