The Electra McDonnell series had been one of my favorite historical mystery series in the last few years, and this (final?) book didn't disappoint.

Major Gabriel Ramsey told Electra at the end of the last book that her help was no longer needed, that she had lied and he couldn't work with her anymore. But she also found out that her cousin Toby had been captured by the Germans, and she now has a chance to travel to Lisbon with Captain Archie Hastings and Ramsey to save him.

This book is full of adventure as they spy, scheme, and sightsee their way through Lisbon. Ramsey and Ellie's relationship is fraught with tension as you question will they, or won't they. And the ending is a satisfying as an ending can be!

Thank you, Ashley Weaver, for writing characters I'd love to know in real life!

I truly enjoyed this last installment in the Electra McDonnell series. The series ending is well done, though almost too perfect — there’s a war on, after all. And the London scenes, written without air raids, seemed as though the Blitz wasn’t still raging (it was). However, Weaver really shines when building romantic tension, and the relationship between Ellie and Ramsey, plus the WWII setting, is really what drew me to these books. That romantic tension is perfect here, and honestly, Ramsey is so well-written. Thankfully no love triangles, either (a pet peeve). Though I’m glad that the series didn’t go on and on without resolution (perhaps an unpopular opinion, I know), I am sad to say goodbye to Ellie and Ramsey. I can’t wait to see what Weaver does next.

This book was enjoyable, but it was not till the 78% reading mark, that the book gained momentum for me. The story is described as a a historical mystery with a touch of romance. During the early days of WW2 when London is just starting to be bombed, Electra the star of the book is asked to join a mission to help rescue a number of POW's-one especially, her cousin Toby. Her background in being able to pick locks is what resulted in her being asked to join the group. She had been involved in the war effort, but was recently discharged from that group due to the fact "she had her own mind" on how things should be done. Did it cost her everything, well that you will have to find out by reading this book. Just be prepared to slog through a good bit first to get to the meat of what is a good story.

Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur press for providing an ebook and I do apologize for taking so long to get it done.

As sad as I am to see this series end, this was a satisfying conclusion to a great story! Book 4 left Electra and Ramsey in a bad spot, and book 5 has all the tension and longing you could want, plus Lisbon, espionage, lock-picking, and the long-awaited answers about Electra’s family history. Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

I love this series - the historical setting and the characters. It is definitely one I recommend to friends and book clubs. I hope there will be more!

What an absolute delight of a read! As a huge fan of this book series, I can’t think of a better ending! The action scenes were gripping & the side characters were engaging. The chemistry between Major Ramsey & Ellie was EVERYTHING! & I am so glad that Ellie got closure. I have recommended this book to all of my family & friends, it is wonderful!

I love this series and am sad that this is the last one because it’s such an interesting subject within the WWII mysteries subset. This one does tie up so many loose ends but it started out so slowly that I almost gave up on it. I’m all for a romance within the series but the first half was too much for me. It did pick up halfway through, thankfully, and despite some TSTL moments, I enjoyed it and thought it was wrapped up nicely.

Final book in the Electra McDonnell series, and it pulls all the loose threads nicely together. Electra is no longer working for Major Ramsey, but is pulled back into the spy business when word gets through that her cousin (more a brother to her) is alive and has escaped from imprisonment, and is trying to get over the border to Portugal. Willing to do anything to find Toby, she is recruited by a Lisbon-based Captain to assist in finding the escape route and protect it from the Germans. Making things rather awkward - Major Ramsey is the only one able to assist them. And the usual twisty plot ensues with lots of action and daring do, lock-picking and clandestine meetings, and lighting fast thinking on their feet. Great fun and most satisfying.

First, let me say that I am so sad that this is the conclusion of this wonderful series. I have enjoyed reading these characters and the situations they find themselves in. This book ends the series on serious high note and I love that!

“The fifth and final installment in the Electra McDonnell series brings safecracker Ellie on a mission across World War II-era Europe to Lisbon, Portugal to rescue a key group of escaped POWs.”

I have absolutely adored this historical mystery series and while I am sad this is the last one, it was so perfectly well done that it made it a bit easier to say goodbye. I binge listened to this in a day and a half, using every possible excuse to have it in my ears. They are brilliant on audio (I’ve taken all five in that way).

I gasped and sighed and smiled throughout and the ending was chef’s kiss. If you’re a mystery lover and want a strong, funny, independent former lock-pick sleuth in your reading life, go now and read. You won’t regret it. Five wonderful stars.

I can't believe this is the last book in the series. Most of the cozy mystery series I read go on and on and on, so I was shocked when One Final Turn was announced as the fifth and final novel in the series.

It was a really good finale. All the loose ends were wrapped up, though one storyline that had just started felt like it was wrapped up too quickly, but I don't think there was any other way to handle it, as this is the final book.

At one point, I felt like it was going to turn into a Regency romance novel, but I'm sure fans who like romance in their cozy mysteries will love the scene.

There is plenty of Ellie and Ramsey together, and I enjoyed them being in Lisbon. I think series fans will be happy with how the series ends.

I've read the entire series and really liked this WWII cozy mystery series that sometimes reads more like a spy novel. The writing is good, the characters have some depth to them, and the plots are always fun. If you are looking for a complete series to binge read, you should definitely pick it up.

I wonder what Ashley Weaver will write next.

My review will be published at Girl Who Reads on Sunday - https://www.girl-who-reads.com/2025/06/one-final-turn-by-ashley-weaver-review.html

Part of series with Ellie and Major Ramsey of to another mission in Lisbon, Portugal to save her cousin Toby and others.
Drama, suspense, twists, surprises and romance.
A good thrilling story..
Voluntarily reviewed.

In the final novel in the Electra McDonnell series, Ellie finds herself facing her greatest challenge: leaving her home to travel to Lisbon to try to locate her cousin, who has been missing in action for about 9 months. She will do this without her usual commanding officer, Major Ramsey, due to the result of a few horrible decisions and violating the one rule Ramsey had for her - which she did twice. And of course it was when everything went to Hades that Ellie realized how much Ramsey meant to her. So with emotions fraying and stakes being at their highest, Ellie enters a world where enemies are everywhere and one false move could mean death.

I have never been more disappointed to have a series end! I have come to love Ellie and Ramsey, watching them match wits and overcome the odds. This final adventure was quite a ride and poor Ellie has quite a few close calls. As she said during the adventure, when she found someone trying to kill her, her response is one we can all understand ‘Not again!’

The one thing that disappointed me, beside the fact that this was the last novel was that all the loose ends seemed a bit too rushed. The resolution to the mystery of her father’s death deserved its own book, and including it here seemed rushed.

I hope one day we might get another Ellie adventure because I would love just one more wild ride with the McDonnells. But all things considered, this was a very satisfying goodbye to Ellie and Ramsey.

So, so sad to see this series end! I've really enjoyed reading about Electra and her wartime adventures. The romance in the book was excellent and the setting couldn't have been better. While I liked that things were wrapped up satisfactorily, I really, really would have liked if a couple of the story lines hadn't been resolved quite so neatly and quickly.

I have read every one of Ms. Weaver's books and I can't wait to see what she writes next! Thanks for NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this book.

Ellie McDonnell sets off on a dangerous mission to Lisbon to rescue her cousin Toby, who has escaped a German POW camp after being missing since Dunkirk. Despite tensions with Major Ramsey—who once doubted her just as she realized her feelings for him—Ellie is determined to find Toby. In Lisbon, under the guidance of Captain Archie Blandings, she navigates a web of espionage, emotional conflict, and the ever-present threat of war and love.

I'm really sad that I picked this book up without reading the first 4 books in this series, but I am absolutely going back to read these soon. This book had everything I love about historical fiction- with the addition of mystery and romance. I really enjoyed Ellie's character- she was sassy, brave, and determined to do whatever it took to get Toby back. I also enjoyed Ramsey and Archie as the MMCs, they way that they went back and forth was so fun to read.

Having not read the previous 4 books, I thought the plot of this book was great! The pacing was good, and I was thoroughly interested in finding out what was going to happened next. I thought the big plot twist and the lead up to it was really well done as well. Overall, this was such a charming book and so much fun to read. Highly recommend and now I'm off to read the others!

Rating: 4.5/5
Spice: 1/5

Tropes:
WWII Historical Fiction
Second Chance
Spy Craft
Suspense
Red Herrings
Sweet Romance

Thank you so much NetGalley, Ashley Weaver and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for this eARC. All thoughts are my own.

This is the last installment in the Electra McDonnell series. This series has standalone mysteries accompanied by other storylines that transverse each book. In One Final Turn, the readers get the answers they have been waiting for. I wouldn't recommend reading this on its own. Definitely start with book one and enjoy this delightful series! (Just an FYI for those interested...the audio for these books is great!)

Electra continues her escapades in Portugal with Ramsey and some other collogues. I just love all of these characters, and it was nice to see them return for this finale. I am so glad that a friend recommended this author to me. I didn't know that the series had ongoing mysteries, and when I started I didn't realize it wasn't complete! It wasn't until I got to book 4 that I realized this one hadn't been released yet! Talk about anxiety!

Now that we have all of the books, I encourage anyone that enjoys cozy mysteries/light suspense with hints of romance, to pick up this series and ENJOY!

I was given the opportunity to read an advanced digital copy of this book by St. Martin's Press via Netgalley. I am happily and voluntarily leaving an honest review. And also in full disclosure, I also purchased and listened to the audiobook on the day it was released.

A delightful conclusion to a wonderful series! This book was my favorite in the whole series for so many reasons. Such a fabulous mix of adventure and romance.

This fifth and final volume in Ashley Weaver's series revolving around Electra McDonnell does not disappoint. I discovered these books last spring and quickly immersed myself.. Ellie is a fascinating character with an endearing family. She is smart, determined, passionate and loyal. All of these qualities both help and harm her as she navigates a world deeply affected by World War II. As a former safecracker turned government spy for England, her skills are in demand throughout the series and are utilized again in this final book.

Set in Portugal, ONE FINAL TURN explores Ellie's search for her POW cousin, Toby, who may be on the run. I have been to Portugal before, yet even so, I learned new things about it. I loved getting to know its streets, cultural landmarks and delicious food even more through the pages of this book.

In addition to the beautiful setting and the mysteries, the relationships among the characters, especially the one between Major Gabriel Ramsey and Ellie "Electra" McDonnell, form the heart of the series. I will give nothing away, but just know that the development of their relationship is very thoughtful.

I almost held off reading ONE FINAL TURN because I did not want the series to end. I had gotten to know the characters over the four previous books, and felt as if they were friends. I am grateful, though, that I finally dove into this final volume because the loose ends are resolved in surprising and satisfactory ways. Do not hesitate to read this final volume and if you have missed out on the previous four books in the series, I envy the journey ahead of you. Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books/St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

One Final Turn is the fifth (and sadly final episode) in Ashley Weaver's World War II mystery series starring Electra McDonnel. Born in Holloway prison, Ellie was raised by her locksmith Uncle Mick, who moonlighted as a burglar and safecracker.

She's been drafted for intelligence work.. In this last episode in 1941, Ellie travels to Lisbon, Portugal, hoping to find and rescue Toby, after hearing that he may have escaped from a German prisoner of war camp via a route through the Pyrenees.

What a wonderful conclusion to the series! This series is set during WWII. I love Electra and Ramsey so much! They are such fun. I love their chemistry and how well they work together on their assignments. In this story, Electra is working with Archie, after things that happened between Electra and Ramsey in book 4. I loved Archie’s character. I loved that he made Ramsey jealous haha. There is a marriage of convenience of sorts in this story. I loved that we get a happy ending. This is a closed door romance but check out content to see if it suits your preferences. It went a little much for me personally but overall, a great story and I enjoyed it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content: fade to black scenes with married couple, flirtatious innuendos, kisses, mention of man’s hand on woman’s behind

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.