Thank you to NetGalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC of One Final Turn by Ashley Weaver.

I am SO bummed this series is over, but Weaver did not disappoint at all in tying up loose ends and making it feel okay to let go in the final pages.

We pick up the story a few months after the ending of the fourth novel, where Ellie has been dismissed from Ramsey's life both professionally and personally. She is still dealing with that hurt, when Captain Archie Blandings goes over Ramsey's head to have Ellie reinstated to help him in Lisbon, where there are whispers of an escape route for POWs, and Ellie's cousin Toby is estimated to be part of the group making the perilous journey. The hope is that Ellie's presence will help Toby to trust the British military in releasing information about the POW pathway. While waiting for Toby to arrive, Ellie is able to help Blandings navigate the myriad of spies and eyes in Lisbon from friends, foes and refugees, only to then have Ramsey join as well to help, which for Ellie is both a complication and a heartache.

From here it's hard not to give anything away in terms of plot. I can say it was nice to have a bit of a change of scene from London and the Blitz - Lisbon is having a very different war experience, and Weaver dives deeply into that as well as into some tourism that really help bring the city to life.

We also see a lot of character development from both Ellie and Ramsey -- and it's really positive development. Having Ellie recognize that her behavior in the previous book was wrong was so huge for me (I was shaking the last book in frustration - learn to trust, Ellie!). Ramsey also was more cognizant of recognizing Ellie's skills and abilities in ways that felt much more thoughtful. I think every fan will feel happy with how their story goes.

Weaver also manages to nicely (and quickly) tie up the truth about Ellie's parents. For me this was worth the wait, even if it did feel a little flat after all the excitement happening in the previous 20% of the book.

Overall, this is a really successful ending to a fun and exciting series. I can't wait to see what era and location Weaver jumps to for her third series; she is a must-read for me.

Ellie travels with Captain Archie Blandings and her former boss (and almost romantic interest) Major Gabriel Ramsey to Portugal to try to find Toby, Ellie's cousin, a POW who may have escaped Germany and is headed to Lisbon. Their assignment is to meet up with Toby and other escapees to get them to safety and ensure the escape line to Portugal hasn't been compromised. Their attempts to get information are thwarted as many of their potential sources are killed. This is the final book in this 5-book series and definitely cannot be read as a standalone, but the entire series is worth reading. Ashley Weaver has given readers an outstanding end to the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur for the eARC.

Ashley Weaver is so capable and talented. I have loved this whole series centered around the lockpicking Nancy Drew. Electra McDonnell has such old-fashioned gumption and the cast supporting her carry a reader back in time to a world of mystery, danger, and elegance.

I listened to the previous books in this series, and can’t help but hear every word with Alison Larkin’s brilliant narration. One Final Turn delivers exactly what readers of this series want, a compelling mystery and a satisfying conclusion for Electra’s HEA.
The intrigue of Electra’s assignment keeps the excitement up, and the pacing of the book is great, if a little rushed at the end. Weaver knows how to raise the stakes and spin a web of suspense.

Warning: The romance in this book has gone up a spice level.

I will continue to recommend this series to readers, especially now that I know the author kept the tone compelling through the finale. So grateful for an advanced copy of the thrilling finish for our girl Ellie McDonnell.

Here is the deal -if you see this book - grab it. Ashley Weaver is a fabulous author.

After getting this book - Get the Amory Ames series.

Then get the Electra McDonnell series. I highly recommend starting with the first book in the series. It’s worth it.

Ms Weaver is a fabulous author and I can’t wait to see what is next.

ONE FINAL TURN is the fifth and final installment of the Electra McDonnell series. It’s a bittersweet end, especially for those of us who have been following Ellie for years. However, I throughly enjoyed this last, exciting adventure for Ellie!

It’s important to note that Locked in Pursuit (Book 4) closes with Major Ramsey and Ellie ending their relationship, and not on the best of terms. We, the reader, are heartbroken as it finally seems that the two are getting somewhere in acknowledging their feelings for one another. However, Ellie has a dark family secret that she’s been hiding from the Major and unfortunately gets her in a bout of trouble.

Major Ramsey feels betrayed and dismisses Ellie from service, and consequently his life. However, the charming Captain Blandings goes above the Major’s head to recruit Ellie on this next mission in Portugal. The Captain needs Ellie because there’s been intelligence of a POW line escaped from Germany and hiding in Portugal, where Toby (Ellie’s missing cousin since the Battle of Dunkirk) may be one of the missing soldiers.

So Ellie is off to Portugal, escorted by Captain Blandings. Lisbon certainly is a beautiful European city that is a perfect setting for this whirlwind adventure. Ellie, the Major, and Captain Blandings are met with twists and turns at every corner while fighting the clock to find Toby. Ellie has never lost hope about finding her cousin and is willing to do anything (and I mean anything) to bring him safely back home. Even if it means working awkwardly with Major Ramsey despite still nursing her broken heart.

While I was saddened that Ellie’s story came to an end, Ashley Weaver wrapped up every character’s story line so beautifully. Including finding out the personal family secret that Ellie has been struggling with since Book 1. I have nothing but praise for this author and am looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next!

One Final Turn is the last in the Electra McDonnell series and I’m so terribly sad to see it go! This book picks up where the last one ended and took lots of unexpected turns. Ellie heads to Lisbon to assist with Captain Blandings and Major Ramsey in an effort to find and rescue escaped POWs, one of which is rumored to be her missing cousin Toby. Lisbon is neutral territory and so Ellie notices the variety of refugees and the bright lights at night- so different from her beloved London. Shortly after Ellie gets situated in her hotel, she notices she’s being observed from her balcony. After having met with an informant, tragedy hits and upon returning to her room, she notices someone has also messed with her door lock. Who knows who she is, let alone where she’s staying? Ramsey joins the couple the next day and the trio proceed to track down intel from Blandings’ multiple contacts. While tension is still high between Ramsey and Ellie as she is still smarting from being dismissed from the work she used to do with him, as well as coping with her feelings for him; Ellie continues to do her best to focus on finding the escapees. Blandings works on getting intel from his contacts and Ellie and Ramsey follow up on the info he provides, except they seem to always be one step behind! Ellie, Ramsey and Blandings scramble to find answers before time runs out.
Weaver recreates WWII era Lisbon with wonderful detail and builds the tension that must have existed in neutral countries on the continent during that time- with refugees and spies intermingling and all desperate for something they’re wanting and doing almost anything to get it. Writing a review is hard as I don’t want to give more away- suffice it to say- It was a great read and a series I’ll continue to re-read with much enjoyment. I received an ARC copy for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for the advanced reader copy of this very highly anticipated book on my 2025 release list. All opinions are my own.

I had mixed feelings starting this book, knowing it was the 5th and final installment of the Electra McDonnell series. This historical espionage series has been one of my favorites since the beginning, and I'm truly sad to see it end. But what a terrific book! Electra travels to Lisbon, Portugal to see if she can locate the whereabouts of her cousin Toby, MIA since the Battle of Dunkirk. This trip is taken with a new intelligence officer, who had Intel her cousin escaped from his German captors, and almost from the time they land in Lisbon, it seems as though someone is one step ahead of them and trying to sabotage their progress. Major Ramsay does show up at one point, forcing Electra to be honest about her feelings for him, and try to find a way to move forward in a professional manner.

Filled with great action scenes showing Ellie's usual grit and determination, this is a perfect and fitting way to end this sensational series. My personal favorite part was in Ellie's reaction to the normalcy of life in Lisbon after living through war torn London..it reminds of what the British and really all of Europe went through in WWII. Author is so precise with her WWII era knowledge and settings. I read it in one night and highly recommend.

WOW WOW WOW! What a fantastic ending to this series!
After realizing she was in love with Major Ramsey at the end of the last book just after she was dismissed by him personally and professionally, they are joining Captain Archie Blandings in Lisbon on a mission to find and bring home Ellie’s missing cousin, Toby.
This final installment surpasses the rest of the series in the excellent storytelling by Ashley Weaver. I was engrossed at every turn! I could not put this book down. I needed to know what was going to happen next. At multiple points as the story developed I had to pause for just a moment and let the twist sink in before I could proceed.
I am both ecstatic that I received the ARC for review and terribly sad that I won’t be able to read this for the first time ever again. Electra, Major Ramsey, Uncle Mick, and Nacy feel like old friends that I’m not ready to let go of. Everything about this book was perfect.

This action packed adventure love story is a joy to read. It is a great way to end the series of criminal locksmith turned WWII spy Electra. She has a personal stake in this adventure as she tries to save the life of her beloved cousin while working alongside her former boss with whom she has a very complicated love/hate relationship. Set in Lisbon during WWII this novel will keep you captivated to the very satisfying end. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Ashley Weaver, what have you done to me? I don’t know if I have ever been so giddy over a series ending. Don’t get me wrong, I am TOTALLY HEARTBROKEN that this is the end, but oh my heart, this was GLORIOUS!

Friends, I discovered this series several months ago and was immediately gobsmacked by the way it sucked me in and literally consumed me. Gabriel Ramsey and Electra McDonnell are absolute fire and ice, tortuously divine, utterly irresistible, completely intoxicating, absolutely maddening! He is the north to her south, the ying to her yang, the lock to her key, the calm to her storm.

This book doesn’t even release until next June and I have 5 ARCs due in the next few weeks, but the magnetism that these characters have would not let me wait any longer to devour their final adventure. I am over the moon with this conclusion. I need more!!! Please, please, please! How about a Kimble spin off, or Colm, or Toby???

If you have not read this series, I admonish you to rectify that immediately! This series on audio is incredible, also.

I will be talking about this book next spring closer to the release date. I don’t even want to actually review the content because I don’t want even the most minuscule detail to spoil anything. I’ll have to mull over what I can say.

Until then…go fall in love with Major Ramsey! I wish I could give this one a million stars!

Thank you NetGalley, St Martins Press, and Minotaur Books for the advanced copy all opinions are my own.

#electramcdonnell #electramcdonnellseries #ashleyweaver #netgalley #minotaur

“One Final Turn” was amazing especially being the last in the series it needed to go out with a bang! And I can say it definitely accomplished that. It picks up a few weeks after the last book “Locked in Pursuit” Electra heads to Lisbon in hopes to find her cousin Toby who is part of a few men who have escaped France and are heading to neutral Portugal. It’s clear from the beginning they aren’t the only ones looking and that thickens the suspense. Electra, Ramsey and Archie have their work cut out for them if they’ll reach the men first. This book is full of suspense also has funny moments. The romance between major Ramsey and Electra was not forgotten! So much thick tension and longing between the two. The last 1/4 of the book is so intense and amazing I re-read it multiple times. I always hate when I read a book only to find a sad or disappointing ending. But Ashley Weaver does not disappoint! We get many loose ends tied up and our happy ending. Such a good read.

*** Thank you to St. Martin Press and Netgalley for providing this book for an honest review. All opinions are my own. ***

Everything I wanted and more for the finale of this wonderful series (even though I’m so so sad it’s over). I am such a huge fan of Ashley Weaver; both this Electra series and her Amory Ames series are fabulous historical fiction novels with strong female leads. I highly recommend both!

This is just what the fans of this series wanted for the finale. If you haven’t picked up this series yet, definitely start back at the beginning, because this final book wraps up many open storylines.

The chemistry between Electra and Gabriel has been top tier since Book 1, but for this novel?! Next level! I love me some Major Ramsey; have since the beginning. Fell more in love if that’s even possible. And Electra is the perfect FMC to lead us through a mystery.

I’m really going to miss this series. Can’t wait to see what Ashely Weaver writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

I am so sad that this series has cone to an end. Electra and Gabriel are so steamy together. After a bitter heartbreak in book 4, Electra focuses more on things that matter to her, getting Toby back, and solving her parents stories. Set in Portugal, this book was very fast paced and reaches the grand finale so well.

#netgalley #OneFinalTurn

This is the fifth, and apparently final, installment of the Electra McDonnell series which I have been enjoying since book one. Unfortunately, this book had a very different feel than the others. Specifically, it seemed to be mostly filler with very little plot developing content. A lot of travelogue about Portugal, descriptions of handsome men, and banal chit chat that didn't lead anywhere. I admit that after I reached 30% I gave up. Life is too short! I'm not sure what happened as I remember really loving the previous four books and never feeling overwhelmed by filler.

As I did not like this book, I won't be posting reviews in my normal spaces.

I read this book as a standalone book, not book 5 out of the series it is in. I definitely missed a lotttttttt of context and background info. This should not be read as a standalone. I think the writing was good, but overall as a stand alone it was not good


Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

What a fun series! I'll be sad to see it go. I thought Ellie and Ramsey's story wrapped up beautifully and I'm secretly hoping for more stories in this universe.

When I read that this was the last book in the Electra McDonnell series, one part of me was excited for another book in the series, but the other part of me was so sad because I really enjoy this series. Electra, Major Ramsey, the McDonnell's and the other characters in this series are so well written that I feel as if I know them and would like to be friends with them. The setting is terrifying and romantic and really exciting and so much fun to read about. So it was sad to know that this was the last book, but oh what a book! I can’t tell you how much I loved this book! I just couldn’t put it down! I don’t want to give anything away, but what a story and what an ending. It was a fantastic mystery and I read the last chapters several times because it was just an incredible ending. I have enjoyed both of Ashley Weaver’s series and I hope she has more writing in her future. She is one of those authors that if I see her name as the author I know it’s going to be a book worth reading and goes right on my TBR list. Thank you Ashley Weaver for another great story and incredible ending to this series!

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to review this book. All opinions are mine.

I’ll start with the note I sent the publisher. Why is the question I can’t stop asking. Here is a series with a wonderful and unusual premise, characters that are unique and interesting, and plots that never disappoint, as well as snappy dialogue. Why stop this successful storyline that our patrons always look forward to reading. Of course the author has her reasons but its a huge disappointment, reading this and knowing it was the last book in the series.
Electra, Archie Blandings, and Major Ramsey are in Lisbon trying to find her cousin Toby who escaped from a POW camp and making sure the escape route everyone is using is not compromised. Lots of action, romance, and a great style of writing.
I am so sad this will be the last installment.

I absolutely loved this book, the last in the all-around excellent Electra McDonnell series. Electra is drawn into a mission in Lisbon, this time with a very personal connection. She must also figure out how to work with Maj Ramsey one last time despite his very recent dismissal of her for what he thought was a return to her family’s less-than-completely-aboveboard ways. The wartime setting of neutral Lisbon is very well done and builds the tension as everyone’s spies try to operate without getting caught. The book manages to neatly tie up some of the lingering family mysteries that Electra has faced while also bringing resolution to her complicated relationship with Ramsey. It’s a testament to the author that all of this happens in a hugely entertaining, seamlessly woven together story that is one of my favorites for the year. I’m now off to re-read the whole series…. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. All views are my own and are offered voluntarily.

I wasn't ready for this to be the final Electra McDonnell book when I started reading it and wasn't ready when I finished either.

A few weeks have passed since Electra was dismissed by Major Ramsey (and had her heart broken). She travels to Lisbon with Captain Archie Blandings to help find her cousin, Toby, who is thought to be following a secret route through the mountains to escape France and reach Portugal. Major Ramsey arrives a day later and the tension with Electra is immediately thick. However, it also immediately becomes clear that someone is on to what they are trying to accomplish and it is a race to stay one step ahead of whoever else is looking for the escaped prisoners.

I love Electra and Major Ramsey (and Blandings!). Electra tries (and mostly fails) to give off an unbothered air around Ramsey. Ramsey gives Electra plenty of sultry looks and murderous glares at anyone else who dares touches her. The tension between them is fantastic. And Blandings does lots of great work egging it on.

This book, sadly, left me wanting more with these characters. There is still a lot of the war to go so plenty of time for more safe cracking adventures.