rosemaryandrue's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Queen Elizabeth II, with the help of her assistant Rozie, investigates the death of a young pianist that took place in Windsor Castle.
This is a quirky sort of cozy mystery, and I enjoyed the many humorous moments and the warmth with which the queen was portrayed, even though I am fairly neutral on the subject of the royals. However, I thought the other characters, including Rozie, were not as fleshed out. I also did not really like that the mystery tended into political intrigue, as it made the climactic scene of the reveal not very engaging.
This is a quirky sort of cozy mystery, and I enjoyed the many humorous moments and the warmth with which the queen was portrayed, even though I am fairly neutral on the subject of the royals. However, I thought the other characters, including Rozie, were not as fleshed out. I also did not really like that the mystery tended into political intrigue, as it made the climactic scene of the reveal not very engaging.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
heather_freshparchment's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
Minor: Drug abuse and Suicide
teainthelibrary's review
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Murder, and Suicide
tumbly_weed's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Silly :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder, Violence, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug use and Stalking
mippzon's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder
magdalenahai's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Aavistuksen häiritsevä lukukokemus, osittain koska päähenkilö menehtyi vasta tosielämässä, mutta myös, koska dekkarin salapoliisi ylipäätään on olemassa oleva julkisuuden henkilö. Erikoinen konsepti kaiken kaikkiaan. Dekkarijuoni oli ihan kelpo kehys poliittisine suhmurointeineen, mutta on selvää, että tarinan keskiössä on itse kuningatar ja hänen ympärillään olevat ihmiset. Roziesta pidin hahmona, mutta tässäkin tosielämä tuli immersion tielle: kun aivan äskettäin on ollut otsikoissa Englannin hovin rasismi, oli hiukan vaikea uskoa dekkarikuningattaren läpeensä hyväntahtoista ja ongelmatonta suhtautumista side kickiinsä. Bennetin fiktio-Elisabeth on kaiken kaikkiaan taviksen unelma siitä, millainen irl-Elisabethin haluttiin ja toivottiin varmasti olevan: loputtoman kiltti, sympaattinen ja älykäs koko kansan isoäiti.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
bedtimesandbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Classism, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide
Minor: Hate crime
lomahongva's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Murder, Drug abuse, and Death of parent
megangrace's review
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder
Moderate: Suicide, Stalking, Drug abuse, and Drug use
littleredhat's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
During a dine and sleep at Windsor Castle, a Russian pianist, Maksim Brodsky, is found hanged in his wardrobe in a compromising manner. Due to his nationality, the police and M15 immediately suspect the involvement of Russian state-sanctioned spies, and/or the Queen's servants. But Her Majesty has other ideas. A secret sleuth from a young age, she enlists the help of her new secretary, Rosie Oshodi, to solve this mystery... but how can the monarch become involved in the investigation without being discovered?
This was the ideal time to read this book due to the upcoming Platinum Jubilee. It's a classic "cosy crime" novel, with a royal flavour - Miss Marple with a crown, if you will - and with political sprinkles throughout, too. The concept of the Queen as hidden detective is amusing, and yet, not completely unbelievable. S.J. Bennett's portrayal of Her Majesty is respectful but realistic, and her fictional self, along with Rozie, are very likeable protagonists. I was reminded somewhat of another royal portrayal by a different Bennett, in "The Uncommon Reader".
I always struggle to piece together "whodunnits" (I can never solve them!), but the ending brings everything together perfectly and cleverly, as the genre demands. It's a relatively quick and light read with moments of tension, but which never completely crosses the line into "thriller" territory.
This was the ideal time to read this book due to the upcoming Platinum Jubilee. It's a classic "cosy crime" novel, with a royal flavour - Miss Marple with a crown, if you will - and with political sprinkles throughout, too. The concept of the Queen as hidden detective is amusing, and yet, not completely unbelievable. S.J. Bennett's portrayal of Her Majesty is respectful but realistic, and her fictional self, along with Rozie, are very likeable protagonists. I was reminded somewhat of another royal portrayal by a different Bennett, in "The Uncommon Reader".
I always struggle to piece together "whodunnits" (I can never solve them!), but the ending brings everything together perfectly and cleverly, as the genre demands. It's a relatively quick and light read with moments of tension, but which never completely crosses the line into "thriller" territory.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Death