THE KEY TO DECEIT was a completely entertaining historical mystery with a bit of romance on the side.

I thoroughly enjoyed this 2nd installment of this new series. I’m excited to see where Ashley Weaver takes these characters. There does seem to be a love triangle in the making but I don’t think it overshadows the mystery/story.

A couple short weeks after the events in A Peculiar Combination, just as the Blitz of London has started, we find Electra “Ellie” McDonnell hard at work–legitimate locksmithing work, that is. Does she miss the excitement of thievery? Well, yes, but there’s a war going on, and Major Ramsey of His Majesty’s British intelligence services has his eye on the family, so the straight and narrow it is for the lot of them for the duration.

Unless, of course, there’s need of a good safecracker in the service of King and country.

I love the feeling of getting so lost in a book I have to check after the fact whether it’s narrated in first person or third; given how much I usually dislike the former, it’s a testament to the writing that I couldn’t remember with any certainty.

In this second book in the series, as the horrors to come hover ever closer, we get an early reminder of what it means to live waiting for bombs to fall over the city, as well as of all the lives already lost or presumed to be, never mind the very real presence of enemy agents conspiring for the destruction of the country.

"It was a strange juxtaposition, living in wartime. One always had to balance the mundane with the shocking, stand in a queue for bread while knowing there were spies and killers trying to bring England to its knees." (Chapter 3)

When Major Ramsey asks Ellie for help with the bracelet, they both expect that it will be a quick bit of work, soon done and best forgotten by her; but of course, things are never that easy. The manner of death, the contents of the bracelet’s locket–and the gems and key hidden in the lining of the dead woman’s sable coat–open all sort of investigative avenues that require Ellie’s specialized knowledge and less than above board contacts.

Soon it becomes evident that there’s a well organized spy ring taking advantage of the many women now working jobs previously done by men, and the freedom of movement the latter’s absence gave the former. Things are further complicated as the Blitz begins, and Londoners are finally faced with the reality they’ve half dreaded, half disbelieved for months.

While the investigation and the attendant adventures are entertaining, and the final confrontation with the villains brings home the very real dangers of working in counterintelligence during war, I confess that for me the real hook of these books is the people and their connections, from Ellie’s family to all their friends and colleagues, to Ramsey and Kimble, and even his new assistant, the always cheerful Constance.

It’s quite diverting to see the constant push and pull between Ellie and Major Ramsey; everyone around them, from Ellie’s family to casual acquaintances, assume that there’s something personal there, even as Ellie steadfastly denies any attraction she may feel, and scoffs at the very idea that the major may feel any in return.

"The major had the charming habit of catching me at my worst." (Chapter 1)

"He was, in fact, annoyingly superior in so many ways. Superior intelligence, superior skills, superior good looks. It was a trial, at times, to put up with the man." (Chapter 1)

After all, Major Ramsey is not just an officer but an English aristocrat, nephew to an Earl, and Ellie is not just an Irish thief but born in jail to a condemned murderess.

Then there’s Felix Lacey; long time family friend, occasional business associate, and currently tentative suitor, he’s the one person outside the family who’s known about Ellie’s mother for years. By a stroke of luck, he may also have found a way to learn more about her and perhaps prove what Ellie has always believed: that her mother’s conviction was a miscarriage of justice and that her father’s killer got away with murder.

It is through Felix that Ellie is finally able to talk to someone who knew her mother in prison; I was struck by Mrs Norris description. “She was kind, bright and funny. She cared about other people. Kindness is something that fades quickly in prison, but your mother was kind to the end. She would help others whenever she could, in small ways that wouldn’t draw notice.”

And so, the love triangle set up in the first book is further explored here. Personally, I can well understand Ellie’s confusion, and her partiality towards Felix; not only has she known him for many years, and cared for him as more than a friend for several of those, but he’s also someone from her own world. There’s familiarity and comfort, and a feeling of almost safety when it comes to her feelings for him.

(I am still Team Major Ramsey, all the same).

Meanwhile, when it comes to the major and the strong pull between them, Ellie is constantly confronted with the fact that he knows the worst about her, while she knows next to nothing about him, and what she does know puts a rather large chasm between them. So while she’s no coward, she’s also not reckless when it comes to her heart and her future.

During the events of this novel, Ellie continues to show Ramsey that’s she’s far more than the circumstances of her birth, her family’s ‘business, her Irishness, or her gender; by the same token, she gets to see another facet of his personality as he leads a dangerous mission in the middle of an air raid, with the help of Uncle Mick, Colm, Felix, etc.

Speaking of which, I appreciated it very much that we got to see normal reactions to the beginning of the Blitz; things like people not realizing, despite knowing the bombing of London was a matter of time, that actually being stuck in a cellar overnight would necessitate food, water, places to sit or lay down, and so on. I also appreciated the details of people coming up from the cellar or other safe spaces, grabbing what tools and first aid supplies they could gather, and going forth to offer what help they could. (see footnote 1)

I quite enjoyed The Key to Deceit, though not quite as much as I did the previous book. 8.75 out of 10.

Though I took a little break to read Barry’s Funny Guy and managed to get the plague and be lights-out on reading for a few days, I was eager, through coughing fits and fever-haze, to return to intrepid Electra’s war-time adventures and two love interests, shady but charming Felix Lacy and stiffly sexy Major Gabriel Ramsey. I don’t know where you stand, dear readers, but I’m Team Ramsey. Sadly, The Key to Deceit leaves the question open. Along with the return of the characters I’ve come to love (even Kimble is growing on me), adorable Electra, and violet-eyed Major, we have a more tightly-held-together and better-paced spy narrative. Let the blurb speak for itself as to the details:

London, 1940. After years of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor—well, to themselves, anyway—Ellie McDonnell and her family have turned over a new leaf as they help the government’s war effort. It’s true that the straight-laced Major Ramsey didn’t give them much choice, but still, Ellie must admit she doesn’t miss breaking and entering as much as she might have thought. What she does miss is the challenge of unlocking an impossible code and the adrenaline rush that comes from being somewhere she shouldn’t.

So when Major Ramsey turns up unannounced with another job, she can’t say no. A woman’s body has been found floating in the Thames, with a bracelet locked onto her wrist, and a cameo locket attached to it. It’s clear this woman was involved in espionage, but whose side was she on? Who was she reporting to? And who wanted her dead?

Given my energy levels are hanging out in Hades, I shall do a little squee and move on to Electra #3, which came out in May. (If you too love the series as I do, go for it, dear readers). There is much to love in #2: we see Electra grow more and more committed to meaningful work. She doesn’t reject her past, she puts her “skills” to her country’s use and this gives her, and us, a deep sense of satisfaction. We have a furthering of Electra’s mother’s mysterious past: more to come in the next book, I hope. And we have the continued attraction between Electra and Major Ramsey, though her relationship with Felix Lacey sees development. Moue of disappointment from me. Uncle Mick, cousin Colm, and the McDonnells’ lovable housekeeper and cook, Nacy, are also Team Ramsey, I just hope Weaver is…

Plot isn’t Weaver’s strength, characterization, banter, and, an improvement on the first book, historical atmosphere and detail are. Suddenly, the vague sense of London at war we had in A Peculiar Combination is London of the Blitz. There is for example, a great scene of the McDonnells and Nacy in the cellar, sheltering, and then of them giving aid where they can in the aftermath. And there is the ever-present danger of German spies and their collaborators, including the mystery of the drowned woman. From cracking open that bracelet to breaking into a bank vault, Major Ramsey leads his crew of uber-smart former thieves into heroism.

And always told with Electra’s charmingly caustic voice, note her description of Major Ramsey: “Superior intelligence, superior skills, superior good looks. It was a trial, at times, to put up with the man.” And I love the banter between the Major and Electra, his brusque manner hiding his protectiveness (and his liking? attraction? *fingers crossed*): ” ‘You’ll let me come with you to Waterloo Station tomorrow?’ ‘There is no letting you, Miss McDonnell. I know perfectly well that if I don’t come and collect you in the morning, you’ll be down at Waterloo hurtling about on your own.’ I smiled. ‘I do believe you’re really getting a feel for my character, Major.’ ‘As I said before: stubborn.’ ” Priceless. Fun. Miss Austen would agree, Electra McDonnell #2 offers “a mind lively and at ease,” Emma.

Weaver’s Key to Deceit is published by Minotaur Books. It was released in June of 2022. I received in e-ARC from Minotaur Books via Netgalley. This did not impede the free expression of my opinion.

Electra McDonnell returns to butt heads (and exchange sparks) with the cool and taciturn Major Ramsey, and I am *delighted*. (Weaver sure is drawing out this sexual tension between her two leads, but I just *know* it's gonna be real satisfying when these two stubborn idiots finally admit they've caught The Feels for each other.)

ANYWAY, the core story involving secret cameras, secret spies, and the impending Blitz is a solid one, and kept me turning the pages at a rapid clip. I think I managed to devour the entire book in three sittings, but if I'd actually had any time off from work I would've done it handily in one. Weaver has a gift for writing easy-to-read, compelling, fast-paced stuff. And the sense of time/place was both masterfully crafted and satisfying to sink into.

While the ending did feel a bit *too* quick/easily wrapped up, there were enough thrilling moments to make it enjoyable, and leave me looking forward to book three. A very solid series thus far!

Electra McDonnell is back in the second novel following her unique ability to help solve crimes in WW2 London. This mystery finds Ellie partnering up with Major Ramsey again after a women has been found dead floating in the Thames with a bracelet locked to her wrist. Who was this women? What was she involved in? And who killed her? Ellie comes to find out this woman was indeed involved in espionage and as they learn more about her, the larger the web they are entangled in becomes. And in case she’s not busy enough, Ellie is also trying to uncover new evidence that proves her mother’s innocence.

Although this was a solid follow up to A Peculiar Combination, I felt it spent more time than necessary talking about Ellie’s love triangle with Major and Felix than delving into the intricacies of the mystery Ellie was solving with them. I sincerely appreciate author Ashley Weaver’s ability to bring back key points from her the first book in the series, without belaboring them. Since time had gone by since I read Ellie’s first adventure, I appreciated Weaver jogging my memory on key plot points I would need to enjoy this story line.

I still love Ellie’s family dynamic, her wit, and her sensibility. Weaver has given us a feisty heroine who we can all root for and I look forward to continuing to follow Ellie for as long as Weaver will write about her. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

In this novel, we return to WWII London in a world of spies, murder, romance, and wit created by author Ahsley Weaver. Ellie McDonnell and her family are attempting to change their ways, but Ellie can't help but miss some aspects of her former life. When a woman turns up dead in the Thames, Ellie once again sets to work to solve the crime.

I wish I would have read the first book before reading this one. It didn’t keep my interest so I moved on to read other things. Sorry! Thank you to the author and publisher for my copy in exchange for a review.

Electra “Ellie” McDonnell, locksmith and lockpick, returns in this worthy sequel to A Peculiar Combination. Once again, handsome Major Gabriel Ramsey summons Ellie and her family to help him with a cluster of Nazi spies. Author Ashley Weaver pens a fast-paced novel full of twists and surprises. I couldn’t put it down!

These two books are part of a trilogy, and I can hardly wait until May when the final novel, Playing It Safe, is released!

In the interest of full disclosure, I received this book from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review.

While I liked this book, it was a bit of a let down after the first one. The story was interesting and the characters are still very engaging, but none of the various storylines seemed to move forward much in this book, which I was looking forward to. There was no word of Ellie’s missing cousin, she’s still stuck in a tedious “Will they or won’t they?” pseudo-relationship with her old friend, and the big meeting where she was supposed to learn more about her mother didn’t really tell us much of anything at all.

Overall, I was disappointed here- really hoping the pace will pick up (as far as the storylines go) in the next book!

Actually 2.5 stars
The Key to Deceit is the second book in the Electra McDonnell series. A woman’s body has been found floating on the Thames. The jewelry that was found on her turns out to be spy objects. Ellie is hired to investigate the case to see which side the woman was spying on. She also explores the motive for why someone wanted her dead.

One of my main issues that I had with A Peculiar Combination was that I strongly disliked Ellie McDonnell. I found her to be an annoying character. I had hoped that Ellie would grow in the second novel. However, I was very disappointed to discover there was no character growth. Ellie still acted like a spoiled teenager. She came off as whiny. Thus, she was not particularly charming, and I did not know why two men were interested in her. I also found her to be very indecisive and selfish when it came to her romance. Ellie did not know which man she was in love with and spent the novel flirting with both of them behind the other’s back. It was like she wanted to have her cake and eat it too. Therefore, while I found her to be annoying in the first novel, this book made her insufferable.

Overall, this novel is about spies, war, and choices. I did not like some of the secondary characters, and the mystery was not the best part of the novel. On the positive side, I found The Key to Deceit to be meticulously researched and was full of vivid details of WWII. I am still willing to give this series a chance and hope that Ellie will finally act like a more mature woman than a spoiled teenager. I recommend this novel for fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Anna Lee Huber, and Kate Parker!

A delightful addition to what has already proven to be a delightful new series. I wasn't sure how Ashley Weaver could find characters that could top Amory and Milo Ames, but she has and I can't wait to read more about them!

Ellie and Major Ramsey meet up again as there is a dead unidentified female found in the Thames. The two of them need each other to discover who she is and the Nazi spy ring.
Meanwhile Ellie is also trying to learn more about her mother who dies in prison where she was incarcerated for murdering her husband with the help of Felix, a friend of the family..
Ashley Weaver weaves a great tale about these three characters. A wonderful, tricky read.

This is a fun new series from Ashley Weaver (author of the Amory Ames series). The book blurb calls Electra McDonnell and her family "slightly outside the law." They are *way* outside the law, but in a war-time twist on Robin Hood, they are working for the government, and the angels of good.

I can't wait to see with Electra, and her safe-cracking family get up to next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A combination of mystery and historical fiction, this book combines both perfectly. It’s 1940 on the cusp of the German bombing of London when a woman is found dead in the Thames. Major Ramsey again enlists the aid of Ellie McDonnell, a former thief who worked with her family. The murder will become entwined with the discovery of a spy ring. The relationship between the Major and Ellie is an interesting one, puzzling as it brings together two very different personalities. I highly recommend this series, and would start with the first book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

As someone who loves WWII historical fiction and cozy mysteries, this one checked off all the boxes. it was equal parts heartwarming and fun while being full of intrigue and secrecy. It had all the things I love: romance, espionage, a witty female protagonist, and adventure all set in London during the 1940s.

I loved the concept of writing a mystery spy novel in the midst of WWII and how the setting played a role as Ellie and Major Ramsey tried to solve the case. While the big reveal was a little predictable and there were no overly grand jaw-dropping moments, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this one!

I will note: This was technically book two in the series but I think it can be read as a standalone. I was able to follow along well. There were a few references to book one but the author gave context so it wasn’t confusing. However, it did make me want to go and read the other.

I enjoyed this book, though the pacing was a bit uneven and the slow-burn romance was almost glacial. The clever characters and plot points made up for it.

My new favorite sleuth is on another case. Set during the start of WWII this book brings a fun mystery and possible romance.

What a fun and cozy twist on the WWII women's fiction genre. I love a spy thriller and this one stood out to me because it was a lighter read, despite the high stakes of the mission at hand. Ellie is sharp and like-able and I was rooting for her every step of the way whether she was standing up for her ability to do her job just as well as any man or whether she was navigating the love triangle she's inadvertently backed herself into. I'm always a little hesitant to jump into a series without reading earlier books but the backstories were woven into the storyline seamlessly!

The Key To Deceit, book 2 in the Electoral McDonnell series by Ashley Weaver, is even better than book 1. We are allowed to see more deeply into Electra, the Major, and all the characters. Intriguing plot. Can't wait for book 3. Highly recommend. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.