An Excellent Thing in a Woman

Sparks & Bainbridge #7

by Allison Montclair

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

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!

Genres: Mystery, Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction, Audiobook, Historical Mystery, British Literature

211 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 4, 2025

About the author

ALLISON MONTCLAIR grew up devouring hand-me-down Agatha Christie paperbacks and James Bond movies. As a result of this deplorable upbringing, Montclair became addicted to tales of crime, intrigue, and espionage. She now spends her spare time poking through the corners, nooks, and crannies of history, searching for the odd mysterious bits and transforming them into novels of her own. The Right Sort of Man is her debut novel.

Allison Montclair is a pseudonym of Alan Gordon.

Reviews

[Barb in Maryland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely entry in this series. 4.5 strong stars.

It's now 1947 and the personal lives of Gwen Bainbridge and Iris Sparks have gone through major changes. Gwen and her charming young son Ronnie have moved into their own home, and Archie, Iris's lover, is dead, having succumbed to his wounds. (The announcement of his death is the first sentence of the book!) Iris is now house-sitting, or rather, narrow-boat sitting, while trying to put her life back together. Gwen, meanwhile, has embarked on a romance with Salvatore 'Sally' Donielli.

Once the reader has been brought up to date, the rest of the book concentrates on a murder mystery with connections to The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, Iris's work during the war, and the early days of BBC television. It's a very tangled tale, with several surprises. I quite enjoyed it. (I was with Gwen, who was convinced X was the killer, right up until X became the second murder victim.) The ladies are assisting the police (in the person of Detective Sergeant Mike Kinsey, Iris's very bitter ex-fiance) for two reasons-firstly, the victim was a client, and secondly, the police arrested Sally for the deed.

I love this series for so many reasons: Gwen and Iris are such strong, sympathetic women. I want them to succeed, to be happy. The whole idea of professional match-makers is intriguing, I like watching them at work. I like the look at London after the war. The mysteries, as intriguing as they are, are really just a bonus. I will be on hand for their next adventure.

[Heather Moll · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one started out with a shocker, if you had read the last book. I was really disappointed this was the resolution with Archie. I almost didn’t want to keep reading. My immediate fears were judgy Mike coming back or Iris living in the bottom of a bottle.

I still enjoyed this latest installment in the series. The mystery stands alone but the characters are best enjoying you’ve read along from the beginning. Lots of banter and well-plotted as always. I’m loving how we learn more about Iris’s past and it’s great to see Gwen slowly coming into her own.

I received an arc from NetGalley

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

The opening line of this book is devastating if inevitable. And I really liked the book as a whole--Sparks mourning and Bainbridge really coming into her own in her new independent life. Their partnership of matchmaking and mystery solving remains one of my favorite things and I can't wait to see what adventure they have in store next time around.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC./i>

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited to read the next installment of Sparks and Bainbridge and actually wanted the book to be longer so I could spend more time with them! The book starts off quickly with some major developments but then felt a little slow in the middle. This felt like a bit of a transition book with less complexity than some of the other books, but I loved it all the same. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

1. This has an absolutely shocking beginning. It was V E R Y unexpected and deeply sad. This beginning really sets the tone for the whole book.

2. We learn more about Iris' past [during the war], and while much of it is sad [we learn just why she and stupid Mike broke up; there is some interesting tete-a-tete between them about that as well], it really shows why Iris is the way she is now.

3. Gwen. Oh how I love how life has moved forward in such a positive way for her. She is now living in her own home, WITH her child, is successful in her job [AND the side job of detective work ;-) ], has a lovely romance with Salvatore "Sally" Donielli. Her skills as a "reader of persons" truly shines in this book, as well as her smarts that do continue to baffle those who only see her "window dressing" and not the true intelligent woman she truly is.

4. I loved seeing the early days of TV and the BBC; the behind-the-scenes parts were fun [and, well, kind of gross], and really added to the mystery.

5. The overall story was very good, the mystery was good [I had NO idea, though I should have. I guess, even in books, I want to think/see the better of someone], and it was an interesting look at things that happened during the war and the effects, good *AND* bad, of all of it. The end was quirky and funny [and sad] as well. I do have to say, the research for this book must have been both fun and really interesting!

Great addition to a great series; if you love good historical fiction and good mysteries, this series is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Montclair, and Severn House for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Cathy Cole · Rating 4 out of 5]

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!

(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

After a hopeful, optimistic ending to the previous book, with Iris and Archie basically becoming engaged, the opening line to this book was a shock.

Skipping ahead many months, so the reader is not given the space to grieve and process, was another bad decision on the part of the author, editor, or publisher.

The blunt, insensitive first sentence, the lack of time or space to grieve, made the rest of the book a struggle to read.

Are we really meant to believe that Iris happily continues on her life as her usual self, after only a few months? Especially since the author had spent multiple books showing Gwen grieve her husband’s death. By not giving Iris the same courtesy, this book did not work at all.

So what happened? Was the author on a deadline? I can only imagine that this is a “filler” novel, to set up something the author wants to write in the next one. Hopefully that one will be better, since up until now I really enjoyed this series.

(Also, why dissolve a couple with great chemistry, like Iris and Archie, but keep the dull, lifeless couple of Gwen and Sally? It makes no sense!)

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Margie Bunting]

Allison Montclair's Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series is one of my favorites. In the 7th entry, An Excellent Thing in a Woman, set in London in 1947, Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge are proprietors of The Right Sort marriage bureau. They feel that one of their clients may be a good match for a young Parisian dancer who claims she needs to get married quickly so she doesn't have to return to France. But they are unnerved when the woman's dead body is discovered--the third of their customers to be murdered since they opened the bureau. Could it be that an unsatisfactory first date ended in tragedy, or are there other intrigues in play? At the same time, the pair are facing compelling personal issues. Iris is desolate after the murder of her boyfriend, Archie, and Gwen is in the throes of a new intimate relationship with Salvatore (Sally), a good friend of Iris's since their Cambridge days.

I loved the depiction of early television, as the BBC cobbles together diverse programs for those few who have purchased a TV. Sally is the stage manager for a show that is intended to entertain British viewers with a look at dancers, singers, and puppeteers from across the Channel and finds himself the number one suspect in the young dancer's murder. I marveled at the way Iris and Gwen once again get involved in a police investigation and are able to put together clues, suspicions, knowledge, and personal experience to help solve the mystery, sometimes in the face of personal danger. It was also fascinating to learn more about what Iris did in World War II--still protected by the British government--and how incidents from her past might be clues to a current mystery.

I think Sparks & Bainbridge are one of the most engaging duos in historical mysteries--both in their personal lives and in their chosen career, which often becomes entangled with law enforcement. And Allison Montclair, who is actually Alan Gordon, has managed to very effectively create and develop these females into admirable, relatable characters who never fail to engage and delight me. I'm not sure what the title means, nor why this book is substantially shorter than its series predecessors, but neither affected my satisfying reading experience.

My review is based on a complimentary prerelease copy of this book.

[Ay · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[K. East]

DNF: When this series started, six books ago, this was probably the best mystery series I had encountered in years. And I loved it primarily because of the two main characters -- Iris and Gwen -- and the differences in theirs lives and their manner and their repartee and even the way they handled the mysteries they engaged in. The contrast was a source of humor for several novels . . .and then the dynamic started to shift as Gwen became more independent and Iris more . . . risky? . . .and the plots turned more dark. But this book had issues from the start. Iris' lost romance set against Gwen's budding one just felt off, and where was the humor, and the duo dynamic and the fun? I probably would have continued to read further into the novel to see if the characters righted themselves, but I made a fatal error by deciding to listen to this particular volume via audiobook. After only about 75 pages into the novel, I felt the audiobook narrator had sucked all the character out of the characters.
I'm am usually tolerant of narrators because having a book read to me is a joy, even if the presentation is uneven. But to my ears, this rendition was so off the mark, that I could not continue to listen. Perhaps if the book ever becomes available at my library in print I'll give it another go, but for now, this is a disappointing DNF for me.

[☼Bookish in Virginia☼ · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book of 2026. Happy New Year everyone!

Love this series and have done since the first book, and I like seeing the author stretching her wings to bring in the larger world, even if that world means spies, handlers and television.

When I got notice that a new book, FIRE MUST BURN (Jan 26), was on it's way I looked back and discovered that somehow I had missed two volumes. (I'm cheap and this stuff happens). I read UNKEPT WOMAN and this book, AN EXCELLENT THING IN A WOMAN, to catch up.

This was likely a mistake as it cast EXCELLENT THING in a poor light compared to UNKEPT. Basically reading it so closely to the other volume made the book seem more formulaic: Oh, it's Sully's time to be in trouble..

Still enjoyable. I loved to see Iris in action and clawing her way out of her depression. Just good, not great.

[Larry Fontenot · Rating 3 out of 5]

These two women continue to make interesting stories. Although Iris and Gwen are such different personalities and backgrounds, their skills coalesce to run a matching-making business as well as an investigation team. In this book Iris's gangster boyfriend Archie has been killed and she is still in mourning and has become more of a drinker. Meanwhile, Gwen is still a single mother but her relationship with Sally has deepened. A friend in the theatre business recommends their match-making service to some of his friends, which begins an intriguing tale of murder and treason going back to the war. Each character gets to flash their skills, and the surrounding characters are interesting, too. I've read all of these books, and they are fun and very entertaining.

[Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite series that just keeps getting better in intrigue and character development. The beginning was a shock with a turn that I was hoping wouldn't have happened. Both Iris and Gwen's personal lives are facing drastic changes, some good and some very hard to deal with but deal, they manage. Sally has taken a job, working for the BBC with the advent of new technology and wonders of TV programming. Their agency becomes involved with new clients both from France and England, now that the war is over. When one of their new French clients is murdered and Sally becomes a prime suspect, Gwen and Iris get involved to help find the real killer. Fast paced and lots of intrigue and character development.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 not rounded up.

I love this series for the characters. They are likable and believable. The start of the book was a shocker and I was happy that Iris could get herself together for Sally. It’s wonderful that Gwen has moved on well with Ronnie and her new household, and her love for Sally. The crime was good too with a twist I never expected. It’s a fun series.

[Tina Panik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damn clever! This series always delivers, and the conclusion sets up the next installment nicely.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wanted to do 3.5 stars. Realllly slow start but great twist at the end.

[Carol Dimitriou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very satisfying series. This latest book is, again, very good. Sparks and Bainbridge are wonderful characters--and always get their man--or woman!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoy this series. Hope there are many more Sparks and Bainbridge adventures.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one threw me off with the beginning sentence. Not what I was hoping for. Might have tainted my entire read. I am glad to see Gwen thriving though.

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Right Sort Marriage Bureau began by making one long-lasting partnership – and solving a murder into the bargain – in their very first outing, The Right Sort of Man.

The business partnership and ride-or-die sisterhood of Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge has held true through thick and thin, murder and mayhem, for six books so far, with this seventh proving that these two women are in it for each other – no matter what life throws in their way. Separately AND together.

Because they’ve always been separated by one BIG secret – not that they haven’t chipped at that secret’s edges over the course of their partnership.

During the war whose aftermath still scars London and the English countryside, Iris Sparks signed the Official Secrets Act, vowing to keep her clandestine work on behalf of the British government just that, a secret. Gwen has always known that Iris did a LOT of things she can’t talk about – if only because people from Iris’ life during those shadowy years keep showing up in her present.

This particular case, two years after the end of the war, is riddled with bullets and memories from those dark days – even as it portrays a world making bold strides towards the future.

The lights, cameras and action of the brave new world of television are about to bring British talent and culture – and slapstick – into the living rooms of thousands around the country – and eventually the world. But among the shadowy sets and hidden props a traitor has hidden in plain sight – one who plans to pin an entire new set of crimes and coverups on someone in the wrong place and the wrong time.

But he’s made one BIG mistake. He’s tried to fit a frame around someone that both Iris and Gwen hold dear – and neither of them can let that stand.

Escape Rating A-: Archie Spelling is dead, to begin with. The ending of the previous book, Murder at the White Palace, left the fate of Iris Sparks’ lover hanging by a thread. In the brief period between the end of that book and the beginning of this one, that thread was cut. Now Iris is the partner adrift at the Right Sort, while Gwen Bainbridge, finally free of the Lunacy Court and the oppressive conservatorship of her late husband’s wealthy family, has begun a new independent life in a new house with her young son AND has begun a romantic relationship of her own.

Gwen’s world is finally looking up, while Iris’ is mostly staring blearily at the bottom of a bottle, as the manner of Archie’s death, devastating enough in its own right, brought back to Iris entirely too many unresolved issues from her secret spy work during the war.

So Gwen is rising, Iris is falling, and their new case represents the changes coming even as it all goes very, very pear-shaped.


Television transmitter ‘mast’ at the Ally Pally ca 1935
Sparks & Bainbridge are investigating the murder of one of their clients – as they did in their first story – but this case in all of its fake tinsel and real tinsel, takes place at “Ally Pally”, the Alexandra Palace, home and headquarters of BBC television. A performer is dead, a stage manager is suspect, and Iris and Gwen are caught in the middle and tied up in knots by the Official Secrets Act that Iris signed long ago.

Because the dead woman, the accused stage manager, the likely murderer and pretty much every single person Iris runs into along the way of the investigation – all signed the Act and can’t talk about how they know each other, what they did together and separately, and why this murder has nothing to do with BBC TV now and everything to do with secret radio broadcasts from hidden bunkers in the midst of some very dark nights then.

If they don’t tell the truth, the wrong man will be hanged for the murder. If they do tell the truth, they’ll all hang for telling the tale.

Iris can’t save herself, but Gwen can save them all. By becoming part of the world of danger and derring-do that she’s been nibbling at the edges of since the day she met Iris Sparks. It looks like Sparks & Bainbridge are going to be up to their necks in the Cold War in future books in this series – and I can’t wait to read them!

Originally published at Reading Reality

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best series going at the moment. Even though it’s in it’s seventh installment, the book still has the freshness and originality of the first book. The series follows Gwen Bainbridge (a widowed socialite) and Iris Sparks (a former WWII spy), and together the two of them run The Right Sort, a marriage bureau in central London. It’s 1947, and London is still recovering from the war, but there are new things to celebrate like the birth of television. Gwen’s beau Sally, a giant sometime playwright, works at the BBC, and he’s willing to take Gwen, Iris and Gwen’s son and his cousin on a tour of the studio.

In this way Montclair gets the reader into the BBC and the setting for the crime with a very deft hand. Montclair has also introduced one of the players in an early scene at the marriage bureau when one of the French dancers, at the BBC for a couple of weeks for a broadcast, comes in wanting an instant husband. The ladies attempt to oblige, but when this is the very woman discovered dead as they take their tour of the BBC, things become a little more complicated.

Worse, the case is being investigated by Iris’ former beau, Mike, a police detective. Mike has a hard time working with Iris and she with him, but when Sally appears to be the main suspect, it’s all hands on deck. Iris is also suffering as she’s lost Archie (this is not a spoiler as it’s the first sentence of the book) and is drinking far too much. She’s living alone on a narrowboat in the Thames and grieving as she works her way through Archie’s glorious wine stash.

This book has a typical Montclair set up. The plot is a complex affair of intersecting characters and coincidences, brought to life by a look at the nascent BBC. The BBC’s home was the Alexandra Palace – called by all the “Ally Pally” – one of my favorite characters is trying to reassemble the Palace rose window, shattered by a wartime bomb. He’s working methodically through his buckets of colored glass shards. While this book isn’t set during the actual war, there are so many reminders – emotional and otherwise – keeping the war front and center. Like many other things about this series, it’s a different approach.

While Iris is suffering, Gwen has at last established her own household, and she’s revelling in both her independence from her in-laws and from the lunacy court as well as in her new relationship with Sally. The yin and yang of Iris and Gwen’s friendship binds the series together in a really delightful way.

The plot, which takes on Nazis, the resistance, undercover work, French can-can dancers and puppets, is all I’ve come to hope for in this wonderful series. The denouement, orchestrated by Gwen, is a bravura as well as an emotional turn. This series is firing on all cylinders.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can there be a more beguiling series than the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series? This is the seventh instalment and it's another winner. Author Allison Montclair has a skill with the written word and her characters are so captivating I could swear they're real people. They practically make me effervescent with gladness. Many authors dumb down books but that doesn't happen here. They are loaded with sharp-as-a-tack cleverness and wit and are as bright as fluorescent bulbs. All I need is to see the author's name and voila. An automatic read for me.

The Right Sort Marriage Bureau is operated by two dear friends, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwen Bainbridge. Set in London in 1947, the ladies warily yet hopefully embark on their post-war lives with new perspectives after crippling sorrow. Iris has lost her beloved and Gwen is now dating Sally, one of my favourite men in the series. Ronnie, Gwen's endearing young son, continues to make me smile with his charm and boyishness. In addition to making suitable matches for clients, a date goes wrong and murder later enters the picture. The women are no strangers to death and use their knowledge, wherewithal and common sense to investigate. According to the police, Sally is a suspect. He does have secrets...who doesn't?...but the recent war meant the Official Secrets Act is still important unless released from it. Though the female friendship is strong and deep, there are secrets associated with emotions simmering at the surface. But the women do not push each other. War changes everything.

The marionette and TV connections are fascinating. I adored how Sally tried to explain technicalities to the boys. Though the whodunit is compelling, what hits my heart the most is the gorgeous characterization and prose. Human nature is thoughtfully and sensitively written with a keen understanding. I could read and read and read this author's rich writing for days on end without tiring of it. It is THAT good and like a delectable meal, must be savored.

My sincere thank you to Severn House and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this wondrous, wondrous book. I eagerly await the eighth (and hopefully many more!) in the series.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

*An Excellent Thing in a Woman* is a captivating addition to its series, presenting a compelling whodunnit set against the backdrop of post-WWII London. Although I came into this book without having read the others in the series, the mystery stood strong on its own, delivering just the right amount of intrigue and tension. That said, I can see how reading the earlier books would add an extra layer of depth to the overall experience, particularly with the recurring characters and storylines that are likely more fully fleshed out in previous installments.

The author expertly uses the post-WWII London setting to enhance both the mystery and the atmosphere. The time period feels effortlessly integrated into the plot, enriching the story with its historical context. From the lingering effects of the war to the changing social dynamics, the historical elements make the mystery even more engaging and nuanced.

The mystery itself is well-paced and full of twists, with just enough suspense to keep you hooked without overwhelming you. What stood out to me as a fan of historical fiction is how the author balances the intrigue with a hint of romance, providing depth to the characters without veering into anything too dark or unsettling. The writing is clear, concise, and engaging—making it a quick but satisfying read that lingers with you after you’ve turned the final page.

This book will particularly appeal to readers who enjoy historical mysteries but prefer a lighter tone—more focused on intrigue and romance than on fear or horror. Overall, *An Excellent Thing in a Woman* is a captivating read that I highly recommend to fans of historical fiction and whodunnits. It’s definitely motivated me to go back and explore the earlier books in the series.

I received a free eARC from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

[TBS · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy another entry in the Sparks & Bainbridge series; it’s like ordering a favorite scone at the local bakery-the fillings change but the sweet biscuity pastry retains its trustworthy crust. And yet Author Allison Montclair is especially adept at scrambling all our assumptions in the opening lines of a new book. This one is especially jolting, but the plot lines created by the impact hurl the story into some interesting directions. Circumstances alluded to in earlier books have profoundly altered the lives of Iris and Gwen and another client, this one a ravishing French beauty, a dancer, has turned up at the marriage bureau wishing to meet and marry any man within a week’s time. And in less than a week’s time another body has turned up. This time the investigation takes them to their friend Sally’s workplace at the BBC and into the dawn of television broadcasts. History and technology are emphasized here , and at times the author’s enthusiasm for the technical and staging aspects of this innovation, almost overwhelms the flow of the plot. Still, the growing intimacy of Sally and Gwen is delicately and movingly portrayed, as the traumas of their pasts becomes another being in their deepening relationship. How they work through this and the subtext of grief, acceptance and healing is a skillful thematic thread running through the series. And Iris has her own reckoning with the past to face. The mystery is clever and engaging, especially with Sally as a prime suspect, surrounded by a chanteuse, a master puppeteer, can-can dancers, and the very recent memory of occupied France with its spies, and sabotage. Still, as in the earlier books, the character development is what superglues my interest. I am quite curious to read the next installment which is another way of saying I think this book was cracking.

[Cindy Crawford · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 received an ARC of this book.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Does it count as a spoiler if it's the first sentence of the novel? If so, don't read past the next paragraph.

The 7th installment of Allison Montclair's novel finds Iris and Gwen investigating the murder of a showgirl, who also happened to be their client. [Note: At some point, you would think The Right Sort would have trouble attracting customers since one of their customers usually ends up murdered, but it's fiction, I'm still invested in the novels and their lives, and I hope this series never ends.] The victim was shuttled from France to participate in a BBC production, of which Salvatore "Sally" Danielli is the stage manager. Our heroines feel compelled to solve the case because Sally is the main suspect, and in doing so, travel through the entertainment world and revisit Iris's murky past to convict the killer.

As with the previous novels, the characters remain compelling and have real depth as they navigate their new relationship statuses. Gwen is slowly figuring out her relationship with Sally and learning how to move on from her first love. But, for my main complaint, WHY oh why did Archie have to die? Albeit, it was awfully convenient to have a gangster to go through the underworld and help Gwen and Iris; nonetheless, I loved his relationship with Iris. Iris matured while dating Archie and was able to resolve her previous commitment issues, while finding a real sense of peace and comfort since the war. By the end of the novel, we see Iris move from her deep depression to finding a renewed sense of purpose in life. I feel as though this could've been accomplished without killing off Archie, but I am not the author. I am curious as to where Iris's journey goes from here.

Overall, while the novel is the shortest in the series (with exception of the short story), it packed a punch and carried one of the more interesting mysteries while intertwining with the lives of the ladies at The Right Sort. I'm already sad that I have finished the book and must wait for the 8th.

[boogleloo · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Gerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

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