An Excellent Thing In a Woman is the 7th book in the exceptional Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series by Allison Montclair. I've read three of the previous books, all of which were 5-stars for me. You don't need to read all the others before this one to enjoy this outing, but I highly recommend it, especially book 6. This is one of my favorite historical mystery series, taking place after the end of World War II, when the world was still trying to regain its footing. The stories are fantastic, but it's the characters that make this series a keeper.

In Post-WWII London, 1947, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge are busy trying to make marriage connections for their clients of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, of which the women are partners. Soon, however, they are once again sucked into solving a murder, this time when Gwen's beau Salvatore 'Sally' Danielli - who's also the best friend of Iris - is suspected of murder. Sally has taken a job at the BBC studios at Alexandra Palace (aka "Ally Pally") while he's writing a play. When beautiful Miss JeanneMarie Duplessis, a Parisian performer who's in London to perform in a new variety show in the theatre is found dead, some unfortunate coincidences make Sally the primary suspect. Just days earlier, Miss Duplessis had arrived at The Right Sort, desperately looking for a husband - any husband - to avoid having to return to Paris. During the investigation, Iris is pulled back into the covert circles she worked in during the war, and the woman must find the killer in order to clear Sally's name.

I was thoroughly upset upon reading the first sentence in this book, which tied up a cliffhanger from the prior book. I almost stopped reading I was so horrified, but luckily I made the correct choice and continued to read on. I swear each book in this series gets better and better. I thought I couldn't love these characters any more than I already did, but I was wrong. As wonderful as the mysteries are, it's the characters that keep me coming back for more. Iris Sparks worked as a spy during the war, and she was finally moving on to happier times when tragedy struck. It was heartbreaking to see this strong woman fall apart. She began to drink more and moved to live on a narrow houseboat when she had to leave her residence. Yet she didn't curl up into a ball and totally lose it, but continued to work with her partner - and friend - Gwen at The Right Sort. Gwen's life, on the other hand, was finally on the upswing. She was recently declared sane by the Lunacy Court (she attempted suicide after her husband was killed in the war) and has regained the custody of her young son Ronnie, together with her fortune. Also, after having dated Sally not long ago but not feeling a spark, they have decided to give it another chance and things are going swimmingly...well, until Sally was suspected of murder, that is! Sally is a playwright, but back in the war he, like his best friend Iris, was a spy. Sally is exceptionally tall (which is good, since Gwen is also tall) and is funny and charming. I was really excited to see their romance blooming. The mystery here was great, but I especially love the theme of friendship which permeates each story. They always have each other's backs no matter what happens. I adored this mystery, especially how it tied into World War II and the work Iris did while serving. I thought I had figured out whodunit, but I wasn't even close! The specter of the war was felt throughout the story, reminding one of the hell people went through. I loved every page of this book (well, except for that first sentence!) and hope to see much more of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau and the strong women who own it.

I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions stated are entirely my own.

This novel had two very strong female lead characters who were both brilliant in their own ways. As well as running a marriage bureau, they have both come through the war with their scars and are navigating their way in post World War Two in London.

The novel is set in the aftermath of the second world war and made me feel as if I was really stepping into that time period in London. The inclusion of the BBC added intrigue and historical depth. For the most part, the novel was pacy and clever with its link back to the war.

I hadn’t read any other books in this series. This is book number seven. I didn’t have a problem picking up the story, but some of the main characters’ back details I would have understood better if I’d read from the beginning of the series.

4.5 rounded up
Dealing with the significant consequences of the events at the end of the previous book, this one got off to a slow start for me. The place setting Montclair did with the characters dealing with those changes made sense, but nonetheless I found myself anxious for the main plot to kick in. Once it did, the novel delivered every delight I've come to expect from a Sparks & Bainbridge mystery - interesting period details, rat-a-tat dialogue, and a compelling whodunnit at the center. I'm still very much on team Sparks & Bainbridge and eagerly awaiting another installment.

I’m a huge fan of this series, and this book may be my favorite one yet! Iris and Gwen are such a fun detective duo, and I’ve also enjoyed following their individual stories unfold across the series. Heartily recommend!

Book 7 in the series but new to me and a pleasurable, engaging, witty whodunnit with two strong and likeable women as the main characters. Although the author is American, the writing honours the 1940s London setting and I enjoyed not being able to tell it was not a British author as a UK reader. I now want to read all 6 other books.

This was fun to read, with great characterization and a compelling whodunit.

Plot Summary: Iris, or "Sparks," and her business partner, Gwen, run a matchmaking agency in the late 40's. One of their clients is found murdered, and Iris' best friend, who has become Gwen's significant other, is a suspect. The duo goes searching for the real killer.

There are many layers that all work well together. There's the matchmaking, Iris managing after a huge personal challenge, and Gwen bringing up her son and moving on from widowhood. Iris facing a past love interest when both of them still may have feelings but are in different places today, and what really happened during the war to the various French visitors who are all a part of the murder story.

This has a very British tone, which adds interest, and the historical fiction part is well-done. There were multiple red herrings that all make sense, but I saw the big twist a mile away. It also heavily relies on the police-doing-a-poor-job trope.

Although this works well as a standalone, this is the seventh in a series, and my sense is that fans who have been there from the beginning will probably enjoy this a lot more.

3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Severn House, and Allison Montclair for the opportunity to review an advanced copy.

This was a captivating, original, and well written romance. The humor, wit, drama, exotic animals, carriage accidents, espionage, Bonapartests, intrigue, and other plot twists and emotional issues that kept me very entertained. I enjoyed the surprising relationship that built up to a steamy, passionate love and the delightful ending. I highly recommend reading!

A fun paced historical mystery. I really enjoyed it. I love historical mysteries and this was perfect. The characters were great and life like. I didn't want to stop reading.

This is a beloved historical mystery series and I’m always glad to read the latest and spend time with the marriage bureau amateur sleuths, Gwen Bainbridge and Iris Sparks. This latest volume is focussed more on Iris’s army intelligence past than on Gwen’s healing from the grief of losing her husband and nearly losing her agency and son, Ronnie. When the novel opens, it’s obvious Iris is in a bad place, her fiancé dead and a bottle more often than not her evening companion, and Gwen, in a new, comfortable home, with custody of Ronnie, and a lover (but an old favourite character, Salvatore “Sally” Danielli). I haven’t said much about the murder our sleuths solve — again — because I come back to the series for the lovable characters, their losses and sadness, joys and humour, and most of all, for Gwen and Iris’s friendship. To the blurb, though, for the crimefic details:

London, 1947. Spirited Miss Iris Sparks and ever-practical Mrs Gwendolyn Bainbridge are called to action when Gwen’s beau Salvatore ‘Sally’ Danielli is accused of murder!

Sally has taken a job at the BBC studios at Alexandra Palace, but when the beautiful Miss JeanneMarie Duplessis – one of the Parisian performers over for a new variety show – is found dead in the old theatre, a number of inconvenient coincidences make him Suspect No:1.

Just days earlier, Miss Duplessis had arrived at The Right Sort, desperately looking for a husband – any husband – to avoid having to return to Paris. As the plot thickens, Iris is pulled back into the clandestine circles she moved in during the war and it soon becomes apparent that to clear Sally’s name, she and Gwen would need to go on the hunt for a killer once more!

The blurb’s excess of exclamation marks doesn’t do the seriousness of Montclair’s latest justice because this is a more sombre narrative, if it were not for Ronnie and John and their warm-hearted boyishness. Iris’s past haunts her and Montclair brings it to the foreground, especially now that Archie is dead and her old flame, police detective Mark Kinsey, is the Duplessis murder’s investigator. Kinsey is hateful to Iris, not knowing or understanding that her “infidelity” was a result of “what she had to do in the war.” Married and with a baby on the way, Iris leaves him be, but it’s evident she’s still in love with him and he’s still angry with her. All of these forces combine to make Iris’s life the centre of Gwen’s efforts to clear Sally and help and support Iris. If you’re a series fan, as I am, there’s much here to enjoy.

Above all, however, I’m always fascinated by any narrative dealing with war’s aftermath, the psychic wounds, difficult memories, doubts and guilt it leaves in its wake. As such, Iris is our walking wounded. Montclair writes Iris with her usual skill for sensitive, not sentimental, portrayal. She makes of Iris an ethical core with a seemingly hardened sarcastic, maybe even cynical, voice. But everyone knows a cynic often hides a hurt soul, damaged by the world. Gwen, on the other hand, soft, feminine, and beautiful, is everything kind, intelligent, and gracious. But I love how Montclair imbues her with steel and steely resolve for the people she loves. So, like some mystery readers who share this propensity, I read for the characters and not so much for the mystery puzzle which, in this case, as “puzzle”, I found overly convoluted. But I didn’t care as long as I had Gwen and Iris et. al. for company. I also thought Montclair’s portrait of the BBC’s early days fascinating, even to Gwen’s antennae installation and Sally’s references to “Ally Pally”. If you’ve yet to read the series, start with book one; if you’re a long-time fan, you’ll enjoy this one and anticipate the next.

Allison Montclair’s A Fine Thing In a Woman is published by Severn House (new publisher for Montclair!) and released on February 4th. I received an e-galley, from Severn House, via Netgalley. The above is my honest, AI-free opinion.

A great addition to this delightful and witty mystery series. As with all the other books in this series, the dialog between the main characters is sharp and witty. And fhe mystery is engaging enough to keep the reader guessing, while we follow life as it changes for the main characters.

When the Bainbridge family is invited to Alexandra Palace to see the rehearsals for a new BBC show the last thing Mrs Bainbridge expects is to get involved in another murder. However, when a Parisian showgirl is found garrotted, all clues lead to a wartime betrayal, something Miss Sparks knows a lot about.
This is the seventh book in a series and I have read many positive reviews so thought I'd try this one. At first it was really difficult to catch up with characters and previous plots, obviously, however once getting into the rhythm of the narrative I found myself rather enjoying this story. It's odd to call a crime book light but this is not the meatiest and darkest novel a reader can choose but it does bounce along. The story is short and succinct and all the better for it.

Another captivating case for the women of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. To fully enjoy this story, read the series in order. I’m not sure this would be as good as it is as a standalone book. Business seems to be going well in 1946-7 London for Gwen and Iris…proprietors of The Right Sort. Personally, both women are at a crossroads. Iris’s almost fiancé Archie has been killed and she’s slumped into a wine-fulled funk for months. Gwen has moved herself, her young son Ronnie and a small staff to her own home…leaving her overpowering in-laws. She’s started a romantic and intimate relationship with Iris’s friend a fellow WWII clandestine operative “Sally” Danielli. Their next murder case start with the arrival of a young French woman at The Right Sort who wants a British husband immediately and she doesn’t care who he is. As this isn’t the way that Gwen and Iris work, they only reluctantly agree to take her as a client. They set up her first date with a bachelor who they’ve had trouble matching. But, they are surprised the following night when said bachelor calls to complain that the woman who he met was rude and not at all interested in making a match through the Bureau. Things start to get messy when the young woman is found dead at the BBC studios where she was part of a can-can troop brought to London for a new TV show and it seems that the police have zeroed in on Sally as the killer. To help clear his name and find some justice for their former client, Gwen and Iris start their own murder investigation that leads to clandestine activities in occupied France during WWII, violations of the Official Secrets Act and additional deaths. As always, Gwen and Iris are up to the task and their characters continue have insight, depth and growth. I love this series.

Love mysteries from this time period! The dynamic between our main characters was great as well. Overall a good continuation of the series!

Gwen Bainbridge and Iris Sparks, owners of The Right Sort matchmaking agency, return and it does not take long for them to be involved in another murder investigation. A French dancer asks them to quickly find an English husband for her. She is in London with French cabaret performers to appear on a BBC variety show and she does not want to return to Paris. Several days later Iris, Gwen, ,her son and his friend are touring the BBC studios with Salvatore (Sally), Gwen’s boyfriend, when Iris finds the dancer’s body. Sally quickly becomes the prime suspect. Gwen and Iris are once again involved to find a murderer and clear Sally. During the war Iris worked in intelligence. While at the BBC studios she is approached by Laurence Haight, the sound engineer, who worked with her. One of the French performers is a puppeteer. In a rehearsal Haight recognized his voice from a radio transmission during the war that was connected to an agent’s death. He needs Iris’ help to expose him and find justice. She also suspects his involvement in the murder. A second murder has her making contact with past associates to find out what actually happened in Paris.

Gwen and Iris are not only business partners, but also best friends. When Gwen was still recovering from her breakdown after her husband’s death, Iris was there for her. Roles are reversed when Iris suffers the loss of her fiancé Charlie. Allison Montclair developed Iris and Charlie’s relationship throughout the series so I was surprised when she opened her latest story with his death. I was also delighted with the BBC studios tour and a look at the early days of television. When Gwen buys a television and the antenna is installed on her roof, it becomes a neighborhood event. Historical fiction, murder, characters you will love and moments of humor make this a story to enjoy and will have you looking forward to the return of Bainbridge and Sparks. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book.

Another excellent installment in this fun series. Usually a marriage bureau would not seem to be a good setting for a mystery, but of course, there are all sorts of happenings!

Set around the BBC studios, it opens a world that is so interesting and brings in some historical info. When Gwen's beau is accused of murder, all hands on deck.

Be prepared to be entertained!

I received a copy of this title from the publisher; all opinions expressed are my own. This book picks up a short while after the events of the prior book with a development I didn't see coming. Gwen and Sally have started dating and even begun to get serious when Sally becomes the prime suspect in a murder at the BBC television studio where he works as a prop master. Of course Gwen and Iris want to clear Sally, but the victim had recently visited the Right Sort. The mystery in this is nicely done and I really appreciated the character development for both Gwen and Iris as the work to figure out the lives post WWII. I'm looking forward to more titles featuring the two.

Thank you Severn House for my #free advance electronic copy via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

When The Right Sort Marriage Bureau owners Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge take on an eager new client--Miss JeanneMarie Duplessis, an extremely eager French dancer searching for an English husband--the last thing they expect is to find her murdered at the BBC studios in Alexandra Palace. But when Gwen's boyfriend (and Iris' college best friend) Sally comes under suspicion by the police, they spring into action to clear his name, even if it means that they have to dig into the past to do it.

There was a lot of space in this one dedicated to the early days of BBC television and I learned a lot. The mystery was engaging and there was still pithy dialogue in this 7th installation in the series (it's much better to read this series in order--I wouldn't skip right to this one. Also, note: books 1-6 have a different publisher). The previous book ended on a cliffhanger and the first part of this one was dedicated to resolving that and watching how the characters move on. I found this one to be a bit more cold and detached than the previous books, but I very much appreciated the continuing character arcs and getting to see what happened next with Iris and Gwen. Life is very much looking up for them both, despite tragedies, and I hope we get to see more of them.

An Excellent Thing in a Woman begins with a shocking event. Having not read book six, this is book seven, I was unprepared for the event. Allison Montclair is certainly keeping this Sparks & Bainbridge series unpredictably fresh. So once again Iris and Gwen are back at their business, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Thinking that they will be able to find Parisian performer JeanneMarie Duplessis, the right husband so she can stay in England they are shocked to find her deceased. So instead of husband hunting they are hunting a killer. They are excellent at connecting their experiences and suspicions with the clues in solving the murder, helping to catch the culprit.

The reader begins to find out more concerning Iris’ past as well as seeing Gwen flourish. If you enjoy mysteries such as The Bletchley Circle you will enjoy this series. A post-WWII English mystery, these women are contributing something positive to a world recovering from a brutal time in history, doing it their way.

Alan Gordon is turning out one fine book after another in his historical mystery series about two women at loose ends after the end of World War II. Gordon is a retired lawyer, author, lyricist, and librettist, who is no stranger to the demands of writing a convincing historical mystery series. Between 1999 and 2010 he wrote eight well-reviewed books in the Fool’s Guild mysteries, set in early 13th century Europe.

Under the name Allison Montclair, Gordon chose a completely different time and place for his current series. He created two compelling characters: Miss Iris Sparks, formerly of Cambridge and an intelligence unit, and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, widow of an Air Force pilot from an aristocrat family. Both of them are looking for a fresh start when they meet and decide to form an agency to facilitate marriage among the lonely and unattached members of the London populace, a group to which they belong. The series earns consistent acclaim from critics and readers alike.

In the seventh title An Excellent Thing in a Woman (Severn House, 2025) Sally (Salvatore) Danielli, Iris’s long-time friend, has found work with the BBC and the new medium of television. He sends one of his new coworkers to Iris and Gwen for matrimonial assistance. Unfortunately both of them come under suspicion when a dancer from Paris is found strangled in a BBC props storage room.

The plot reaches deep into the past of several characters, including Iris, and their wartime service, reminding the reader that the war for many was not far away. As usual, Iris and Gwen swing into action to rescue their friends and clients. Their growing confidence in each other’s support is one of the deeply attractive aspects of the running story line, as is their amusing chatter. I found the details about the budding television industry of the late 1940s of especial interest. Gwen purchased a state-of-the-art model for her home with an impressive 12-inch screen. The installation of the rooftop antenna fascinated the neighborhood.

With this title, publication of this series transfers to Severn House. I am sorry that Minotaur did not see the value of retaining this popular and historically accurate series. I hope that Gordon and his agent find a way to keep it in print for years to come.

Thank you Severn House and Netgalley for this arc.

Iris’s past, and what she’s not supposed to talk about, figure heavily in unraveling what’s going on. A new client is someone Iris knew during the war and he has a peculiar request for any woman he might be set up with. This detail also figures into what’s going on and brings in another person with information to add. The recent war is still casting a long shadow on those who survived it and there are many people who are free who ought, by all rights, to have faced justice for what they did. But things were often murky then and sometimes it’s not clear what side people were on.

The honors here belong to Iris and Gwen for solving the case but I also appreciated the fact that Mike and his fellow officers were thorough and thought through aspects of it that had not occurred to Gwen when she went to visit Mike and lay out her investigation so far. But then she realizes some things that cause her to dig a bit deeper into other things and talk to some people plus make a bet with Mike which he loses. Yes, I’m trying to be deliberately vague. As Iris keeps telling Gwen, Gwen might not have a college degree and might have been brought up to only be a decorative aristocrat but Gwen is far from dumb.

The case is a bit convoluted and there was an early scene that kept dragging for me although I realized that it was probably there for Reasons. The villain’s confession was also a bit too easy though. I love that Gwen and Ronnie now have their own place and a household of devoted people to look after them as well as having John still be in Ronnie’s life. I also love that the characters and series keep building and expanding rather than just treading water and repeating. As this book has a degree of callbacks to things in previous ones, I think at this point new readers ought not start here. The penultimate scene is a doozy and promises all kinds of future shenanigans that Iris and Gwen can be caught up in. Plus the chance for more openness among some of the characters if they’re ready for it. I am definitely ready for the next book. B+