Series: Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery, #2
Genre/Setting: Historical Mystery
Rating: 5 stars!
In 1946, Post-War London, Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge are finding that their risk-taking is paying off and their fledgling business, The Right Sort Marriage Bureau, is beginning to take off. In fact, they could use a secretary and a bigger office, but they don't yet have enough capital for the expansion. So, when a well-connected cousin of Gwen's arrives with an intriguing and lucrative task, they're happy to hear her out.
Gwen's cousin, Lady Matheson, is mysterious and tight-lipped about the "capacity" in which she serves the Queen and she needs someone vetted, discreetly. The young Princess Elizabeth hopes to marry a Greek prince and a blackmail note has just been sent to her threatening the revelation of damaging information about that very prince. The Crown needs the prince investigated but without asking questions that could ignite gossip, so Gwen and Iris are quietly enlisted. With a short timeline before the prince's likely proposal, these two must uncover any secrets buried in the prince's past if they have any hope of expanding their business, and ensuring the good of the realm, of course.
It is exceedingly rare that I read anything other than romance, however, I was intrigued by this author's debut and wound up loving it, so I'm keen to follow her work now. This book had a slightly different feel than its predecessor, but was just as enjoyable and very well-written. I definitely don't have enough knowledge of this period of history to get everything I was supposed to get out of this book, but that just makes me want to read up and learn more. Gwen and Iris are a fantastic duo and probably one of the best female teams I've ever come across. Their banter is top notch, delightful to read, and I loved that they were always at least one step ahead of the other players in this mystery. This book had me alternately laughing and tearing up and I adored the mystery with its many facets. U need to go back and reread now so I can get everything I missed the first time around. This was an excellent follow-up and I can't wait to see what Gwen and Iris get up to next.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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