Webs of Ink by Rebecca Connolly: Book Review

 **ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

The Book

In early 1920s London, Maud West has gained a public reputation as “London’s Lady Detective,” though the title is largely of her own making. Her self-written newspaper accounts bring her notoriety, but not the professional respect she craves. Instead of high-profile investigations, she is routinely assigned divorce work, missing persons, and blackmail—cases that rarely challenge her talents or elevate her status. When a frightened woman comes to her office claiming she is being stalked by a strange man, Maud senses a rare opportunity to prove her skill. As she digs deeper, she discovers that her client’s troubles are tied to a clandestine gang operating within the city. The threats quickly escalate, and soon Maud herself becomes a target.

Elsewhere in London, Agatha Christie is both a new mother and a rising author, thrilled to see her first detective novel in print. Yet she hungers to observe a real investigation firsthand. Maud West’s exploits in the newspapers captivate her imagination and fuel her desire to study genuine detective work.

To Agatha’s astonishment, she receives a message from Maud requesting a private meeting. Maud outlines the increasingly perilous case and proposes a partnership: As a public figure tied to the investigation, she needs someone inconspicuous and sharp-minded to assist her. Agatha, a crime novelist rather than a known detective, is the perfect covert ally. Together, the celebrated detective and the rising mystery writer become entangled in a dangerous, twisting web that will test their ingenuity, courage, and trust as they work to bring justice to light.

The Author

Rebecca Connolly is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She's always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out. Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master's degree from West Virginia University.

Facebook: Rebecca.Connolly.Books

X: @authorrconnolly

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Pinterest: @writerbecks

Book Review

While far from a new author, I was only just introduced to Rebecca Connolly's books and had only read one (Three Queens) prior to this one. The thing that I think I enjoyed most about this one, is the same that I enjoyed about the last: an interesting imagining of relationship between actual known people in history. In this case, Agatha Christie and Maud West. While I was fairly familiar with Agatha Christie, I must admit that I had personally never heard of Maud West prior to this book, so for those also unfamiliar, she was a female detective in 1920s London. Despite my familiarity, I found I was able to enjoy the story all the same. This pairing may be fictional, but it is one that made sense to me, and I enjoyed seeing these two women come together to solve a mystery of their own. This story truly felt like a combination of historical fiction and cozy mystery in a wonderful 1920s setting... and I loved that some of the details actually did come from Maud's real-life investigations. This is definitely story that has me intrigued to learn more about both of these women's lives outside of this fictional partnership too. If you're a fan of Agatha Christie or 1920s mysteries, this is certainly one worth checking out. 


You can purchase your copy here: https://link.amazon/B06ZCvgQx