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34th out of 109 books
—
112 voters
King and Joker
The monarchy is not what it used to be. King Victor II may be the grandson of Queen Victoria, but political and economic realities have intruded even on Buckingham Palace, where family breakfasts center on proposals for tightening the household budget (no, Princess Louise will not be hiring out as a babysitter) and the Kinga licensed physician fumes at Parliament's refu...more
Mass Market Paperback
Published
March 1st 1993
by Mysterious Press
(first published 1976)
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Jan 13, 2013
Kelly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Mystery readers, polyamory interested, AU monarchs
King & Joker is an alternate universe novel, in which Albert Victor (King Edward VII's oldest son) survived to become King Victor I. In the novel, the king is Albert Victor's grandson, Victor II. The novel focuses on his daughter, thirteen-year-old Louise, without being a young adult novel.
I enjoyed the polygamory (borderline polygamy, with the wedding ceremony details) and the effect it had on Louise. I also liked all the relationships in the book, Victor and Isabella and Nonny, Durdy and K...more
I enjoyed the polygamory (borderline polygamy, with the wedding ceremony details) and the effect it had on Louise. I also liked all the relationships in the book, Victor and Isabella and Nonny, Durdy and K...more
BOTTOM LINE: #1 of 2, Princess Louise, Buckingham Palace, London; cosy amateur sleuth, alternate history/monarchy. Charming 13-yo Princess Louise narrates this tale of practical jokes that lead to murder, set in a British Monarchy that never was. Dickinson’s admiration for The Royals shines through, but there are occasional sharp jabs at the real Royals, especially the then young Prince Charles and Princess Anne. Gentle humour, deliciously sly, and a good plot too. Recommended.
The plotting is v...more
The plotting is v...more
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Gosh, what a great book. An Alternate History, in which the line of British royal succession was shuffled. But there is so much more! A delicious range of secrets, some dating back to the Edwardian age, a current crime, interesting murders. And, best of all, a peek into the family life of a British royal family.
Peter Dickinson wears many different author hats, which gives him great power and conviction. The SF experience gives him authority with the alternate history; his many mystery novels ma...more
Peter Dickinson wears many different author hats, which gives him great power and conviction. The SF experience gives him authority with the alternate history; his many mystery novels ma...more
Here's a different take on royal history, imagining that Prince Albert Victor of Wales did not die of pneumonia in 1892, meaning that it is his line, not that of the man we now know as George V, that makes up Britain's Royal House now.
Against that background, we have a rather average detective story and characters of varying interest. Still, despite some rather long passages where nothing much happens, the tale has enough to hold the interest and the ending is quite neat.
Against that background, we have a rather average detective story and characters of varying interest. Still, despite some rather long passages where nothing much happens, the tale has enough to hold the interest and the ending is quite neat.
Sep 10, 2007
Cindy
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
British mystery fans
Shelves:
mysteries
This books imagines that Prince Eddy, engaged to marry the late Queen Mary of England, never died. In fact, he did, and she married his brother, King George, the parents of the current Queen Elizabeth. (I think) It's a good thing they put a pedigree chart in the front, because I couldn't keep all these imaginary people straight and I had to keep referring back to it. I suppose the main reason for writing it like this is that the writer can imagine his own royal family instead of having to deal w...more
As so often happens with Dickinson's mysteries, I didn't find it particularly mysterious -- I figured out all the secrets long before they were overtly revealed.
As a girl-coming-of-age story set in an alternate Britain with an entertaining imaginary royal family (which makes this alternate history, but the royal family appears to be the only alternate-ness about it) it was an enjoyable read.
As a girl-coming-of-age story set in an alternate Britain with an entertaining imaginary royal family (which makes this alternate history, but the royal family appears to be the only alternate-ness about it) it was an enjoyable read.
I enjoyed this much more than the Old English Peep Show which I could barely finished. This is an amusing mystery about the British royal family if circumstances were different and Edward VII's oldest son had lived and obtained the throne. We see the family from a more personal perspective and the story revolves around the Princess Louise. It was an entertaining, easy book to read.
An interesting mystery set in a fun alternate-history with a different British royal family, and teenage Princess Louise as the primary viewpoint character.
Dec 28, 2008
Sandi
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
crime-mystery-thriller-suspense,
read-2008
Set in an England where Prince Edward Victor did not die and ended up with Queen Mary, the royal family is coping with budgetary problems and a practical joker in the palace whose jokes are becoming more serious. Dickinson has a great handle on all his characters and makes this alternative to history seem real.
My favorite Dickinson book to date. I must find more of his mysteries.
May 06, 2013
Cami
marked it as to-read
May 05, 2013
Gail Morris
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Apr 25, 2013
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Feb 18, 2013
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Feb 13, 2013
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Peter Malcolm de Brissac Dickinson OBE FRSL (born 16 December 1927) is a prolific English author and poet, best known for children's books and detective stories.
Peter Dickinson lives in Hampshire with his second wife, author Robin McKinley. He has written more than fifty novels for adults and young readers. He has won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Award twice, and his novel...more
More about Peter Dickinson...
Peter Dickinson lives in Hampshire with his second wife, author Robin McKinley. He has written more than fifty novels for adults and young readers. He has won both the Carnegie Medal and the Whitbread Children's Award twice, and his novel...more
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