Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Genre: mystery
Review: This book is just plain enjoyable. Fans of British royalty will enjoy it. Fans of mysteries will enjoy it. I certainly enjoyed it. Bennett's take on the royal voice is spot-on (at least if The Crown is a reliable source) and one never tires of feeling like one is inside the Queen's head as she ponders the mystery of who killed a young Russian pianist right in Windsor Castle.
Of course Her Majesty can't track down leads on her own, so she relies on Rosie Oshodi, her Assistant Private Secretary, to do the leg-work. Rosie is as discreet and sdubtle as the Queen could wish while she makes inquiries on Her Majesty's behalf, but Rosie doesn't quite have the intuitiveness, or the long view of history, that allows the Queen to make connections and follow threads to the real killer.
Bennett's writing is very smooth. The narrative gets a little slowed down in places as the mystery takes a back seat to the majestic trappings, but one can hardly complain about a fictional, but very authentic-feeling, glimpse into the royal lives. Bennett also switches perspectives from one paragraph to the next as elegantly as any author I've ever read. There's a little more bite than traditional "cozy" mysteries, but more than enough for mystery-lovers of all stripes. As the first in a planned series, I'll definitely be trying to get my hands on the next installment.
FTC Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher in exchange for this review.
