This is a remarkable series and i really enjoyed this installment. I liked that it touched on mental health issues and we certainly have come a long way since this era of time. I also liked the mystery itself and look forward to more by this author.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I have not read the previous titles in this series but after reading The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair I might just have to check it out now.
This is book 5 in the Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery. And it was such a great story.
I have to admit this is the first historical mystery that kept my attention like this one did.
An incredibly intelligent, well written novel. The characters and setting are so well developed and written.
The mystery was unpredictable and believable. The twists and turns led to an exploding ending.

“I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Minotaur Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing
eARC!

I love this series! It just keeps getting better and better with each book. I couldn’t wait to see what Sparks and Bainbridge got themselves into this time. It’s twisty. It’s complicated. It’s too good to say too much and possibly give a thing away! If you love historical mysteries, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning of this series. There is a lot of character development in each book. Thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Lady from Burma is the second book by Allison Montclair that I have had the pleasure of reading. Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge have come a long way in some aspect of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau Series and not so far in other ways. Now book five gives them an unusual sort of client, one who is extremely sick but wants her husband not to be left alone to pick up the pieces of his life. Nothing goes as planned for this client which the story clearly shows. A mystery for sure.

This post-WWII London story has another mystery happening that is quite interesting too. One of the main characters end up as a prime suspect. Of course, it is evident to the reader that she didn’t do the crime but who did? I kept reading to make that discovery.

From the first mystery plot I found Police Constable Hugh Quinton to be an engaging and interesting character from the first mystery. Perhaps his help will be needed in the next book. I would like to see more of him. While I have missed a few books in the publishing of this series, this one solidifies my belief that this is a great mystery series that has characters whose goal is to help people find each other again, What could be better than that?

An ARC of the book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley which I voluntarily chose to read and reviewed. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Another stellar installation in the Sparks & Bainbridge historical mystery series. I love how Iris and Gwen continue to grow as characters, even if there were a couple of moments that I wanted to reach into the page and throttle them for some poor decision making. As always, the plot was engaging and intricate with interesting twists along the way. The main focus of this book is Gwen's petition to be free of the lunacy charge in order to regain custody of the son, alongside the death - possibly murder - of a new client of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, a happily married woman dying of cancer who wanted the women to find a new wife for her husband after she has died. I remain impressed that Montclair - the pseudonym for Alan Gordon - writes women so well. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for a digital review copy.

Allison Montclair's delightful series about a pair of women with a matchmaking business (and a murder solving business) continues in The Lady from Burma. Two stories intertwine here, as a dying woman ends up dead, but Sparks and Bainbridge (and a young police officer from Essex) suspect murder, and Bainbridge continues her battle to be declared legally sane. From much of the book, the story alternates between the investigation into their client's death, and Bainbridge's road blocks as she comes so close to freedom. When the person representing her ends up dead, Bainbridge ends up as a suspect herself, forcing her to find out who else would want Oliver Parson dead. It turns out that the two cases are connected, but it definitely takes until the end of the book for everything to get tied together. This both makes the book more interesting and makes more of it feel more disconnected. I was a little bummed out that there wasn't more of Sparks in the story, as she is my favorite of the pair, and she plays more of a supporting role here. This is an enjoyable series, and while you can read this as a standalone, there is definitely backstory that is beneficial to have to understand the Bainbridge storyline of the book. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Lady from Burma is the latest book in the Sparks and Bainbridge mystery series. This post WW II story of two women who run a marriage bureau in London crackles with clever, snappy dialogue, and rapid, effective storytelling, and just enough background information to keep the feeling authentic. If you are not immediately inspired to seek out the previous four books I will be surprised. In fact, read them in order for extra reading pleasure.
For those of you tired of excessive sex and violence served up with your mystery books, Allison Montclair is just the ticket. It is cozy without the squishy sensation so often found in cozy mysteries.

NetGalley provided the book and I provide a review. Right Sort Marriage Bureau which is owned by Iris Sparks and Gwendolyn Bainbridge operate a well researched couple match making company, who though no fault of their own get involved with murder. First we start with trying to find a future wife for a current wife who is terminally ill, the lady from Burma. Match making and murder make up only a portion of the book, we have corporate shenanigans, family issues, court room drama (trying to get an owner declared sane-more on this in a previous book), insurance claims with a bit of romance sprinkled in for the ladies. There’s enough going on in this book to keep the reader turning pages, which I happily did. I’m looking forward to the next book, get writing Allison.

verbal-humor, matchmaking, London, mental-health-issues, surprises, series, post-WW2, historical-novel****

Fascinating story with witty characters who certainly are and a VERY twisty plot!
I requested and received an EARC from St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

"In Allison Montclair's The Lady from Burma, murder once again stalks the proprietors of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau in the surprisingly dangerous landscape of post-World War II London...

In the immediate post-war days of London, two unlikely partners have undertaken an even more unlikely, if necessary, business venture - The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. The two partners are Miss Iris Sparks, a woman with a dangerous - and never discussed - past in British intelligence and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a war widow with a young son entangled in a complicated aristocratic family. Mostly their clients are people trying to start (or restart) their lives in this much-changed world, but their new client is something different. A happily married woman has come to them to find a new wife for her husband. Dying of cancer, she wants the two to make sure her entomologist, academic husband finds someone new once she passes.

Shortly thereafter, she's found dead in Epping Forest, in what appears to be a suicide. But that doesn't make sense to either Sparks or Bainbridge. At the same time, Bainbridge is attempting to regain legal control of her life, opposed by the conservator who has been managing her assets - perhaps not always in her best interest. When that conservator is found dead, Bainbridge herself is one of the prime suspects. Attempting to make sense of two deaths at once, to protect themselves and their clients, the redoubtable owners of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau are once again on the case."

Never trust a wife trying to find a second wife for after she's gone. That's solid advice I'll always believe in.

Gwen may finally be able to regain her son and her independence. Iris may finally be able to lay some of her ghosts to rest. But then, a new client for their marriage bureau dies, and they must figure out why, and whether it is related to the death of the conservator for Gwen's case. Investigating could lose Gwen everything she's been working for, but so could leaving it to the police.

This series is incredible. I love stories written in WWII/Austerity England, and I'm highly invested in Gwen and Iris and their success. Each has grown since the first book, and it's fascinating how they've carved out their places in a time that was not easy or welcoming to businesswomen. To make things even harder, Gwen has the stigma of having been formerly committed to a mental institution. Iris is haunted b the things she did during the war. They are from completely different walks of life, but their friendship is so strong.

You might figure out the who and the why before the end of the book, but that doesn't matter. Sometimes, a mystery overwhelms the story and the characters, or the backstory of the characters makes the mystery more of an afterthought. That's never the case in one of Montclair's books. The story is so deftly woven, with threads from past and present combining to make a solid work, yet leaving room for future growth.

This is some of the finest mystery writing out there, and I hope the series continues at least until Gwen and Iris retire.

4.75/5.0 stars - highly recommended!

I received an advance copy from Minotaur Books via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The Lady from Burma by Allison Montclair (Minotaur, 2023) is the forthcoming fifth book in the very fine historical mystery series set in post-war London. People were still staggering from the enormous losses of the war and thousands were searching for a new purpose in life. Iris Sparks, recently of military intelligence, and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, widowed by the war, were at loose ends when they met quite by accident. They established The Right Sort Marriage Bureau to help those seeking partners along the path to matrimony. Women were not seen as entrepreneurs then and they sometimes had trouble being taken seriously. But they had no shortage of applicants.

Their newest client is Mrs. Adela Remagen. Terminally ill and worried about the welfare of her socially awkward insect-loving husband after she’s gone, she arranges with the Bureau to find her husband a second wife. Mrs. Remagen dies shortly thereafter in what seems to be a suicide but quickly is shown to be homicide. Sparks and Bainbridge, appalled by the mistreatment of their client, immediately become involved.

An important second story line is the continuing attempt of Bainbridge to overturn the ruling of lunacy that has taken away every single legal right she has including custody of her son. She is at the mercy of an unsympathetic man who goes out of his way to remind her of her helplessness. Montclair does an outstanding job of highlighting the archaic laws of lunacy and how the legal system has been used to exploit and abuse women. The system still exists, witness the years-long “guardianship” of Britney Spears. It is a grim reminder of just how poorly the law protects women.

The murder and the motive behind it are one of the most deviously plotted pieces I’ve seen for awhile. Brilliantly done. The growing respect of Lord Bainbridge for his daughter-in-law is a pleasure to watch unfold. As always in these books, the post-war setting is authoritative and the characters are razor sharp. Highly recommended.

This book is the fifth in a series, but even though I had not read the earlier books, this book was fine as a standalone. I would like to go back and read the earlier books, as this book was very much character driven. Following WWII, in London, two young women set up a marriage bureau. Iris Sparks has a history of being in military intelligence and is currently romantically involved with Archie, a mobster. Gwendolyn Bainbridge was widowed in the war. She has a young son and after a pair of grief-driven suicide attempts and hospitalizations in an asylum, she is trying to regain custody of her son and also to be able to manage her own financial affairs. Having been declared a "lunatic" she has a court-appointed attorney, Mr Parsons, but Gwen does not believe that he has her best interests at heart. The Lady from Burma herself is a small part of the main story, but it does exemplify the work that our two heroines put into finding mates for their clients. Multiple loose ends and interesting continuing storylines in this entertaining series. I thank NetGalley and the author for this ARC that I received at no charge, but all opinions are my own.

How have I missed out of this series?? Now I want to read all the previous books about Iris and Gwen. This book was certainly enjoyable as a stand alone but likely good to have the whole build up and back story.
Iris and Gwen run a marriage bureau in post WW2 London. They each have their own struggles navigating the world they find themselves thrust into. The side lights of their personal lives are as captivating as the mystery itself.
The premise of this mystery is a woman is dying of cancer who wishes them to find her nerdy intellectual husband a new wife after she dies. She is shortly thereafter found dead. Suicide is suspected but the ladies are not buying that.
There is so much to this book, it certainly belies the term cozy mystery. The characters are amazing and the plot complex and compelling. Highly recommended for mystery lovers especially those who like a historical twist. I am always interested in how women were treated in different time periods. It was also interesting to see how mental health was dealt with in this time period.
Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur Books for the chance to read this in exchange for a honest review. Now to read the other 4 in series!.

Iris and Gwen, proprietors of London's Right Sort Marriage Bureau, are back to keep their business alive making successful matches while solving crimes on the side. This time, Adela who grew up in Burma comes to them to find a wife for her shy husband as Adela is dying and thinks her husband will need someone. Before their work can proceed, Adela is found dead and it looks like suicide but Iris, Gwen, and a young constable believe she was murdered. Meanwhile Gwen continues to try and convince the lunacy court that her son can be returned to her - a fascinating glimpse into the legalities of post war mental health in England.

This is fifth in a series is about the The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, a post war business that ends up entangled in murders as much matchmaking. The two partners are Iris Sparks, a woman with a never discussed past in British intelligence, and Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a war widow with a young son entangled in a complicated aristocratic family.

It’s better enjoyed in order. Mental health and sexism issues are in the forefront, as well as more character development for these two, who are quick witted, likable women who take charge. I found the pace a little slow. The murder investigation takes a backseat to the sanity status plot but I didn’t mind because I’m invested in Iris and Gwen.

3.5 stars. I received an arc from NetGalley

This is another in the Right Sort Marriage Bureau mystery series. Set in post WWII London Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge, owners of the Marriage Bureau, help people find each other, they also find murderers. They have just gotten an interesting new client, a dying woman who wants them to find a match for her soon to be widower husband. Then the new client is found dead in Epping Forest, and shortly after the guardian who has been handing Gwen's affairs (Gwen is about to have a hearing to establish her sanity in the court of lunacy) is also murdered. The ladies need to get to work.
This is a review of an ARC provided by NetGalley.

Iris and Gwen are the owners of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Gwen is having a hearing in the Court of Lunacy hoping her petition will be granted that will declare her sane. In the midst of all this turmoil are three murders that are related to their business and Gwen's petition.
Allison Montclair has written interesting, intriguing incidents in which these two women solve the murders with Scotland Yard continuing the drama of Sparks and Bainbridge.
Read the saga of these two modern women.

This is book five of the historical mystery series starring Iris Sparks (with a possible dangerous past) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (an aristocratic war widow with a young son who is fighting for her rights in Lunacy Court!). Together they run the Right Sort Marriage Bureau in post WWII London, but they simultaneously seem to be in just the right place to solve murders, much to the chagrin (and eventual admiration) of the local police.

While this is book five in the series, it’s book one for me. I was able to keep up just fine but I do feel a lot must have happened in the previous books. I can’t tell how much progress was made in the personal situations for both women before this story — may be better to start at book one!

In this book, they get an unusual client. A woman dying of cancer comes in to line up a wife for her husband after her passing. Unfortunately, that passing happens more quickly than expected. Simultaneously, the very conservator who has been holding Mrs. Bainbridge hostage during her fight with the Lunacy Court has also turned up dead. The body count steadily increasing only seems to stimulate the interest of the two women.

The plot kept my interest, and I enjoyed learning about various procedures / processes in that (still rather unfriendly to women) time period. The writing was a little stilted for my taste, but overall I enjoyed it.

As usual, I was pulled right into the latest cases of Sparks and Gwen and the Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Gwen is holding back from romantic entanglements while she untangles her legal and financial situations. Sparks is trying to decide what she wants in the romance department. In the meantime a new client presents them with the unique opportunity to find a match for her husband after she is gone. This tragic situation becomes a criminal investigation when she is found dead. I love the continuing development of the characters in this series and how they are dealing with their post-war problems and issues.