Her Royal Spyness #20
It’s spring 1937 and the Coronation of George VI is rapidly approaching. That means everyone we’ve ever met in this series converges on Eynsleigh Manor on their way to London for the big event. Imagine Queenie, Fig, and Georgie’s mum living under the same roof and you’ll know why I zipped through the this book in a day! There are all kinds of complications. Sir Hubert and Darcy’s father are both interested in Zou Zou, or are they interested in Georgie’s mum? Is Binky so truly clueless that he has no idea Fig despises Georgie and Darcy or that Georgie kicked Fig’s freeloading butt out of Eynsleigh in the previous book? Who is the German officer sent to escort Georgie’s mum home to England from Germany? And why is Darcy’s Irish cousin Seamus suddenly so interested in the Coronation of the English King?
It’s fun to watch Georgie deal with an ever-increasing number of houseguests, find a dress for the Coronation, organize a combination May Day and Coronation fete in the grounds of the estate, get invited to carry the Queen’s train in the ceremony – and solve the murder when one of her guests is found dead. Meanwhile, Darcy is busy with the security for the Coronation. Rumors abound that someone might try to kill the new King, perhaps to convince Edward to return to the throne. Is there a connection between the old King and Hitler? And just what does the German escort plan for Georgie’s mum; will he return her to Germany against her will? Will her boyfriend Max let her leave him for good? What about her great admirer, Hitler?
With so many characters and conflicts under one roof, there’s plenty of tension and funny moments (literal, laugh-out-loud moments). There’s an air of suspense too. I held my breath waiting for Georgie to drop the Queen’s train, for wardrobe disasters when lady’s maid Maisie falls ill and Queenie takes over, and endless possible complications involving houseguests, the fete, and repercussions for Georgie’s mum finally leaving Germany. Needless to say, Georgie and Darcy solve the murder, the new King is Crowned, and an unexpected twist at the very end left me dying for the next book!
Readers of this series will be hooked on Georgie’s latest adventure. If you have not read the previous books, starting here would be confusing; start with the first book Her Royal Spyness. — Cathy Akers-Jordan
Royal Spyness Chronology
Her Royal Spyness
A Royal Pain
Royal Flush
Royal Blood
Naughty in Nice
The Twelve Clues of Christmas
Heirs and Graces
Queen of Hearts
Malice at the Palace
Crowned and Dangerous
On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service
Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding
Love and Death Among the Cheetahs
The Last Mrs. Summers
God Rest Ye, Royal Gentlemen
Peril in Paris
The Proof in the Pudding
We Three Queens
From Cradle to Grave