You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.03 AVERAGE
4.03 AVERAGE
Four books in and I'm still enamoured with this series. I love how Bennett treats her main character, Queen Elizabeth II. I think when we only see someone on the news or in the fan press, it's easy to forget that they are human beings just like you and me. We saw the professional Queen but didn't get to peek behind that armor to acknowledge her doubts about her role, her insecurities concerning her appearance, or her desire to believe that her husband is hers alone.
Bennett gives us a monarch who is trying to find her way, revise her role. She is surrounded by her father's courtiers, the “men with mustaches,” who frustrate her with their assumptions that they always know better and that she's not strong enough to deal with unpleasant realities. She is learning how to get stern with them, make sure she gets the information she wants, and make sure they know who's boss. It was a struggle that many women identify with—being dismissed and underestimated by the men around them. The Queen does what so many of us do: she finds herself a female ally in Joan McGraw and the two of them deftly stick handle around the mustaches.
I love how Bennett also addresses the juicy rumours that everyone has heard. The herd of snappish corgis. The predilection of Prince Philip for tall blondes. The toughness of Princess Anne. The sensitivity of the young Prince Charles. She weaves it all into her novel convincingly but also interprets the facts to give a slightly different picture than the popular press did. She sees them as real people with strengths and weaknesses that are understandable, not as actors in a Royal soap opera.
Going back in time to write about a young Queen was an inspired impulse. The first three books alluded to her previous investigation experience and Bennett can supply us with those details now. I am already anticipating book 5.
Bennett gives us a monarch who is trying to find her way, revise her role. She is surrounded by her father's courtiers, the “men with mustaches,” who frustrate her with their assumptions that they always know better and that she's not strong enough to deal with unpleasant realities. She is learning how to get stern with them, make sure she gets the information she wants, and make sure they know who's boss. It was a struggle that many women identify with—being dismissed and underestimated by the men around them. The Queen does what so many of us do: she finds herself a female ally in Joan McGraw and the two of them deftly stick handle around the mustaches.
I love how Bennett also addresses the juicy rumours that everyone has heard. The herd of snappish corgis. The predilection of Prince Philip for tall blondes. The toughness of Princess Anne. The sensitivity of the young Prince Charles. She weaves it all into her novel convincingly but also interprets the facts to give a slightly different picture than the popular press did. She sees them as real people with strengths and weaknesses that are understandable, not as actors in a Royal soap opera.
Going back in time to write about a young Queen was an inspired impulse. The first three books alluded to her previous investigation experience and Bennett can supply us with those details now. I am already anticipating book 5.
adventurous
funny
mysterious
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
informative
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
Book Review: Her Majesty The Queen Investigates “A DEATH IN DIAMONDS”
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: S.J. Bennet @sophiabennett_writer
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing @harlequinbooks Canary Street Press @canarystreetpress @harlequin_audio
Thank you @netgalley for th ARC and ALC,
It is 1957, in the early days of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, and two of the earliest mysteries are set before the queen. It will be intriguing to observe how she establishes a pattern for her involvement in these mysteries. Her Majesty resolves the mysteries and provides anonymous support to Scotland Yard, accomplished with the assistance of her secretary. The queen encounters the murder of a woman working as an escort, along with the man who hired her. The deceased woman is found wearing a stolen tiara, leading to British tabloid headlines of the 'tart in the tiara.' As the story unfolds, numerous secrets begin to surface about some of society's upper crust. Naturally, any book about the Queen would not be complete without mention of Prince Philip, leaving one to wonder if some of his secrets are involved in this murder. A second mystery occurs during a state visit to France, directed at the Queen. Is someone within her inner circle attempting to hurt and discredit her? She doesn't know who to trust, except for her secretary, Joan. The two of them collaborate to uncover the identity of the person behind this plot and their ultimate endgame. The Queen, still in the early stages of her reign, with the country recovering from the aftermath of World War II, seems somewhat apprehensive at times. This apprehension is understandable, given her responsibilities as a young wife, mother, and monarch. This book was a delight to read, and for this American reader, the late Queen became even more relatable. Although the book fell outside of my typical genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
#queenelizabeth #queenelizabeth #deathindiamonds #read #reading #readreadread #readmorebooks #readersgonnaread #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #booknerd #bookaddict #bookphotography
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: S.J. Bennet @sophiabennett_writer
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing @harlequinbooks Canary Street Press @canarystreetpress @harlequin_audio
Thank you @netgalley for th ARC and ALC,
It is 1957, in the early days of Queen Elizabeth II's reign, and two of the earliest mysteries are set before the queen. It will be intriguing to observe how she establishes a pattern for her involvement in these mysteries. Her Majesty resolves the mysteries and provides anonymous support to Scotland Yard, accomplished with the assistance of her secretary. The queen encounters the murder of a woman working as an escort, along with the man who hired her. The deceased woman is found wearing a stolen tiara, leading to British tabloid headlines of the 'tart in the tiara.' As the story unfolds, numerous secrets begin to surface about some of society's upper crust. Naturally, any book about the Queen would not be complete without mention of Prince Philip, leaving one to wonder if some of his secrets are involved in this murder. A second mystery occurs during a state visit to France, directed at the Queen. Is someone within her inner circle attempting to hurt and discredit her? She doesn't know who to trust, except for her secretary, Joan. The two of them collaborate to uncover the identity of the person behind this plot and their ultimate endgame. The Queen, still in the early stages of her reign, with the country recovering from the aftermath of World War II, seems somewhat apprehensive at times. This apprehension is understandable, given her responsibilities as a young wife, mother, and monarch. This book was a delight to read, and for this American reader, the late Queen became even more relatable. Although the book fell outside of my typical genre, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
#queenelizabeth #queenelizabeth #deathindiamonds #read #reading #readreadread #readmorebooks #readersgonnaread #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #booklover #bookstagrammer #booksbooksbooks #booknerd #bookaddict #bookphotography
mysterious
medium-paced