Lady Georgiana Rannoch is off to solve a Hollywood homicide in the eighth mystery in the New York Times bestselling Royal Spyness series.England, 1934. Georgie’s mother, the glamorous and much-married actress, is hearing wedding bells once again—which is why she must hop across the pond for a quickie divorce in Reno. To offer her moral support, Georgie agrees to go along on the all expenses paid … along on the all expenses paid voyage across the Atlantic.
While her mother meets movie mogul Cy Goldman—who insists on casting her in his next picture—Georgie finds herself caught up in the secret investigation of a suspected jewel thief. Lucky for her, the lead investigator happens to be her dashing beau, Darcy!
Her mother’s movie and Darcy’s larceny lead everyone to Cy’s Hollywood home, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin are hanging about and there’s enough romantic intrigue to fill a double feature. But they hardly get a chance to work out the sleeping arrangements before Cy turns up dead. As if there wasn’t enough drama already…
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The whole series is delightful, even if the heroine will never be Queen.
‘My mother, the glamorous and much-married actress, is hearing wedding bells once again—which is why she must hop across the pond for a quickie divorce in Reno. To offer my moral support, and since all expenses are paid by her new hubby-to-be, Max, I agree to make the voyage with her.
Crossing the Atlantic, with adventure in the air and wealthy men aboard, Mother all but forgets about Max and matrimony—especially when movie mogul Cy Goldman insists on casting her in his next picture.
Meanwhile, I find myself caught up in the secret investigation of a suspected jewel thief. Lucky for me, the lead investigator happens to be my dashing beau, Darcy!
Mother’s movie and Darcy’s larceny lead everyone to Cy’s Hollywood home, where the likes of Charlie Chaplin are hanging about and there’s enough romantic intrigue to fill a double feature. But we hardly get a chance to work out the sleeping arrangements before Cy turns up dead—as if there wasn’t enough drama already…’
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3.5 stars, rounded down to 3 stars.
Queen of Hearts is the eighth book in Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness series which is a cozy mystery series set in 1930s England following 35th in line for the throne, Georgiana Rannoch.
I am on the fence about this book in the series. On the one hand I really enjoyed seeing how Georgie is so much more comfortable in herself and showing some confidnce and also the refreshing change of setting for this book, which brought us onto and ocean liner and across America. But on the other hand, the murder doesn’t occur until quite far into the book after following Georgie around day-to-day in her travels(as amusing as they are) and then is pretty quickly resolved. It kind of felt that the ending was really just slapped together.
I will admit though that there are two mysteries covered in the course of this book, the other being a jewel thief. This mystery is actually introduced far earlier than the book, but is fairly easily glossed over in the end.
I also found that several of the characters from the series behaved to the extremes of their characterizations. From Belinda and her mother treating Georgie with blatant disregard at times and making some pretty cutting remarks to her that could have only been intended to hurt her feelings and confidence. And Queenie officially becoming the epitome of disrespectful and disappointing lady’s maid. But Georgie puts up with all of it without complaint. Georgie has been coming into her own more and more each book and I very disappointd that she didn’t stand up for herself in the least. It felt more inkeeping with the Georgie we knew several books ago.
I had initially rounded my 3.5 star rating up to 4, but after thinking about it and writing this review, I think it should instead be rounded down to 3 stars. It was still amusing and enjoyable, but between the rushed mystery and the characters behaving in a fairly disappointing way, I think that it just didn’t feel like the kind of book I expect from this series.
Enjoy this series
I have very much enjoyed reading this entire series!
This series is amazing. But best to start from the beginning to be there from the beginnging with Georgie and her royal family and friends.
Lots of fun.
A fun whodunit
Georgie accompanies her mother, a much-celebrated actress, to America. Her Mother wants to get married and details stand in the way. Hollywood beckons, and her mother responds.
Murder and mayhem ensue.
A fun read.
If you like Royal Spyness mysteries, you’ll like this one, too.
LOVE this series, I’d read one a week if there were enough of them!
Georgie is off to America with her mother, actress Claire Daniels. But their Atlantic crossing is marred by a jewel thief and a possible murder that only Georgie witnesses. And the danger follows them when they hit America and head to Hollywood of the 1930’s.
Despite the number of miles the characters cover, the plot holds together well and we still get to see many of the series regulars, who were charming as always. Being an entertainment junky, I enjoyed this fictional look at old Hollywood and seeing the real people who made cameos over the course of the book. All told, another great read in a fun series.
The Audible copy is worth listening to as the voice artist – Katherine Kellgren – does a splendid job of bringing the different characters alive. She is definitely the most talented voice artist I have encountered so far.
Ilove Feorgiana Rannoch and her adventures. Great series; can’t wait for the next one!
I love every one of these books!