First things First. This is the sixth book in a mystery series begun in 2019 and I missed the memo. That meant that when I started Murder at the White Palace, I found the beginning slow as I had to do the middle of a continuing story catch up on the characters. Iris Sparks, is a young woman who’s dating a gangster and her mother is a Member of Parliament who cannot deal with her daughter’s “irresponsible ways.” “Sparks” has partnered with her friend, Gwen Bainbridge, widowed in WWII and just out of a period of grieving that turned into a stay in a mental facility. Gwen has a young son, her husband was titled and his parents are nice to her but had custody of her son. Gwen is now filthy rich. Sparks and Gwen are best friends and run a marriage bureau, helping to match couples in post-war London. They decide to throw a New Years Eve party for their clients but it is the last minute and so they secure as a venue a former club that Sparks’ gangster boyfriend bought and is restoring from bomb damage. A body is found buried in a wall during demolition. The man who found the body is an old flame of Gwen’s. The cop investigating is Sparks’ ex fiancé. It’s an old case, not a big deal because they cannot even identify the man. But Sparks noticed something was taken from the scene and it makes her curious. t Gwen and Sparks have done some sleuthing, as we know now, in five prior books. So, off we go into a a well wrought twisty mystery and a series of great subplots and bad dates for Gwen who’s trying to get back into the swing of dating.
I loved this novel! I think the characters are fun. They are sufficiently developed for me to appreciate and connect to them. The premise is also nice, involving a friendship the reader enjoys between two women who know everything about the other. Along the way are a cast of obvious regulars as well as new folks brought in to die or become suspects or whatever. Montclair makes sure that all the weird people and their weird behaviors are explained sufficiently. The red herrings are well planted. The various scenes, e.g., when the gangster goes to dinner at Sparks’ mother’s home, are entertaining. The story is well plotted. As usual, one cannot say too much or a mystery review becomes a spoiler, but I’m going to say that, as a person who is not starting many new series, this is one I plan to read from book 1. So enjoyable. I’m happy to be a new fan.
They Called me Bookworm 