Thank you St Martin’s Press @stmartinspress , Netgalley @netgalley , Sara Eslami, and Allison Montclair for this free ebook!
“Murder at the White Palace” (Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery #6) by Allison Montclair ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Genre: Historical Mystery. Location: London, England. Time: 1946.

THE SERIES: In post-war London, two partners start The Right Sort Marriage Bureau in the heart of Mayfair. Quick-witted and impulsive Miss Iris Sparks is a woman with a secret past in British intelligence. Sensitive, intuitive Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, a war widow with a young son, is entangled in a rigid aristocratic family. Most of their clients want to restart lives in a changed world, but somehow mystery and murder finds its way to The Right Sort.

THIS BOOK: Sparks and Bainbridge scout an empty building for a New Year’s Eve soirée for their clients-and find a body in the walls, stabbed several times.
The building’s owner is Sparks’ beau, Archie Spelling, head of the Spelling Gang, who has ties to enterprises on both sides of the law; and the main investigator for the police is Mike Kinsey, Sparks’ ex-fiancé. Gwen tentatively steps into the dating pool for the 1st time since her husband’s death. As Gwen and Sparks investigate the source of the dead body, they find themselves caught up in old rivalries and crimes. The murderer may be closer to home than they thought. They must protect their clients, their business and themselves. Meanwhile, both Sparks and Bainbridge need new homes, and Gwen takes up her snooker cue again.

Author Montclair’s writing style is clever and witty-and you’ll learn a bit about snooker! Her characters are strong women, unforgettable and charming, the plot and subplots are substantial and fun. Montclair’s historical details are fascinating. It’s a perfectly lovely book to read, and it’s 5 stars from me🌵📚💁🏼‍♀️#SMPGEarlyReaders #SMPinfluencers #murderatthewhitepalacebook #sparksandbainbridgeseries #allisonmontclairauthor

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for access to this arc.

Gwen’s private life was the main non-mystery part of the last book so now it’s Iris’s turn. She and Archie have been dating only a short time but (pun intended) the sparks really are flying. Iris has been accepted by Archie’s gang while Gwen is revered by them. Both these things are important over the course of the story.

From the cut of the suit, the body has been in situ for over twenty years and, from the stab wounds, the person was murdered. Gwen notices something that will be important for all people investigating the mystery which of course includes G & I as well as the Met. Yes, of course Mike – Iris’s ex – is assigned to the case and those two hiss and spit at each other before maybe coming to an understanding. With a fresh pair of eyes and less personal involvement, another inspector is added to the mix and I must say I like this guy.

But who is the dead man and why was he killed and left where he was found? The route to closure is long and many clues are needed. I like that as with most of their cases (and these books), the reader is allowed to slowly digest what’s going on and add the clues to their knowledge base along with the investigators. I had a vague idea of who might be the culprit and was correct but still enjoyed playing along at home and following the bread crumb trail to the ultimate reveal.

I also loved watching Iris “meet the family” at the wedding of the couple whose matchmaking was done by The Right Sort. And Mrs. Sparks finally makes her appearance, allowing us to see where some of Iris’s “take no nonsense” attitude comes from. Seeing Gwen begin to break free and plan her next steps away from the brooding Bainbridge household had me breathing a sigh of relief. I hope that Iris remembers a bit of information she wrote down while inspecting a house that Gwen plans to buy in Maida Vale. But honestly, I could have done with a lot less snooker and definitely much less description of it.

So good job on moving G & I along in their lives and mingling that with another murder that they solve, albeit with a little help from the Met.

Iris and Gwen, owners of The Right Sort marriage agency, decide to hold a new year's eve party for their clientele and while looking for a suitable location, Gwen literally falls over a dead body, embroiling them in another mystery. At first the body appears to have been buried during the blitz, but the corpse turns out to be much older and somehow connected to Iris's gangster boyfriend Archie.

Gwen, a rich war widow, and Iris, a spy with a mysterious past, are an odd couple but their partnership works. This book could be read as a stand alone but some of the references to past events might be confusing and characters who appear in minor roles in this book will be much more familiar to readers of the earlier books in the series. I found it to be an entertaining mystery and enjoyed reacquainting myself with characters from earlier books.

I love these books, although in this one I missed the usual B story involving a couple being matched. Still a fine mystery, though!

This might be my favorite book of the Sparks & Bainbridge series so far! It has so many elements that make it hard to put down - personal and professional intrigue, a mystery with ties to the past that are affecting the present, romance, deception, and more! The characters seem to have really come into their own in terms of the author's developing their voices as well as their relationships with each other. Some of the scenes are also just so funny and delightful to read.

This would make sense as a stand alone book, but you'd be missing a lot of backstory and wouldn't fully appreciate how far Gwen has come in her struggle for freedom from her in laws.

Can't wait until the next installment!

In post-war London, Iris and Gwen run The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. While preparing for a New Year’s Eve party, they discover a body hidden in the walls of their chosen venue. The murder investigation throws them into a dangerous world of wartime secrets, complicated relationships, and a killer who may be closer than they think.

This book is a lot grittier than I expected. It contains no matchmaking but instead takes place in London’s underworld with many of the characters involved in organized crime.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This one was a 3.5 for me, but I know that a lot of that has to do with the fact that I had not read the prior books before, and therefore have no connection or familiarity with these characters.
I can tell that if I started from book 1, I would have loved these characters more and understood their mindset regarding some things. I enjoyed the mystery itself in this book but was not as thoroughly entertained as I should have been and even felt a bit lost at some points. Again, I blame my lack of background context and not necessarily the book itself.

Thank you St. Martin’s for the cozy mystery read though!

I binge read the beginning of this series in 2022 and book 5 about a year ago. One problem with books that come out a year apart like these can be that you lose track of the personal arcs of the main characters. Montclair has done an amazing job however, and I picked right back up with Sparks and Bainbridge as if no time has past. This is a great murder mystery full of twists and turns and with plenty of character development. Looking forward to many more!

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced review copy--all opinions are my own.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley , for the free E-copy for review.

As I delved into the intricate web of mystery woven by two intrepid friends turned sleuths, I found myself immersed in a world where the discovery of a bricked body in a cellar and the shooting of Iris's fiancé set the stage for a thrilling investigation.

Both women, unwavering in their determination, embark on a quest to unravel the tangled threads of the past, all while orchestrating a New Year's Eve matchmaking soiree. Their relentless pursuit of truth uncovers secrets that cast a haunting shadow on the present.

The allure of this enigmatic narrative lies not only in the pursuit of the elusive "whodunit," but also in the captivating exploration of Iris's struggle with societal expectations and reputation, and Gwen's poignant journey through motherhood as the widow of a wealthy man.

The Murder at the White Palace by Allison Montclair is a gripping tale that seamlessly intertwines the complexities of human nature with the allure of a compelling mystery, leaving readers spellbound at every turn.

This series gets better and better! The discovery of a body walled up in the basement of a nightclub pulls Gwen and Sparks into a dangerous investigation. Gwen is more confident in each book and she is finally ready to let go and have fun again. Sparks is getting closer to her gangster boyfriend Archie and wonders if marriage is possibly in her future. There are all sorts of surprises in this story, good and bad. I can't wait to see what happens next!

"In post-WWII London, the matchmakers of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are involved in yet another murder.

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 genteel war widow with a young son entangled in a complicated aristocratic family. Looking to throw a New Year's Eve soiree for their clients, Sparks and Bainbridge scout an empty building - only to find a body contained in the walls. What they initially assume is a victim of the recent Blitz is uncovered instead to be a murder victim - stabbed several times.

To make matters worse, the owner of the building is Sparks' beau, Archie Spelling, who has ties to a variety of enterprises on the right and wrong sides of the law, and the main investigator for the police is her ex-fiancée. Gwen, too, is dealing with her own complicated love life, as she tentatively steps back into the dating pool for the first time since her husband's death. Murder is not something they want to add to their plates, but the murderer may be closer to home than is comfortable, and they must do all they can to protect their clients, their business and themselves."

Love, marriage, and murder!

I’m not a huge fan of historical fiction. However, this one caught my attention. I’m glad I read it.

I found the plot and storyline well developed, the main characters, extremely likable, on red herrings to keep me guessing quite a while. I’m still not a big fan of historical fiction, but I believe this series could tempt me yet again!

This is the sixth Sparks & Bainbridge book, and I just want more and more of Iris and Gwen and their chaotic, wonderful lives. When the ladies want to throw a New Year's Eve party for their marriage bureau clients, Iris's gangster boyfriend Archie comes through with a venue. Unfortunately, renovations at the venue uncover a dead body - murdered, of course - and one that ties in closely to Archie and his dead father. In between murder investigating, Gwen manages to start dating again, as well as brushing off her considerable snooker skills. I love the friendship between these women, and I'm very curious where Montclair will go with some of the unresolved situations in this installment. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books for a digital review copy.

This is a historical fiction fan’s must, the mystery, character building and all around atmosphere of this book make it an absolute delight. It reminds me of an classic black and white mystery but with a current twist that makes the characters much more approachable and in my opinion, really makes it so the reader is more invested in their individual stories. I will absolutely be reading anything Allison Montclair does because these are pure FUN.

This is simply one of the best, and smartest, historical mystery series being written at the moment. Set just after the war – this novel in fact takes place around the first post-war Christmas and New Year’s – the series protagonists are Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge who between them run The Right Sort, a marriage bureau. Iris is a working-class woman who operated as an espionage agent during the war, and Gwen is a titled member of the upper class who is a war widow and is raising a son with the sometime help of her former in-laws. The yin and yang of Iris and Gwen works perfectly, and they have drawn ever closer through the now six books in this wonderful series.

As the book opens, Iris and Gwen are looking for a space to hold a New Year’s Eve ball for their unmatched clients, and having come up empty, turn to Iris’ boyfriend Archie. Archie is what was known back then as a spiv and what would be known now as a gangster, but he’s mostly a good guy, and as it happens, he’s just bought a club, the White Palace, that he’s fixing up and which will do nicely. As the women are checking things out, Gwen is taking a look at the work in the basement when a wall collapses and a skeleton pops out. This is the first elegantly laid out chapter. Montclair is not only great at the set up, but also great at the follow through, as the story that evolves around this beginning is just as delightful.

Things take another turn as Iris is slowly making her relationship with Archie public. First there’s the matter of Archie meeting her mother, a liberal MP, and then there’s a family wedding to attend on Archie’s side, the nuptial couple set up by The Right Sort. Disaster strikes at the wedding, and when Archie ends up out of commission, the two women take up the task of discovering who injured Archie, as well as trying to discern the identity of the skeleton in the club basement, who appears to be from the 1920’s.

Gwen, who has recently been set free from the shackles of the “lunacy court” (The Lady from Burma) and starting to recover somewhat from the loss of her husband, has decided to start stepping out a bit on her own, with two very different suitors on tap. One is from her own class, one from Archie’s neck of the woods. Gwen and River, from Archie’s universe, form a bond over snooker (a British form of pool). Gwen has been taught by a master and River by surprise when she trounces him.

Montclair often has a topic that’s of interest – in the last novel, it was bugs – in this one, it’s snooker, and there are some wonderful scenes betraying a passion and interest on the part of the author. Montclair is skilful enough that these parts advance the story while also being entertaining. Montclair has also carefully set up and fleshed out the characters in these books, so Iris’ worry over Archie (and what to say to a certain question he’s asking), and Gwen’s new taste of freedom have extra resonance if you’ve read the whole series. You can still enjoy this one and its snapshot of gang life in London in the 40’s, but it’s a richer experience if you’ve read them all.

As always I was more than satisfied by Montclair’s intelligent wrap up of the story, which has a bit of a cliffhanger at the end. This reader is already looking forward to seeing how that cliffhanger plays out.

4.5
Another really strong entry into this series which has become a must-read for me! The characters are sharp, the dialogue is witty, and the mystery is entertaining. I think I've written this before but it bears repeating - these books are like a classic Hollywood screwball comedy and film noir rolled into one (but with more modern sensibilities re: gender, mental health, race, marginalized groups, etc.). It deserves to be as popular as Maisie Dobbs, Phryne Fisher, and their ilk.

I really enjoyed this book, as a fan of historical fiction and mysteries it is the perfect blend! The writing style is very descriptive and I feel like I’m immersed into the story! The plot was captivating and sucked me in from page 1. 100% would recommend to any fans of historical fiction, mystery, or fiction!

This is another in the Sparks & Bainbridge mystery series. New Year's Eve is approaching and the Right Sort Marriage Bureau wants to host a dance for their cliental. They enlist the aid of Archie, Sparks lover and a man with criminal connections. He is renovating a club and can get it ready in time. A problem arises when a body is found in the club's basement rubble. Time to investigate!

Historical Mystery set in England 1946 about a former intelligence agent and a widowed mother, who run a marriage bureau, as they investigate a body found walled up in a club.

5/5 stars: This is the sixth entry in Montclair's Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery series which is a Historical Mystery set in 1946 England and featuring two woman, a former intelligence agent and a genteel war widow and mother, who run a marriage bureau and find themselves turning sleuth to investigate the discovery of a military man's body found walled into an empty club's walls. 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. Additionally, 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 both moving on with their lives, professionally with their match making venture, and romantically and continue to rebuild after WWII. I really appreciate how Montclair explores class and crime post war and women in the workplace. Montclair touched on some sensitive topics, so take care and 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 St. Martin's Press | Minotaur Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

Again I am here to extol the virtues of the next book in the Sparks and Bainbridge historical mystery series written by Alan Gordon under the name Allison Montclair. Alan Gordon is a recently retired lawyer, author, lyricist, and librettist, who is no stranger to the demands of writing a convincing historical mystery series. Between 1999 and 2010 he wrote eight well-reviewed books in the Fool’s Guild mysteries, set in early 13th century Europe.

Gordon chose a completely different time and place for his current series, but a fascinating one as well: post-war London. The country is in social and economic upheaval, service personnel are returning from overseas to find no jobs and sometimes bombed-out homes, and shortages of all kinds are still wreaking havoc with the simple act of existing day to day. He created two compelling, very different characters: Miss Iris Sparks, formerly of an intelligence unit, and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, widow of an Air Force pilot from an aristocrat family. Both of them are looking for a fresh start when they meet and decide to form an agency to facilitate marriage among the lonely and unattached members of the London populace. The series debut earned starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Kirkus and selection as the best mystery of 2020 by the American Library Association’s Reading List.

Six books into the series and the duo are pleased with their success. They are making enough money to hire a secretary and they moved into a larger office. In Murder at the White Palace (Minotaur, release date July 30, 2024) Gwen suggests throwing a New Year’s Eve party for their clients as a sort of large-scale effort to match them up. The biggest roadblock was a venue that they could afford. Archie Spelling, Iris’s admirer, offered one of his buildings under renovation. He expedited the clean-up, during which a body was discovered. The initial assumption was that another victim of the Blitz had been discovered until further examination showed otherwise.

Since Spelling’s business ventures were often somewhat dubious, the police believed the victim was one of Spelling’s erstwhile competitors. Iris of course could not have Spelling wrongfully accused so she and Gwen went to work once again as investigators.

They are also addressing changes in their personal lives. Gwen is now in the possession of her inheritance. She is quietly searching for a home away from her controlling in-laws where she can raise her son. Iris is steeling herself to introduce her wrong-side-of-the-tracks boyfriend to her Member of Parliament mother and then to meet his family at the wedding of his nephew.

The characters of Iris and Gwen continue to grow here. Gwen gathers strength and self-confidence as she navigates the world without the husband she thought she needed. Iris is shedding the loner lifestyle she had adopted as she moves toward deeper involvement with Archie and his large family.

A major plot twist suggests even greater changes in the not distant future. Followers of the series will be waiting with bated breath for the seventh book.

Highly recommended, especially for fans of historical mysteries and of mysteries with strong female leads.