On Her Majesty's Frightfully Secret Service: A Royal Spyness Mystery, Book 11

On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service in the 11th book in Rhys Bowen’s Royal Spyness mystery series. These books, set in the 1930s, feature Georgie Rannoch, a young aristocratic who is a cousin to the Royal Family. Georgie is clever and rather innocuous, and she has been called upon to assist the Queen with sensitive matters.In this book, Georgie is tasked with dropping in on a house party in an Italian villa. She is supposed to be keeping an eye on her cousin David, who is still keeping company with that highly unsuitable American woman (Wallis Simpson).Just as the house party is getting underway, one of the guests is found murdered. The victim was a rather lascivious gentleman who made overtures to many of the female guests. Many of them had every reason to silence him. Not only that, but high-ranking German and Italian officials are among the guests at the house party. With rumors of war swirling, could the murder have had anything to with that?This was a satisfying mystery. There really were several plausible suspects, and I wasn’t sure who was going to be revealed as the perpetrator until close to the big reveal. Fans of the series will appreciate Georgie’s adventures in a new milieu. We are introduced to new characters, and old favorites make brief appearances as well. I was a bit disappointed that Georgie’s maid Queenie was left at home and not traveling along to Italy. I do remember hearing that some readers found Queenie’s bumbling to be a bit too distracting, but I definitely missed her.I would absolutely recommend On Her Majesty’s Frightfully Secret Service. I would recommend reading the series in order to get a better appreciation for the series and for everything Georgie has gone through over the years. It is, however, fairly easy to pick up enough background information in the first few chapters if you are unfamiliar with the series. Georgie is an amicable narrator, and one can’t help but root for her and want her to succeed in life. Perhaps this is why people are so wiling to talk to her; this trait does prove to be an invaluable asset for an investigator. Georgie’s future contains many fascinating events: Berlin Olympics, death of King George VI and the subsequent abdication crisis, and World War II. It will be interesting to see how these events play out in Georgie’s story. I’m certainly looking forward to the next book!I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I purchased my own copy because I liked the book so much.

I suppose that i should lead with an admission: I am a fan of this series. Moreover, these books continue to mature in a satisfactory manner. In this novel, Georgie (Lady Georgiana Rannoch, 30th or so in the British line of succession) is enjoying Ireland and he castle of her fiancé, Darcy, also an aristocrat, also quite poor. Then he is summoned to London for another of his mysterious missions for the British government. After kicking around a bit in Ireland, Georgie decides to go back to London, where she discovers that her best friend has fled to Italy to have her child in privacy; she also finds a note from the Queen who wants to make sure that she really wants to abandon her position in order to marry Darcy (a Catholic). When the Queen discovers Georgie’s plan to travel to Italy, she tasks her with attending a house party where the Prince will be (with the “horrid” Miss Simpson, a not yet divorced American socialite). As is to be expected, murder and mayhem ensue. If you want an engaging, but not terrifying period mystery, you’ll love this book.

Still waiting for the official approval of her marriage to the Catholic Darcy, Lady Georgiana Rannoch escapes from Ireland to sunny Italy to support her pregnant and wealthy friend Belinda. That pregnancy has to be kept a secret because Belinda is not married to the father, has quite a reputation already, is at odds with her stepmother and has hopes of marrying someone suitable. Darcy is gone on yet another spy mission. Just then, Queen Mary hears of Georgiana's plans and gives her the task to keep tabs on Prince Bertie and his paramour Wallis Simpson - prevent a marriage between them at all costs! She is then going to support Georgiana's marriage and her relinquishing the 35th spot in the succession to the British throne. So, in addition to a trip to support Belinda, Georgiana has to attend a house party at a former school friend's house - now married to an Italian aristocrat with lots of money, an impressive lineage, palazzo, resident priest and picturesque chapel. There is a clandestine diplomatic meeting, blackmail, sudden childbirth, murder and still no marriage.

Georgianna Rannoch strikes again. I do love this series.It has a wonderful Enid Blytonesque innocence in Georgie Rannoch. Despite her ability to run into murder. The crikeys and gollys abound.The books are always delivered with flair and Rhys Bowen's characterisations of the Prince of Wales and 'that woman' feel really accurate.We are in the lovely Italian lakes this time. With the rumblings of the political uncertainty that will lead to war. But Georgie and Darcy come to the rescue again.Thoroughly recommend this series.

A few points that were historicaly inaccurate.. but it was a fun read.

Good book

I like the way things are brought to extremes and steretypes reinforced to bring a laugh. I suppose some moving on in the basic story line would break the monotony. I always read this series of books with a smile on my face

Reading!

Great fun,

Great read

Brilliant as usual !!!

I'm a huge fan of Lady Georgiana, and in general the series is extremely well written. I wish, perhaps, that the authorwould have more of the books set in England (this is a historical English cozy series, after all), but she does handle these "travel" books better than most authors. Perhaps the appeal of research trips abroad is too strong, but cozies set in Britain are my favourite.It's a shame that Queenie gets cast off during the series; she is a brilliant foil to Georgie's character. Maybe she was too strong a character for modern readers, who knows?

The whole series (A Royal Spyness Mystery)of Rhy Bowen is just a pleasure to read. Excellent the way she describes the Royals and their way of living. Good suspense too.

I really like this series

Another strong entry in this series. Good stuff.

Enfin Georgie et Darcy semblent avoir un futur commun! A quand la suite? En août? Je crois qu'en attendant, je vais relire toute la série, non seulement j'améliore mon anglais mais encore je ris beaucoup! Peut-être vais-je même me décider à faire une intrusion dans les romans consacrés à Molly Murphy ou Evans.

Good as always fun & adventureAlmost an impossible situationGreat characters

Excellent collection. Received as expected. Service excellent also