Thanks go to County Reader for this recommendation: A Peculiar Combination, by Ashley Weaver. It is the first in the Electra McDonnell mystery series. Set in London, during WWII, Electra and her uncle are safe crackers (and they are very good at it). They have been recruited by the government (shhh) to steal some plans, plans that they don't want falling into the hands of the Nazis. Instead of plans in a safe, though, they find a body on the floor ... and so the adventure begins! Great characters here, and with a twist (as County Reader said) ... not the usual 'detectives'. :-)

Reading Hermit With Dog