Marty Wingate's new book - A Body at the Dance Hall - has just released. This is the third book in The London Ladies' Murder Club series, but it can absolutely be read as a stand alone.

The book is set in 1922 London England. Wingate does a wonderful job of bringing the setting to life with her detailed descriptions of shops, clothing, food, societal mores and so much more. I have a fondness for this time frame and place and the 'keep calm and soldier on' attitude.

What else? Oh, the characters for sure! I loved Mable, the lead character. Her job is with the Useful Women Agency. (Don't you love the name?) Assignments can be just about any thing. In this tale, Mable is to be a companion for a young woman from the US. They go out one evening - and that's where the body comes in. And where the private investigating also comes in. Mable is smart, tenacious and determined. She's backed up with a wonderful cast of supporting characters. They're just as likable as Mable. And what does a cosy need? Yes, you got it - a dog. You'll love Gladys.

The plotting of the whodunit was good as well. The final reveal was not who and what I expected. A Body at the Dance Hall was a fun read. I'll definitely pick up another book from Marty Wingate! ( )

It's 1922 and Mabel Canning works for the Useful Women Agency in London. Tasks can range from helping a client pick out wallpaper to solving mysteries. Mabel's next job is acting as a chaperone for a young American woman who has come to England to visit with the father she hasn't seen since she was three.

Roxanne Arkwright is a modern young woman and a little wild. She managed to ditch her chaperone and travel to England on her own and sees no reason to need another chaperone now that she's in England. Her father disagrees. He hires the Useful Women Agency which is owned by one of his former flames and Mabel is assigned to the job.

When Roxanne decides she wants to visit a dance hall, Mabel is eager to go along. She doesn't expect that the man Mr Arkwright also hired to look after his daughter would be there and would be murdered leaving Roxanne in a blood-spattered yellow gown.

While not officially hired to solve the other detective's murder, being with Roxanne and performing her duties as a chaperone will give Mabel plenty of opportunities to search for clues.

But then Roxanne is kidnapped...

As Mabel calls in all her friends to find Roxanne, a dastardly and murderously inclined villain has their own plans for Roxanne. And there is just a short timeline before it will be too late to rescue her.

This was an engaging and entertaining historical mystery. It is third in a series. I like the way Mabel has grown into her new position with Useful Women. I also like the way she is gathering an assortment of intriguing and useful friends too. ( )

London, series, friends, cozy-mystery, historical-fiction, investigations, local-law-enforcement, amateur-sleuth, situational-humor, veterans, pet-dog, family, family-dynamics, ex-cop, verbal-humor, 1920s, secrets, lies, murder, attempted-murder, abduction, threats*****

Mabel Canning, leader of the London Ladies’ Murder Club and employee of the Useful Women Agency gets the assignment of showing Roxy, a fun-loving young heiress around town. The girl wanted to go to a classy dance hall, but no one expected her to come across a murdered man. The investigation that follows is filled with laughter, surprises, and a real workout for the brain.
Mabel left the village of Peasmarsh, moved into New River House, made friends with fellow rooming house residents (Cora and Skeff), and came to work at the Useful Women’s Agency.
Easily works as a stand-alone. Loved this one, too!
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Bookouture via NetGalley. Thank you!
Available 08 Apr 2024 #UsefulWomenAgency #LondonLadiesMurderClubBk3 ( )