4 out of 5 stars
I had a lot of fun reading this cozy mystery featuring Her Maj, Elizabeth II. I'm predisposed to enjoy this premise, having an aunt who was an unabashed royalty fan and a mother who took my sisters and me to the resigning of Treaty 7 here in Alberta, attended by Prince Charles. We were all very excited, even when overwhelmed by an unexpected dust storm. I guess what I'm saying is that my family is interested in royalty but not staunch monarchists.
I thought the author used known details of the Queen's life very effectively, corgis, horses, Prince Philip, and all. Bennett provides a plausible murder inside Windsor Castle after one of many social occasions held there. The victim is a young Russian man, involving MI6 in case of Russian government machinations. When the head of the investigation gets too focused on the members of the Queen's household, trying to find a Russian connection, Her Maj takes matters in hand to make sure justice is served.
Of course the Queen cannot do her own investigating, so she enlists her Assistant Private Secretary, Rozie Oshodi, a young British Nigerian woman. Rozie soon discovers that QEII has a habit of drafting her APS in this role, as they will listen to her and actually hear what she's saying. As an earlier secretary tells Rozie, “The Queen solves mysteries. She solved the first one when she was twelve or thirteen, so the story goes. On her own. She sees things other people don't see--often because they're all looking at her. She knows so much about so many things. She's got an eagle eye, a nose for bullshit, and a fabulous memory. Her staff should trust her more."
Obviously Elizabeth cannot take credit for solving the crime either, so she must manipulate the men in charge, carefully stage managing things to make sure they all think the ideas are theirs. I loved the obvious fondness for Queen Elizabeth, the intelligent and attractive Rozie, and the conspiracy of female secretaries to aid and abet their sovereign. Just my cuppa tea!
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