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Sparks & Bainbridge #6
Murder at the White Palace
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.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2024
86 people are currently reading
5253 people want to read
About the author
Allison Montclair
14 books513 followersALLISON MONTCLAIR grew up devouring hand-me-down Agatha Christie paperbacks and James Bond movies. As a result of this deplorable upbringing, Montclair became addicted to tales of crime, intrigue, and espionage. She now spends her spare time poking through the corners, nooks, and crannies of history, searching for the odd mysterious bits and transforming them into novels of her own. The Right Sort of Man is her debut novel.
Allison Montclair is a pseudonym of Alan Gordon.
Allison Montclair is a pseudonym of Alan Gordon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 212 reviews
August 18, 2024
This is the best one in the series thus far. I loved it! The smart dialog, the deep emotions.
The focus of the story is really on the personal lives of Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge. Their matchmaking business takes a very minor role. Which gives the reader plenty of time with our two main characters. We can see the growing intimacy between Iris and Archie Spelling, her gangster boyfriend. Iris is taking Archie to meet her mother. In turn, Iris goes to the wedding of Archie's nephew.Gwen is spreading her wings and gingerly entering the dating pool. One hopes to change her, another tries to con her, but Gwen is having none of it! It is so lovely to see her let these two know what's what. Our Gwen also has a hidden talent that comes to light in a marvelous way. But the book isn't solely about their personal lives; it wouldn't be a Sparks & Bainbridge story without a murder investigation.
That plot revolves around the discovery of a long-dead body during the renovation of a building now owned by Archie. The building, a defunct club known as the White Palace, is being hired by The Right Sort Marriage Bureau as the venue for a New Year's Eve Ball they are throwing for their clients.
However, Iris and Gwen's tentative detection efforts in discovering the identity of the dead man are overwhelmed by shocking acts of violence that throw their lives into disarray. The deep, strong friendship that has grown between the two women is the anchor that Iris and Gwen rely on as they work to discover the perpetrator. The women are convinced that the old death and the new attacks are related, but the police are skeptical. In the meantime, the New Year's Eve prep must go on.
Given some of the developments in this book I am anxiously awaiting for the next one. I need to know what happens next!
The focus of the story is really on the personal lives of Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge. Their matchmaking business takes a very minor role. Which gives the reader plenty of time with our two main characters. We can see the growing intimacy between Iris and Archie Spelling, her gangster boyfriend. Iris is taking Archie to meet her mother. In turn, Iris goes to the wedding of Archie's nephew.Gwen is spreading her wings and gingerly entering the dating pool. One hopes to change her, another tries to con her, but Gwen is having none of it! It is so lovely to see her let these two know what's what. Our Gwen also has a hidden talent that comes to light in a marvelous way. But the book isn't solely about their personal lives; it wouldn't be a Sparks & Bainbridge story without a murder investigation.
That plot revolves around the discovery of a long-dead body during the renovation of a building now owned by Archie. The building, a defunct club known as the White Palace, is being hired by The Right Sort Marriage Bureau as the venue for a New Year's Eve Ball they are throwing for their clients.
However, Iris and Gwen's tentative detection efforts in discovering the identity of the dead man are overwhelmed by shocking acts of violence that throw their lives into disarray. The deep, strong friendship that has grown between the two women is the anchor that Iris and Gwen rely on as they work to discover the perpetrator. The women are convinced that the old death and the new attacks are related, but the police are skeptical. In the meantime, the New Year's Eve prep must go on.
Given some of the developments in this book I am anxiously awaiting for the next one. I need to know what happens next!
July 19, 2024
Over the course of the Sparks & Bainbridge series, beginning with The Right Sort of Man, Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge have proven to have a very strange kind of luck. The sort of luck that has them tripping over murder victims – or in this case having a murder victim nearly drop on one of their heads. But that luck of theirs extends to not just finding the body – but also getting into the thick of the police investigation, involving themselves with the mob, AND, most importantly, figuring out whodunnit.
Up until this case, that luck has extended to emerging from each case with all of their friends, colleagues and hostages to fortune – as well as themselves – relatively unscathed at the end.
This case breaks the last bit of that streak, as the body that drops on Gwen’s head at the beginning leads to Iris’ mobster boyfriend near-death as the result of a gunshot in the middle. Center mass, in fact, but enough of a smidgeon of that luck kept that bullet from his heart. Not that recovery from a through-and-through shot to one lung is going to make his recovery a walk in the park – if he recovers.
Iris wants to murder whoever shot her man – but Gwen is there to keep her friend from going off half-cocked on a revenge spree. Leaving Gwen to do most of the investigation and surprisingly all of the derring-do in Sparks & Bainbridge’s very personal quest to figure out who murdered the body that dropped in the beginning AND who is doing their damndest to make sure that Archie Spelling is interred in a coffin beside him.
Escape Rating A+: I was up until 3 am finishing this, so an A+ it most definitely is. I tried telling myself I could finish AFTER breakfast, but myself wasn’t listening. I simply HAD to find out whodunnit!
This entry in the series represents a turning point, as well as a bit of trading places. Up ’til now, Iris Sparks, former spy or whatever secret things she did during the war for whatever secret agency, was always the intrepid and daring partner, rushing in where angels rightfully feared to tread.
Gwen Bainbridge, on the other hand, was the cautious and conservative half, fearing – rightfully so – that if they cocked too much of a snook at the conventions that she would be made to pay for it in ways that have hung over her head like the Sword of Damocles in the previous books in the series.
Their positions reverse here, as Gwen is now out from under the restrictions of both her late husband’s family AND the Lunacy Court, while Iris is searching for approval – or at least understanding – from her disapproving mother and Archie’s extended family – only one of which is EVER likely to be on offer.
The police don’t want to listen to either of them – which is par for the course. Not only do the coppers not enjoy being shown up by a couple of amateurs, but Iris’ relationship with a mob boss and Gwen’s partnership with Iris, her friendship with Archie, and the friendly relations she has with Archie’s gang, tar both women with the brush of criminality.
Also, the police don’t seem to be all that interested in investigating Archie’s shooting. They don’t care much if one mobster rubs out another – they’re only worried about the potential for mob warfare that seems likely to follow.
But the case itself isn’t so much about Archie as it is about Archie poking his nose in places that it doesn’t belong. It’s about the past – and not even Archie’s own. While Archie is fighting for his life in the hospital, and Iris Sparks is emotionally flailing about the potential loss of a future she wasn’t sure that she wanted until it was nearly snatched out of her hands – it’s up to Gwen Bainbridge to get to the bottom of the case that literally dropped on her head.
While the case does get wrapped, the story of Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge and the Right Sort Marriage Bureau screeches to a halt with the pop of a champagne cork as 1947 is ushered in on a tide of desperate hope and wild expectation.
This reader, at least, desperately hopes that the next entry in the Sparks & Bainbridge will drop on her head this time next year. It’s not merely a matter of expectation – I absolutely HAVE to know what happens next.
Originally published at Reading Reality
Up until this case, that luck has extended to emerging from each case with all of their friends, colleagues and hostages to fortune – as well as themselves – relatively unscathed at the end.
This case breaks the last bit of that streak, as the body that drops on Gwen’s head at the beginning leads to Iris’ mobster boyfriend near-death as the result of a gunshot in the middle. Center mass, in fact, but enough of a smidgeon of that luck kept that bullet from his heart. Not that recovery from a through-and-through shot to one lung is going to make his recovery a walk in the park – if he recovers.
Iris wants to murder whoever shot her man – but Gwen is there to keep her friend from going off half-cocked on a revenge spree. Leaving Gwen to do most of the investigation and surprisingly all of the derring-do in Sparks & Bainbridge’s very personal quest to figure out who murdered the body that dropped in the beginning AND who is doing their damndest to make sure that Archie Spelling is interred in a coffin beside him.
Escape Rating A+: I was up until 3 am finishing this, so an A+ it most definitely is. I tried telling myself I could finish AFTER breakfast, but myself wasn’t listening. I simply HAD to find out whodunnit!
This entry in the series represents a turning point, as well as a bit of trading places. Up ’til now, Iris Sparks, former spy or whatever secret things she did during the war for whatever secret agency, was always the intrepid and daring partner, rushing in where angels rightfully feared to tread.
Gwen Bainbridge, on the other hand, was the cautious and conservative half, fearing – rightfully so – that if they cocked too much of a snook at the conventions that she would be made to pay for it in ways that have hung over her head like the Sword of Damocles in the previous books in the series.
Their positions reverse here, as Gwen is now out from under the restrictions of both her late husband’s family AND the Lunacy Court, while Iris is searching for approval – or at least understanding – from her disapproving mother and Archie’s extended family – only one of which is EVER likely to be on offer.
The police don’t want to listen to either of them – which is par for the course. Not only do the coppers not enjoy being shown up by a couple of amateurs, but Iris’ relationship with a mob boss and Gwen’s partnership with Iris, her friendship with Archie, and the friendly relations she has with Archie’s gang, tar both women with the brush of criminality.
Also, the police don’t seem to be all that interested in investigating Archie’s shooting. They don’t care much if one mobster rubs out another – they’re only worried about the potential for mob warfare that seems likely to follow.
But the case itself isn’t so much about Archie as it is about Archie poking his nose in places that it doesn’t belong. It’s about the past – and not even Archie’s own. While Archie is fighting for his life in the hospital, and Iris Sparks is emotionally flailing about the potential loss of a future she wasn’t sure that she wanted until it was nearly snatched out of her hands – it’s up to Gwen Bainbridge to get to the bottom of the case that literally dropped on her head.
While the case does get wrapped, the story of Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge and the Right Sort Marriage Bureau screeches to a halt with the pop of a champagne cork as 1947 is ushered in on a tide of desperate hope and wild expectation.
This reader, at least, desperately hopes that the next entry in the Sparks & Bainbridge will drop on her head this time next year. It’s not merely a matter of expectation – I absolutely HAVE to know what happens next.
Originally published at Reading Reality
December 17, 2024
I was ready for a new adventure with Iris and Gwen and this story hit all the right spots. True friendship, a higher amount of romance then some of the previous stories and a mystery that kept me stumped until the end.
I would definitely recommend reading the other five stories, in order, before attempting this one. That said, I can't wait to see what happens in An Excellent Thing in a Woman when it is finally published.
I would definitely recommend reading the other five stories, in order, before attempting this one. That said, I can't wait to see what happens in An Excellent Thing in a Woman when it is finally published.
August 28, 2024
Right Sort Marriage Bureau—more hijinks!
Well this series is taking an interesting direction. Post war London, and Gwendolyn Bainbridge and Iris Sparks, proprietors of the very successful Right Sort Marriage Bureau decide to hold a New Year’s Eve party for their clients. Gwen has just been declared no longer in need of supervision according to the Court of Lunacy (if you haven’t read previous titles in the series you must to catch up on Gwen’s heartbreaking story). It’s more than time to celebrate!
Archie Spelling (head of the Spelling gang and Iris’s boyfriend) provides the venue, The White Palace, a place he’s recently bought and that he’s restoring. Archie has big plans. The Palace used to belong to Frank Reese another gangster. Archie bought it from his widow, Vanessa. Of course there’s history—of the gangland robbery and violence type. However, no-one was prepared for a body to turn up, least of all Archie, a body that’s been walled up for some years.
Archie’s in the clear but as things unfold he is connected. The situation become somewhat dicey and the New Year’s event hits a few roadblocks.
Another fabulous read from Montclair!
And yes, the way things end has me poised impatiently for the next book.
A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
Well this series is taking an interesting direction. Post war London, and Gwendolyn Bainbridge and Iris Sparks, proprietors of the very successful Right Sort Marriage Bureau decide to hold a New Year’s Eve party for their clients. Gwen has just been declared no longer in need of supervision according to the Court of Lunacy (if you haven’t read previous titles in the series you must to catch up on Gwen’s heartbreaking story). It’s more than time to celebrate!
Archie Spelling (head of the Spelling gang and Iris’s boyfriend) provides the venue, The White Palace, a place he’s recently bought and that he’s restoring. Archie has big plans. The Palace used to belong to Frank Reese another gangster. Archie bought it from his widow, Vanessa. Of course there’s history—of the gangland robbery and violence type. However, no-one was prepared for a body to turn up, least of all Archie, a body that’s been walled up for some years.
Archie’s in the clear but as things unfold he is connected. The situation become somewhat dicey and the New Year’s event hits a few roadblocks.
Another fabulous read from Montclair!
And yes, the way things end has me poised impatiently for the next book.
A St. Martin’s Press ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
September 4, 2024
At the open of this instalment, both women are at an interesting point in their lives. Gwendolyn has her legal independence, and wants to move on with her life, as in, find a place to live for her and Ronny, and begin dating. Iris has been seeing Archie Spelling for a while, and though she resists putting labels on their relationship, he seems to be moving in that direction. Iris has also decided that it's time that Archie meets her formidable mother.
The pair also want to continue to grow their business, and come up with the idea of a New Year’s Eve dance for all their clients. To do so will need a large venue, and Archie has recently purchased one, known as the White Palace, and is renovating it.
Gwen gets two surprises when she and Iris scope out the location:Des, whom Gwen had had a crush on (book one),is helping Archie with the construction, and the pair find a dead body concealed behind a wall.
Needless to say, there’s a mystery here, as there are details about the unknown dead man that point to Archie’s and Des’ fathers’ wartime then criminal past.
Gwen is not eager to delve, as she’s just recently been cleared by the Court of Lunacy, but Iris moves forward, particularly as Archie is involved. But it's not long before Gwen begins wholeheartedly investigating, particularly as multiple tragedies occur, but she's also there to make sure Iris does nothing too rash in pursuit of whomever attempted to kill Archie.
Author Allison Montclair creates another compelling narrative in post-war London, as he takes us from the Right Sort office to a tony neighbourhood, to a wedding celebration, and to a dodgy snooker club. The stories in this series tend to be well-paced with plenty of humour and snappy dialogue thrown in, but this novel seemed to have even more urgency as the two women rush to reveal the connections between Archie's past and present.
And though the case is wrapped up, there are still things left open, but at least we get a party and some hope for a better New Year for the partners. I sincerely hope we won't have to wait too long for the next instalment as this one was fantastic, and I have to know what happens next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
The pair also want to continue to grow their business, and come up with the idea of a New Year’s Eve dance for all their clients. To do so will need a large venue, and Archie has recently purchased one, known as the White Palace, and is renovating it.
Gwen gets two surprises when she and Iris scope out the location:Des, whom Gwen had had a crush on (book one),is helping Archie with the construction, and the pair find a dead body concealed behind a wall.
Needless to say, there’s a mystery here, as there are details about the unknown dead man that point to Archie’s and Des’ fathers’ wartime then criminal past.
Gwen is not eager to delve, as she’s just recently been cleared by the Court of Lunacy, but Iris moves forward, particularly as Archie is involved. But it's not long before Gwen begins wholeheartedly investigating, particularly as multiple tragedies occur, but she's also there to make sure Iris does nothing too rash in pursuit of whomever attempted to kill Archie.
Author Allison Montclair creates another compelling narrative in post-war London, as he takes us from the Right Sort office to a tony neighbourhood, to a wedding celebration, and to a dodgy snooker club. The stories in this series tend to be well-paced with plenty of humour and snappy dialogue thrown in, but this novel seemed to have even more urgency as the two women rush to reveal the connections between Archie's past and present.
And though the case is wrapped up, there are still things left open, but at least we get a party and some hope for a better New Year for the partners. I sincerely hope we won't have to wait too long for the next instalment as this one was fantastic, and I have to know what happens next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for my review.
August 24, 2025
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
MURDER AT THE WHITE PALACE (A Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery Book #6) by Allison Montclair is an intriguing historical mystery that has not one, but two mysteries, past and present, that may be connected and many personal changes occurring in the lives of the two main protagonists. Each book has a unique mystery that is solved, but the main characters continue to evolve and for continuity, I feel these books are best read in order of publication.
The Right Sort of Marriage Bureau is doing well, so Gwendolyn Bainbridge decides she and her partner, Iris Sparks, should throw a New Year’s Eve party for their clientele. With limited availability this close to the new year, they look at an old club being repaired by Iris’ boyfriend, Archie Spelling. While investigating the basement, a wall crumbles and a long dead body is discovered.
Though they both want to be done with murder investigations, the recovered body matches some information surrounding that of a missing thief from a trio of robbers from before the war which all tied back to Archie and Des’ murdered fathers. Are they safe as they investigate the cold cases, or could the past be coming back to clean up any ties to a murderer among them?
The murder mysteries, past and present, are intertwined throughout a more intense and personal character driven story line than previous books. Gwen is now free to control her own life and destiny and is finding freedom intoxicating, while Iris is on track to make more permanent decisions regarding her personal life. The duo’s true friendship, no matter their differences or what occurs in their personal lives, is a reason that I love this series. This story leaned more towards the protagonist’s development, which could change the direction of the entire series, than the mysteries, but the mysteries themselves were interesting and well plotted. This addition to the series does leave a bit of a cliffhanger, but it is in Iris’ personal life and not a part of the mystery plot line.
I highly recommend this historical mystery series and continue to look forward to following Bainbridge in Sparks.
MURDER AT THE WHITE PALACE (A Sparks & Bainbridge Mystery Book #6) by Allison Montclair is an intriguing historical mystery that has not one, but two mysteries, past and present, that may be connected and many personal changes occurring in the lives of the two main protagonists. Each book has a unique mystery that is solved, but the main characters continue to evolve and for continuity, I feel these books are best read in order of publication.
The Right Sort of Marriage Bureau is doing well, so Gwendolyn Bainbridge decides she and her partner, Iris Sparks, should throw a New Year’s Eve party for their clientele. With limited availability this close to the new year, they look at an old club being repaired by Iris’ boyfriend, Archie Spelling. While investigating the basement, a wall crumbles and a long dead body is discovered.
Though they both want to be done with murder investigations, the recovered body matches some information surrounding that of a missing thief from a trio of robbers from before the war which all tied back to Archie and Des’ murdered fathers. Are they safe as they investigate the cold cases, or could the past be coming back to clean up any ties to a murderer among them?
The murder mysteries, past and present, are intertwined throughout a more intense and personal character driven story line than previous books. Gwen is now free to control her own life and destiny and is finding freedom intoxicating, while Iris is on track to make more permanent decisions regarding her personal life. The duo’s true friendship, no matter their differences or what occurs in their personal lives, is a reason that I love this series. This story leaned more towards the protagonist’s development, which could change the direction of the entire series, than the mysteries, but the mysteries themselves were interesting and well plotted. This addition to the series does leave a bit of a cliffhanger, but it is in Iris’ personal life and not a part of the mystery plot line.
I highly recommend this historical mystery series and continue to look forward to following Bainbridge in Sparks.
August 30, 2024
Really liked the focus on Iris in this one. I was also very sad for most of the book that my ship seemed sunk BUT the ending gave me a glimmer of hope, even while I was EXTREMELY sad about where we left Iris and Archie. Continue to be delighted by this bit of world building and mystery solving.
August 18, 2024
Sparks and Bainbridge are one of my favorite series, and this installment did not disappoint. I'm looking forward to the next one!
July 28, 2024
If lovers of historical mysteries haven't read one of Allison Montclair's Sparks & Bainbridge mysteries, they really need to do something about it. This series puts readers right in post-World War II London and serves up one strong mystery after another as well as two of the best characters in crime fiction. Setting, mystery, character? You know you can't resist!
I have to admit that, if I'd paid more attention, whodunit would not have been a huge surprise here, but I was distracted. As in all the other books, the main reason why I love this series is the two main characters. In Murder at the White Palace, Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge continue to grow and change as a result of the life experiences they share.
Due to that pesky Official Secrets Act, we may never know exactly what Iris Sparks did during the war, but she's only just realizing the profound effect it has had on her. Her service during the war has changed her view of the world and the people in it, and she's just beginning to realize that she may need to change, too.
On the other hand, Gwen Bainbridge has had a very traumatic, emotionally charged time of it. When her husband was killed in the war, Gwen had a complete breakdown and was hospitalized. Her husband's aristocratic family took complete control of her life as well as that of her small son. It's been an uphill battle, but Gwen has finally gained her independence, and it's a thrill to see her beginning to spread her wings and fly.
As you can see, I'm more wrapped up in the lives of the characters than I am in the mystery, but the mystery is good, too. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this is a marvelous series that you really need to read. Due to the character development, it's best to start at the beginning with The Right Sort of Man. I know you'll fall under the spell of Iris and Gwen, just like I did.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
I have to admit that, if I'd paid more attention, whodunit would not have been a huge surprise here, but I was distracted. As in all the other books, the main reason why I love this series is the two main characters. In Murder at the White Palace, Iris Sparks and Gwen Bainbridge continue to grow and change as a result of the life experiences they share.
Due to that pesky Official Secrets Act, we may never know exactly what Iris Sparks did during the war, but she's only just realizing the profound effect it has had on her. Her service during the war has changed her view of the world and the people in it, and she's just beginning to realize that she may need to change, too.
On the other hand, Gwen Bainbridge has had a very traumatic, emotionally charged time of it. When her husband was killed in the war, Gwen had a complete breakdown and was hospitalized. Her husband's aristocratic family took complete control of her life as well as that of her small son. It's been an uphill battle, but Gwen has finally gained her independence, and it's a thrill to see her beginning to spread her wings and fly.
As you can see, I'm more wrapped up in the lives of the characters than I am in the mystery, but the mystery is good, too. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: this is a marvelous series that you really need to read. Due to the character development, it's best to start at the beginning with The Right Sort of Man. I know you'll fall under the spell of Iris and Gwen, just like I did.
(Review copy courtesy of the publisher and Net Galley)
August 1, 2024
It's Winter 1946 and Sparks and Bainbridge decide to throw a New Years' Eve ball for their clients. But so close to the date none of the conventional venues are available, so they ask Iris' boyfriend and gang leader Archie Spelling if he has a warehouse they can appropriate. Archie can do one better, he's recently bought a derelict nightclub and is in the process of restoring it, he's happy to let them have it for the evening. While Iris and Archie chat, Gwen goes off to see what sort of state the toilets and other amenities are in, on her travels she runs into an old acquaintance, Des Burton, the one that got away/the timing wasn't right, working to repair a bomb-damaged wall. Just as they are talking the wall collapses revealing a mummified body.
Of course Iris' ex, Detective Mike Kinsey is the lead detective, absence hasn't made his heart grow fonder.
Both Gwen and Iris' love lives are under scrutiny in this book, Gwen is finally out from under the Court of Lunacy and able to date men of her choosing, Iris introduces Archie to her mother, a local MP, and Gwen has to choose between a flash but charming snooker player and a staid respectable businessman.
This was another great outing for this duo, there wasn't much matchmaking, but there was a wedding for one of their successful couples. There are nightclubs and conmen, gangsters, and decades-old mysteries to solve.
Loved it.
Of course Iris' ex, Detective Mike Kinsey is the lead detective, absence hasn't made his heart grow fonder.
Both Gwen and Iris' love lives are under scrutiny in this book, Gwen is finally out from under the Court of Lunacy and able to date men of her choosing, Iris introduces Archie to her mother, a local MP, and Gwen has to choose between a flash but charming snooker player and a staid respectable businessman.
This was another great outing for this duo, there wasn't much matchmaking, but there was a wedding for one of their successful couples. There are nightclubs and conmen, gangsters, and decades-old mysteries to solve.
Loved it.
July 15, 2024
This one was a 3.5 for me, but I’m rounding to a 4 as 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 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!
May 31, 2024
I love this series!!! There is a huge plot twist that affects everything in the rest of the book. There is a lot of growth with both our main characters. I'm afraid if I say much else, I'll spoil something. Go read this book!
August 5, 2024
4.5. Good series. It’s just a feel good mystery, solved while spending time with friends. Good ending too.
March 24, 2025
I just love this series! Why are more people not reading this?
October 27, 2024
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This was sent to me as an ARC and I didn't realize that it was part of a series when I started reading it. After reading it and reading the other reviews, I think it might actually be best to read this as part of the series and not as a standalone. While it worked okay as a standalone, I did feel like I was missing context of the relationship between the two main characters and I can see now from other reviews that I'm right in there being a lot of history there.
Aside from that this is a totally new genre mashup for me. I don’t think I’ve read a historical fiction murder mystery before and I definitely vibed with it. The storyline itself didn't always hit for me but I liked the banter between the characters and I think this would be a perfect level of cozy spooky for those who don't like to go all in on horror level spooky.
Thanks to Minotaur books for the ARC!
This was sent to me as an ARC and I didn't realize that it was part of a series when I started reading it. After reading it and reading the other reviews, I think it might actually be best to read this as part of the series and not as a standalone. While it worked okay as a standalone, I did feel like I was missing context of the relationship between the two main characters and I can see now from other reviews that I'm right in there being a lot of history there.
Aside from that this is a totally new genre mashup for me. I don’t think I’ve read a historical fiction murder mystery before and I definitely vibed with it. The storyline itself didn't always hit for me but I liked the banter between the characters and I think this would be a perfect level of cozy spooky for those who don't like to go all in on horror level spooky.
Thanks to Minotaur books for the ARC!
August 6, 2024
I enjoyed this sixth entry in the Sparks & Bainbridge series, but I wouldn't recommend it to those who haven't read the previous books. Much of the book's events revolve around ongoing storylines involving a cast of characters it can be difficult to keep straight. At least, I have a bit of trouble keeping them straight, and I've read the first five books.
The main characters run a London matchmaking bureau; it's just after the end of the second World War and they're trying to get more couples to the altar. Iris is dating a mob boss, and Gwen has a few suitors.
Then, as often happens in mysteries, a body is found. There's more violence, quite a bit of drama, romance, and clever deduction by the main duo (separately and together). It's fun, has pleasing variations in tone, and leaves me looking forward to the next one, especially to see what might have changed because of the events in this book.
September 6, 2024
I have to admit here I was dreading this book; book 5 introduced a new narrator and I was very much not a fan and it really affected the overall story for me. I was therefore was pleasantly surprised that I settled in with the narration more quickly than I had expected to [indeed, the narration was better, as if the narrator too had settled in and was way more comfortable with the characters than in the previous book ], and while I am not
TOTALLY
sold on this narration [some of the voices are just...wrong ], it was much better and I enjoyed this book much more than #5.
I say enjoy, but that may be the wrong word, because this was a real nail biter [especially at the end ] and it was also deeply sad [there are no happy endings here ], and I was left bereft and wanting book #7 [and also hoping that there was actually GOING to be a book 7! Thankfully, there is. Hallelujah. It releases 2.4.2025!!! YAY!!! ] immediately!!
At one point when all the crazy was going down [and the crazy is full speed ahead in this one and makes you take a deep deep breath in case you can't breathe again before the end - thankfully you can LOL ], I said to myself, "Self, what if it is *THIS PERSON*", and then laughed because it was just so absurd, until it wasn't and I was left shocked, surprised, and very saddened, especially when the why comes out. Such a crazy story and it shows just how debilitating and all-encompassing bitterness and vengeance can be. Also, if someone tells you what you need to move forward in a relationship with them, don't wait until 12:01am to act on it. IYKYK. ;-)
While I am sure you can read this as a standalone, I don't really recommend it only because you'll be lost pretty quickly with this huge cast of characters [many that have been around since book 1 ] and their backstories - it is very beneficial to start at the beginning and learn all about them that way - the impact of this story will be much greater that way. Just my two cents.
This was the best of the series, even with all the sadness and by the end, I was so very glad I had not given up on this series and had read this one. Well done!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Montclair, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I say enjoy, but that may be the wrong word, because this was a real nail biter [especially at the end ] and it was also deeply sad [there are no happy endings here ], and I was left bereft and wanting book #7 [and also hoping that there was actually GOING to be a book 7! Thankfully, there is. Hallelujah. It releases 2.4.2025!!! YAY!!! ] immediately!!
At one point when all the crazy was going down [and the crazy is full speed ahead in this one and makes you take a deep deep breath in case you can't breathe again before the end - thankfully you can LOL ], I said to myself, "Self, what if it is *THIS PERSON*", and then laughed because it was just so absurd, until it wasn't and I was left shocked, surprised, and very saddened, especially when the why comes out. Such a crazy story and it shows just how debilitating and all-encompassing bitterness and vengeance can be. Also, if someone tells you what you need to move forward in a relationship with them, don't wait until 12:01am to act on it. IYKYK. ;-)
While I am sure you can read this as a standalone, I don't really recommend it only because you'll be lost pretty quickly with this huge cast of characters [many that have been around since book 1 ] and their backstories - it is very beneficial to start at the beginning and learn all about them that way - the impact of this story will be much greater that way. Just my two cents.
This was the best of the series, even with all the sadness and by the end, I was so very glad I had not given up on this series and had read this one. Well done!!
Thank you to NetGalley, Allison Montclair, and St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 12, 2024
A solid installment to the series. If you’re not already a fan, start with book one because this mystery won’t be as entertaining without knowing the character relationships. It’s nice to see Gwen more confident and even Iris does some soul searching. A well-paced mystery with a rushed resolution but, as always, with excellent repartee. I’ll be back for the next book.
I received an arc from NetGalley
I received an arc from NetGalley
October 5, 2024
This book had an interesting plot and was in a way an easy read. It was conversational and had a lot of dialogue that made the story flow easier, but it also had "gang member talk," which in my opinion was hard to read. I liked the plot, but I found this book difficult for me to connect with. I wasn't overly attached to any of the characters. This was a nice attempt of a book, but it didn't hit the mark for me.
August 9, 2024
This is such a fun series; if you haven’t tried it yet, start at the beginning! Solid mysteries, but also written with a lot of humor. Already looking forward to the next - and hope it starts off happily 😬!
August 10, 2024
Another very enjoyable mystery. I didn't spot the killer until the big reveal. Not completely happy with the ending as we don't find out some things I think most readers would want to know. Did like the way the New Year's Eve Ball went. To say more would be to spoil it.
August 16, 2024
So not a nice place to leave this book. Now I have to wait until February‽‽‽
September 18, 2024
1946 in London
September 14, 2024
Won this in a giveaway and glad I did.
The book was so easy to read. I didn't feel like anything was slow and I really liked the characters.
Clearly, this is apart of a series (I mean the title says #6 haha but I didn't know this from the book's cover) as they referred back to previous escapades Gwen and Iris got into, so start at the beginning if you do not want any spoilers.
I would definitely read others from the series and from the author!
The book was so easy to read. I didn't feel like anything was slow and I really liked the characters.
Clearly, this is apart of a series (I mean the title says #6 haha but I didn't know this from the book's cover) as they referred back to previous escapades Gwen and Iris got into, so start at the beginning if you do not want any spoilers.
I would definitely read others from the series and from the author!
October 2, 2024
Ok I'll admit it: give me enough witty banter and I'll forgive a bit of deus ex machina.
August 28, 2024
I LOVED THIS BOOK. It had me gasping out loud, yelling, and absolutely in tears. The way I adore Iris and Gwen like they are my own family just grows with each book. Headstrong, daring, smart and independent I am idolize these fictional characters. The banter throughout made this book so much fun to read even under the most stressful circumstances. I wanted to reach out and hug both of them so many times and I could not turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen. The writing and storytelling is fabulous and perfectly pieced together. So many twists and a SHOCKING ending, I already miss this series and can't wait for more!
Thanks to the publisher for a free eARC of this novel; my thoughts and review and my own.
Thanks to the publisher for a free eARC of this novel; my thoughts and review and my own.
August 9, 2024
I’m rooting for Archie and Iris!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2024
The latest Sparks & Bainbridge installment will please loyal readers and win new ones. Murder at the White Palace takes place largely in the sphere of organized crime and brings to the surface a long-ago coverup in ways tangentially but deftly spurred by the work of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau both past (the wedding of a successful match) and present (the need to find a venue for a New Year’s Eve dance for current clients searching for mates). It is cleverly constructed with the regular appearance of clues you know will play a significant role later, but don’t yet know how. You may learn more about snooker than you need to know, and both Sparks and Bainbridge’s attraction to figures from the world of organized crime seems a little unlikely, but all of the crackling intelligence and effortless wit is in ample supply, along with interesting details about WWI and post-WWII London. We also get to meet Sparks’s mother, who is, unsurprisingly, quite something; learn more about Sparks’s beau; and see Bainbridge continue to regain her footing and agency. The character development over time is well done in this series, and it is always a pleasure to spend time with these women.
July 30, 2024
Murder at the White Palace is the 6th book in Allison Montclair's fantastic historical mystery series Sparks and Bainbridge. I started on book 3, as the mystery in each stands alone. After reading that one book, I found one of my all-time favorite series! I still need to go back and read the ones I missed; I don't want to miss a word. Out of the ones I've read, this is my favorite so far...which is saying a lot because the other books in the series I've read are both 5-star reads.
In post-war London, as 1946 comes to a close, the partners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are planning a New Year's Eve party for their clients. The partners are Miss Iris Sparks (a woman with a dangerous, secret past in British Intelligence) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (a genteel war widow and now single mother who has finally been found sane by the Lunacy Court and has regained access to her vast funds). Sparks and Bainbridge check out one empty building as a possible location for the soiree , but they discover there's a body contained in the walls. At first it was believed the man died in the Blitz, but several stab wounds quickly show that he was murdered. To make matters even worse, the owner of the building is Sparks’ lover, Archie Spelling, who has ties to a variety of enterprises on both sides of the law, and the main investigator for the police is her ex-fiancée! Gwen, too, has a complicated love life, as she enters the dating pool once again after the death of her husband in the war. They've got more than enough going on right now without having to deal with a murder, but the murderer may be closer to them than they could ever even imagine.
This is one of those stories you want to cancel everything for so you can sit down and read...I was riveted to the pages! This was, I believe, the most exciting of the ones I have read. When the body was discovered in the wall of the White Palace, the venue for the upcoming soiree, it was natural to assume that the body was buried during the Blitz and left undetected. But the stab wounds? That wasn't the Blitz! Who was the man, and what was the significance of the unusual ring he was wearing? As usual, Sparks and Bainbridge find themselves involved with the murder and investigation, especially when it seems that the dead man had a connection with Archie's deceased father. Things are complicated enough in their personal lives for these woman without a murder! The detective on this case has been assigned to ex-fiancée of Iris, which makes this murder even more difficult to deal with. Also, Iris is dating Archie Spelling, a known mobster, and she is about to introduce him to her disapproving mother, AND she is going to attend a wedding with Archie and meet his family. Is she ready for this?! And Gwen is also having personal issues of her own. She has finally been declared sane by the "Lunacy Court" (what an unfortunate name!) and is wading deeper into the dating pool. She went on a few dates with Iris's best friend Sally (Salvatore), but he didn't want to be himself, so she has moved on. Gwen is being courted by a man who helped her in Court, but she is also interested in River, a snooker player who is charming and captures her attention. But does he have ulterior motives? When a horrible event takes place at the wedding that Iris and Archie are attending, finding the killer becomes even more important. (Not going to give you any spoilers here of what transpired; I hate when that happens!) Though the mystery was thrilling, once again it is Ms. Montclair's characters who totally make the story. Iris had a secret life in British Intelligence and is tough-as-nails; she knows how to kill and protect because of her previous history. She doesn't have much money, but refuses to let Gwen cover expenses for her; they are partners, and she won't give up that partnership for anything. Gwen lost her husband in the war and attempted suicide. Now she has regained control of her fortune and she's a single mother. These two are total opposites, yet they have not only become business partners but also wonderful friends who always have each other's back. It's their relationship that makes these stories so special. I absolutely love their humor and snark! There is something new we learn here about Gwen: She plays snooker. And she's good! I know nothing of the game, but the author makes it easy to understand. Gwen also has a special knack for knowing if someone is lying; she's like a human lie detector! I was very surprised by Archie this go-around. I wasn't a fan previously...come on, he's a mobster!...but here I fell in love with him. Not everything is black or white, not even for a mobster! It's quite obvious he's crazy about Iris and cares for her deeply. I was thrilled to see Sally again, and I hope to see him have a romance again. Can he actually learn to be himself...and learn to like that person? This book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I seriously MUST read the next book as soon as possible. Please write quickly!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
In post-war London, as 1946 comes to a close, the partners of The Right Sort Marriage Bureau are planning a New Year's Eve party for their clients. The partners are Miss Iris Sparks (a woman with a dangerous, secret past in British Intelligence) and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (a genteel war widow and now single mother who has finally been found sane by the Lunacy Court and has regained access to her vast funds). Sparks and Bainbridge check out one empty building as a possible location for the soiree , but they discover there's a body contained in the walls. At first it was believed the man died in the Blitz, but several stab wounds quickly show that he was murdered. To make matters even worse, the owner of the building is Sparks’ lover, Archie Spelling, who has ties to a variety of enterprises on both sides of the law, and the main investigator for the police is her ex-fiancée! Gwen, too, has a complicated love life, as she enters the dating pool once again after the death of her husband in the war. They've got more than enough going on right now without having to deal with a murder, but the murderer may be closer to them than they could ever even imagine.
This is one of those stories you want to cancel everything for so you can sit down and read...I was riveted to the pages! This was, I believe, the most exciting of the ones I have read. When the body was discovered in the wall of the White Palace, the venue for the upcoming soiree, it was natural to assume that the body was buried during the Blitz and left undetected. But the stab wounds? That wasn't the Blitz! Who was the man, and what was the significance of the unusual ring he was wearing? As usual, Sparks and Bainbridge find themselves involved with the murder and investigation, especially when it seems that the dead man had a connection with Archie's deceased father. Things are complicated enough in their personal lives for these woman without a murder! The detective on this case has been assigned to ex-fiancée of Iris, which makes this murder even more difficult to deal with. Also, Iris is dating Archie Spelling, a known mobster, and she is about to introduce him to her disapproving mother, AND she is going to attend a wedding with Archie and meet his family. Is she ready for this?! And Gwen is also having personal issues of her own. She has finally been declared sane by the "Lunacy Court" (what an unfortunate name!) and is wading deeper into the dating pool. She went on a few dates with Iris's best friend Sally (Salvatore), but he didn't want to be himself, so she has moved on. Gwen is being courted by a man who helped her in Court, but she is also interested in River, a snooker player who is charming and captures her attention. But does he have ulterior motives? When a horrible event takes place at the wedding that Iris and Archie are attending, finding the killer becomes even more important. (Not going to give you any spoilers here of what transpired; I hate when that happens!) Though the mystery was thrilling, once again it is Ms. Montclair's characters who totally make the story. Iris had a secret life in British Intelligence and is tough-as-nails; she knows how to kill and protect because of her previous history. She doesn't have much money, but refuses to let Gwen cover expenses for her; they are partners, and she won't give up that partnership for anything. Gwen lost her husband in the war and attempted suicide. Now she has regained control of her fortune and she's a single mother. These two are total opposites, yet they have not only become business partners but also wonderful friends who always have each other's back. It's their relationship that makes these stories so special. I absolutely love their humor and snark! There is something new we learn here about Gwen: She plays snooker. And she's good! I know nothing of the game, but the author makes it easy to understand. Gwen also has a special knack for knowing if someone is lying; she's like a human lie detector! I was very surprised by Archie this go-around. I wasn't a fan previously...come on, he's a mobster!...but here I fell in love with him. Not everything is black or white, not even for a mobster! It's quite obvious he's crazy about Iris and cares for her deeply. I was thrilled to see Sally again, and I hope to see him have a romance again. Can he actually learn to be himself...and learn to like that person? This book ended on a bit of a cliffhanger. I seriously MUST read the next book as soon as possible. Please write quickly!
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own.
June 27, 2024
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.
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.
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