A “dine and sleep” event at the British monarchy’s Windsor Castle goes wrong when a Russian pianist is discovered dead in a sexually compromising position. The timing couldn’t be worse: It is 2016, and Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday is fast approaching, with numerous celebrations planned. The powers that be are desperate to suppress any publicity about the tragedy, especially when they determine that the young man was in fact murdered. With utmost delicacy, they inform the monarch of the situation while trying to protect her from the tawdry details. What the reader soon cottons on to is that, for years, the Queen has been discreetly sleuthing and solving cases, and she is determined to take this one on. Fortunately, she has her private secretary, Rozie Oshodi, as her Watson, and together the pair discover that this is no isolated murder but instead a much more sinister, far-reaching affair.
VERDICT A veritable love letter to England’s current monarch, this adult debut by children’s author Bennett (The Look) is a triumph full of royal tidbits and international high jinks. The pivotal character of Rozie adds just the right note of modernity, and readers will be thrilled to know that the second book in the series is due later this year. Strongly recommended for purchase.
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