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Her Royal Spyness
(Royal Spyness #1)
by
Her ridiculously long name is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, daughter to the Duke of Atholt and Rannoch. And she is flat broke. As the thirty-fourth in line for the throne, she has been taught only a few things, among them, the perfect curtsey. But when her brother cuts off her allowance, she leaves Scotland, and her fiancé Fish-Face, for London, where she has:
...more
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Kindle Edition, Reprint edition , 348 pages
Published
July 1st 2008
by Berkley
(first published 2007)
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Start your review of Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #1)

Let's say one of your friends sets you up on a blind date with a guy you know nothing about. You go to the restaurant to meet him, and you're filled with trepidation because the whole experiment could go either way. You've heard really good things about him from your friend, but for all you know, she could just be biased, or your tastes may not match.
You get to the restaurant, you find your blind date, and he's not bad to look at. In fact, he's quite appealing. You chat casually over cocktails ...more
You get to the restaurant, you find your blind date, and he's not bad to look at. In fact, he's quite appealing. You chat casually over cocktails ...more

I am not a total cosy fan but this book starts the series with a very clever premise. Set in the 1930s in the UK, Georgie is 34th in line to the throne. She actually has afternoon teas with the Queen in Buckingham Palace which is just wonderful!
There is not a lot of spying going on in this book despite the title. The Queen does send Georgie to a weekend house party to spy on her son and Wallis Simpson, but that part is very small. Most of the book revolves around a dead body in a bath and repea ...more
There is not a lot of spying going on in this book despite the title. The Queen does send Georgie to a weekend house party to spy on her son and Wallis Simpson, but that part is very small. Most of the book revolves around a dead body in a bath and repea ...more

Sep 07, 2009
Felicia
rated it
liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
vaginal-mystery,
mystery
Oh good, a new shelf: "Vaginal-Mystery"! Bored of the corsets, there are only so many virgins to read about who get pregnant in the Epilogue, you know?
This is the start of a new fetish: Lady mysteries. I've listed a few before, Deanna Raybourn being my fave, so I downloaded the firsts to a few other series.
This one I really enjoyed although it was very fluffy. It was mainly the main character that made it engaging, Georgie is 34th in line to the throne, so it was an interesting new angle, her be ...more
This is the start of a new fetish: Lady mysteries. I've listed a few before, Deanna Raybourn being my fave, so I downloaded the firsts to a few other series.
This one I really enjoyed although it was very fluffy. It was mainly the main character that made it engaging, Georgie is 34th in line to the throne, so it was an interesting new angle, her be ...more

Review written January 1, 2016
4.2 Stars - Fun, fun, fun... Yes, amusing fun and a surprising good mystery. - I'm on for more!
I've been listening to the 8 hrs audiobook very well narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Her Royal Spyness is the first serial part (of 10 so far) in the mostly happy reviewed 'Her Royal Spyness' series (labeled in the cozy-mystery genre).

A great start to a new audiobook year.
*******************************************
« Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eug ...more
4.2 Stars - Fun, fun, fun... Yes, amusing fun and a surprising good mystery. - I'm on for more!
I've been listening to the 8 hrs audiobook very well narrated by Katherine Kellgren. Her Royal Spyness is the first serial part (of 10 so far) in the mostly happy reviewed 'Her Royal Spyness' series (labeled in the cozy-mystery genre).





A great start to a new audiobook year.
*******************************************
« Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eug ...more

Book 3 of my recent audiobook listening binge! I've owned this in Audible for a while now.
I'm not sure what my experience reading the print of this would be, but in audio, it is great fun. The narrator, Katherine Kellgren, does a fabulous job with voices for different characters, which elevates the whole thing.
The basic story is that Georgie, 34th in line to the throne of England, is trying to make a living after being cut off by her brother. Along the way a dead body shows up in her bathtub an ...more
I'm not sure what my experience reading the print of this would be, but in audio, it is great fun. The narrator, Katherine Kellgren, does a fabulous job with voices for different characters, which elevates the whole thing.
The basic story is that Georgie, 34th in line to the throne of England, is trying to make a living after being cut off by her brother. Along the way a dead body shows up in her bathtub an ...more

Sep 05, 2015
Carolyn
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Lovers of historical cosy mysteries
Shelves:
historical,
cosy-crime
This is the first novel in a series set in the Britain of the 1930s featuring Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, aka Georgie. Thirty fourth in line for the British throne and daughter of a Scottish Duke and an English actress, she has failed to find a suitable husband during her coming out season and is bored of lingering like an unwanted guest in the family estate, cold and draughty Castle Rannoch in the wilds of Scotland. Her brother the current Duke of Glen Garry and Rannoch (known as
...more

Oct 17, 2013
Susan needs more books, not really
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
cozy-mysteries,
2013
An excellent read! It was a fun story and I liked the descriptions of things from that time period. I felt like I was there in 1930s London. The characters were likeable too, especially Georgie. A very resourceful girl with nine lives :) This story reminded me of Agatha Christie's Tommy and Tuppence stories, even though those take place a decade earlier than this one.
I am looking forward to starting the next in the series. This is a wonderful escape read and I enjoyed every minute of it. ...more
I am looking forward to starting the next in the series. This is a wonderful escape read and I enjoyed every minute of it. ...more

An audiobook 2021 listen of a book previously read and commented-on in 2017. It doesn’t improve, but maybe more fun, partly because of the atrocious narration - dreadful accents, terrible pronunciation!
Oh, dear!
Another female 1930s light crime novel. Badly written by another English authoress living in the USA. On a bandwagon.
Some fun, a not bad, if obvious, denouement.
If you want to read it, skim-read it quickly and it will be fairly enjoyable.
Badly paced, weak stereotypical characters, full o ...more
Oh, dear!
Another female 1930s light crime novel. Badly written by another English authoress living in the USA. On a bandwagon.
Some fun, a not bad, if obvious, denouement.
If you want to read it, skim-read it quickly and it will be fairly enjoyable.
Badly paced, weak stereotypical characters, full o ...more

In an industry absolutely saturated with generic career-related cozy mysteries, Her Royal Spyness is a wonderful breath of fresh air. The lovely purple cover and interesting title caught my eye while I was at the library, and I picked it up hoping to be entertained. And entertained I was. From the fascinating historical settings and whimsical humour to the cast of characters, this first installment of Rhys Bowen's new Royal Spyness series delivered a great deal of fun.
Lady Georgiana Rannoch of t ...more
Lady Georgiana Rannoch of t ...more

Trying to write this review without using the cliché words “cute” and “cozy” is so hard, because it was! It’s cozy in the way only the British royal family can be. Picture the lovely Helen Mirren sitting in a clearing at Balmoral, and that prancing deer—the epitome of visceral restraint! That’s this book.
At its center, penniless Lady Georgiana, 34th in line to the throne, is looking to strike out on her own, and earn a living—an unheard of endeavor for someone with royal blood in the 1930s. Why ...more
At its center, penniless Lady Georgiana, 34th in line to the throne, is looking to strike out on her own, and earn a living—an unheard of endeavor for someone with royal blood in the 1930s. Why ...more

a light read. mystery was way too easy. i guessed it right away at the first hint.
london in 1932. i liked that i got to read about royals. Georgina's character was smart, easygoing and fun to read. I really liked the author's writing style. i was hoping for a laugh out loud read. though it was highly entertaining with amusing lines. i didn't find it that funny. ...more
london in 1932. i liked that i got to read about royals. Georgina's character was smart, easygoing and fun to read. I really liked the author's writing style. i was hoping for a laugh out loud read. though it was highly entertaining with amusing lines. i didn't find it that funny. ...more

While there are laugh-out-loud moments (mostly early in the book), there are enough detractions that I can't really recommend the book. The heroine is a delight but the mystery is a bit thin (so it's good it didn't really start until about halfway through the book) and some of the character actions are a little too driven by story purposes and authorial manipulation rather than flowing out of character for my taste. Still, it was entertaining enough that I stayed up late to finish it.
...more

I could not put this book down! Her Royal Spyness is the first book in Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series and I definitely plan to continue reading the series.
Even though I'm a big fan of Bowen's other two mystery series, Evan Evans and Molly Murphy, I hesitated to read this one since I'm not a big fan of books featuring aristocrats. Selah convinced me to give the first book a try when she set me straight about Georgie's heritage. Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie's royal heritage is from ...more
Even though I'm a big fan of Bowen's other two mystery series, Evan Evans and Molly Murphy, I hesitated to read this one since I'm not a big fan of books featuring aristocrats. Selah convinced me to give the first book a try when she set me straight about Georgie's heritage. Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie's royal heritage is from ...more

Well that was a fast listen, it was "such fun"! Loved the English take and the mystery which was an easy enough mystery. I look forward to the next in the series once I've had a break.
...more

I truly thought I was going to be a fan of "Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, 34th in line for the throne". The tone started out fun, and funny: "The moan of the wind through the vast chimneys, coupled with the tartan wallpaper in the loo, had the effect of producing almost instant depression or even insanity"… "dances, parties, and other sporting events"… Unfortunately, I ended up disliking Lady VGCE rather a lot, and not being too fond of Rhys Bowen's writing, either.
He evidenced in ...more
He evidenced in ...more

Lady Georgiana is thirty-fourth in line to the English throne, but the distinction of being a royal, albeit a minor one, hasn't kept money woes at bay during the Depression. However, since royals - no matter how minor - aren't supposed to get "common" jobs, Georgiana's only option, according to the Queen, is marriage to the highly repulsive Prince Siegfried. Georgiana resolves to support herself, even if she has to do it clandestinely. And so she decides to work as a maid (horrors!). When a blac
...more

Her Royal Spyness
4 Stars
Lady Victoria Georgina Charlotte Eugenie is 34th in line to the British throne. Unfortunately, she is also penniless and about to be married off to a pompous Romanian prince. To avoid this dreaded future, Georgie escapes to London where things go from bad to worse after she discovers the body of an arrogant Frenchman in her bathtub, and her brother, the Duke, is arrested for murder. Will Georgie be able to discover the real killer before it is too late?
A light hearted, ch ...more
4 Stars
Lady Victoria Georgina Charlotte Eugenie is 34th in line to the British throne. Unfortunately, she is also penniless and about to be married off to a pompous Romanian prince. To avoid this dreaded future, Georgie escapes to London where things go from bad to worse after she discovers the body of an arrogant Frenchman in her bathtub, and her brother, the Duke, is arrested for murder. Will Georgie be able to discover the real killer before it is too late?
A light hearted, ch ...more

Cute book. I figured out who did it pretty early. It's kind of funny how they had so many cans of beans left at the London home. Also wouldn't the Queen know that she needs a little cash to survive? 3-1/2 out of 5 stars.
...more

I really loved this book!A great start to the series and I can't wait to continue on with it.
...more

Jan 20, 2020
beachbum bookworm
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favorites
Her Royal Spyness (Her Royal Spyness Mysteries, #1)
by Rhys Bowen
synopsis from goodreads
Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is penniless and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932.
So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg... She's gate-crashed a wedding... She's making money by secretly cleaning houses... And she's been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.
Everything seems to be going swimmingl ...more
by Rhys Bowen
synopsis from goodreads
Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is penniless and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932.
So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg... She's gate-crashed a wedding... She's making money by secretly cleaning houses... And she's been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.
Everything seems to be going swimmingl ...more

***2018 Summer of Spies***
What an absolutely charming beginning to a series! Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie is a poverty-stricken gentlewoman, 34th in the line of succession to the throne, trying to keep up appearances with little to no income. This author makes the most of the fascination with the Royal family and the deportment of Queen Victoria and her successors. For example:
What an absolutely charming beginning to a series! Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie is a poverty-stricken gentlewoman, 34th in the line of succession to the throne, trying to keep up appearances with little to no income. This author makes the most of the fascination with the Royal family and the deportment of Queen Victoria and her successors. For example:
”The sight of one female person slinking across the forecourt on foot would definitely have my esteemed...more

I was completely predisposed to like this first in Her Royal Spyness cozy mystery series, and like it I did. It's just what I needed as a break from the more serious books I've been reading lately. Nothing taxing, you'll likely figure out the whodunit pretty early, but so fun to read! Written with wonderful humor, spunky energy and a light touch, with an outstanding audio performance by the great, unfortunately late, Katherine Kellgren. My only disappointment is that the audiobooks are not avail
...more

So very silly, so cliched, so predictable, and so very, very enjoyable.
The perfect diversion while knitting a last-minute Christmas present -- I only get the urge to knit presents at the last possible minute, so lightweight listening has been a wonderful discovery to ease the self-inflicted pain.
Don't let the three star rating fool you -- I did like this, but it is formulaic, so it's hard to say it's amazing. It's pleasant and I for one, have room in my life for pleasant reads. Let's just say it ...more
The perfect diversion while knitting a last-minute Christmas present -- I only get the urge to knit presents at the last possible minute, so lightweight listening has been a wonderful discovery to ease the self-inflicted pain.
Don't let the three star rating fool you -- I did like this, but it is formulaic, so it's hard to say it's amazing. It's pleasant and I for one, have room in my life for pleasant reads. Let's just say it ...more

Another great book by Rhys Bowen. I love Lady Georgiana Rannoch. Life has dealt her many blows-her parents divorce, her father ignring his children and land and then genteel poverty. But Georgie doesn't just give in. She wants a life of her own and that means leaving the castle where her sister in law makes life miserable for her. She goes to the London house and learns how to take care of herself like making a cuppa. And she meets a man she shouldn't fall in love with-:-) Darcy O'Mara, a dashin
...more

Mar 27, 2017
Athena
rated it
it was ok
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
at-library
A Very Light read, a fish-out-of-water murder mystery set in 1930's England. This was an ok, sometimes humorous story that went exactly where it appeared to be going but made up for formula with a bit of jauntiness.
A decent airplane read, quickly gotten through and mostly forgettable. ...more
A decent airplane read, quickly gotten through and mostly forgettable. ...more

This audio book is laugh-out-loud fun. My husband enjoyed it as much as I did during an eight hour road trip. It isn't exactly a heavy duty mystery, but the narrator, Katherine Kellgren, is fantastic.
...more

People. It finally happened.
I have had gifted Her Royal Spyness by my mom at least 4 times. Yes I have 4 copies of this book on my book shelf at any given time. I have read a number of Bowen’s books and I comment every single time about how I haven’t read this series.
I recently read Four Weddings and Maybe a Funeral…..which was the last book in the series. Talk about late to the party. I thought it was a great read but obviously I was missing a huge back story between Darcy and Georgie. I vowed ...more
I have had gifted Her Royal Spyness by my mom at least 4 times. Yes I have 4 copies of this book on my book shelf at any given time. I have read a number of Bowen’s books and I comment every single time about how I haven’t read this series.
I recently read Four Weddings and Maybe a Funeral…..which was the last book in the series. Talk about late to the party. I thought it was a great read but obviously I was missing a huge back story between Darcy and Georgie. I vowed ...more

Oct 13, 2020
Sarah
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-mystery,
1930s
'Georgie, aka Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, cousin of King George V of England, is penniless and trying to survive on her own as an ordinary person in London in 1932.
So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg... She's gate-crashed a wedding... She's making money by secretly cleaning houses... And she's been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.
Everything seems to be going swimmingly until she finds a body in her bathtub... and someone is definitely trying to kill her.' ...more
So far she has managed to light a fire and boil an egg... She's gate-crashed a wedding... She's making money by secretly cleaning houses... And she's been asked to spy for Her Majesty the Queen.
Everything seems to be going swimmingly until she finds a body in her bathtub... and someone is definitely trying to kill her.' ...more

An enjoyable cosy mystery set in 1930's London.
Our heroine Georgie is 34th in line to the throne but she has no money and spends much of the story looking for a way to support herself that doesn't involve marriage.
In the midst of this she finds a body in her bathtub and realises someone is trying to kill her too...and she finds time for a bit of spying for the queen!
I did like this one but Georgie wasn't a very good detective and some of the scenes were a bit cringeworthy and superficial.
I like ...more
Our heroine Georgie is 34th in line to the throne but she has no money and spends much of the story looking for a way to support herself that doesn't involve marriage.
In the midst of this she finds a body in her bathtub and realises someone is trying to kill her too...and she finds time for a bit of spying for the queen!
I did like this one but Georgie wasn't a very good detective and some of the scenes were a bit cringeworthy and superficial.
I like ...more

This book is my first from this genre, which if I am being honest I wasn't aware of until recently. Its called cosy mystery and is a subgenre of crime fiction.
I really enjoyed this book though it was very different from what I generally read. I was looking for a novel that was light-hearted with elements of humour and yet brings something new to the table. Yes,I know I was being very picky but this one fits the bill.
It is set in 1930 and follows Georgie,a minor royal, who is 34th in line for the ...more
I really enjoyed this book though it was very different from what I generally read. I was looking for a novel that was light-hearted with elements of humour and yet brings something new to the table. Yes,I know I was being very picky but this one fits the bill.
It is set in 1930 and follows Georgie,a minor royal, who is 34th in line for the ...more
topics | posts | views | last activity | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cozy Mystery Corner : Her Royal Spyness | 17 | 229 | Jun 16, 2020 03:46PM | |
Crime, Mysteries ...: Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (spoilers) - September 2018 | 9 | 35 | Dec 15, 2018 12:19AM | |
Crime, Mysteries ...: Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen (no spoilers) - September 2018 | 16 | 24 | Sep 21, 2018 07:07AM | |
Mystery Madness: 9/18 Whodunits Pick: Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen | 6 | 14 | Sep 13, 2018 09:17AM | |
Play Book Tag: Her Royal Spyness / Rhys Bowen. 3.5 stars | 5 | 14 | Dec 03, 2017 09:36AM | |
Laurie R. King Vi...:
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84 | 70 | Dec 21, 2016 11:23AM |
"I'm a New York Times bestselling mystery author, winner of both Agatha and Anthony awards for my Molly Murphy mysteries, set in 1902 New York City.
I have recently published two internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, the other selling almost half a million copies to date.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in th ...more
I have recently published two internationally bestselling WWII novels, one of them a #1 Kindle bestseller, the other selling almost half a million copies to date.
I also write the Agatha-winning Royal Spyness series, about the British royal family in th ...more
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