The Unkept Woman

The Sparks & Bainbridge Mysteries, Book 4

By: Allison Montclair

Narrated by: Sarah Nichols

In London, 1946, Miss Iris Sparks—co-proprietor of the Right Sort Marriage Bureau—has to deal with aspects of her past exploits during the recent war that have come back around to haunt her.

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, although this is not discussed. While the agency flourishes in the post-war climate, both founders have to deal with some of the fallout that 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.

©2022 Allison Montclair (P)2022 Blackstone Publishing

Another intriguing mystery

This is probably the best mystery so far of the series. While primarily about Iris's past with MI6 and Andrew, this book forces Gwen and Iris both to confront uncomfortable truths about their past and present lives. The friendship of Gwen and Iris is put to the test in a convincing and realistic manner. The narrator does her usual bang-up job with the voices, perhaps stretching a bit because of all the characters. Sadly, the only negative is the killer was a bit predictable as soon as the murder takes place. However, the mystery and character growth displayed by both Gwen and Iris more than make up for the predictability of the killer.

Well written, humorous, excellent narration.

I rate books within a genre and within the mystery category these definitely fall into the five star category for me. The characters are so well developed and the two main women are so different yet so similar. The writing is very good and there is so much humor which the narrator enhances. This series is very entertaining and keeps you guessing however nothing too violent. Looking forward to the next book.

Dang I LOVE this series

Adore the reader, adore the characters, adore the storyline. Hurry up! I can’t wait for the next book! xo

Great character development

Not only Sparks and Bainbridge, but many of the returning characters are changed by their relationships and evolve with the plot. You can’t help but love them while being swept up in the action, intrigued by the mystery, and satisfied by the skillful writing.

Excellent!!!!

Can not wait for more great stories from this interesting complex group of match makers!!!

Another great book.

Excellent story and narration! The main characters are complex and very likable. The secondary characters add so much to the story and most are likable, too. The mystery takes place during a time in history that I know little about, so I enjoyed reading about the political issues in England during that time. That info added to the mystery, which I did not figure out. I look forward to the next book in this series.

Entire series is good

I really enjoy the Sparks and Bainbridge mysteries. The lead characters are interesting and go through some interesting growth on their parts. The mysteries are good. The narrator does a good job. I will probably listen to the whole series again.

Wonderful story and narration

Snappy, intelligent repartee and engaging characters make this series a real delight. The story line is post WWII and the setting and ambiance are authentic. The author has done her research well. Add in a clever plot, and you have all you could want in an entertaining novel. Highly recommended.

great complex story

Wow, we travel to the dark side in this one, very well done! It's the remains of WWII, lots of struggles.