Iris Sparks, ex-WWII spy, and Gwendolyn Bainbridge, noble-born society dame start a marriage bureau in London following the war. Finding every woman the right sort of man (or vice versa) should be enough to give Gwen a sense of purpose and pay Iris’s rent. Or so you would think.

The difficulty is all the bodies that keep showing up in their path, which leads to them being involved in murder cases and being both a thorn in the side as well as aides-de-camp to Scotland Yard (the Yard can’t decide which, especially Iris’ ex).

“Are these ladies helping us now?” asked Harvey.
“I’d rather have them on our side at this point,” said Kinsey.

Not forgetting that solving murders puts them on the front page of the Times, to the horror of Gwen’s snooty relatives.

I can’t talk too much about the plot of this one or I’ll spoil, but it involves the beginnings of television at the BBC and every detail rings as true as it does hilarious, as witness this conversation between the producer and the BBC manager following the second murder.

“What am I supposed to do about it now? I’ve got five minutes of dead air to fill.”
“Your grief over a fellow man’s death becomes you.”

Gotta keep your priorities straight in show business.

Montclair has done wonders with the two characters this outing, tidying up their backstories in a very satisfying way and at the same time setting their feet on an entirely new path as regards their, ah, secondary employment which neatly resolves this incessant stumbling over a new body every outing. Which could become a little too convenient if she let it. Which she doesn’t. Bravo!

I’m not one who has to read series in order but this one I recommend doing so, so click right here to read in e, or support your local bookstore right here if you prefer print. Enjoy!

Book Review Monday Chatter Allison Montclair An Excellent thing in a Woman