Death and German agents!

The report of a puzzling robbery at a Diplomat’s dinner party has Electra McDonnell suspicious. Nothing adds up. None of her contacts have heard anything. (Electra had been a jewel thief and safecracker until military intelligence recruited her and her family to use their skills as part of the war effort.)
Having not heard from her recently injured handler, the aloof Major Gabriel Ramsey, for some months, Electra decides to approach him about the matter.
(There is the slight aspect of a growing attraction between Electra and Major Ramsey!)
There’s also the history of Electra’s mother. She was a condemned murderer, pregnant with Electra. Electra has been following clues trying to find out what the truth was behind what her mother’s actions.
Electra’s visit to the Major leads to the uncovering of German spies looking for something important that may have come from Lisbon. The mystery is what are they after?
Spies, glamour and suspected undercover foreign agents are all grist for the mill.
Intrigue, danger and romantic tension stalks the pages.

A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher. ( )

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! While it isn’t as action-packed and suspense-filled as the last book was, it is a pivotal book for the series and the characters. We see the introduction of some new characters – will they stay? We also see a resolution to the relationship triangle, but not in the way you thought it might go. Plus, we get some exciting news and a cliffhanger that sets up the next book. Nicely woven through all of that is a spy story that has to be resolved. Yes, a very satisfying read indeed!

It has been three long months since Major Ramsey was shot four times and nearly died during their last case at Sunderland. Electra (Ellie) hasn’t heard a word from the Major and she’s had no jobs with his intelligence agency. Boredom and fretfulness are creeping in when she notices an article in the paper. It details a robbery having taken place during a dinner party – but – something about it just doesn’t seem right. As a master thief, Ellie knows all the elements of a robbery being ‘right’, and this one just hits a wrong note. She’s not sure why it strikes her as wrong, but she thinks she should bring it to Major Ramsey’s attention.

Major Ramsey doesn’t seem particularly delighted to see her, nor does he think much of her ‘feelings’ about that robbery. However, it seems he did take her seriously as he has found two other robberies that fit that same ‘odd’ mold and they begin their investigation. They aren’t sure what they are looking for – if anything – but they are looking into all of the robberies and those who were robbed. Soon, they discover the reason for the robberies and what they should be looking for.

In the meantime, Ellie continues to look into the murder of her father. In the last book, she was told that he was a spy for the Germans. She’s found a small book with a coded letter inside – she just has to decode it – if she can. Getting it decoded causes her to owe a ‘favor’ to someone and repaying that favor causes her a great deal of pain and grief. It might also get her killed.

By the end of the book, Ellie is in a great deal of emotional pain and despair – when – out of the blue – comes the saving grace – a cliffhanger! Ellie has the opportunity to do something momentous for herself, her country, and her family. Whew! I’m betting that the next book is going to be a doozie!

This is a quick, interesting, well-told tale and I recommend it – especially if you like spy stories, romance, intrigue, danger – and a cliffhanger. I hope you will love it as much as I did. Happy Reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

This is the fourth book in the series, but it can be read as stand alone.

London 1941
Electra McDonnell is a safecracker who wants to find out the truth about her parents who died during the war. Meanwhile, she is hired to investigate robbery. She's the best one for this because she's a thief herself. Together with Major Ramsey from British Government, they will work to solve the mystery.
Ellie is complicated character. She shouldn't commit to any robbery while working under Ramsey, but Ellie is the one who never listens or obeys.

Fast-paced, witty, suspenseful, and fun. There is just enough humor and a pinch of romance for reader to enjoy this story. It's sort of lightweight, and not deeply elaborated on historical details. Overall, I liked the mystery behind this story and the main character's complicated love life. ( )

Ellie McDonnell hasn't seen Major Ramsey for a while but then she reads of a robbery that seems wrong to her and goes to him to ask if it might be suspicious. He tells her that it is the third suspicious robbery though the other two didn't make the newspapers.

When they go to ask some questions, it becomes apparent that there is something very suspicious about the crimes. It seems the Nazis are looking for something that has made its way to London from Lisbon. And they are willing to kill to find it.

Meanwhile, Ellie is dealing with some information about her father that is concerning to her. She has some evidence that he was a spy for Germany in WWI. A coded letter leads her to make a bargain with a mathematician neighbor. She also owes a favor to a local gangster for some information he provides to help track down the unknown thieves.

Although she has promised not to commit any more robberies while working with British intelligence, she just has to do a favor for a friend and pay off a debt. Retrieving blackmail letters and getting a crook into an office to place a wiretap isn't really robbery - at least in her opinion. Major Ramsey disagrees.

This was an engaging episode in the series. It was packed with action. I liked that both Ramsey and Ellie are acknowledging their feeling for each other even if neither sees a future together. I can't wait for the next story in the series. ( )

This fourth book in author Ashley Weaver's "Elektra McDonnell" series, is a delightful historical mystery. The setting is January of 1941, London. The evening German bombings had subsided a bit through the holidays and the bitter days of winter have settled into the city. While our plucky Elektra McDonnell ("Ellie" to her family and friends as well as locksmith and reformed thief) was reading a newspaper article about a recent burglary, there were a number of details which appeared off to her. It had been a while since last she worked with the dishy Major Ramsey. These observations of hers may be just what the good Major needs to to be apprised of. When she arrived at his flat, he was already on the case but glad of her intuition and professional observations. There appears to be more at stake then the purloining of precious baubles, and the Germans want whatever it is at all costs. Can this on-the-surface-mismatched-duo find the sought after prize before it's sold to the highest bidder? So much is at stake and danger lurks around every corner.

In this installment, there were several story lines which all eventually converged. The element of a love triangle continues with Ellie at its center. The writing is clean, well crafted and the characters are interesting and well-developed. The mise en scène was deftly created and one could imagine strolling through the chilly and rough streets of blitzed London. All in all, this was a sweet and enjoyable historical mystery. Although this fourth book in series can stand alone, there is a continuing story thread for which you may wish to start at the beginning. If a fun historical mystery is your jam, then this may be just the right series and book for you.

I am grateful to Minotaur books for having provided a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Their generosity, however, has not influenced this review - the words of which are mine alone.

Publisher:‎ Minotaur Books
Publication Date: ‎May 14, 2024
No. of pages:‎ 272
ISBN-13:‎ 978-1250885906 ( )