The Right Sort of Man - A Review

Review

THE RIGHT SORT OF MAN by Allison Montclair
The First Marriage Bureau Mystery

As London continues to recover from World War II its inhabitants are looking for stability and happiness. Tillie La Salle wants a life that will lead her out of her neighborhood and into matrimony. Enter the Right Sort of Marriage Bureau. Although Miss Iris Sparks and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, proprietors, find Tillie to be somewhat shady, they arrange a meeting with a prospective match. But instead of a happy ending, Tille just gets an ending. Police arrest her intended beau for her murder, but Sparks and Gwen believe their client innocent. Now the duo will use their unique skills to find the real murderer.

I enjoyed my foray into the Right Sort of Marriage Bureau. Witnessing the ramifications of the war, especially as it affected the women of London, seeing the world of spivs, and noting the importance of stockings made for a captivating read. It's the little details that make this book special; the fact that Sally is a budding playwright, daydreams featuring Ronald Colman, and, perhaps most specially, a goldfish named Herbert.

THE RIGHT SORT OF MAN is a smart book. There's an ingenious mystery, intricately plotted and filled with fascinating characters. The book is filled with witty banter. It's smart, but superficial. There is tremendous backstory, some of which is teased out periodically. The characters are so interesting, but somehow still come out somewhat two dimensional. It wasn't until the very end that I felt a true connection.

THE RIGHT SORT OF MAN brings readers to 1946 London. There are ruins, rebuilding, and ultimately hope. This book has the potential to become a wonderful series. 

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Jacket Copy:

"A delightful immersion in the period and personalities, with that touch of depth that transforms a good series to a great one." —Laurie R. King

First comes love, then comes murder.

In a London slowly recovering from World War II, two very different women join forces to launch a business venture in the heart of Mayfair—The Right Sort Marriage Bureau. Miss Iris Sparks, quick-witted and impulsive, and Mrs. Gwendolyn Bainbridge, practical and widowed with a young son, are determined to achieve some independence and do some good in a rapidly changing world.

But the promising start to their marriage bureau is threatened when their newest client, Tillie La Salle, is found murdered and the man arrested for the crime is the prospective husband they matched her with. While the police are convinced they have their man, Miss Sparks and Mrs. Bainbridge are not. To clear his name—and to rescue their fledging operation’s reputation—Sparks and Bainbridge decide to investigate on their own, using the skills and contacts they’ve each acquired through life and their individual adventures during the recent war.

Little do they know that this will put their very lives at risk.

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Author Bio:

Allison 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.

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