The Windsor Knot

Bennett’s debut imagines Queen Elizabeth II as an amateur detective working behind the scenes to solve crimes with the help of a trusty band of undersecretaries. This case, set in 2016, hits close to home: a murder has occurred at Windsor Castle, the Queen’s favorite residence, just shy of her 90th birthday; the investigation is being bungled by the head of one of the intelligence agencies. Rozi Oshodi is new to her post as the palace’s assistant private secretary and is unaware of the Queen’s longstanding secret involvement in crime solving, but she takes to her role as helper quite quickly when the need arises. A satisfying backstory explains how the queen has used allies like Rozi to gather information and then subtly influence members of the secret service or police to examine evidence or interview suspects. This is a fictional tale, but listeners will feel like they’re getting insider information on the royal family’s daily activities and a look behind the curtain during special occasions. Jane Copeland masterfully narrates the varied accents and gives distinct personalities to minor and major characters.