Another satisfying read from the Royal Spyness series.
I received an advanced reader copy of "Malice at the Palace" from a give-away conducted by the author - Rhys Bowen. Having read all the books in the series to-date I was excited to get my hands on the latest installment. In this book, Georgie has returned from America and is once again in search of a home and employment to get her by. Luckily, the queen gives her the assignment of acting as Princess Marina's companion until her wedding to Prince George (the queen's youngest son). This assignment comes with not-so-plush digs in Kensington Palace.
The mystery turns up in the corpse of Prince George's ex-girlfriend, Bobo Carrington, found by our intrepid Lady in the courtyard of the Palace after a dinner with the Royal Family. Bobo has a mysterious past and Georgie must discover if it was that past or Bobo's more recent connections to Prince George that caused her untimely death - without word leaking to the press (or the Princess) and causing a Royal Scandal.
Georgie's standard cast of helpers - Belinda, Grandad, Queenie and of course, Darcy - are on hand to assist. Belinda's American experiences seem to have changed her and may lead to some interesting character development as the series moves on. And there is a delightful cliffhanger for Darcy and Georgie's relationship at the end of the book - is Ms. Bowen going to do what so few cozy authors do, either end or progress the relationship?
This installment of the series gives readers more of what the love about the Royal Spyness series - a good mystery with great historical detail and enjoyable characters (one exception - see below). The writing is good and the mystery is solid - most readers will deduce who did it but that's a part of the fun! I was excited to see changes in some of the character's perspectives in this edition and hope that there will be more exciting changes to come in future books.
My only request with the series - enough of Queenie! While an amusing character at first and a useful tool to show Georgie's compassion - we get it, she's not needed anymore. I'm sure another use can be found for her (victim, perhaps?) in the next book.
I received an advanced reader copy of "Malice at the Palace" from a give-away conducted by the author - Rhys Bowen. Having read all the books in the series to-date I was excited to get my hands on the latest installment. In this book, Georgie has returned from America and is once again in search of a home and employment to get her by. Luckily, the queen gives her the assignment of acting as Princess Marina's companion until her wedding to Prince George (the queen's youngest son). This assignment comes with not-so-plush digs in Kensington Palace.
The mystery turns up in the corpse of Prince George's ex-girlfriend, Bobo Carrington, found by our intrepid Lady in the courtyard of the Palace after a dinner with the Royal Family. Bobo has a mysterious past and Georgie must discover if it was that past or Bobo's more recent connections to Prince George that caused her untimely death - without word leaking to the press (or the Princess) and causing a Royal Scandal.
Georgie's standard cast of helpers - Belinda, Grandad, Queenie and of course, Darcy - are on hand to assist. Belinda's American experiences seem to have changed her and may lead to some interesting character development as the series moves on. And there is a delightful cliffhanger for Darcy and Georgie's relationship at the end of the book - is Ms. Bowen going to do what so few cozy authors do, either end or progress the relationship?
This installment of the series gives readers more of what the love about the Royal Spyness series - a good mystery with great historical detail and enjoyable characters (one exception - see below). The writing is good and the mystery is solid - most readers will deduce who did it but that's a part of the fun! I was excited to see changes in some of the character's perspectives in this edition and hope that there will be more exciting changes to come in future books.
My only request with the series - enough of Queenie! While an amusing character at first and a useful tool to show Georgie's compassion - we get it, she's not needed anymore. I'm sure another use can be found for her (victim, perhaps?) in the next book.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
Ghosts? Talk about, "...and then a miracle happened." Still, it was a good story.
