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Her Majesty Investigates #2
Muerte En El Palacio De Sandringham
Murder in the palaces of England gives sleuth Jane Bee, housemaid to Her Majesty the Queen, a puzzle to fit for a monarch in the second novel of this charmingly irresistible series.
Paperback
First published December 1, 1996
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302 people want to read
About the author
C.C. Benison
9 books169 followersC.C. Benison is the pen name of Douglas Whiteway, a journalist and author who lives in Winnipeg, Canada. He has a degree in journalism from Carleton University in Ottawa and has worked for the Winnipeg Tribune and the Winnipeg Free Press.
He is most recently the author of The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford, a Father Christmas novella, published in November 2020. This follows his last work of fiction, Paul is Dead: A Novel, published in 2018, which is a literary thriller set in an isolated lakeside cottage.
He is also the author of a series of murder mysteries set on the estates of Queen Elizabeth II where the crimes are solved by housemaid Jane Bee, with the Queen's help. Titles include Death at Buckingham Palace, Death at Sandringham House, and Death at Windsor Castle. He is, as well, the author of Death in Cold Type, a murder mystery set in Winnipeg.
In 2011, the first of the Father Christmas mysteries, Twelve Drummers Drumming, was published. The novels feature Tom Christmas, Anglican priest, widower and single father, solving crimes in and around the village of Thornford Regis in Devon, England. Eleven Pipers Piping followed in 2012. Ten Drummers Drumming was published in autumn 2013.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1997): Death at Buckingham Palace
He is most recently the author of The Unpleasantness at the Battle of Thornford, a Father Christmas novella, published in November 2020. This follows his last work of fiction, Paul is Dead: A Novel, published in 2018, which is a literary thriller set in an isolated lakeside cottage.
He is also the author of a series of murder mysteries set on the estates of Queen Elizabeth II where the crimes are solved by housemaid Jane Bee, with the Queen's help. Titles include Death at Buckingham Palace, Death at Sandringham House, and Death at Windsor Castle. He is, as well, the author of Death in Cold Type, a murder mystery set in Winnipeg.
In 2011, the first of the Father Christmas mysteries, Twelve Drummers Drumming, was published. The novels feature Tom Christmas, Anglican priest, widower and single father, solving crimes in and around the village of Thornford Regis in Devon, England. Eleven Pipers Piping followed in 2012. Ten Drummers Drumming was published in autumn 2013.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (1997): Death at Buckingham Palace
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 28, 2022
Doug Whiteway is a Winnipegger who knew a lot about Queen Elizabeth II. “Death At Sandringham House” came out in 1996. Well before Prince Harry married Meghan Markle and named their first Daughter “Lilibet” last year in 2021, he knew this is what family called Elizabeth. I was only familiar with Windsor and Buckingham palaces. He creatively based this series on a Canadian maid helping Elizabeth solve residential crime. The wealth of human details and intelligent portrayals guaranteed three stars for this pseudonymous CC. Benison novel, despite liking it considerably less than his opening mystery. Finishing it was a chore.
My three principal reasons are that I cared for nearly none of the characters nor the pair of mysteries, except Doug’s success in making their uniqueness intriguing. One victim resembled the Queen and a tiara lost for decades reappeared, that belonged to the ineligible Wallis Simpson of the abdicated King Edward VIII. My Mom knew about these histories but I only have a glancing awareness of them.
Tampering with the focus was superfluous prattle staff, irrelevant characters, delaying rather than moving along the the mystery pace, a genre that has to at least feel brisk, if not action packed. There is zero respect or time for drunk personnel.
Even worse, Doug incorporated hunting. Despite claiming that Jane hated it, he detailed the murder of beautiful, innocent birds for approximately two upsetting chapters.
Doug knows this family and is original, with humour peppering down to Earth people. I had fun acquainting the heretofore unheard of Sandringham House even more than of Buckingham Palace and Jane Bee’s RCMP Dad was in England for Christmas too.
A pleasant coincidence is that I have just beheld Sandringham House on television, where the royal family apparently really does celebrate Christmases. Happy New Year to you all!
My three principal reasons are that I cared for nearly none of the characters nor the pair of mysteries, except Doug’s success in making their uniqueness intriguing. One victim resembled the Queen and a tiara lost for decades reappeared, that belonged to the ineligible Wallis Simpson of the abdicated King Edward VIII. My Mom knew about these histories but I only have a glancing awareness of them.
Tampering with the focus was superfluous prattle staff, irrelevant characters, delaying rather than moving along the the mystery pace, a genre that has to at least feel brisk, if not action packed. There is zero respect or time for drunk personnel.
Even worse, Doug incorporated hunting. Despite claiming that Jane hated it, he detailed the murder of beautiful, innocent birds for approximately two upsetting chapters.
Doug knows this family and is original, with humour peppering down to Earth people. I had fun acquainting the heretofore unheard of Sandringham House even more than of Buckingham Palace and Jane Bee’s RCMP Dad was in England for Christmas too.
A pleasant coincidence is that I have just beheld Sandringham House on television, where the royal family apparently really does celebrate Christmases. Happy New Year to you all!
April 13, 2021
I actually picked this up because I so enjoyed another book featuring HM Queen Elizabeth as a character: An Uncommon Reader. This book did not turn out to have that charm.
This one had the banner “Her Majesty Investigates “ on the cover. Unfortunately, the scenes in which HM figures, though enjoyable, are too few for my hopes of this story. And I’m afraid that I was not all that taken with the young housemaid who actually turns out to be the main character/sleuth.
The mystery itself was sufficiently convoluted to engage.
This one had the banner “Her Majesty Investigates “ on the cover. Unfortunately, the scenes in which HM figures, though enjoyable, are too few for my hopes of this story. And I’m afraid that I was not all that taken with the young housemaid who actually turns out to be the main character/sleuth.
The mystery itself was sufficiently convoluted to engage.
September 27, 2016
What a hoot! Oh, how I love this book. The author is so funny, and all the Royal Family are characters, with Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret major players. I couldn't guess whodunit, even at the end. I must have all the books in this series.
April 10, 2018
Though maybe a bit too long for its plot, this is a pleasant, undemanding, tongue-in-cheek entertainment.
November 7, 2013
Compelling contemporary mystery by local Canadian author, CC Benison.
Individual characterization and descriptive settings added to my interest in the action of the story. British euphemisms authenticate the dialogue adding to the humour of the scenarios and personalizing the characters. I also appreciated proper UK English spellings for a story set in Britain.
Great pacing of action and contemplation as our MC sorts through current affairs of murder and mayhem during Her Majesty's annual Christmas stay at Sandringham House in Norfolk. A delite to be carried into the dual world of royalty and staff as they co-exist in this contemporary life.
Discovered at a local charity shop, I was intrigued to find CC Benison to be a local author. Adding this to my annual Canadian Reading Challenge participation at bookmineset.com and Pinterest Board.
Looking forward to reading further mystery writing by this Winnipeg MB author.
Individual characterization and descriptive settings added to my interest in the action of the story. British euphemisms authenticate the dialogue adding to the humour of the scenarios and personalizing the characters. I also appreciated proper UK English spellings for a story set in Britain.
Great pacing of action and contemplation as our MC sorts through current affairs of murder and mayhem during Her Majesty's annual Christmas stay at Sandringham House in Norfolk. A delite to be carried into the dual world of royalty and staff as they co-exist in this contemporary life.
Discovered at a local charity shop, I was intrigued to find CC Benison to be a local author. Adding this to my annual Canadian Reading Challenge participation at bookmineset.com and Pinterest Board.
Looking forward to reading further mystery writing by this Winnipeg MB author.
July 10, 2013
These are fun reads written by a Winnipeg author. Each of them has a great crime narrative and lots of laughs. A super summer read.
April 12, 2025
"A MURDER FIT FOR A QUEEN ...
"When housemaid Jane Bee accompanies the Royals on their annual Christmas jaunt to Sandringham, she believes she's in for a bit of a snooze. Aside from her regular duties, there's nothing much to do in the wilds of Norfolk ... until the body of a woman turns up in the village hall -- a woman who just happens to be a dead ringer for the Queen, right down to her glittering crown.
"While the royal bodyguards tighten their security and the police concentrate their efforts on a notorious animal rights group, Her Majesty bids Jane to do her own discreet digging. But when Jane learns the origin of the dead woman's tiara, she finds herself suddenly unstitching an upstairs/downstairs tapestry of indiscretions going back fifty years. And then a second brazen murder occurs in the very heart of Sandringhan House, and it looks like the coming New Year could be more horribilis than any yet."
~~back cover
This looked so promising! But 216 pages in, nothing much had happened. I got tires of slogging through it, and abandoned it.
"When housemaid Jane Bee accompanies the Royals on their annual Christmas jaunt to Sandringham, she believes she's in for a bit of a snooze. Aside from her regular duties, there's nothing much to do in the wilds of Norfolk ... until the body of a woman turns up in the village hall -- a woman who just happens to be a dead ringer for the Queen, right down to her glittering crown.
"While the royal bodyguards tighten their security and the police concentrate their efforts on a notorious animal rights group, Her Majesty bids Jane to do her own discreet digging. But when Jane learns the origin of the dead woman's tiara, she finds herself suddenly unstitching an upstairs/downstairs tapestry of indiscretions going back fifty years. And then a second brazen murder occurs in the very heart of Sandringhan House, and it looks like the coming New Year could be more horribilis than any yet."
~~back cover
This looked so promising! But 216 pages in, nothing much had happened. I got tires of slogging through it, and abandoned it.
June 10, 2022
Not quite as good as the first book in the series (Death at Buckingham Palace) but is certainly worth a four-star review. There are a lot of things going on and it seems that none of them are especially interesting in themselves, (hunting, a possible attack from an animal rights organization, a dead Queen lookalike, a stray dog, and a boorish American) lead up to a great ending, tying everything together. I am starting the third book Murder at Windsor Castle today. The Windsor Cathedral is, of course where the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married.
December 22, 2019
Thoroughly enjoyable whodunnit with lots of flawed characters to make every individual suspect until nearing the end. This series is excellent.
Narrated in the first person by the young housekeeper Jane Bee. The web of relations and family histories kept it fascinating.
Who killed Jackie, and why and with what. There are clues sprinkled around and come together. I like the historical references.
Narrated in the first person by the young housekeeper Jane Bee. The web of relations and family histories kept it fascinating.
Who killed Jackie, and why and with what. There are clues sprinkled around and come together. I like the historical references.
July 6, 2017
Fun, little know set of mysteries. Wish there were more than there are.
August 21, 2022
story line: ***
main characters: ****
side characters: ***
world building: ***
editing: *****
3.5
main characters: ****
side characters: ***
world building: ***
editing: *****
3.5
May 30, 2023
A bit convoluted and confusing, but still entertaining.
March 24, 2022
Jane Bees zweiter Fall
Weniger Queen und weniger spannend als noch Teil 1.
Alljährlich verbringen die Queen und ihre Familie Weihnachten und den Jahreswechsel auf Schloss Sandringham. Natürlich mit dem entsprechenden Personal. So ist auch das Hausmädchen Jane Bee anwesend. Und sie ist ebenfalls dabei, als eine Tote im Gemeindezentrum gefunden wird, die ihrer Majestät erschreckend ähnlich sieht.
“Tod auf Schloss Sandringham” ist der zweite Band der “Ihre Majestät ermittelt”-Reihe von Autor Doug Whiteway, die er unter dem Pseudonym C.C. Benison veröffentlicht.
Bereits im Vorgänger hat das ungewöhnliche Team aus Königin und Hausmädchen einen Mörder dingfest gemacht. Allerdings empfand ich diesmal den Anteil der Szenen mit der Königin als wesentlich geringer und auch nicht ganz so packend. Das Buch konzentriert sich eher auf Jane, ihre Nachforschungen und vor allem ihre Beziehung zu ihrem Vater.
Der Schreibstil ließ sich auch diesmal wieder flüssig lesen. Die Schauplätze sind anschaulich und detailreich beschrieben. Die Figuren sind eine bunte Mischung. Einige Nebenfiguren aus dem ersten Band dürfen wieder an der Handlung teilnehmen. Dies macht den Haushalt ein realistischer.
Wir erfahren viel über den Alltag auf Schloss Sandringham und Veranstaltungen dort. Aber auch Janes Privatleben ist Thema. Die Abschweifungen eröffnen später zum Teil recht interessante Wendungen. Die Handlung ist durch die vielen Stränge aber auch weniger mitreißend und fesselnd.
Da die kleinen Dramen der Figuren und auch das etwas komplizierte Verhältnis von Jane zu ihrem Vater sehr viel mehr Raum einnehmen, als die eigentlichen Ermittlungen im Mordfall, ist das Buch wohl ein klassischer Vertreter des Genres Cosy-Krimi.
Fazit:
Ein entspannter kleiner Krimi, der aber hinter meinen Erwartungen und hinter seinen Möglichkeiten zurück bleibt. Ich hätte gerne mehr von Ihrer Majestät gehabt und weniger Familien-Drama. Vielleicht beim nächsten Mal.
Weniger Queen und weniger spannend als noch Teil 1.
Alljährlich verbringen die Queen und ihre Familie Weihnachten und den Jahreswechsel auf Schloss Sandringham. Natürlich mit dem entsprechenden Personal. So ist auch das Hausmädchen Jane Bee anwesend. Und sie ist ebenfalls dabei, als eine Tote im Gemeindezentrum gefunden wird, die ihrer Majestät erschreckend ähnlich sieht.
“Tod auf Schloss Sandringham” ist der zweite Band der “Ihre Majestät ermittelt”-Reihe von Autor Doug Whiteway, die er unter dem Pseudonym C.C. Benison veröffentlicht.
Bereits im Vorgänger hat das ungewöhnliche Team aus Königin und Hausmädchen einen Mörder dingfest gemacht. Allerdings empfand ich diesmal den Anteil der Szenen mit der Königin als wesentlich geringer und auch nicht ganz so packend. Das Buch konzentriert sich eher auf Jane, ihre Nachforschungen und vor allem ihre Beziehung zu ihrem Vater.
Der Schreibstil ließ sich auch diesmal wieder flüssig lesen. Die Schauplätze sind anschaulich und detailreich beschrieben. Die Figuren sind eine bunte Mischung. Einige Nebenfiguren aus dem ersten Band dürfen wieder an der Handlung teilnehmen. Dies macht den Haushalt ein realistischer.
Wir erfahren viel über den Alltag auf Schloss Sandringham und Veranstaltungen dort. Aber auch Janes Privatleben ist Thema. Die Abschweifungen eröffnen später zum Teil recht interessante Wendungen. Die Handlung ist durch die vielen Stränge aber auch weniger mitreißend und fesselnd.
Da die kleinen Dramen der Figuren und auch das etwas komplizierte Verhältnis von Jane zu ihrem Vater sehr viel mehr Raum einnehmen, als die eigentlichen Ermittlungen im Mordfall, ist das Buch wohl ein klassischer Vertreter des Genres Cosy-Krimi.
Fazit:
Ein entspannter kleiner Krimi, der aber hinter meinen Erwartungen und hinter seinen Möglichkeiten zurück bleibt. Ich hätte gerne mehr von Ihrer Majestät gehabt und weniger Familien-Drama. Vielleicht beim nächsten Mal.
September 29, 2024
I really enjoyed this murder mystery set in a sleepy English village where the Queen of England is speding a view days after the Christmas holidays. I was glad to join the maid Jane Bee again on her exploits to find the perpetrator. This time she is joined by her father, who is normally working with the Canadian Mounties. While a lot of things seemed to be left unsaid between father and daughter, I enjoyed their dynamic.
I am a little sad there is just one book left in the series. I would recommend for a cozy (and seasonal) read.
I am a little sad there is just one book left in the series. I would recommend for a cozy (and seasonal) read.
December 22, 2015
Really learned a lot about the Royal family and about their estate at Sandringham House.
Mystery itself was very good. Lots of twists and turns. Many people who had possible motives and might have killed the people involved. Sad part when a dog is shot, but not killed.
Really got a kick out of learning some royal history of Mrs. Wallis and the would be King abdicating the throne. Had a harder time reading this due to the English accent/wording and the slang. Still enjoyed learning some of the slang, but made the reading slower and harder than I thought it should be. Maybe its written for the English, and I just fell into it?
Mystery itself was very good. Lots of twists and turns. Many people who had possible motives and might have killed the people involved. Sad part when a dog is shot, but not killed.
Really got a kick out of learning some royal history of Mrs. Wallis and the would be King abdicating the throne. Had a harder time reading this due to the English accent/wording and the slang. Still enjoyed learning some of the slang, but made the reading slower and harder than I thought it should be. Maybe its written for the English, and I just fell into it?
December 1, 2008
Jane once more works for HM and assists in untangling the skein of evidence. Jane's father, a RCMP, is visiting over the Christmas holidays. He also becomes involved in the case of the death of the actress playing the Queen of Hearts in the holiday pantomime. Her death brings royal attention because it is part of the Sandringham pageantry and the actress was impersonating HM.
July 9, 2011
Set at Sandringham House during the Xmas holidays, this story is about a Canadian girl working as a housemaid who decides to investigate a murder that takes place at the local village panto. This was a funny book and easy to imagine the characters involved, which I enjoyed reading. I'm now reading Death at Windsor Castle and hope it will be as good.
December 29, 2014
This was a fun Christmas mystery, set at Sandringham House. Jane Bee is a housemaid at Buckingham Palace, and when the royals go to Sandringham, she goes along. There is a suspicious death on Boxing Day, and Jane is quickly involved in the investigation. This is a light mystery with lots of twists and turns.
January 20, 2015
This one is better than "Death at Buckingham Palace". Liked the characters and their interactions. I also liked the interesting bits of royal family history and gossip. I think being someplace less formal made everyone more relatable. Is that a word? Also, the ending involved so many threads it was fascinating!
May 14, 2010
Housemaid Jane Bee is present when a body is found dressed as Her Majesty. Fortunately, Jane's father--a Mountie--is visiting her over the Christmas holidays, so Jane has some backup besides the Queen as she investigates this strange death.
September 11, 2009
I chose this book because we visited Sandringham house and Kings Lynn while in England. However, I just couldn't get into it. It's maybe a little too English for me and I don't get the witty English remarks.
March 9, 2014
Liking this series. Interesting to see how the royal family operates even if this is fiction. The young female sleuth is daring but not foolhardy. She uses her brain and doesn't run headlong into trouble she can avoid.
August 17, 2016
I confess I originally bought this series simply because I owned a corgi and there were corgis on the cover of book number one. I enjoyed that book enough to buy book two and was not disappointed, the quality was the same and there were corgis.
June 3, 2008
Entertaining, light summer mystery. I enjoyed the characters a great deal.
February 22, 2015
Re-read: February 22, 2015
August 28, 2009
QE II #2
Read
December 28, 2011Jane Bee, housemaid and QE, "mother"
October 27, 2012
3.5/5. Fun book, but it was a little slow at first. I loved the protagonist, Jane.
March 12, 2014
Great fun! Quick moving mystery, by a Winnipeg author, about a Canadian working for the Royal Family- everything I love!
November 14, 2014
good series, but older and not continued past 3 books :(
Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews