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4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
mysterious
medium-paced
inspiring
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
mysterious
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
I’ve read this series from the beginning and thoroughly enjoy seeing Queen Elizabeth II as an amateur sleuth. She knows people well and has access to a lot of information but needs her assistant private secretary to do most of the legwork. This time around we’ve gone back in time to the late 50s. It’s early in the Queen’s reign and she has two young children. She and Prince Phillip have been married about 10 years and their marriage has more stressors than most, one being that a club Prince Phillip attends has been connected to a murder.
Joan, the assistant private secretary, is bold, resourceful, and intelligent. She is the only one the Queen can truly trust, since in addition to the murder case, they are trying to figure out which of the Queen’s advisors has been attempting to sabotage her trips abroad.
The peeks into royal life are fun. The queen visits a few other countries in this one and it’s interesting to get a fictional look behind what the cameras show. Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother are around, adding humor and bringing out the personal side of the Queen.
The post-war setting was interesting, with the places and famous people. The attitude of the times also left the Queen and Joan underestimated by the mustached men. They use it to their advantage but it had to be frustrating.
The mystery is good, with several suspects and red herrings. The police are making little progress, which is why the Queen decides she need to find information to help prod them along.
I listened to the audio and the narrator did a wonderful job. The characters were distinct and the pacing was good. She handled the humor well and made the Queen kind and relatable and solid and practical. She really is a fabulous character.
Looks like the next in the series will take place in 1961. I’m looking forward to Joan and the Queen solving another murder.
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
medium-paced
Another well written and enjoyable mystery from S J Bennett. The concept of these books could become a bit silly in someone else’s hands - the Queen solving murders! But this author uses what is clearly extensive research to produce something very clever and somehow totally believable.
The mystery element was also very well plotted and came to a satisfying conclusion.
The mystery element was also very well plotted and came to a satisfying conclusion.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I really liked this! Having read the others in the series (except the Christmas one), I knew I'd also thoroughly enjoy reading this too, especially with the setting taking us back to the late 1950's with a young H.M as well as following other characters to carry the storyline. I think if you haven't read the others in the series it doesn't really matter too much because of the time period changing from modern day to the 50's which is a bonus to dip your toe into it.
I think the mystery / murder in itself was cleverly written and although it began with a lot of description and setting the scene (again this is almost where you see the Queen's intrigue in solving crimes come into play compared to her being well-adversed in the first few books in the series), I also didn't guess who the murderer was, so again cleverly written to keep you guessing.
Overall, the characters were developed and really interesting (loved Joan), and I love the touch of adding some true events / facts into the fictional story adding another level of interest and making it more likeable and believe-able. Very easy, cosy crime novel that I will absolutely keep reading if more in the series came out!
Thank you NetGallery, the publisher and author for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.
I think the mystery / murder in itself was cleverly written and although it began with a lot of description and setting the scene (again this is almost where you see the Queen's intrigue in solving crimes come into play compared to her being well-adversed in the first few books in the series), I also didn't guess who the murderer was, so again cleverly written to keep you guessing.
Overall, the characters were developed and really interesting (loved Joan), and I love the touch of adding some true events / facts into the fictional story adding another level of interest and making it more likeable and believe-able. Very easy, cosy crime novel that I will absolutely keep reading if more in the series came out!
Thank you NetGallery, the publisher and author for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review of this book.
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No