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4.04 AVERAGE
4.04 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
mysterious
slow-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
I loved this direction for the series and hope we get more prequel-y investigations featuring APS Rozie’s predecessors
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I enjoyed this more than the previous three, even though it’s sad to lose Rosie. I think S.J.Bennett is just getting better at her job. I thought the atmosphere of the 1950’s was convincingly recreated, with genuine historical events skilfully scattered through the plot. If I have a criticism, it is that the solution is a bit too much of a surprise. Thinking back, there were clues there, however, and one really strong hint, which I failed to take heed of. I’m looking forward to the next one very much.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
emotional
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
"A Death in Diamonds" is the fourth book in the delightful mystery series "Her Majesty the Queen Investigates" by S.J. Bennett. Unfortunately, this book is not yet available in North America :( -- the author has said she doesn't have a publisher for it yet (what??!). Fortunately, I was able to source a copy from the U.K. And I'm so glad I didn't have to wait!
The first three books all took place in 2016 (post-Brexit, pre-Megxit, lol), when the Queen was 90. This volume takes us back in time to 1957, the early years of her, and opens with the 31-year-old monarch in Paris for an official visit. It's a triumph for the young Queen -- but several incidents before, during and after her Paris visit lead her to believe that someone is trying to sabotage her. And there's an important visit to Canada and the U.S. coming up soon, too...
Back in London, the city is buzzing about a double murder that was discovered while the Queen was in Paris -- of an Argentine businessman and a prostitute, who was wearing a valuable stolen tiara -- at the rented mews home of the Dean of Bath, no less (!)(a high-ranking Anglican clergyman). The Queen has her own reasons for taking a keen personal interest in the case...
Rozie Oshodi, Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen in the first three books, is missed here (she wasn't even born in 1957...!) -- but her predecessor, Joan McGraw, who did intelligence work at Bletchley Park and elsewhere during the war, is a more-than-adequate substitute who works to help Her Majesty identify the saboteur and solve the mystery of who killed "the tart in the tiara" and her client -- while also dealing with the deeply entrenched classist and sexist attitudes of the "Men With Moustaches" who surround her at Buckingham Palace.
As usual with this series, I enjoyed this book. 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4.
There's a fun section of "Afternotes" at the end, explaining what was fact and what was fiction. (It's not mentioned, but I know the Ottawa part of the North American visit was based in historical fact and, as a Canadian, it was fun to read about that.)
Coming next year from the same author: #5 in the series, "The Queen Who Came in From the Cold." :) (Let's hope for a North American publisher and speedy publication date here, for both #4 and #5, by then...!)
The first three books all took place in 2016 (post-Brexit, pre-Megxit, lol), when the Queen was 90. This volume takes us back in time to 1957, the early years of her, and opens with the 31-year-old monarch in Paris for an official visit. It's a triumph for the young Queen -- but several incidents before, during and after her Paris visit lead her to believe that someone is trying to sabotage her. And there's an important visit to Canada and the U.S. coming up soon, too...
Back in London, the city is buzzing about a double murder that was discovered while the Queen was in Paris -- of an Argentine businessman and a prostitute, who was wearing a valuable stolen tiara -- at the rented mews home of the Dean of Bath, no less (!)(a high-ranking Anglican clergyman). The Queen has her own reasons for taking a keen personal interest in the case...
Rozie Oshodi, Assistant Private Secretary to the Queen in the first three books, is missed here (she wasn't even born in 1957...!) -- but her predecessor, Joan McGraw, who did intelligence work at Bletchley Park and elsewhere during the war, is a more-than-adequate substitute who works to help Her Majesty identify the saboteur and solve the mystery of who killed "the tart in the tiara" and her client -- while also dealing with the deeply entrenched classist and sexist attitudes of the "Men With Moustaches" who surround her at Buckingham Palace.
As usual with this series, I enjoyed this book. 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4.
There's a fun section of "Afternotes" at the end, explaining what was fact and what was fiction. (It's not mentioned, but I know the Ottawa part of the North American visit was based in historical fact and, as a Canadian, it was fun to read about that.)
Coming next year from the same author: #5 in the series, "The Queen Who Came in From the Cold." :) (Let's hope for a North American publisher and speedy publication date here, for both #4 and #5, by then...!)