Ashley Weaver

This fourth book in author Ashley Weaver's "Elektra McDonnell" series, is a delightful historical mystery. The setting is January of 1941, London. The evening German bombings had subsided a bit through the holidays and the bitter days of winter have settled into the city. While our plucky Elektra McDonnell ("Ellie" to her family and friends as well as locksmith and reformed thief) was reading a newspaper article about a recent burglary, there were a number of details which appeared off to her. It had been a while since last she worked with the dishy Major Ramsey. These observations of hers may be just what the good Major needs to to be apprised of. When she arrived at his flat, he was already on the case but glad of her intuition and professional observations. There appears to be more at stake then the purloining of precious baubles, and the Germans want whatever it is at all costs. Can this on-the-surface-mismatched-duo find the sought after prize before it's sold to the highest bidder? So much is at stake and danger lurks around every corner.

In this installment, there were several story lines which all eventually converged. The element of a love triangle continues with Ellie at its center. The writing is clean, well crafted and the characters are interesting and well-developed. The mise en scène was deftly created and one could imagine strolling through the chilly and rough streets of blitzed London. All in all, this was a sweet and enjoyable historical mystery. Although this fourth book in series can stand alone, there is a continuing story thread for which you may wish to start at the beginning. If a fun historical mystery is your jam, then this may be just the right series and book for you.

I am grateful to Minotaur books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher:‎ Minotaur Books
Publication Date: ‎May 14, 2024
No. of pages:‎ 272
ISBN-13:‎ 978-1250885906… (más)

The problem with being someone like me--who falls in and out of genres as often as I blink--is that when I fall into a genre I immerse myself so far into it that I have trouble coming up from it. My old standbys--historical romance, fantasy and paranormal--I can find my way out of easily enough, but sporadic genres like this one, a historical "cozy" mystery, makes it much tougher.

I wanted to read about the 1920's/1930's, something that I usually appease by just re-reading Poirot unto death, but I wanted something different. This came along at BEA this year and I thought 'yes, that sounds delightful'. And it is, mostly. I read it while on the plane to Texas, but it didn't leave me with much impression beyond the fluff it provided.

Part of it was that it always felt...off to have the main character, Amory, alternately plotting whether she should leave her husband for her ex-fiancee or if she should trust that her husband is being serious when he says he wants to make another go of it. I don't go in for romances that feature cheating/adultry as the basis for the leads getting together and while nothing is as easy at it seems by the end, I still felt a bit meh.

The murder itself is fairly easy to unravel, though the motivations are murkier and get tangled even more since there's about 200 different subplots running around that could have easily turned to murder. For those who are going in for the "flavor" of the 1930's this does a good job of creating that atmosphere. You only really see this small selection of folk, most of whom have lived similar enough lives that they don't bring anything new to their gathering.

Overall this is a fluffy read for the beach or pool side. It won't shock or surprise anyone, but it will help to divert the mind from the duller pursuits of real life.… (más)

WW2, historical-novel, historical-places-events, historical-research, suspense, safecrackers, mystery, espionage, lies, secrets, spies, women-sleuths, relationships, relationship-issues, relatives, picklock, witty, 1940, London, family-business, family-dynamics, family-history, theft, riveting, unputdownable, cryptography, burglary, romantic, urgent*****

The stiff toff is a gentleman, a major, and a spymaster. The lady has dodgy family connections and is a safecracker, among other things, and has worked with him in the past.
Ellie starts the adventure off when she finds an article in the newspaper and goes to the Major about it. That starts a deep investigation into spies local and on the continent with plenty of danger and suspense. Her other quest is to find out more about her parents and that, too, becomes a real mess.
I really don't want to say any more, so I don't get into spoiler territory. I loved the others on the series, too, and this one has even more diabolical twists.
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press, Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!… (más)