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+

Allison Montclair's Sparks & Bainbridge historical series continues to be one of my favorites. The growth of the main characters is wonderful, and An Excellent Thing in a Woman continues to let readers share in the lives of two strong, intelligent, and witty women.

Another thing I love about this series is the attention to detail. I really get a feel for post-World War II London. In this latest installment, readers get a behind-the-scenes look at the BBC Studios, and when Gwen buys a television, we see how that one item immediately begins to impact our lives.

The Official Secrets Act also plays a part in the book. Sparks' work during the war ties into the murder of the French woman, and trying to solve the crime isn't easy when she's signed documents stating that she's not allowed to mention anything she did during the war.

I'm really looking forward to the next book in this series. This is the third murdered client of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, and I think the author is going to shake things up in book eight. Bring it on!

An Excellent Thing in a Woman, the seventh installment of Montclair's series featuring Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge, throws the two friends and partners into another murder. The victim is a client of their matchmaking business, and the primary suspect is Salvatore 'Sally' Danielli, Gwen's boyfriend. Of course Sparks and Bainbridge are on the case!

They soon realize that the motives and suspects for the murder of a French dancer are tied to the dangerous liaisons and actions soldiers, spies, and resistant members were forced to undertake in WWII. The consequences of some of those actions are still active and personal in early 1947, when this book takes place. Understanding the past is the key to solving the murders in the present.

As always with these books, the mystery is unraveled with believable and diligent detective work by the two protagonists. In this case, Sparks and Bainbridge also receive help from people in Sparks' wartime past, so we learn a good deal more about the top-secret job she held during the war. I enjoyed getting more details on her war efforts, and the personal information fit nicely into the detection work for the murders.

This story takes place almost immediately after the cliffhanger ending of Murder at the White Palace, the previous book in the series, so we also get more details about the private lives of both Sparks and Bainbridge. I won't give away any spoilers, but we get answers about the cliffhanger in the previous book. If you haven't read previous books, you can still enjoy this one, although the very beginning may be a little confusing.

This latest installment provides additional information about the characters, teaches about WWII in France, and solves a complex murder with action, wit, and danger. All of these are excellent things in a book!

I love this series and this is a deeply satisfying nicely twisty addition that fans like me will welcome. To be honest, it might be difficult for a new reader to appreciate Gwen Bainbridge, Iris Sparks, and the rest because their relationship has been layered though six preceding books in which Gwen emerged from the guardianship she was placed under after her husband died and Iris a former SOE operative found and lost love. Now Gwen's new romantic interest and Iris's long time BFF Sally, who is working in stage management at the BBC, finds himself a suspect when a visiting French dancer is killed! The same dancer who visited Gwen and Iris to ask them to find her a British husband. There's something baffling and something bad that trails back to WWII and how clever this is (and what wonderful small things to make it sing). The mystery itself is terrific but it's the characters and the big heart that I like. Gwen and Iris, two smart if very different women, always support one another. They also have a knack for seeing things others do not. As a bonus, I learned something about how television worked in the early days. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This was terrific and I'm eager to see what happens next.

4/5. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.
I was really happy to get the chance to read an advance copy of the latest Sparks & Bainbridge novel.
Note: This really isn't a standalone novel - anyone who hasn't read a couple of the previous entries would be lost. Recommend to fans of cozy mysteries, female detectives and good historical stories.
I love this series for its focus on the female partners of a rather specialized business in post WWII London. Matchmaking takes somewhat of a backseat in this book, though, as Iris struggles to come to terms with a life-changing event, and Gwen explores her new independence.
One of the 'supporting characters' in this book is Alexandra House, the first home of BBC TV, where Sally has gotten a job. Things get complicated when a member of a visiting French variety troupe is found dead and Sally becomes a suspect - do Iris's past espionage contacts have something to do with this? Is the Right Sort partnership in danger?
This instalment is a bit 'in between' as it seems to start and finish in the middle of different crises - I do sometimes feel like I'm reading from one cliffhanger to another...can't wait to see what happens next!

<spoiler>I was fascinated to learn that Allison Montclair is Alan Grant's pseudonym; I was a big fan of his Fools' Guild series which I also loved for the way it put the reader right into history.</spoiler>

I thank NetGalley and Severn House for an advance reader copy of “An Excellent Thing in a Woman.” All opinions and comments are my own.

The two proprietors of the “Right Sort Marriage Bureau” are at their troubled best in “An Excellent Thing in a Woman,” the newest edition in Allison Montclair’s long-running series, which finds Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge with old wounds to overcome, new puzzles to solve, and possibly, a rather exciting future to look forward to (depending on your point of view, of course).

As in the rest of the series, relationships and family play a big part in the narrative. And when prospective bureau clients are murdered, and Gwen’s boyfriend is a suspect, well, it’s all hands on deck and time to even bring up What Happened in the War. Webs are woven, when one practices to deceive. As usual, author Allison Montclair knows her stuff, and our ladies set a big trap for the murderer, but not the one that everyone will think it is.

“An Excellent Thing in a Woman” finds Iris and Gwen at their best, with an ending that finds them facing a future they may not be too happy about, but hasn’t the whole series been leading up to this outcome? The plotting is as always first rate, the characters excellently defined and just right for the story. Truly entertaining, from start to finish.

I do love an ongoing mystery series, where we follow the (generally interesting) lives of (extremely likeable) main characters while they solve (fun) mysteries.

Would I normally want to read a story about people running a marriage bureau? Nope. That's how good this series is. We have two delightful protagonists in the context of 1947 London. We get to see the UK, London, and Londoners, rebuilding themselves and their lives and their homes after the blitz. I really do enjoy stories set "after the bad". Everyone has to reconcile themselves to their lives during the war, and their ongoing existence. This is depicted remarkably well.

Iris and Gwen are dealing with grief and love while trying to unravel what on earth happened when one of their new clients is found killed.

I enjoyed that the story was set around the BBC tv studios and how they were operating and how things were done. Most enjoyable! Yet again we see how peoples' history in extraordinary times plays out in their present.

An entertaining read. The mystery element, is rich with interesting twists and turns the plot takes a surprising which I did work out before hand but was still good. I haven't read all the books which might not be the best way to do things as while the mystery was fine I had no idea about the death of the character in the book before this one. I would therefore say they are best read in order. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Book seven in the historical mystery series starring Sparks and Bainbridge, proprietors of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau in post WWII London. Both have unusual backgrounds which continues to be elaborated over the volumes. In this episode, The (first) murder takes place in a BBC studio, and we get exposed to quite a bit of that setting and all that surrounds the putting on of a "show."

This is a cozy series which, for my taste, spends too much time on filler and physical descriptions which aren't my thing. But I do like the characters -- the main characters and the side characters -- quite a bit and the plots do keep my interest. I find the writing a bit choppy but completely adequate (ie it never gets in my way) and overall I found it quite entertaining.

This is the seventh installment in the Sparks and Bainbridge series. I've enjoyed them all -- they make a great binge read. When I got to the end of the sixth, I wasn't sure how I'd be able to wait until the seventh. I agree with other reviewers that this one was a bit short and felt like a transition book, but it still allowed for some good development in each of the characters' stories, which have always been more important than the mysteries themselves. I'm looking forward to finding out how things will evolve in #8.

5/5 stars: This is the seventh entry in Montclair's Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series which is a Historical Mystery set in 1947 England and featuring two woman, a former intelligence agent and a genteel war widow and mother, who run a marriage bureau together as they find themselves turning sleuth to investigate a Parisian performer's death after the widow's beau becomes the main suspect. With plenty of twists and turns, Montclair has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. Witty and heartfelt, Montclair's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's great to catch up with Iris and Gwen, they're strong women who're moving on with their lives both professionally, with their match making venture, and romantically and continue to rebuild their lives after WWII. I really appreciate how Montclair explores class, crime and women in the workplace post war. With tact and sensitivity, Montclair takes on some sensitive issues; so take care and check the CWs. While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, The Right Sort of Man.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Severn House in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

It's 1947 post-WWII London.
Iris Sparks is not dealing well with the sudden passing of her beau Archie. She is drinking too much & living alone on his houseboat.

The Right Sort Marriage Bureau has an intriguing new client. Miss Jeanne-Marie Duplessis is a Parisian dancer here in London to perform for a BBC TV variety show. She is desperate to marry an Englishman ASAP.

Iris & her business partner friend Gwen Bainbridge are touring the Alexandra Palace BBC studios when they find Miss Duplessis's murdered body. Gwen's beau Salvatore 'Sally' Danielli is a prime suspect. Determined to help clear Sally of murder, Iris & Gwen's "assist" the police. The clues & motives lead back to WWII France where the victim & Iris were both involved in clandestine espionage activities.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Severn House. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this latest installment of the historical mystery series of Sparks and Bainbridge. The concept of these two post-WWII women running a marriage bureau brought me to the series in the beginning. So I was excited to see another one in this series. This one does a great job of setting the scene of post WWII London. And the characters of Miss Iris Sparks (former spy) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (widow and mom) are well drawn characters each with their own issues and losses related to the war, There’s usually a bit of humor and clever dialogue.

In this installment, Gwen’s boyfriend is a suspect in the murder at the BBC television studio. And the victim is one of their clients. So of course they get drawn in to use their detective skills to try and clear Sally (Salvatore Danielli). There’s a lot of fun, behind the scenes of early television along with the rest of the story and quite a cast of characters including some French can-can girls and a marionette. In addition to the mystery, we learn a bit more about Iris and her past as she mourns the loss of her love and fights to exercise some demons. It’s a good mystery and comes together well with the women using all their skills and contacts as they work to clear Sally. Their marriage bureau took a bit of a backseat in this one, although it was included. All in all another engaging installment in this cozy period mystery series.

#AnExcellentThinginaWoman #NetGalley #SevernHouse

I enjoyed this latest installment of the historical mystery series of Sparks and Bainbridge. The concept of these two post-WWII women running a marriage bureau brought me to the series in the beginning. So I was excited to see another one in this series. This one does a great job of setting the scene of post WWII London. And the characters of Miss Iris Sparks (former spy) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (widow and mom) are well drawn characters each with their own issues and losses related to the war, There’s usually a bit of humor and clever dialogue.

In this installment, Gwen’s boyfriend is a suspect in the murder at the BBC television studio. And the victim is one of their clients. So of course they get drawn in to use their detective skills to try and clear Sally (Salvatore Danielli). There’s a lot of fun, behind the scenes of early television along with the rest of the story and quite a cast of characters including some French can-can girls and a marionette. In addition to the mystery, we learn a bit more about Iris and her past as she mourns the loss of her love and fights to exercise some demons. It’s a good mystery and comes together well with the women using all their skills and contacts as they work to clear Sally. Their marriage bureau took a bit of a backseat in this one, although it was included. All in all another engaging installment in this cozy period mystery series.

#AnExcellentThinginaWoman #NetGalley #Severn

"The owners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are back, and more determined than ever to bring love matches to the residents of Post-WWII London...so something as trivial as a murder investigation isn't going to stop them!

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!

Those who enjoy reading Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher mysteries and Dorothy Sayers will adore this warm and witty historical mystery!"

I think there's quite a gap between Phryne Fisher and Dorothy Sayers... Just saying...

I was so excited to read the next installment of this series. I just keeps getting better and better. Per usual Gwen and Iris are going about the business of matching the perfect couples at The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Things have changed quite a bit since they started. Gwen now has her own home with a staff and a new TV (heavens). Iris is recovering from a heartbreaking loss and currently residing on a boat. Things take a turn when Gwen, accompanied by Iris, takes her son, Ronnie and nephew, John to Alexandra Palace, home of the BBC for a tour of a new show including a Parisienne puppet master and a troupe of cancan dancers. During the tour, Iris discovers a body. It is one of the dancers. The story isn’t as simple as it seems, and aside from having to deal yet again with detective inspector Mike Kinsey, Iris must also delve back into her wartime spy days. Oh, did I mention a touch of romance? Thus may be the best book if the series yet!

Gwen Bainbridge continues her growth as a single woman while Iris Sparks is forced into a holding pattern in her love life. The Official Secrets Act continues to frustrate personal lives and official investigations. So many secrets! This time their mutual friend Salvatore (Sally) is suspected of murder at a BBC TV broadcasting studio. Sally has knowledge of the murder weapon and its use but can't explain why due to his role in the war. This is a terrific mystery and a fascinating slice of life in post-war London.

7 books into this series and it is as enjoyable as ever! If anything, reading the books in order helps you enjoy the later ones more as you have all the back stories. The character and relationship development is truly masterful. While the mystery was complex and suspenseful (and hard to figure out yourself which is always key to enjoying a mystery novel), but relationships and personal development of the characters is my favorite part. I also enjoyed the historical aspects of the book, as we learn about the early days of TV and resistance and post-war shenanigans in London.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series!