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Her Majesty Investigates #3
Tod auf Schloss Windsor
Die Queen ist erschüttert. Während der Vorbereitung der "Woche des Prunks" kommt es zu einem Mord auf Schloss Windsor! Der liebenswürdige Kunstkurator Roger Pettibon wird tot aufgefunden. In seinem Rücken steckt ein Schwert, das normalerweise für die Investitur neuer Ritter des Hosenbandordens genutzt wird, um sein Knie ist ein royales Hosenband gebunden. Wer kann eine solch furchtbare Tat begangen haben? Die Polizei leitet umgehend Ermittlungen ein, aber auch der Spürsinn der Queen ist wieder geweckt. Und daher macht sie sich erneut gemeinsam mit Hausmädchen Jane Bee auf die Suche nach dem kaltblütigen Mörder ...
508 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1998
7 people are currently reading
274 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 - 28 of 28 reviews
July 31, 2022
3,5 Sterne
Schade, dass das der letzte Band der Serie ist, denn ich mochte die Geschichten um das Hausmädchen Jane Bee sehr gerne. Auch dieser Krimi war eine schöne und kurzweilige Lektüre, nur kam mir das Leben des Personals und die Schlossatmosphäre etwas zu kurz. Aber der Kriminalfall und besonders die Auflösung konnten mich tatsächlich überraschen.
Schade, dass das der letzte Band der Serie ist, denn ich mochte die Geschichten um das Hausmädchen Jane Bee sehr gerne. Auch dieser Krimi war eine schöne und kurzweilige Lektüre, nur kam mir das Leben des Personals und die Schlossatmosphäre etwas zu kurz. Aber der Kriminalfall und besonders die Auflösung konnten mich tatsächlich überraschen.
January 13, 2018
Enjoyable book, was disappointed that the series ended with book #3, I felt the author could have carried this series for at least another 3 or 4 books.
It was a 4 star rating, but I took one star off as I saw the author himself, gave his book a 5 star rating, I found that a bit tacky
Personally, I think this was the best series he had going for him, really a shame he did not continue on with it.
i tried his other series and they were not written as well, nor were the story lines as good
It was a 4 star rating, but I took one star off as I saw the author himself, gave his book a 5 star rating, I found that a bit tacky
Personally, I think this was the best series he had going for him, really a shame he did not continue on with it.
i tried his other series and they were not written as well, nor were the story lines as good
June 19, 2021
Once again the Canadian housemaid to the Royal Family, is involved in trying to solve a murder. Life is hectic at the Castle. There's an artist painting a new portrait of the Queen. Ascot is upcoming and a murder occurs at Windsor Castle just prior to the Knights of the Garter investiture procession.
Numerous potential suspects, numerous character back stories that were hidden from others, an insider's view of Ascot, and a potential romance provide an enjoyable, compelling read.
Numerous potential suspects, numerous character back stories that were hidden from others, an insider's view of Ascot, and a potential romance provide an enjoyable, compelling read.
December 28, 2022
story line: ****
main characters: ****
side characters: ***
world building: ***
editing: *****
3.5
main characters: ****
side characters: ***
world building: ***
editing: *****
3.5
September 11, 2023
Ich hab das Buch durch Zufall in einem Stapel reduzierter Über gefunden und vom Titel her gedacht, dass die Queen häufiger darin vorkommt, aber so oft ist das gar nicht. Trotzdem: Nette Unterhaltung für Zwischendurch.
November 17, 2020
The 3rd (and last?) of Benison's series in which Jane Bee, one of the housekeepers on staff (usually at Buckingham Palace) has helped Her Majesty the Queen solve a mystery. In this one a body is discovered in the throne room just before the Order of the Garter ceremonies were to begin. An artist who has been painting a portrait of the queen in her Garter regalia confesses; but Jane thinks he is unlikely to have done it and the queen asks her to investigate. Very complicated, and engrossing.
June 27, 2022
Die Ermittlungen der Queen gehen in die dritte Runde
Der neueste Fall für Jane Bee und Queen Elisabeth.
Der dritte Band von C. C. Benisons sympathischer Krimireihe führt uns in die nächste Residenz der Königin, Windsor. Ich mag die Reihe besonders, wegen des (vermeintlichen) Blicks hinter die Kulissen. Es wird nicht nur ermittelt, sondern der Autor erzählt uns auch etwas über den royalen Tagesablauf während Ascot und plaudert aus dem High Society-Nähkästchen. Außerdem ist das Privatleben von Jane immer mal wieder ein Thema. Manchem Leser wird das zu viel Ablenkung vom Wesentlichen sein. Mir gefällt es!
Beim letzten Mal hatte sich Jane immer wieder in fixen Ideen verrannt. Diesmal geht sie besonnener an die Ermittlungen heran. Und ich hatte auch das Gefühl, dass der Fall diesmal besonders verzwickt und abgründig war. Das hat die Spannung diesmal hoch gehalten und mich an das Buch gefesselt. Aber ist es wirklich so eine gute Idee von Jane, sich mit einem Reporter der Regenbogenpresse zu verbünden?
Der Schreibstil war wieder gut verständlich und flüssig zu lesen. Die Schauplätze sind detailreich beschrieben und die Nebenfiguren eine gut gewählte bunte Mischung. Wenn man sich gerne von den Ermittlungen ablenken lässt und sich für die Royals begeistern kann, hat man an diesem Buch sicher seine Freude.
Fazit:
Band 3 hat für mich sehr viel besser gemacht, als noch Band 2. Mehr Spannung, ein verzwickterer Fall, weniger Familien-Drama. Ich freue mich auf weitere Fälle für Jane und IM, ein paar Schlösser und Residenzen gibt es ja noch. ;-)
Der neueste Fall für Jane Bee und Queen Elisabeth.
Der dritte Band von C. C. Benisons sympathischer Krimireihe führt uns in die nächste Residenz der Königin, Windsor. Ich mag die Reihe besonders, wegen des (vermeintlichen) Blicks hinter die Kulissen. Es wird nicht nur ermittelt, sondern der Autor erzählt uns auch etwas über den royalen Tagesablauf während Ascot und plaudert aus dem High Society-Nähkästchen. Außerdem ist das Privatleben von Jane immer mal wieder ein Thema. Manchem Leser wird das zu viel Ablenkung vom Wesentlichen sein. Mir gefällt es!
Beim letzten Mal hatte sich Jane immer wieder in fixen Ideen verrannt. Diesmal geht sie besonnener an die Ermittlungen heran. Und ich hatte auch das Gefühl, dass der Fall diesmal besonders verzwickt und abgründig war. Das hat die Spannung diesmal hoch gehalten und mich an das Buch gefesselt. Aber ist es wirklich so eine gute Idee von Jane, sich mit einem Reporter der Regenbogenpresse zu verbünden?
Der Schreibstil war wieder gut verständlich und flüssig zu lesen. Die Schauplätze sind detailreich beschrieben und die Nebenfiguren eine gut gewählte bunte Mischung. Wenn man sich gerne von den Ermittlungen ablenken lässt und sich für die Royals begeistern kann, hat man an diesem Buch sicher seine Freude.
Fazit:
Band 3 hat für mich sehr viel besser gemacht, als noch Band 2. Mehr Spannung, ein verzwickterer Fall, weniger Familien-Drama. Ich freue mich auf weitere Fälle für Jane und IM, ein paar Schlösser und Residenzen gibt es ja noch. ;-)
September 11, 2022
Really enjoyed all the characters and twists here around the Portrait Artist Victor Fabiani, Joanna Pettibon (wife of the murdered art curator Roger Pettibon), Iain Scott (Joanna’s mooching brother), Hugo Fitzjames the boy whose sword was the murder weapon, Miranda (Fabiani’s biological daughter who has an axe to grind).
This series is really good and I also read Death at Buckingham Palace and Death at Sandringham House.
This Canadian author covers this material really well.
This series is really good and I also read Death at Buckingham Palace and Death at Sandringham House.
This Canadian author covers this material really well.
June 12, 2022
An outstanding end to this trilogy. The description of Windsor was so good that I felt as if I could see it. As a matter of fact, I looked up the castle on-line to get a better feel for it. The plot takes a sinister turn and covers several ugly truths that had gone on for way too long. If you get a chance, be sure to pick it up.
March 20, 2020
Actually, three and a half stars again! This is an agreeable, fairly absorbing last volume in this short series.
November 16, 2022
Another great book about a murder but you see the inner workings of the British Royalty. I wish C.C> Benison would write more of this series. Its the best!
October 9, 2014
The Windsor Castle setting is good, the bevy of footmen and soldiers and functionaries well realised. Jane Bee is a young Canadian who answered an ad for staff in London, while on a working tourist trip, and came to find herself making beds in Buckingham Palace.
For the summer the Queen spends more time in Windsor which is also on the Thames but in a small town, and the Ascot races are nearby. So this is the setting for Jane's third outing.
A charming but sadly for Jane, gay footman who has the job of walking the corgis is her main source of below stairs gossip while her Canadian background is the excuse for her to ask questions on behalf of the readers. Jane has her eyes on one young man but for no reason I can see she lies to him that she is an air stewardess.
The Queen is having her portrait painted so we get info about the art stored on the premises, being computer catalogued as the book was written, and possible forgeries. There is also the on-going restoration work after a great fire at Windsor. Really, there is enough going on without the addition of a murder, but convention must be satisfied and so someone is found dead just before the ceremony of the Knights of the Garter is due to start.
While I liked a lot about this tale I did find it tedious more than once. The mystery picked up when a new possible motive was brought to light and we could understand this motive well. However, there is a lot of telling about people instead of showing them, as Jane gets to know a suspect by having a conversation about them with somebody else. By the end the constant wading back and forth in murky depths to see who might have, or did have, or could have, just felt wearing. I thought editing to make it brisker would have helped.
For the summer the Queen spends more time in Windsor which is also on the Thames but in a small town, and the Ascot races are nearby. So this is the setting for Jane's third outing.
A charming but sadly for Jane, gay footman who has the job of walking the corgis is her main source of below stairs gossip while her Canadian background is the excuse for her to ask questions on behalf of the readers. Jane has her eyes on one young man but for no reason I can see she lies to him that she is an air stewardess.
The Queen is having her portrait painted so we get info about the art stored on the premises, being computer catalogued as the book was written, and possible forgeries. There is also the on-going restoration work after a great fire at Windsor. Really, there is enough going on without the addition of a murder, but convention must be satisfied and so someone is found dead just before the ceremony of the Knights of the Garter is due to start.
While I liked a lot about this tale I did find it tedious more than once. The mystery picked up when a new possible motive was brought to light and we could understand this motive well. However, there is a lot of telling about people instead of showing them, as Jane gets to know a suspect by having a conversation about them with somebody else. By the end the constant wading back and forth in murky depths to see who might have, or did have, or could have, just felt wearing. I thought editing to make it brisker would have helped.
January 23, 2016
It's actually been a long time since I last reread this, but I enjoyed it a lot. The humour and attitude are top-notch, and the writing is superbly engaging; and the same could be said of both the other books in this series.
There's some borrowing of themes from Lewis Carroll, and it's a bit of fun spotting the "Alice" references and influences as they pop up ... even when the book's theme takes a dark turn into heavier territory. (The physical descriptions of Cath Aiken, Pippa Clair and Miranda Walter are very similar to that of the real Alice Liddell. Make of that what you will.)
I remember thinking on my first reading that there were holes in the plot. On subsequent readings, I was unable to identify where or what those holes might have been. I'm inclined to think that it was an unwarranted impression.
I've generally found that most modern mysteries tend to be rather light on the "puzzle" aspect of the game. I was not able to guess the killer before the denouement. I thought the logic as presented was a bit weak, though I wonder if perhaps it was more the presentation of clues that was at fault. It might have helped to have had a round of editing with the puzzle in mind.
Still, in spite of this, I found this an excellent, entertaining read, enough that I still pick it up again occasionally; maybe not for a complete readthrough, but for the extra-delicious bits. That counts for something, surely.
There's some borrowing of themes from Lewis Carroll, and it's a bit of fun spotting the "Alice" references and influences as they pop up ... even when the book's theme takes a dark turn into heavier territory. (The physical descriptions of Cath Aiken, Pippa Clair and Miranda Walter are very similar to that of the real Alice Liddell. Make of that what you will.)
I remember thinking on my first reading that there were holes in the plot. On subsequent readings, I was unable to identify where or what those holes might have been. I'm inclined to think that it was an unwarranted impression.
I've generally found that most modern mysteries tend to be rather light on the "puzzle" aspect of the game. I was not able to guess the killer before the denouement. I thought the logic as presented was a bit weak, though I wonder if perhaps it was more the presentation of clues that was at fault. It might have helped to have had a round of editing with the puzzle in mind.
Still, in spite of this, I found this an excellent, entertaining read, enough that I still pick it up again occasionally; maybe not for a complete readthrough, but for the extra-delicious bits. That counts for something, surely.
August 17, 2016
This series is humorous. I love the interesting use of language and description. I found myself underlining bits that I wished I could remember. There are only three books in the series and the last was written in 1998 so there will be no more. I would dearly love to know what was in Jane's future, did she marry Jamie, did she become lady in waiting to the Queen. My only quibble with this last book was...what happened to the cat. My timing on reading this series was...the world was waiting for the birth of a royal baby but it still struck me as odd to be reading about Prince Harry rollerblading down the halls of Windsor Castle and to look up when the 6:00 o`clock news came on to see Prince Harry alighting from a helicopter to talk to reporters about the new Princess Charlotte. Then to be reading about a recalcitrant corgi biting her minder to checking my Pinterest feed to find a photo of two corgi minders escorting a passel of corgis down the steps of an airplane. I love it when my life connects in some way with what I am reading either by accident or on purpose.
December 27, 2013
Found this author took an unusual turn for what I'd expected would be a bit of light mystery reading distraction. Benison unexpectedly takes Jane Bee, our Canadian housemaid sleuth, into a dark twist when she hears the confession of another maid's young daughter regarding the actions of an art gallery instructor. Jane ends up tackling a heavy topic with several other suspects and characters whose lives intertwine. Her responses are admirable and add much depth to her character that hasn't been evident to this reader to this point in the series.
Well written, but lengthy - perhaps to ease readers into the seriousness of the as yet unrevealed topic? And an entirely unexpected ending that may or may not satsify individual readers, but will surely surprise!
Well written, but lengthy - perhaps to ease readers into the seriousness of the as yet unrevealed topic? And an entirely unexpected ending that may or may not satsify individual readers, but will surely surprise!
January 23, 2015
Jane is not her usual level headed self in this book. I don't know if it's because it's set in summer and the heat has gotten to her, but she's giddier, and less level-headed. I found it harder to believe the Queen was relying on her to get information. If you haven't read the previous books, then you'd really wonder why the Queen pays the least bit of attention to her.
The plot turns very dark with some revelations. Other bits of the story are sort of resolved, but largely trail off.
It wasn't my favorite of the series and I'm not surprised there apparently aren't more.
The plot turns very dark with some revelations. Other bits of the story are sort of resolved, but largely trail off.
It wasn't my favorite of the series and I'm not surprised there apparently aren't more.
August 14, 2009
I liked it, but I love cozy mysteries with silly twists. In this third book in the series, Benison puts Jane Bee, a royal house maid, and Her Magesty through a series of paces that tries to twist and turn like an Agatha Christie mystery, but only turns out to be too long. The cozy and cute parts wore out long before the book ended. I would recommend the first two books in the series much more highly.
May 14, 2010
A body is found in the throne room just before the annual meeting of the Knights of the Garter. What's worse, the corpse is wearing a real garter, although he's not a member. The Queen enlists Canadian housemaid Jane Bee as her eyes and ears in an effort to see that justice is done.
January 15, 2013
I agree with other who have said that this book was a little long and took a while to take off plot-wise. I liked the other two books better. However, I love Jane Bee and the Queen working together to solve crimes and I wish there were more books in thise series!
June 30, 2012
This story gave a life to the inner workings of a great, historical castle and more importantly to the castle family, which includes not only the royal family but also the servants, employees, military, museum curators, etc. I learned some history of the Garter as well.
March 15, 2014
This was my favorite book in the series...until the last tea party. That tea party with the Queen seemed to go on for far longer than the last two chapters and to me seemed a way out for the author to tie up the loose ends and try to keep us readers still guessing.
February 28, 2015
Re-Read: February 28, 2015
January 3, 2012
Not as good as Death at Sandringham
May 11, 2012
Like Death at Buckingham Palace this book takes a long time to take off. Once it does, I really enjoy it, but it takes about two hundred pages.
March 20, 2014
Once again, great read! Dragged a tad in a few spots, but otherwise entertaining!
May 18, 2015
Very fun read, especially since we leave for London in a month. The murder itself was good and hard to figure out. The two main characters are great, especially the queen.
August 14, 2014
Love the Queen.
November 13, 2014
Quite well-written murder investigation tale.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews