Sunday, March 20, 2022

On My Radar: Allison Montclair's The Unkept Woman!

 


Allison Montclair's Sparks & Bainbridge historical mystery series has rapidly become one of my favorites, so you know I did a little jig around the house when I learned that the fourth book in the series, The Unkept Woman, will be released this summer. 

But before I share more about this new book, did you know that Allison Montclair is a pseudonym for talented mystery writer Alan Gordon? It's true. I've known about his medieval Fools' Guild series for a long time, and I have friends who love it. I could kick myself for not having read any of them yet, but that's how it goes sometimes-- no matter how hard I try, I can't read 'em all.

Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Let's find out more about the upcoming Sparks & Bainbridge mystery!


Available July 26, 2022!


Here's the synopsis:

"The Right Sort Marriage Bureau was founded in 1946 by two disparate individuals - Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge (whose husband was killed in the recent World War) and Miss Iris Sparks who worked as an intelligence agent during the recent conflict, though this is not discussed. While the agency flourishes in the post-war climate, both founders have to deal with some of the fallout that conflict created in their personal lives. Miss Sparks finds herself followed, then approached, by a young woman who has a very personal connection to a former paramour of Sparks. But something is amiss and it seems that Iris's past may well cause something far more deadly than mere disruption in her personal life. Meanwhile, Gwendolyn is struggling to regain full legal control of her life, her finances, and her son - a legal path strewn with traps and pitfalls.

Together these indomitable two are determined and capable and not just of making the perfect marriage match.
"


Sounds like another winner, doesn't it? If you've become a fan of this series, like me, you're undoubtedly rooting for Gwendolyn to regain legal control of her life and that of her young son. And as for Iris, you'd have to expect her World War II service to rear its head at some point, and it looks as though the time is now. I'm really looking forward to reading The Unkept Woman!

Have you historical mystery lovers fallen under Sparks & Bainbridge's spell yet? For cryin' out loud, what seems to be the hold-up?!? (If you're about to take the plunge-- and I hope you are-- I would recommend that you begin with the first book in the series, The Right Sort of Man.)

14 comments:

  1. Omigosh. Sounds like an interesting series, but as I sit here with 10 library books I groan about adding more books to my library reserves. And 56 Days is waiting for me. (sigh)

    Best to Denis.

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    1. Denis may get to come home tomorrow. (And I need to read 56 Days myself.)

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    2. I'm reading 56 at the library's Overdrive site. No carrying books and big font sizes.

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  2. This does sound like a great read, Cathy! And thanks for the mental picture of jigging around the kitchen. I've done that sort of thing, too, when a new book by a top author is coming out. I hope you'll enjoy it.

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  3. I can’t wait for this one! July seems so far away...

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    1. I dunno. Time certainly is flying around here.

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  4. These look good and I love that style of cover so much. I wouldn't mind that facing out on my bookshelf. :) I'll have to look into these!

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  5. Yet another interesting-sounding mystery series that you have found.

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    1. I have a tendency to do that. I think that's why I'm so far behind on so many of the series I've started.

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  6. I just read the first of this series a couple of months ago, so it's nice to know there's another installment coming. I'm very likely to be caught up by the time this title arrives.

    But I had no idea that the author was using a pseudonym - thanks for that detail!

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    1. You're welcome! I watched The Poisoned Pen's event where he was "unmasked."

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