A review by booksrockcal
Murder Most Royal by S.J. Bennett

adventurous funny hopeful lighthearted mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This book combines two of my favorite reading passions- the royal family and mysteries. It is the third in the series involving 90 year old Queen Elizabeth and her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozis Oshoti, who behind the scenes investigate and suggest clues to the authorities actually running the investigations to help solve them. in this mystery it is Christmas 2016 and the Queen and Prince Phillip are fighting colds and feeling their ages but are happy to be in Sandringham to celebrate Christmas with their family. A severed human hand and a stash of drugs is found in the water near the royal estate and the queen identifies the hand due to the ring on one finger as belonging to a member of a local aristocratic family. As the police search for the body and try to find out what happened to the missing aristocrat, another body is found in the water and a community stalwart and older woman is nearly killed in a hit and run accident.  The lead up to the ending is filled with twists and turns and insights by the Queen regarding her aristocratic neighbors, those who work on the estate, and the townspeople are provide context for the crime and a window into what the queen might be like more authentic than the crown. The author finished this book just as the real life queen died in 2022 and while she says she plans to write more contemporary novels featuring Rozie and Elizabeth, the next in the series features the queen sleuthing in the 1950s. For some unknown reason, the last book is not available in the United States. American publishers aware of the hit series the crown somehow think people won’t buy the book?? It’s a great series with engaging writing, satisfying endings, and great character development. i hope they change this.