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happylilkt's review against another edition
3.0
This was a silly little murder mystery set in London and rural Scotland in the 1930s. The audible narrator was really good which I think made it more enjoyable.
keen23's review against another edition
4.0
I kind of love this book, but it's a few steps from perfection.
jmrprice's review against another edition
3.0
Recommended by my local librarians and it proved to be a fun read (with a few surprising twists). In the royal lineage, but forced to make her own way in the world in 1932 - the year after her debutante season. Definitely a poke at some but an interesting glimpse into how society saw young women (or didn't see them). Definitely a different time and place - for good or bad.
hellobookbird's review against another edition
2.0
DNF @ 38%. Nothing is really happening? I thought I was getting fun spy things. ;O;
a_kira's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
lelyreads's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
jestareader's review against another edition
5.0
I think I am somewhat obligated to read this book every 2-3 years. Regardless, that seems to be what I am doing.
kathydavie's review against another edition
5.0
First in the Her Royal Spyness mystery series set in the early 1930s and revolving around the Lady Victoria Georgiana "Georgie" Charlotte Eugenie of Glen Garry and Rannoch, 34th from the throne, second cousin to the king, and utterly fed up with the selfish baiting of her sister-in-law, Fig.
The Story
Besides getting away from Fig and her practical cost-cutting ideas such as using Georgie as a governess for her son, Georgie is also escaping a planned house party to entertain Prince Siegfried of Romania, a.k.a., Fishface. The queen believes he would be an excellent husband for Georgie. All Georgie can say is "ick".
Unfortunately, Georgie will have even less to work with in London than she did in Scotland. Sure there's Rannoch House but it's been closed up. She hasn't any money to hire servants and Fig certainly isn't going to let Binky open up the pursestrings! So Georgie must learn to do for herself and she does learn. She learns how very nice she did have it as she figures out how to start up the boiler, make tea, and heat up beans.
As she tries out different jobs, Binky shows up with his own problems. Well, to be fair, it's not really his fault even if it is his problem. Seems Daddy Dearest was even flakier than expected and there are a number of people too too willing to take advantage of that. Threats to Castle Rannoch. Frames for murders. It's really too bad that Georgie isn't the head of the family...
The Characters
Poor Georgie. She had her Season and didn't take. Or, she didn't take to those who might have been interested. Still she is a royal, however minor, and a "desirable commodity" in making an alliance with Great Britain. Then her father shoots himself due to losing the family fortune in 1929. So, now she's a "burden" on her poor family. Thankfully, the family coffers can still afford jars and jars of Fortnum's marmalade for Fig. Mother ran off with a rich playboy years ago. But there's still her granddad. He may be a retired policeman and live in Essex but he does love his granddaughter.
Poor Binky is even worse off. Hamish is not too bright and he did get married. To Hilda, a.k.a., Fig. Fortunately, it makes the third Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch much more sympathetic to Georgie marrying only for love.
Georgie's best friend from school is Belinda Warburton-Stokes who has sort of landed on her feet in London. Belinda designs dresses. Now, if she could just get her clients to pay for them she could stop relying upon crashing parties and enticing young men into feeding her. Darcy O'Mara is the son and heir of an impoverished Irish peer and seems to get by by crashing those same parties while staying in another friend's house. Quite a useful bloke when he helps prevent that assassination. Seems to be a good kisser as well!
My Take
Oh, I like that! Fig is complaining about those horrid Americanisms like "weekend" with a nickname like that?!
Bowen is too funny in describing living conditions at Castle Rannoch. When she follows it up with Georgie attempting survival in London at Rannoch House, you both laugh and cry while, at the same time, you can't help but cheer her on. Bowen slips some nice bits of history in as well what with Princess Elizabeth's letterwriting and how very nice her mother, the Duchess, is, while her acid comments on Mrs. Simpson are too funny in a very sad way. I can't help but think England really was better off not having David as king. The boy was pussy whipped. I also enjoyed Georgie's attempts to blend the required poise of a royal with her need to make a living. I do find myself hoping that Fig gets hers!
I'm looking forward to laughing [& crying] my way through the next in the series, A Royal Pain.
The Cover
Poor Georgie. All dolled up in her purple fur-trimmed coat with matching cloche stepping out of a limo in a purple shrouded London street...she dreams. I do like the title scrolling across a width of yellow ribbon at the bottom with its frilly purple trim although I'm a bit confused over that to which the title refers as Her Royal Detective might have been more realistic.
The Story
Besides getting away from Fig and her practical cost-cutting ideas such as using Georgie as a governess for her son, Georgie is also escaping a planned house party to entertain Prince Siegfried of Romania, a.k.a., Fishface. The queen believes he would be an excellent husband for Georgie. All Georgie can say is "ick".
Unfortunately, Georgie will have even less to work with in London than she did in Scotland. Sure there's Rannoch House but it's been closed up. She hasn't any money to hire servants and Fig certainly isn't going to let Binky open up the pursestrings! So Georgie must learn to do for herself and she does learn. She learns how very nice she did have it as she figures out how to start up the boiler, make tea, and heat up beans.
As she tries out different jobs, Binky shows up with his own problems. Well, to be fair, it's not really his fault even if it is his problem. Seems Daddy Dearest was even flakier than expected and there are a number of people too too willing to take advantage of that. Threats to Castle Rannoch. Frames for murders. It's really too bad that Georgie isn't the head of the family...
The Characters
Poor Georgie. She had her Season and didn't take. Or, she didn't take to those who might have been interested. Still she is a royal, however minor, and a "desirable commodity" in making an alliance with Great Britain. Then her father shoots himself due to losing the family fortune in 1929. So, now she's a "burden" on her poor family. Thankfully, the family coffers can still afford jars and jars of Fortnum's marmalade for Fig. Mother ran off with a rich playboy years ago. But there's still her granddad. He may be a retired policeman and live in Essex but he does love his granddaughter.
Poor Binky is even worse off. Hamish is not too bright and he did get married. To Hilda, a.k.a., Fig. Fortunately, it makes the third Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch much more sympathetic to Georgie marrying only for love.
Georgie's best friend from school is Belinda Warburton-Stokes who has sort of landed on her feet in London. Belinda designs dresses. Now, if she could just get her clients to pay for them she could stop relying upon crashing parties and enticing young men into feeding her. Darcy O'Mara is the son and heir of an impoverished Irish peer and seems to get by by crashing those same parties while staying in another friend's house. Quite a useful bloke when he helps prevent that assassination. Seems to be a good kisser as well!
My Take
Oh, I like that! Fig is complaining about those horrid Americanisms like "weekend" with a nickname like that?!
Bowen is too funny in describing living conditions at Castle Rannoch. When she follows it up with Georgie attempting survival in London at Rannoch House, you both laugh and cry while, at the same time, you can't help but cheer her on. Bowen slips some nice bits of history in as well what with Princess Elizabeth's letterwriting and how very nice her mother, the Duchess, is, while her acid comments on Mrs. Simpson are too funny in a very sad way. I can't help but think England really was better off not having David as king. The boy was pussy whipped. I also enjoyed Georgie's attempts to blend the required poise of a royal with her need to make a living. I do find myself hoping that Fig gets hers!
I'm looking forward to laughing [& crying] my way through the next in the series, A Royal Pain.
The Cover
Poor Georgie. All dolled up in her purple fur-trimmed coat with matching cloche stepping out of a limo in a purple shrouded London street...she dreams. I do like the title scrolling across a width of yellow ribbon at the bottom with its frilly purple trim although I'm a bit confused over that to which the title refers as Her Royal Detective might have been more realistic.
annashiv's review against another edition
4.0
Bit of a slow start and predictable in terms of who-done-it, but entertaining. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was an excellent reader and great at accents. In terms of story, I really enjoyed the variety of characters, especially Darcy, but I'm not sure I'm particularly interested in continuing the series. This was satisfying on the whole, but nothing particularly special.