I was delighted when I discovered that Vanessa Edwards had written another book, having read, and thoroughly enjoyed 'The Grass Widow'. Her follow-up does not disappoint, delivered with her trademark delicious wit, a compelling plot and colourful characters getting up to no good. Edwards is a skilful and talented storyteller and ‘The Matchmakers’ drew me in from the start and kept me hooked until the end. As with her debut, there is a common thread throughout: wronged women taking revenge; rakish, dubious men and lots of wine along with celebratory pops of champagne. Edwards’ meticulous research into police procedural work and property law creates a credible world for the reader to immerse themselves in and she moves between worlds seamlessly. On the matchmaking side, there were many laugh out loud moments while her protagonists undergo and endure various dates and I don’t think I’ll forget Kate/Lucy’s Carly Simon-esque 70s floppy hat in a hurry. Storytelling at its finest, I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.

"The Matchmakers" by Vanessa Edwards is a suspenseful and engaging thriller filled with surprising plot twists that keep you on your toes. The story is told from several points of view, but it’s easy to follow, which pleasantly surprised me since I typically struggle with books that feature numerous characters. This time, everything flowed smoothly, and I was completely absorbed in the narrative. I loved the strong female characters! It was so refreshing to see them portrayed in such a powerful light. The book has a unique premise and an intriguing storyline, making it a brilliant read overall. Max and Vivian run the matchmaking company "Made in Heaven," catering to a wealthier clientele and promising no digital trail. But is this truly for the safety of their clients? When Stephanie approaches the matchmaking service, she wants to find a man who is the exact opposite of her late, abusive husband. Unfortunately, her pursuit of happiness takes a dark turn. On the other hand, Kate seeks a match to share her wealth with; having dedicated her life to building a successful business, she never found the time for love. This is where we start to uncover a pattern, and from that point on, I was glued to the book, completely invested in discovering what on earth was happening. It was a quick read, and although the plot was complex, it was executed very well.

I want to give this six stars. I am not much of a crime/murder mystery reader but I LOVED THIS. The author is very very clever to have written a plot like this, which I highly recommend reading when you have time to really dive into a book or if you're a speedy reader like me. If you are a super slow reader or someone who struggles to find time to read or remember details then this is not the book for you. But it was honestly so expertly done that if you like twisty-turny novels I thoroughly recommend. Also, as a Brit who has spent years abroad and not lived there in a while, I enjoyed being transported back to London and its foibles, and some very British characters and humour (there were some amusing titles of invented romance books mentioned inside the book and those really tickled me). I saw a review where someone said this book needed more editing and that is outrageously false IMO. I found it very easy to read, it flowed naturally, and I felt the difference between the characters in what they noticed and how they thought etc. It was so well done and gripping. I simply loved it.