Skip to main content

Member Reviews

I absolutely adored this series and am in denial that there isn't another novel. Methinks the lady needs more Electra and Major Ramsey mysteries in her life. I downloaded the first book, A Peculiar Combination, back in the fall, but I saw that the last book wasn't out yet, and I didn't want to wait when I started the series. Lucky me, I was able to read this on Netgalley. I binged this series in less than a week. I cannot speak enough of my love for the top-tier crime-solving duo aka Major Gabriel Ramsey and Miss Electra McDonnell. The duo were the perfect foils for each other, and my gosh, the tension. THE TENSION between the two from like book three on was electric *pun intended* but man oh man, the sexual tension between Electra and Gabriel in the last book was so boiling hot, I was PARCHED.

I will say I wish there was at least one more book. Selfishly because I need more Gabriel and Electra, but also because there was so much left to explore. Honestly, I felt like some of the overarching side plots from the series felt scrambled together instead of taking another book or two to fully flesh them out. Also, the book ends in 1941 in the middle of WWII...I need an update to make sure my duo and co. made it out of the war alright.

5 stars for the Electra and Gabriel romance, but the overall story conclusion felt unresolved and disappointing. I'm still in denial that I've finished this series because I feel like there is so much more to explore.

Was this review helpful?

One Final Turn is the culmination of the five part Electra McDonnell series. The concept, that a family of intelligent locksmiths who live a life of crime might make useful spies, in particular the lovely Ellie, was very original. While it's sad to see the end of the story, all loose ends were tied up. I liked learning about Portugal as a neutral country in WWII and that Lisbon was a happening place for agents of all loyalties. Electra is working with a different handler, Archie, an affable man. She is nursing a broken heart over Ramsey's abrupt dismissal and she will be working with him as well while in Lisbon. They are trying to find out about the route taken by POWs who escaped from the Germans and her cousin Toby is among those who recently got away. The plot takes us all about the city, getting to informants just a little too late. There are murders. Ellie's lock picking skills are needed quite a bit. There is both tension and sizzle with Ramsey. All in all a very satisfying end to a lovely series.

Was this review helpful?

I received an electronic ARC from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley.
I loved this final book and am sad to see their adventures end. I appreciate that Weaver took time to bring in all of the family and friends to tie up loose ends for the spying missions and Ellie's parents' mystery. Ellie, Ramsey and Archie's adventures in Portugal were filled with danger and intrigue. They pursued leads to find Ellie's cousin Toby but someone was obviously leaking information to the Germans as they ran into dead ends and dead bodies. It took me a while to figure out who the traitor was but it fit well in the overall storyline.
Weaver chose to reveal more of Ramsey's emotions as this book unfolded. He shared his feelings with Ellie and they both admitted their love before the series closed.
The pace was a bit slower in this volume but that allowed time to offer insights into the various characters and provided time to weave together their stories. Would love to see her spin off other books about some of the secondary characters.

Was this review helpful?

Overall I very much enjoyed this final installment in the Electra McDonnell series. I felt the plot as it relates to Portugal was really engaging and kept the formula of the series fresh without feeling like any plot lines were being recycled as can be the case in the mystery genre at times. My only gripe about the book was the way the plot line involving Ellie’s father and his involvement with espionage during WWI was wrapped up. It felt as though that plot point was left to the last moment almost as though it was forgotten. Given how big of an overarching part of Ellie’s story this plot line was and given that it effectively caused the break up to Ellie and Ramsey in the fourth book the way it was hastily ended felt somewhat unsatisfying. I understand it couldn’t likely have been too much longer in this book but it feels like it would have made for an excellent sixth and final book in the series.

Was this review helpful?

One Final Turn, by Ashley Weaver is apparently the last book in this series. It's been a delightful series and a different perspective from any WWIi series I have read. This book was the best of the series. The story was suspenseful and the conclusion of the book and the series extremely satisfying
I highly recommend this book and the entire series!

Was this review helpful?

The fifth and final book in the series is bittersweet for me. I love and appreciate the loose ends being neatly resolved but I am disappointed there will be no more books. This is a great series that will be missed. Would love to read more of Ellie and Gabriel's war time adventures.

Was this review helpful?

This book was everything and more that I wanted in a conclusion!! The tension and romance was so good. I absolutely loved this one and the whole series.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed the last installment in this series. While there are many WW2 books out there, this series has been entertaining from start to finish.
If you missed the first four books in the series, I still recommend going back and picking them up.

I received an advanced reader copy via Net Galley.

Was this review helpful?

One Final Turn is the final book in the Electra McDonnell series; I didn't realize it when I first read the book and although sad that there won't be any more titles, I found the ending to this book to be a very satisfying end to the series. This book finds Elle traveling to Lisbon with Major Ramsey to see if an escaped POW presumed to be her cousin Tobey who has been missing since Dunkirk is indeed her cousin despite the way things ended when she last worked with Ramsey. I really liked that the book was set primarily in Lisbon since it is an area of Europe that isn't depicted nearly as often as Germany, France, and Great Britian since it was technically neutral. Despite the declaration of neutrality, it actually is a hotbed of intrigue with both Britain and German interests well represented. There are rumors about the POWs that Ramsey and Elle work frantically to track down and confirm while racing against the Germans who want to find the POWs to learn about the route being used to escape German territory and shut it down. All this is happening amongst serious tension between Elle and Ramsay as they try and work through the events of the prior book and restore the trust that was broken which increases when they have to pretend to get married. I loved the twists and turns and the way Ms. Weaver describes Lisbon and the atmosphere which in many ways is startling to Elle as it seems much less touched by the war than London which has experienced the Blitz and war rationing. I liked how everything was wrapped up even though the reader knows that 4 more years of war await the characters, I was left with a feeling that Elle would survive the war and come out even stronger in the end. I can't wait to see what Ms. Weaver writes next. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC.

Was this review helpful?

What a rollercoaster this series has been! Ellie McDonnell is everything you expected in a WWII heroine, and more. She is funny, witty, bright, and has a tenacity that serves her well. It was interesting to see the characters get out of England on this one and experience the war from a different location. The growth between Ellie and Major Ramsy was wonderful to read and experience, coming full circle. I enjoyed the twists and turns of this book; it kept me guessing and fully engaged. The book was able to tie up all loose ends and leave no question unanswered.

Was this review helpful?

This final book in the series wraps up Electra's story with a trip to neutral Portugal to see if she can find her beloved cousin Toby, who has escaped from a German prison camp is is suspected to be headed in that direction. At the same time, she is dealing with her former boss and almost-lover, who is there to help figure out the network that may help Britain find more escaped POWs (and the information they have gathered). It's a satisfying conclusion, with all loose ends tied up after an adventure to a new setting.

Was this review helpful?

This was a fun end to a series I have enjoyed. One always worries the ending will not satisfy, but Weaver sticks the landing. The leads I've grown to cheer for enter this last book with a genuine (not contrived) wedge preventing them from being together, and yet they are tossed into a very new spy setting that provides great opportunities for them to interact in ways that wouldn’t be possible in London. Weaver doesn’t rush to the end or drag things out with silly contrivances; instead, we get to enjoy how a new setting stretches the main characters personally, professionally, and romantically.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this!! Such a great ending to the series and hit all the right notes for me. While I was sad that the last book events occurred away from a lot of the recurring characters and London, Weaver still brought them into play in different spots. For fans of the series, run, don't walk to get the latest and final book with Electra and Major Ramsey!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book, and I think it serves as a fun and satisfying conclusion to the series. Setting much of the story in Lisbon was a refreshing change which added to the intrigue and excitement. Ellie shows a lot of growth in this final book, which was gratifying to see, and I also loved the humor and touch of conflict that Archie helped inject into the story.

A couple of plot points were a bit hastily concluded and maybe could’ve used an additional book to flesh them out (the mystery surrounding Ellie’s parents, Felix’s secret work), but the main story arc was well-paced and fun to read.

The entire Electra McDonnell series was a fun, quick binge, and I think the writing in this book (and the previous one, Locked in Pursuit) was really a step above the others.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

An excellent conclusion to the Electra McDonnell series!
I really enjoyed this whole series and loved the main character, Electra. This final book takes place in Portugal and it was interesting to see this cast of characters in a new setting.

Thank you to #netgalley and #Minotaur books for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

Was this review helpful?

What a perfect end to this series! This book had it all — mystery, intrigue, romance, and so much more.

When Electra is sent to Lisbon in hopes of recovering her lost cousin Toby, she is accompanied by Archie Blandings and Major Ramsey, and nothing quite goes to plan…

I don’t want to give too much away, but if you’ve enjoyed the other Electra McDonnell books, you will LOVE this one. The characters and story are so compelling and I’m so sad the series has come to an end, but couldn’t ask for a better final book!

Was this review helpful?

Great conclusion to this series! I told myself to savor it and the next thing I knew I was already over 60% in. Oops.
I loved the setting of Lisbon and all the action readers got to see in a country that was neutral during WWII. Having actually been to Lisbon I also loved being able to recognize some of the sights that were mentioned, the terrain of the hilly neighborhoods, and salivating over any mention of food. Of course Electra and the Major's relationship was also great and I'm very pleased with how everything worked out.
I'm sad to see the end of the series, but can't wait for what the author does next!

Was this review helpful?

I read the entire series in one week. I was especially excited when I was approved for the final book on NetGalley! The final book was amazing. There was the plot twist I had hoped for. Ones I didn’t see coming. And a “turn” that made me so happy, because I knew it meant the main characters were learning and growing. I loved watching multiple mysteries unfold, romance finally happening, and of course the adventure of it all.

I would say this series is a combination of Miss Scarlett and the Duke with White Collar. Two of my favorite shows in one. This is a book series that makes me remember why I love fiction. I loved the main characters, side characters, and lessons learned. I can’t wait to read this again!

Was this review helpful?

This is the final installment of the Electra McDonnell series. This book picks up right after the events of the fourth book, Locked in Pursuit. Electra "Ellie" McDonnell is preparing to travel to Lisbon at the request of Captain Archie Blandings - not Major Ramsey, who fired her at the end of the last book. All her hopes of seeing her cousin Toby again have been renewed by the knowledge that he has escaped from his German captors and he's on his way to Lisbon via an underground network of allies. She has been hired to help uncover a contact who can help them rescue the escaped prisoners, who in turn can hopefully give them valuable intelligence about the Germans. Prepare yourself for all sorts of twists and turns, a red herring or two, tension with Major Ramsey, and camaraderie with Captain Blandings (which causes tension with Major Ramsey, which surprises no one).

I really enjoyed this book. I thought it did an excellent job of tying the series together and it delivered a satisfying conclusion. I think that one of the main things it explores is the ways in which Ellie has matured since her work with British intelligence began. During the previous book, I kept wanting to shake her and tell her to get out of her own way. This time around, she seems to have learned that lesson to a degree.

My thanks to NetGalley for the advanced digital copy of this book. All opinions are my own. I had just finished Locked in Pursuit and immediately decided to see if One Final Turn was available through NetGalley and was delighted to find it was. I started it within an hour of finishing Locked in Pursuit.

I have one criticism on the plot, which I marked with a spoiler tag on Goodreads. A big deal is made about how important it is that the marriage between Major Ramsey and Electra looks real, but then Archie ends up taking them out for a very public evening on the town and no mention is made of how they address the fact that he is supposedly a jilted fiancé. Additionally, the morning after their wedding, Major Ramsey comes into her room by going out into the hall from his own room and then enters behind Archie. He should have used the connecting door between their rooms if they were so worried about appearing authentically married. She could have knocked on the connecting door to keep up the pretense with Archie that they were still not involved. Since I read an advanced copy, it is possible that this will change before publication, but I doubt it.

Was this review helpful?

A hurried resolution to all the plot points in the series even though the POW plot was good. I wonder if more books had been planned, but the publisher said they were done. However we got here, we’re left with not much growth for Ellie, rushed explanations about her parents, a dull wrap up with what Felix was doing, and contrived situations and jealousy to move the Major along. I feel cheated out of both the character development and relationship development I was looking forward to. They got there but it was hurried. Amory and Milo got 7 books.
If you’re a fan of the series, you should read this one, but adjust your expectations.

Was this review helpful?