Two murders in Chelsea plague amateur detective Queen Elizabeth II in the fourth book in the charming series, perfect for fans of Rhys Bowen and Jacqueline Winspear.
1957, England. Young Queen Elizabeth II is finding her way in postwar Europe, trying to repair friendships with foreign governments. Advised by her father's old courtiers, the Queen suspects that they may not have her best interests at heart. One of them is trying to sabotage her public appearances: that much she is sure of.
When two bodies turn up in Chelsea, the Queen finds herself unwillingly used as the alibi for somebody very close to her. With the reputation of the monarchy at stake, Elizabeth knows she can't face these challenges alone. She needs support from someone she can trust. Therefore, she enlists the help of an ex-code breaker, Joan McGraw, to uncover the truth.
But as Elizabeth and Joan are uncovering secrets from the past, the clock is ticking, and they are in more danger than they know.
This is a new series to me, but I honestly thought this was a standalone novel. I will be going back to read the previous three.
I loved this version of Queen Elizabeth. I love that, while it shows her grappling with her duty as monarch as well as a mother and wife, there is also the element of her being a woman. She wants to know what is going on with her husband, with her children, but doesn’t forget that she must be on her guard as Queen.
I hope Joan continues into the next novel. I found her to be the most compelling character of the story. The true historical components are well researched. There’s so many more that I hope the author includes.
Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.
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