Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
A Peculiar Combination
A Peculiar Combination: An Electra McDonnell Novel | Ashley Weaver
17 posts | 16 read | 14 to read
The first in the Electra McDonnell series from Edgar-nominated author Ashley Weaver, set in England during World War II, A Peculiar Combination is a delightful mystery filled with spies, murder, romance, and the author's signature wit. Electra McDonnell has always known that the way she and her family earn their living is slightly outside of the law. Breaking into the homes of the rich and picking the locks on their safes may not be condoned by British law enforcement, but World War II is in full swing, Ellie's cousins Colm and Toby are off fighting against Hitler, and Uncle Mick's more honorable business as a locksmith can't pay the bills any more. So when Uncle Mick receives a tip about a safe full of jewels in the empty house of a wealthy family, he and Ellie cant resist. All goes as planneduntil the pair are caught redhanded. Ellie expects them to be taken straight to prison, but instead they are delivered to a large townhouse, where government official Major Ramsey is waiting with an offer: either Ellie agrees to help him break into a safe and retrieve blueprints that will be critical to the British war effort, before they can be delivered to a German spy, or he turns her over to the police. Ellie doesnt care for the Major's imperious manner, but she has no choice, and besides, she's eager to do her bit for king and country. She may be a thief, but she's no coward. When she and the Major break into the house in question, they find instead the purported German spy dead on the floor, the safe already open and empty. Soon, Ellie and Major Ramsey are forced to put aside their differences to unmask the double-agent, as they try to stop allied plans falling into German hands.
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
kissmehardy
post image
Pickpick

I'm going to need to read ALL the rest of these STAT. Loved Ellie and her world, loved her interactions with Major Ramsey (and Felix??), loved the twists of the mystery, loved the banter! A great series opener. #mystery #historicalmystery

Bklover Sounds intriguing! 12mo
kissmehardy @Bklover I didn't guess where the mystery was going at all! In fairness, I usually don't, but it still didn't feel too obvious. The clues were laid out well! 12mo
Bklover I‘m glad to hear that you don‘t always guess the solutions. I don‘t either- I usually don‘t even think about it. I‘ll definitely look for this one!❤️ 12mo
8 likes1 stack add3 comments
blurb
actualdisneyprincess
post image

Thank you so much, @robinb — my favorite candies all make an appearance, and I cannot WAIT to dive into the book!! Your note, too, made me smile so very much!!! (Yaaaas recommendations!) 😍😍 What a treat on this so-cold Christmas Eve! 💖 Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and thank you again for being my match in my very first #jolabokaflodswap!!! 💖💖 #apeculiarcombination #ashleyweaver #candy #litsyswap #holidays #litsypals

robinb Yay!!! You are so welcome! 🥰 I‘m sooo glad you haven‘t read that one yet! I really like that series and am anxious to hear what you think. Merry Christmas! 2y
32 likes1 comment
blurb
kspenmoll
post image

This morning‘s read, I am on the porch where it is cool for now. #porchlife #historicalmystery #safecracking #WWII

Areader2 Love pictures with books and flowers, when I take one in my flowers my husband is like 🤔 😂 2y
44 likes1 comment
blurb
kspenmoll
post image

Stopped in at the library in the town next to mine & picked up these fabulous bookmarks & the tagged book. 📚💙💚💛 # bookmarks

ShelleyBooksie The condiment bookmarks are AMAZING!!! 2y
kspenmoll @ShelleyBooksie Aren‘t they the best! 2y
52 likes2 comments
review
katy4peas
post image
Pickpick

A fun mystery featuring Ellie who leads a criminal lifestyle with her uncle by lock picking in order to make ends meet for her family. When she gets caught, she has to help the government solve a case in order to avoid prison. Soon she is involved deeper than she thought she would be and caught up in war efforts to help England win the war.
Likable characters and a fun plot with one of my favorite narrators. Book 1.

review
Dragon
post image
Pickpick

The first book in a new mystery series set in London at the beginning of WW II . Electra aka Ellie is a member of a family who rob safes and generally steals other peoples things. They‘re caught in the act and forced to aid Military Intelligence - the plot thickens. Just my cup of tea 🫖. Thanks @robinb for the introduction #blameitonLitsy

CoffeeNBooks I love a good mystery series! This sounds really interesting! 2y
Dragon It was reminiscent of Mary Stewart suspense novels. I have book#2 on hold on Libby ( 12 week wait 😿) @CoffeeNBooks 💚🐉 (edited) 2y
robinb @Dragon I‘ve never read Mary Stewart…thanks for the mention! 👍 2y
Dragon You‘re welcome @robinb they‘re older books that I enjoyed as a teen - introduced me to suspense 2y
34 likes2 stack adds4 comments
blurb
Librarybelle
post image

Electra McDonnell is a thief, who happens to stumble upon a dead body during a break in. What follows is an exciting adventure through secrets and deception in WWII London.

I like Weaver‘s other series featuring Amory Ames, and this first in her new series did not disappoint. Not quite a cozy mystery, with a dash of romance. A perfect combination.

My #October for #12BooksOf2021

Andrew65 This looks very promising. 3y
76 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Mollyanna
post image

My June pick for #12Booksof2021. The first in a new series set during WWII. Can‘t wait for the next in the series.

Andrew65 This looks very good. 3y
Mollyanna @Andrew65 I really enjoyed it. A bit of a different heroine. 3y
18 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
Librarybelle
post image
Pickpick

A delightful mystery, set in WWII, featuring a thief and a problem that could change the course of the war. I‘m a fan of Weaver‘s Amory Ames series, with its enjoyable heroine, a mystery, and a dash of romance, and in this book featuring Electra “Ellie” McDonnell, Weaver does not disappoint. The plot was intriguing, Ellie is a fascinating character I‘d love to learn more about, and the setting of England in WWII is superb.

Librarybelle My #BookSpin for October. #BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks . And, I realized I had an ARC of this through #NetGalley , so many thanks to the publisher for a copy. It‘s clear that I had to get my own! 3y
TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
kspenmoll Sounds like my kind of book! 3y
Librarybelle @kspenmoll It‘s a lot of fun! 3y
71 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Maallen
post image
Pickpick

Slow to start but really enjoyed it once the story got going. Love the era and the way she builds the romance between the love triangle.

review
MaureenMc
post image
Pickpick

A super fun start to a new series! I loved Weaver‘s Amory Ames series, and I‘m really looking forward to seeing how Ellie McDonnell‘s story develops.

review
Mollyanna
post image
Pickpick

My first finish for #JoysofJune. This is the first in the new Electra McDonnell series. Electra “Ellie” is working in the family business with her Uncle Mick when circumstances lead down a different path. Next thing Ellie knows she‘s helping the Government hunt down German spies in London. Set in WWII, this a wonderful start to a series. Thanks to @robinb for putting it on my radar.

Another read for #seriesread2021

TheSpineView Great job! 👍📖 3y
Mollyanna @TheSpineView Thank you! 3y
Librarybelle I‘m looking forward to this one! I love her Amory Ames series! 3y
See All 6 Comments
robinb I‘m so glad you enjoyed it! 😊 It‘s always so exciting to start a new series. 3y
robinb @Librarybelle I can blame Amory for leading me to this one as well. 😆 3y
Mollyanna @Librarybelle and @robinb This was my first novel by this author. I‘ll have to check out the Amory Ames series. 3y
21 likes6 comments
blurb
SaraRosett
post image

I‘ve been looking forward to reading this one for months. I throughly enjoyed it!

Set in London in 1940. Ellie comes from a family that lives on the shady side of the law with their locksmith/safecracking business. Things don‘t go according to plan one evening and Ellie is offered the opportunity to use her unique skills for king and country. Already looking forward to the next book in the series.
#britishmystery #wwii #bookrec #historicalmystery

blurb
Amie
post image

This preorder arrived on my kindle today. This is the first book in a new series by the author of the Amory Ames mystery series. Looking forward to starting it next on vacation.

review
robinb
post image
Pickpick

First, can I just say I 🖤 this cover!?!! And it‘s always such a thrill when a favorite author (Amory Ames mysteries) starts a new series! So excited! This one is set in 1940 London (WWII). Electra (Ellie) McDonnell and her beloved uncle are caught robbing a house and forced to assist in a clandestine government German spy ring investigation. She works for the stoic, by-the-book Major Ramsey, and there are a whole colorful cast of secondary 🔻

robinb characters that I fell in love with. But Electra is the true star here...a bright, beautiful, complex young woman with lots of wonderful moxie. Oh and if you like triangles, this seems to be setting up a good one. This initial story was so well-written and fleshed out that I felt instantly at home here...like I had been reading this series for ages. I‘m looking forward to many adventures ahead! #coverlove 5/5⭐️ (edited) 4y
Crazeedi Another series for me to start!! You're feeding my addiction!😉😘 4y
robinb @Crazeedi 🤣🤣🤣 I hear you, my friend! 🤪💕 4y
See All 8 Comments
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awesome cover 🖤🖤 4y
Librarybelle Good to know you loved this one! I was also very excited to see she started a new series and picked up a copy of it through NetGalley. Still yet to read it, but it‘s there! 4y
Mollyanna This sound right up my alley! Will have to look for it on release day. Thanks. ☺️ 4y
robinb @Librarybelle Yay! 🎉 I was excited when her name popped up on NetGalley...always looking for favorite familiar names. 😊 Looking forward to hearing what you think! 💕 4y
robinb @Mollyanna You‘re welcome. 😊 Let me know what you think! 💕 4y
61 likes5 stack adds8 comments