The Key to Deceit (Electra McDonnell Series #2)

by Ashley Weaver Narrated by Alison Larkin

Overview

London, 1940. After years of stealing from the rich and giving to the poor-well, to themselves, anyway-Ellie McDonnell and her family have turned over a new leaf as they help the government's war effort. It's true that the straight-laced Major Ramsey didn't give them much choice, but still, Ellie must admit she doesn't miss breaking and entering as much as she might have thought. What she does miss is the challenge of unlocking an impossible code and the adrenaline rush that comes from being somewhere she shouldn't. So when Major Ramsey turns up unannounced with another job, she can't say no. A woman's body has been found floating in the Thames, with a bracelet locked onto her wrist and a cameo locket attached to it. It's clear this woman was involved in espionage, but whose side was she on? Who was she reporting to? And who wanted her dead?

Editorial Reviews

JULY 2022 - AudioFile

A spirited performance by Alison Larkin enlivens the second Electra McDonnell mystery. It’s 1940 in London—before the Blitz. Locksmiths and jewel thieves Ellie and her Uncle Mick are coerced into working for Major Ramsey rather than going to prison. The body of a woman found in the Thames is wearing a cuff bracelet requiring unlocking. The Major calls upon Ellie and her less-than-legal skills to unlock it. Larkin captures Ellie’s smart-alecky attitude to perfection, along with her cheerful, chirpy comments. Larkin’s voices for the Major and Ellie’s friend Felix sound decidedly masculine. When they discover a tiny camera hidden in the bracelet, they realize they’re dealing with a network of German spies who are photographing potential bombing sites. Then the bombing begins. Totally enjoyable listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

From the Publisher

One of New York Post's "Best New Books to Read"

"[A] fast-paced plot . . . Ellie is wonderfully resourceful and divinely funny. Let's hope this expertise-and-romance-filled series continues for a very long time."—Booklist (starred)

"Excellent... Weaver does a sensational job of evoking 1940 London and populates the story with endearing characters... Readers will hope to see a lot more of Ellie."—Publishers Weekly (starred)

"Competing romances, slippery spies, and the horrors of the Blitz combine in an exciting mystery/adventure."—Kirkus Reviews

"The setting of London during World War II comes to life in this absorbing plot with its fresh take on spying, murder and war on the home front. Each of the characters is well-developed and endearing, and Ellie's sharp wit and criminal expertise play brilliantly against the by-the-book persona of Major Ramsey and the suave, slightly felonious leanings of Felix."—Shelf Awareness

"The characters all shine . . . If you love history and mystery combined with a bit of irony and wry humor, you will enjoy this book."—Historical Novel Society

"As this is only the second in her series, Weaver opens the door to garnering many fans as she develops her characters and possible romances travel between Ellie and the major or Felix. It’s easy to get wrapped up in Weaver’s storytelling skills as she carefully unfolds her story."—New York Journal of Books

"The mysteries, danger, and emotional hills and valleys that are life in wartime will keep readers rapt."—First Clue

JULY 2022 - AudioFile

A spirited performance by Alison Larkin enlivens the second Electra McDonnell mystery. It’s 1940 in London—before the Blitz. Locksmiths and jewel thieves Ellie and her Uncle Mick are coerced into working for Major Ramsey rather than going to prison. The body of a woman found in the Thames is wearing a cuff bracelet requiring unlocking. The Major calls upon Ellie and her less-than-legal skills to unlock it. Larkin captures Ellie’s smart-alecky attitude to perfection, along with her cheerful, chirpy comments. Larkin’s voices for the Major and Ellie’s friend Felix sound decidedly masculine. When they discover a tiny camera hidden in the bracelet, they realize they’re dealing with a network of German spies who are photographing potential bombing sites. Then the bombing begins. Totally enjoyable listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2022, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

2022-02-05
It's 1940 in London, and a family of locksmiths with a sideline in theft pulls off another job for the Crown.

When Electra McDonnell and her family got caught trying to steal jewels, their choice was prison or working for the handsome, enigmatic Major Ramsey. Ellie’s attracted to the dashing aristocrat, but so far their relationship has remained professional and sometimes antagonistic. Ramsey wants Ellie’s Uncle Mick but has to settle for Ellie when he needs to remove a locked bracelet from the arm of a woman found dead in the Thames. Unlocking the bracelet is easy, and Ellie’s able to provide some insight into Myra Fields’ station in life from her clothing. A search reveals a camera in the bracelet, a clock key, and a bag of jewels hidden in the lining of a sable coat. Ellie’s first job with Ramsey—in A Peculiar Combination (2021)—gave her a taste for danger, and she’s more than willing to help uncover an espionage ring that’s taking photos of juicy targets for the Germans. To Ramsey’s dismay, Ellie calls on family friend and romantic interest Felix Lacey for help with a crooked pawnshop owner. Family contacts help track down the source of the jewels and lead to a boardinghouse where Myra lived. Ellie, with Ramsey masquerading as her husband, pretends to be Myra’s cousin in order to look for clues. Once the German bombing commences, they push even harder to roll up the dangerous spy ring even as Ellie continues to look into her mother’s conviction for murdering her father, a crime she denied to the day she died.

Competing romances, slippery spies, and the horrors of the Blitz combine in an exciting mystery/adventure.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940175449144
Publisher:	Dreamscape Media
Publication date:	06/21/2022
Series:	Electra McDonnell Series , #2
Edition description:	Unabridged

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