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28th out of 153 books
—
193 voters
Royal Flush (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries #3)
by
Rhys Bowen (Goodreads Author)
A Royal Spyness mystery starring Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line for the throne - and the mystery world's favorite penniless heiress.
With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and-theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scan...more
With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and-theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scan...more
Hardcover, 306 pages
Published
July 7th 2009
by Berkley Hardcover
(first published June 15th 2009)
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I don't know that I would enjoy this series nearly as much as I have this far if I were actually reading the books, but the reader of the audiobooks, Katherine Kellgren, is really phenomenal.
The mystery here is pretty lame, as was the case in the previous books, but Georgie is such a delightful protagonist, and the supporting characters (Georgie's flighty friend Belinda, serial divorcee mother, and, of course, Darcy the love interest being among the best of them) are a lot of fun.
The changes i...more
The mystery here is pretty lame, as was the case in the previous books, but Georgie is such a delightful protagonist, and the supporting characters (Georgie's flighty friend Belinda, serial divorcee mother, and, of course, Darcy the love interest being among the best of them) are a lot of fun.
The changes i...more
By the third book, I'm really warming up to the series. All the characters are familiar, they do what they do best and the story just feel like naturally flowing.
We meet again with our destitute aristocrat, 34th in line for the thrown, Lady Georgiana Ranoch. It is summer in London and our heroine has to suffer from heat waves not to mention have to solve the tacky problem of how would she get money to eat.
She then through Belinda has thisidiotic wonderful idea of becoming an escort for gentle...more
We meet again with our destitute aristocrat, 34th in line for the thrown, Lady Georgiana Ranoch. It is summer in London and our heroine has to suffer from heat waves not to mention have to solve the tacky problem of how would she get money to eat.
She then through Belinda has this
Lady Georgiana is thirty-fourth in line to the throne and so has all the responsibilities of being royal, but unfortunately she doesn’t have enough money to feed herself very well, much less pay for the wardrobe and servants that are expected for someone of her station. For this adventure Georgie leaves London suddenly, after an unfortunate attempt to earn some money goes horribly wrong, and heads for Castle Rannoch, the family estate in Scotland. Castle Rannoch is very close to Balmoral where t...more
Lady Georgina is a great-granddaughter of Queen Victoria and 34th in line for the British throne. She's also penniless and her efforts to launch a new business causes a minor scandal--who knew that potential clients would interpret "female escort" that way--and results in her being banished to her family's castle in Scotland. Castle Rannoch is a close neighbor to the royal residence of Balmoral and the Royal Family is spending the summer in Scotland. When Lady Georgina arrives home, she finds ou...more
Third in the Her Royal Spyness historical-mystery series revolving around the Lady Georgiana, 34th in line from the throne and poorer than a church mouse.
My Take
Okay, it's a cute series with its premise as Lady Georgiana playing at amateur detective, but it seems to me that most of her detecting falls into the "oops" category. As in, oops, stumbled over that clue and, oops, there's another one. Darcy is going to have to marry her if only to keep her alive.
It's Bowen's characters that keep me c...more
My Take
Okay, it's a cute series with its premise as Lady Georgiana playing at amateur detective, but it seems to me that most of her detecting falls into the "oops" category. As in, oops, stumbled over that clue and, oops, there's another one. Darcy is going to have to marry her if only to keep her alive.
It's Bowen's characters that keep me c...more
Another fun entry in the "Royal Spyness" mystery series featuring Lady Georgiana (Georgie), 34th in line to the royal throne, set in the 1930s. In this entry, Georgie is sent back to the family castle in Scotland. There she finds her brother Binky, the duke, has met with an accident and her sister-in-law is in a tizzy since they have been forced to entertain houseguests (a group of Americans, including Wallis Simpson and her husband) and two wild Scottish cousins. Balmoral Castle is nearby where...more
I am honestly surprised that Royal Flush has not yet won any awards, because it brings us an even more enjoyable tale of adventure, intrigue and romance than the first two books, both of which I had already thought were close to perfection. It certainly deserves one.
This third installment takes Georgie back to her childhood home of Castle Rannoch in Scotland, after her newest attempt at earning money (advertising herself as "escort" in a newspaper) brings disastrous results. I've always enjoyed...more
This third installment takes Georgie back to her childhood home of Castle Rannoch in Scotland, after her newest attempt at earning money (advertising herself as "escort" in a newspaper) brings disastrous results. I've always enjoyed...more
Light to read, I finished this book in one sitting down, not noticing that it's past 5AM already. There are more mysterious things happening in this third novel than in previous ones, although these things were never the focus until the later part of the book. The questions and whodunits are like afterthoughts to the life and times of royalty and the high society in the early 30s. It's like going to a party and then suddenly remembering when the party is winding down that there's a murder to be...more
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I was almost tempted to give this four stars, since I enjoyed this book, the third in the series, the most so far. I think that was because their was less focus on Georgie's reduced circumstances (a penniless member of the royal family of England) and more on her enlistment to help investigate what may be a plot to bump off heirs to the throne. She may be an amateur in terms of her investigative skills, but at least she doesn't seem quite as foolhardy as many cozy heroines - just gullible.
I als...more
I als...more
This is the best book in the series thus far! Bowen has really managed to establish an atmosphere going into each book, though every scenario is unique. The mystery in this one, unlike the previous books, is fairly well constructed and actually becomes a main attraction. It's still not very convoluted, but I can't say it was as fluffy as the cases Georgie has encountered to-date.
The characters continue to be enchanting; Georgie sparkles on the page. Darcy gets a lot more screen time here and beg...more
The characters continue to be enchanting; Georgie sparkles on the page. Darcy gets a lot more screen time here and beg...more
With the heat of the summer forcing the upper class to dash to their summer homes in the countryside, Georgie’s secret housekeeping business fizzles to naught. As her financial situation steadily declines, she decides to start up an “escort” service not realizing her definition of the word (accompanying people to dinner parties so that they don’t have to eat alone) and her “client’s” definition of the service greatly varies. In an attempt to avoid another royal scandal, Georgie is whisked away t...more
Oct 26, 2011
Lori McD
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Shelves:
1930s,
cozy-mystery,
british-lit,
easy-read,
fun-fluff,
pseudo-mystery,
romance,
2011_read,
favorite-author
If you love a cozy-mystery that's as much fluff and fun set in the 1930s before WWII with a dash of young English royalty thrown in, you'll love the Lady Georgie Her Spyness mysteries.
The mystery in book #3 is who is trying to do away with the heirs to the English throne? Yes, the Prince of Wales' (David) life has been threatened three times: 1. He fell off his horse, and it was discovered the saddle strap had been cut. 2. While driving with that American woman (Wallis Simpson), a huge boulder h...more
The mystery in book #3 is who is trying to do away with the heirs to the English throne? Yes, the Prince of Wales' (David) life has been threatened three times: 1. He fell off his horse, and it was discovered the saddle strap had been cut. 2. While driving with that American woman (Wallis Simpson), a huge boulder h...more
First time reading this author.
Good: post WWI English setting, the concept of artistocratic but penniless heroine, the fun of encountering real life figures in the pages in a way that allows imagination of how they may have acted behind the scenes (here, frex, Queen Elizabeth as a child)
Not so good: mystery resolution not entirely satisfying,writing seesaws (on the one hand, excellent phrases like: "She [moved to] Scotland, where she died of fresh air and boredom", on the other, the word 'fright...more
Good: post WWI English setting, the concept of artistocratic but penniless heroine, the fun of encountering real life figures in the pages in a way that allows imagination of how they may have acted behind the scenes (here, frex, Queen Elizabeth as a child)
Not so good: mystery resolution not entirely satisfying,writing seesaws (on the one hand, excellent phrases like: "She [moved to] Scotland, where she died of fresh air and boredom", on the other, the word 'fright...more
From fantasticfiction.co.uk :
A Royal Spyness mystery starring Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line for the throne - and the mystery world's favorite penniless heiress. With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and- theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promi...more
A Royal Spyness mystery starring Lady Georgiana, thirty-fourth in line for the throne - and the mystery world's favorite penniless heiress. With its posh clientele in the country for the summer, Georgie's housecleaning business has fizzled. So she tries hiring herself out as a dinner-and- theatre companion. But her first client has quite the wrong idea. To avoid further scandal, Georgie's shipped home to Castle Rannoch, where her summer plans include honoring a promi...more
I just can’t get into this series. The pacing and readability of Bowen is delectable, but Georgie’s world hasn’t captured me after three books. First, I basically supplement Daniel (the love interest in the Molly Murphy Mysteries) for Darcy. In both books Bowen creates a handsome black Irish man who likes to tell the protagonist to stay out of trouble, and is always there to get her out of a tight spot. Second, the main research and ideas of life as a royal seem to be repeated over and over and...more
Georgie is a hoot! I was listening to the book on my iphone when I was out doing errands(I live at least 20 miles from anywhere).I just had to finish it so I put down everything else and finished it yesterday doing some sock knitting
laughing all the way. She is a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and 34th in line to the throne but Lady Georgiana is poor as a churchmouse and has aCockney expoliceman on the other side of the family tree. She has to enlist his aid when accidents keep happening...more
laughing all the way. She is a great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and 34th in line to the throne but Lady Georgiana is poor as a churchmouse and has aCockney expoliceman on the other side of the family tree. She has to enlist his aid when accidents keep happening...more
Rhys Bowen has created a light mystery series for those of us who like a pinch of the high life; a nice period setting and more than a little humor. For readers that are drawn to a complex mystery this is probably not the series to pursue. For me, this series works. Bowen's artistry is that she has created a heroine that is amusing without being silly. So many contemporary "cozy" mysteries are
formulaic and unimaginative and that is not the case with the Her Royal Spyness series.
The relationship...more
formulaic and unimaginative and that is not the case with the Her Royal Spyness series.
The relationship...more
Great cozy mystery. This series is set in the 1930s England, in the heart of the Depression, and the heroine, a royal, feels the bite of a bad economy too. I really like Georgie, the heroine in this series. She is spunky and not afraid to do what it takes to get herself out of the fixes her royal relatives place her in. It's always iffy for me when I pick up a new author without anyone's recommendation because I never know whether it's going to be a bunch of offensive stuff. Yes, there is a litt...more
Another thoroughly enjoyable addition to the series. The mystery had me guessing up until the end and the plot moved along at a good pace. I really love this author's writing style. I felt the ending was a little rushed. Some of the most dramatic scenes were concluded in a sentence or two which I thought was odd considering how much time was given to some of the main characters thought processes. Oh well. I'm still really looking forward to the next one and I hope to see a lot more of Darcy. Tha...more
Lady Georgiana's clients have all fled the city for better weather. To help keep her in tea she decided to hire herself out as a dinner companion & is immediately in over her head. After a narrow escape from a very bad dinner date Georgiana is banished to Scotland and she has a secret assignment. Someone is trying to harm the Royal Family (on vacation in Scotland) and as an insider she is asked to report anything suspicious. Soon there is a series of accident involving Binky, The Prince of W...more
The third adventure of the delightful Lady Georgiania, 34th in line for the throne in 1932 England. In an attempt to earn a living, the naive Georgie places an ad in The Times to be a dinner companion for out of town visitors. This gets her sent home to Scotland in an effort to keep her out of harm's way and to avoid a scandal.
In the drafty Scottish castle, she's confronted with terrible house guests including the vile Wallis Simpson. And someone is attacking those in line for the throne. Even...more
In the drafty Scottish castle, she's confronted with terrible house guests including the vile Wallis Simpson. And someone is attacking those in line for the throne. Even...more
Even though Lady Georgiana is only thirty-second in line to the British throne, one would expect her to possess something other than her good name. So when a scheme to drum up money by being a suitable dinner companion for male travelers goes terribly wrong, she hightails it up to the family home in the Highlands. There, she finds the castle full of guests (including Wallis Simpson), who make up part of a shooting party at nearby Balmoral. Guests keep turning up injured Is the royal family at r...more
This third installment in Rhys Bowen’s historical A Royal Spyness series is as charming as the rest. Lady Georgiana, a relation of the royals, heads to her family estate and country home, Castle Rannoch, at the urging of Scotland Yard to search for an assassin bent on eliminating members of the royal family. Accidents abound as the mystery deepens and a house party of guests contribute to the confusion. One of these eccentric characters may be a murderer and responsible for the mishap in the woo...more
#3 in the Royal Spyness mystery series featuring Lady Georgiana Rannouch 34th in line in succession to the British throne. She is 22 years old and trying to make her way in the world since she has no money. Set in late summer 1932, Georgiana has been asked by the Home Office for help. In this case, members of the royal family or in line of succession have been having accidents that eaves the Office concerned that someone with close access to these people is trying to kill them. Since she also ha...more
This is a charming series, but definitely light and sometimes quite improbable. The strengths are the plucky character of the heroine (Georgiana, a penniliess British heiress who is 34th in line to the throne). I also like the romance with her on-again off-again suitor, Darcy O'Mara, but not much happens there. The humour and the historical setting (1932) are also pluses. It is intriguing to read of real people, especially King George, Queen Mary and Mrs. Wallis Simpson, who is having an affair...more
This is the third of the series. They are pleasant humorous reads, stronger on the characters than the mystery. The main character is the great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and something like 36th in line to the throne. Unfortunately she is poor as a church mouse. However as a member of the royal family, no matter how distant, it is not appropriate for her to work. In this outing she goes to her family home in Scotland, near Balmoral where the royal family is staying. Her brother's castle is...more
Another enjoyable read. For an Anglophile it is great fun to hobnob with royalty, especially Queen Mary and the young Lilibet! She takes great liberty with history, but fun. Certainly has it in for Mrs. Simpson, soon to be the Duke of Windsor's wife. I understand she was sharp tongued and bitchy, and she sure is in this series!!Set a few weeks before my actual birth, I was hoping it would end late in August, but it didn't!! Anyhow, I was sorry this was third in the series and I haven't read the...more
The third entry into the series, "Royal Flush" sees Georgie back at Castle Rannoch, again on the Queen's business. This time she is sent by the Home Office to help investigate a series of near-miss accidents that afflict the royal family. The Court is at Balmoral which is conveniently located next to Castle Rannoch, so Georgie has a perfect cover. These books are not great fiction, the plots are far-fetched, but they are eat fun! Georgie has her own near fatal accident, and the plot hinges upon...more
I'm not sure why I enjoy these books so much, given that they have no fantasy elements and are not likely to be all that historically accurate (given that the main character works as a spy for the Queen of England in the 1930's, doing things that even today the Queen would not likely ask someone to do). I'm sure part of it has to do with the setting and characters, most of whom are a lot of fun, as well as the stories, which remind me a bit of Laurie R. King's Mary Russell series, but part of it...more
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"I'm a mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.
I also write the bestselling Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series this year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my aw...more
More about Rhys Bowen...
I also write the bestselling Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in the 1930s. It's lighter, sexier, funnier, wicked satire. It was voted by readers as best mystery series this year.
I am also known for my Constable Evans books, set in North Wales, and for my aw...more
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“All he has is a mangled ankle. I have Americans.”
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