4.5 stars

I don't remember when I last enjoyed a mystery series debut novel so much. The Right Sort of Man was fun, intelligent and poignant all at the same time.

Gwen Bainbridge, a window with a young son, and Iris Sparks, a free spirit who did something mysterious and spy-like during the War, have opened a marriage bureau in post-World War II London. When one of their female clients is murdered, and one of their male clients (whom they had proposed as a match) is arrested for the crime, the two women feel obligated to find out the truth.

Their investigation takes them into some murky criminal circles in London. In the meantime, Gwen struggles with the aftermath of a nervous breakdown which has forced her to live with her judgmental and controlling mother-in-law in order to participate in her son's upbringing. And Iris has problems stemming from war-time incidents which shadow her personal life. Despite their challenges, these are two capable, strong and determined women and it's a pleasure to spend time with them.

But their genuine affection for each other shines through and their relationship and repartee is highly entertaining. The different threads of the mystery are well done and the plotting and narrative pace is right on target. I am already looking forward to the next entry. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I expected the book to be a little more fun and fluffy when reading the description. However, I was pleasantly surprised with how the author dealt with serious issues after the war and everything that comes with it. The characters were complex, which helped them solve problems in their firm and the mystery. Surprises were revealed about various characters and upending stereotypes. As a frequent mystery reader, I did not see the ending coming and really thought the author did a great job with the mystery. I would definitely recommend this to any readers that love WWII and/or mysteries. It leads to a better understand of the issues women faced after all the horrors of the War.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and St. Martin's Press in return for an honest review. I really, really enjoyed this book and hope it is the start of a new series. The two protagonists, Ms. Iris Sparks, and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, have established the 'The Right Sort Marriage Bureau', in the aftermath of WWII London. Gwen is widowed, upper class, and dependent upon her in-laws for reasons that become clear in the story. She's the mother of a six year old son, Ronnie. Iris is determinedly single and had various activities in the war that she's prohibited by the Official Secrets Act from sharing. The story opens with a new client coming to their business, seeking a husband. When that young woman is murdered a week later, all the evidence points to the murderer being the man to whom the RSMB introduced as a prospective spouse. Needless to say, Gwen and Iris' business, which is only four months old, takes a serious hit in clientele and they decide that, not only is their male client innocent, it's in their best business interest to find the actual killer. Add in black marketing, dour in-laws and former clandestine relationships to create a thoroughly good story. I found the women to be human, well-rounded, and likable. The murderer was a good twist, as were all the other bits of background (and future connections) that Ms. Montclair added. Well-crafted and I look forward to more by this author.

Fantastic start to a new series! Set in London just after WWII, the book is rich in historical detail and features witty engaging characters. This book is a must read for fans of Anna Lee Huber, Jacqueline Winspear, and Frances Brody. Perfect for book clubs and fans of historical fiction or mysteries.

Simply written, stock characters, although am interesting premise. Not compelling enough to make me want to finish it.

The Right Sort of Man by Allison Montclair

I didn’t want this book to end! And it had me guessing the identity of the murderer right up until the end. Cannot wait for the next installment of this series. So many possible story ideas and directions the author can take with these complex characters.

Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge operate the Right Sort Marriage Bureau. A new client was allegedly murdered by a prospective suitor, also one of their clients. They decide to investigate this murder for a variety of reasons, the least of which is their fledgling business has been damaged by the salacious publicity this murder generates in post WWII London.

Iris and Gwen have been impacted by the war and their lives altered forever. Iris is the “head” of the matchmaking business as she investigates the backgrounds of prospective clients since she has friends in both high and low places, with the low placed having better information. She has a couple of broken engagements and one was with a detective assigned to the murder case. She may have worked undercover during the war but, of course, she cannot talk openly about her “war-time training.” Gwen is the “heart” of the business as she has an uncanny intuitive ability to read people. She is a war widow with a young son. She lives with her in-laws who are in the aristocracy and are not supportive of her business endeavor. These two seemingly opposite women who have seen the dark side of humanity through the lens of war create a dynamic partnership. The banter and friendship between these two women was a strong point in this book.

Allison Montclair immerses the reader into the time period. The language and situations were authentic. This was a wonderful book. Highly recommended.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was very enjoyable indeed. It is set just after WWII and the descriptions of the rationing and bomb damage give an excellent sense of the time and setting. Iris and Gwen have had very different wars: Iris did something covered by the Official Secrets Act; Gwen's husband was killed, Gwen struggled with her mental health for a time as a result, and her unpleasant mother-in-law therefore took guardianship of Gwen's son. Gwen and Iris have set up a marriage bureau and somehow (this should be the real mystery of the novel!) have as many single men as women on their books. When a female client of theirs is stabbed to death and the police think the potential husband they set her up with did it, Iris and Gwen set out to prove his innocence.

The tone throughout is light, often funny, although it is not quite 'cozy'. The main protagonists and the people with the last word are women. Gwen's very real problems are on the way to being solved by the end when she resolves to take a stand, and Iris' love life is a novel in itself. The actual mystery was perhaps the least effective part of the book for me; there were twists and turns and people turned out not to be who they first appeared to be, but one particular 'twist' seemed more like an omission...

Still, very enjoyable - I hope there will be more in this series.