FIRE MUST BURN

Finding a wife for an old college friend turns out to be far more dangerous than Iris Sparks ever imagined.

Iris had her share of madcap adventures at Newnham College, Cambridge, in the 1930s, but by the ’40s, she’s settled quietly into running The Right Sort Marriage Bureau in London with her partner, Gwen Bainbridge. That is, until the Brigadier, a shadowy figure from her past, demands to use the bureau as cover for a secret government agent who will test her friend Tony Danforth’s loyalty to the Crown. Iris assures the Brigadier that she and Tony were never lovers, so her impartiality in the matter will remain intact. But her immediate dislike of Evelyn Lowle, the agent the Brigadier chooses to pose as Tony’s marital prospect, casts doubt on Iris’ claim that she and Tony are just good friends. A brutal attack on Tony forces Iris to take action, but her ties to the Brigadier prevent her from revealing the truth to Parham, the sharp and dedicated detective superintendent investigating case. Montclair hits her marks throughout. Her characters are varied and well-rounded, with a combination of strengths and shortcomings that help readers invest in their fate. Her humor leavens the mood without diminishing the seriousness of the threat to the characters’ safety. Both her London narrative and her Cambridge backstory establish a strong sense of place. Most important of all, her puzzle is ingenious, with surprises along the way that mesh beautifully at the end.

A first-rate entry in Montclair’s engaging series.