This was a fun historical mystery. I especially enjoyed reading about all the clients who visit The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. I also loved the humor and witty banter between the main characters, Gwen and Iris. They are interesting characters that I want to learn more about.

The mystery itself is very complex and in the middle I got a little lost in all the details and different parties in play. However, it all gets brilliantly wrapped up by Gwen and Iris in a stunning Agatha Christie-style ending!

This is a very minor point, but one thing that threw me was at times the narrator refers to the same characters as different names, e.g. Gwen or Mrs. Bainbridge, even though they are the same character. It is understandable that this would happen as part of dialogue, but I didn't really expect it from the narrator. This isn't critical to the story, but noticeable.

This is the second in a series and I hadn’t read the first book, but this could be a stand-alone book. I didn’t feel like I missed anything crucial. I do plan to check out the first book, The Right Sort of Man, to get the backstory on Gwen and Iris.

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical mystery with its glimpse into the lives of the royal family, especially Prince Phillip. I got some Maisie Dobbs vibes from this book, so if you are a Maisie fan, definitely check out this series. 4/5 stars.

After reading the first book in this new historical mystery series last year at about this same time, I was eager to read the next installment and see how well the next mystery satisfied.

I remembered really enjoying the relationship between the two main characters, Iris and Gwen. I thought they were funny and paired well together so I was eager to see how that translated in this latest mystery.

The other thing that I thought sounded so much fun was this book was that this time the mystery was to include members of the royal family.

Summary
More goes wrong than could be imagined when Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are unexpectedly engaged to dig into the past of a suitor of a royal princess in Allison Montclair’s delightful second novel, A Royal Affair.

In London 1946, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau is just beginning to take off and the proprietors, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, are in need of a bigger office and a secretary to handle the growing demand. Unfortunately, they don’t yet have the necessary means. So when a woman arrives—a cousin of Gwen’s—with an interesting and quite remunerative proposition, they two of them are all ears.

The cousin, one Lady Matheson, works for the Queen in “some capacity” and is in need of some discreet investigation. It seems that the Princess Elizabeth has developed feelings for a dashing Greek prince and a blackmail note has arrived, alluding to some potentially damaging information about said prince. Wanting to keep this out of the palace gossip circles, but also needing to find out what skeletons might lurk in the prince’s closet, the palace has quietly turned to Gwen and Iris. Without causing a stir, the two of them must now find out what secrets lurk in the prince’s past, before his engagement to the future Queen of England is announced. And there’s more at stake than the future of the Empire —there is their potential new office that lies in the balance. (summary from Goodreads)

Review
This latest mystery started off really strong. There was a lot of same humor and quirks from the main characters that I recalled loving in the first book. There was also the pull of the royal price vetting and the history of Prince Phillip and his family which I didn’t know too much about so that made it even more fun.

But then as the mystery started to get more complex, I noticed that the humor tapered off which was a little disappointing but perhaps necessary considering, though I would have liked some of the hallmark humor to hold fast through the book.

With the mystery itself, there were quite a few people involved and a bunch of different people that could have had motives and I thought that added a lot of twists and suspicions. I think it will keep readers guessing and trying to figure everything out all the way until the end.

As this is the second book in the series, I suggest going back and reading the first book. While it might not be wholly necessary, I think it will help orientate the readers with the characters and their lives, meaning specifically Iris and Gwen. Seeing as how it’s only the one book prior to this one, I would recommend reading book one first and then trying this one out.

I love the post war feel of this book and I think the author does a great job capturing that time period and adding some fun historical facts to a great mystery. This is an exciting new mystery series and I am looking forward to more books from her!

Book Info and Rating
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: July 28th 2020 by Minotaur Books (first published June 9th 2020)
ISBN 1250178398 (ISBN13: 9781250178398)
Free review copy provided by publisher, Minotaur Books, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and in no way influenced.
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: historical mystery

This series and this book are just a delight to read! I enjoyed the first book in this series (The Right Sort of Man) last year so I was so excited to get my hands on a copy of this book. This book was just as fun and pleasurable to read as that first book! One of the things that I adore about this series is the two main characters of Gwen and Iris. They are two very different women but they work together so well and really complement each other. With a book that has two main characters, as the reader I sometimes can end up preferring one over the other but that just isn't the case in this series. I'm constantly rooting for Gwen as she works to take back control of her life. I'm also constantly rooting for Iris to actually find love and maybe even settle down one day. They are just so much fun to read about and I love reading about the different types of trouble that they constantly seem to find themselves in. At first, I had a bit of a time keeping track of all of the different kings, princes, and the like that were possibly caught up in the mystery both present day and in the past. Happily enough, I just allowed myself to go along for the ride and before I knew it I was able to figure out who was who. The mystery was one that kept me guessing but honestly I really read this one for the characters and just the adventure of it all. Both this book and the first were just fun books to read! I found myself laughing out loud a few times with this one - especially over some of the comments Iris and Gwen would make. This book really just was a delightful read and I'm eager to continue on with it in future books!

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about this series and this book! They are just fun, light reads that I enjoyed immensely. I don't think that you have to read these book in order necessarily but as there is only two books...I feel like why wouldn't you want to? They are both completely worth it in my opinion! I am so glad to have found this author and series! It is one that I will definitely be both continuing on with and recommending! This is a book that I definitely think historical mystery fans will enjoy, one that I would also recommend to cozy and mystery readers, and I would also recommend the series to fans of Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness series!

Bottom Line: A delightful addition to what is becoming a favorite series of mine!

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book thanks to the publisher. Honest thoughts are my own.

I realized once I started reading this one that it was a part of a series. I DNF'd until I could read the previous titles in the series and will come back and edit my review when I do.

1946 Miss Iris Sparks, ex-spy, and Mrs Gwendolyn Bainbridge, war widow, are owners of the The Right Marriage Bureau. They are approached by Lady Matheson to inquire into Prince Phillip, the possible future husband of Princess Elizabeth to determine the truth of the rumour of some scandal attached to him.
Unfortunately it took over the half way point for the first death. At times I did find the conversations between the two main females somewhat tiresome and didn't really find their characters that appealing.
Really a story about intrigue, rather than a murder mystery.
ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In 1946 a young Princess Elizabeth was being courted by Prince Philip of Greece, but an anonymous letter to the princess hints at a possible scandal and demands payment for incriminating letters. The letter was intercepted by Lady Matheson who brought it to the owners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Lady Gwen Bainbridge, a war widow, and Iris Sparks, a former SOE agent, are the perfect ladies to investigate Philip’s background. They are also requested to handle the exchange of money for the letters to distance the transaction from the palace. What they find at the rendezvous is a body and the affair becomes very complicated.

Gwen’s connections in society and Iris’ skills honed during the war make a perfect pairing. Iris is also seeing Archie, a gangster who offers his support. Their conversations are humorous and they often find themselves in dangerous situations, making this story highly entertaining. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

This second entry in the Sparks and Bainbridge series does not disappoint. The leading ladies are as sharp and resourceful as at their first introduction and the plot steps it up with the addition of palace intrigue. The dialogue is so sparkling that I hope the pseudonymous Montclair spends her off time writing screwball comedy screenplays. The mystery's conclusion is incredibly theatrical and perhaps wouldn't bear the weight of the closest scrutiny, but it's all such a pleasure to follow that I'd be surprised if most readers minded at all.

Thank you to the publisher for the free e-galley. A Royal Affair follows the hilarious and exciting post-WW2 adventures of Iris and Gwen, owners of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Iris, an ex-spy, and Gwen, an aristocratic war widow and single mother, seem to come from different spheres of society. But their deep camaraderie and snappy dialogue make the story shine. The first half of the book is spent unwinding political histories and secrets, and the dead body doesn't show up til about halfway through. Then the women realize that more is at stake than just a princess' love interest. There's plenty of intrigue here for fans of the royal family, and the political side does get a bit complicated if one isn't familiar with mid-20th century European history. The ending comes to a very dramatic end (literally, lots of drama), and it doesn't offer any alternate histories of Queen Elizabeth's love life. This was an enjoyable, satisfying read.

A Royal Affair follows The Right Sort of Man as the second in Allison Montclair's engagingly witty historical mystery series. Centered on the founders (and sole employees) of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, it's set in post WW II London.

Because of their successful investigation (of a murder) in the first episode, Iris and Gwen are approached by a representative of the royal family. Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip are close to an engagement and there's question of a possible scandal in the suitor's past.

As expected, our two delightful heroines get to the truth, expose a spy network and earn the gratitude of the heir to the throne.

ARC provided by the publisher.
I really really really love this series. It is just really fun. I laughed out loud, far too loudly quite often.
Mrs. Bainbridge and Miss Sparks, fresh from solving a murder in the previous novel, are now tasked with vetting Prince Phillip, who seems to be about to propose to Princess Elizabeth. There is a years-old mystery, lots of blackmail, some crime, crime-adjacent activity, east London gangsters, Greek royalty, and it is full to the brim with hilarity.
I was slightly iffy on the plot being so entangled with real people; this is oft an issue in historical fiction though I did not expect it from this series in reading the first book. But, and without spoiling anything, I think the real people are handled excellently here. I can say no more without spoiling anything.
The plot is fast-paced and well constructed. It is an excellent gentle laying of all the puzzle pieces until the culmination at the end. I will say that this book does do some of the thing where the characters have information about a big reveal and the reader is left in the dark for dramatic effect, this is a very common plot thing that I tend to be bothered by, but it was also well done, and I flew through the reveal so I cannot hold it against the book. I liked the balance of the series-wide story elements with the mystery of this novel in particular. I thought it was excellently done.
I am still massively in love with the characters of this world. Sparks is still an excellent spit-fire of a human, and Gwen is moral and hilarious. My heart continues to belong to Sally, who is an excellent character who I want nothing but happiness for. Every time Sally is even slightly saddened, I am heartbroken for him. I demand happiness for Sally by the end of the series. I really like Spark’s love interest, he is such a fun character, and I am very much looking forward to seeing more of him. I hope he sticks around for the rest of the series.
This is a hilarious, feminist, historical mystery series that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I am committed to staying on this ride until the series ends. Which I hope is never.

Allison Montclair's Sparks and Bainbridge series is one of my new favorites. I've read mysteries and police procédurale since my teens, and have grown weary of the predictability of brooding, anguished detectives, serial killers who inexplicably must have a flashy murderous signature, and crimes which are complicated only so the author can impress us all with the ingenuity of the plot, never mind that the crime could never be pulled off in real life. Sigh.
In contrast to those disappointment, Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge breeze into post World War 2 London like a breath of fresh air. Gwendolyn, an aristocratic war widow, is still under the thumb of her mother-in-law; Iris, who worked in espionage, is saddled with survivors' guilt that she often tries to drown in drink and dangerous men. The two have teamed up to provide matchmaking services, founding The Right Sort Marriage Bureau.
Naturally, things go wrong straightaway — in the first book of the series, a client is murdered and the man they matched her with is the main suspect — and Sparks & Bainbridge mist sort it out.
Having solved the first case, it's no surprise that another is soon to follow. Lady Matheson, Gwen's cousin appears with a plea for quiet assistance in tracking down a blackmailer who threatens to upend the budding romance of no less than Elizabeth, the future Queen of England.
The problem is knotty and takes several unexpected turns. While other reviewers found it to be too complicated, I was able to follow the plot easily enough.
The real delight is, of course, the characters - Iris, Gwen, Sally (oh, how I adore Sally!,) Archie, Lady Carolyne, and even Blitz-ravaged London itself - they all have a wonderful, human complexity, which is yet another departure from many mysteries. The wit and cutting banter among them are a delight to read. Recommended.

This is the second book in the A Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series. Its as delightful as the first book however, the back and forth dialogue in the beginning confused me about who was talking. After the mystery picks up then it was pure fun. The mystery was diverting with plenty of danger lurking around the corner.

This review is based on an ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.

I enjoyed this almost as much as the first book in the series. The plot involved more conspiracy and espionage and double-crossing than I particularly care for in a book, but that is just a matter of my personal preference for more straight-forward mystery solutions than a criticism of the quality of the book. The characters are what really make this book and series worth reading. I love the banter and slightly bawdy humor between the main characters, and I like seeing their friendship develop.

I liked this book well enough, but it was not one of my favorites. I would recommend it for someone who likes complicated cozy mysteries featuring strong female sleuths and sassy dialogue. Set in England, post-war, past political intrigue. I found the back story hard to follow and uninteresting.

1946 London – Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge are working hard to grow their business, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. And, since they did solve a murder, they’ve also become quite well known for their investigative techniques. Now they’ve been asked to combine the two in an assignment involving the Royal Family. Lady Patience Matheson, who works “in some capacity” for Queen Elizabeth, George VI’s consort, has intercepted an anonymous letter intended for young Princess Elizabeth. The writer purports to have information that would be damning to Prince Philip, who may by the future husband of the heir apparent. It’s up to Iris and Gwen to find out what that message means. The future Queen’s happiness, and maybe the fate of the country, depends on the outcome.

Montclair’s plot of a potential blackmail scheme against the future Queen Elizabeth II is very clever and filled with a great deal of historical information that made it all the more intriguing.

The main characters and relationships are very well done. Gwen and Iris make a great pairing. Iris, the Cambridge graduate and former Intelligence operative, and Gwen, the aristocratic former society girl, are both written as intelligent, strong women. The dialogue abounds with humor and the banter is witty and intelligent.

Unfortunately, the mystery becomes overly complicated and slightly hard to follow. The story becomes bogged down with too many characters and too much dialogue, making the book was much longer than needed.

That being said, this was an entertaining and well written read. I loved Montclair’s initial book in the series, The Right Sort of Man, and I am very much looking forward to the next in the series.

Rating – 3.75/5

For me A Royal Affair was less about the mystery and more about the dynamic between Gwen and Iris and how their lives are progressing in the aftermath of WWII.

Gwen is thinking about dating again, trying to get herself on firm mental ground to gain back custody of her son, and dealing with her in-laws.
Iris is trying to distance herself from her war time activities and memories, along with tentatively dating a gangster.
They are both trying to grow their matchmaking company during a time of great social change.

The mystery this time was a bit muddled for me. There was too many players who seemed to have a vested interest in the outcome. It was fascinating to learn about the current Prince Phillip and how his family escaped Greece all those years ago.

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

So happy to see a follow up book to The Right Sort of Man! I so enjoyed these two unconventional detectives and the postwar London setting. This one even involves the British royals, which makes it even more fun than the first. Definitely one to recommend to readers who like Maisie Dobbs, as well as anyone who likes a somewhat cozy historical mystery with appealing female amateur sleuths.

“A Royal Affair” is the second book in the Bainbridge and Sparks series, and it is a worthy follow-up to the first book in the series, if not quite as finely crafted. War widow Gwendolyn Bainbridge and ex-spy Iris Sparks run the Right Sort Marriage Bureau in post-World War II London. Gwen, a member of the gentry who’s always tried to do the right thing, is under the thumb of her imperious mother-in-law, Lady Crowden. Iris, who is decidedly not an aristocrat, is a fearless woman with a shady past who doesn’t mind if she does the wrong thing on a daily basis. Iris and Gwen are quirky colleagues, who rub off on one another and have complementary talents.

Gwen and Iris are setting up dates for clients and trying to make enough money to keep the bureau afloat when a royal attaché appears in the Bureau with a strange assignment that could alter history. Princess Elizabeth’s suitor, Prince Phillip, is about to propose, but a blackmailer has cast a shadow over Philip’s escape from Greece with his mother, Princess Alice, and Bainbridge and Sparks are hired to investigate. Royal matches are not their usual forte, but Elizabeth has made her own love match, and Iris and Sparks are the perfect partners to uncover the truth and make sure the engagement comes off exactly as Elizabeth has planned.

The matchmaker investigators pull out all the stops and rely on a number of contacts from both the genteel world of Bainbridge and the secretive world of Sparks (including Iris’s gangster boyfriend Archie) to find out what, if anything, is potentially scandalous about Prince Phillip’s family.

There are a too many characters and plot angles for the casual reader looking for a low-key historical mystery, which becomes evident as the action heats up in the last few chapters. The Bureau’s large, trusty, and lovable collections agent Sally (also a playwright) has his own part to play in the action, and it will involve a Shakespearean monologue. The ending of the novel is truly irresistible.

If you’re a fan of Maisie Dobbs and The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, Allison Montclair’s Bainbridge & Sparks series is right up your alley. This book in the series will appeal particularly to royal watchers.

I received an advanced readers copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and was encouraged to submit a review.

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me. I was intrigued by the premise of them looking into Princess Elizabeth’s future husband, Prince Phillip. Since I love royal based historical fiction, that is why I requested it. I didn’t realize that it was book 2 of a series (my fault), It took a little while to get into the book, but I think it’s ok that I didn’t read book 1 as this book does give the reader some info about what happened to the two main characters in that one. The dialogue was witty, but unfortunately I just found this book boring. It wasn’t for me.i just never got attached to the characters.

I was a little nervous about reading this book; last year's The Right Sort of Man, Allison Montclair's first Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery, was my favorite book of 2019 (that's out of the almost 400 books I read last year). I was concerned that A Royal Affair would not be as good as the first. I'm thrilled to say that I loved it! Allison Montclair perfectly captures post-war London, her characters are fantastic! The plot kept twisting when I least expected it to and I never guessed the ending. If I could give it more than 5 stars I would.